Wedding with Owls at Old Thorns

Paul and Katie's entire wedding was at Old Thorns near Liphook and... 

...they had owls that flew down the aisle with their rings...

...posed for photographs...

...and flew back up the aisle to their handlers CSR Falconry, who we have to say are the very best at a wedding we've ever worked with. 

The owls were not only pretty and well cared for but seemed so happy to be around the guests...

and loved being handled.

CSR Falconry stayed around after the ceremony so the guests could handle the owls and have photographs with them.

But, of course, their wedding had so much more to it than just the amazing owls. Katie had gorgeous shoes...

...and they had stunning rings.

Katie had her bridal prep in one of the rooms at Old Thorns

Katie is a hair-dresser and works in a salon with her friends. Most of her bridal party seemed to be hair-dressers too and at one time I'm sure I counted four of them working on her hair at once.

When it was all done...

...she looked absolutely stunning.

As well as owls, Paul and Katie had a fabulous harpist who really set the mood for the ceremony, in the new Old Thorns Chapel Room.

We all went out on a golf buggy to get some romantic portraits of them both.

They were lovely together.

They are a perfect match and they both looked amazing...

...and the weather was kind too. Just after this photograph it did start to rain and we needed to dash for the buggy, but the rain stopped as quickly as it started and it didn't interfere with the day at all.

Their cake was fabulous and the decor at the Old Thorns' Gatsby Bar is breath-taking.

We loved this little detail on the cake table.

We did some evening romantic photographs by the red telephone box...

...and in the covered walkway.

Then it was on to the First Dance on the amazing Gatsby Bar dance floor.

Paul and Katie are an absolutely amazing couple and it was a real pleasure sharing their fantastic day with them. We wish them a long and happy future together.

by Steve Dunster

A Wedding Full of Firsts

Weddings are not just emotional celebrations but also historic events, events that are recorded for generations of family historians. Martin and Emily's wedding was all this and more...

...they were the first couple ever to be married in the Hook Life Church.  

When Emily's Dad saw her in her dress for the first time it was wonderfully emotional.

After hugs it was time to go to Hook Life Church for the ceremony...not only a new building and a new wedding venue...

...something else was new...the ceremony was conducted using an iPad...this was a first for us but after the initial shock it did actually look very neat.

Their open top wedding car took them to their wedding reception venue...

...but first they stopped en route at a little village which has meant a lot to Emily and she drives through every day on her way to work. It was a delightful village with a pond...

...and rows of daffodils, the wonderfully welcome first signs of Spring. 

Once at their reception venue, the Hampshire Court Hotel, Martin made sure that in amongst his other responsibilities as groom there was plenty of time for Dad and Daughter high-jinx.

After a fabulous meal it was time for Martin and Emily's first dance together as man and wife.

It was a day of so many firsts...but the most important first was of course that this was the first day of their married life together. 

Emily and Martin were a wonderful bride and groom and we wish them all the very very best for their lives together.

by Steve Dunster

Christmas Wedding at New Place

Weddings at New Place in Hampshire are lovely at any time of year and Dan & Becky's wedding was no exception. Being only a few weeks before Christmas, their wedding had a Christmas theme, thus the vibrant red colour of the bridesmaid's dresses.

New Place keep the driveway clear of cars for their weddings which was a perfect opportunity to create a heart-shaped group shot with their wedding cars in the background.

The clear driveway came in useful again later in the evening when the groom wanted a picture of himself with his groomsmen all looking at the pocket watches he'd given them as presents.

Music has been a huge part of Becky's life so it was natural to try and include her piano during Bridal Prep. We placed her gorgeous footless red and white polka dot shoes as if they were playing the pedals of her piano...

...and her pretty lace garter on the keyboard. 

Becky's gorgeous shoes fitted in beautifully with the Christmas decorations....

...and her wedding flowers were as wonderfully Christmassy.

Becky and Dan had their ceremony at Hamble church where there was a prayer cushion with a beautifully worded tapestry, perfect for a wedding rings shot.

Dan and Becky arrived at New Place in style with their two white Rolls Royce cars.

Their drivers were very obliging in positioning the cars so we could shoot the lovely couple in front of their venue with their cars...

...and from the distinctive New Place front gates.

There were some wonderfully intimate moments between Becky and Dan...

...confetti in front of the immediately recognisable New Place front porch.

Just before going in for their meal, there was a lovely sky against which we could shoot some portraits in the last light of their wedding day.

Their cake toppers were fabulous, little reindeers full of character and one wore the same military cap as the groom.

For Dan & Becky's First Dance, Becky changed into her "dance wedding dress" and the two them performed an amazing jive which really energised the evening.

Dan & Becky's wedding was great fun, full of beautiful moments, wonderful details and at a fabulous venue.

by Steve Dunster