Waddesdon Wedding During Stormy Conditions
Whilst most people were battening down the hatches to protect themselves from Storm Dennis on this gusty February weekend, Hannah and Adam got married at Waddesdon Manor Parish Church! It’s been a very long time since I last photographed a wedding in such extreme conditions!
We were all soggy and windswept as we made our way to the church. Hannah and Adam had organised a lovely vintage mobile coffee bar just inside the church door. This really went down well with the guests before the ceremony, and it didn’t take long for an appreciative queue to form. I know the smell of freshly ground coffee is hard to resist for most of us at this time of year!
Smiling Bride Arriving At Waddesdon Church
Hannah stepped out of the car at the church into driving wind and rain. My job is to document the day, so I snapped away as Hannah dashed through the church grounds. Her brolly was buckling in the strong winds, and the storm blew her around like crazy. Amazingly, she still had the most beautiful smiles, despite me snapping away! (I’m pleased to report Hannah loved these shots when she saw them on the gallery).
I took full advantage of the beautiful interior architecture of the church for some family photographs after the ceremony! We stepped out of the church, and the storm howled on our journey to the reception at The Dairy on the Waddesdon Manor Estate.
The Wedding Reception At The Dairy, Waddesdon
After the bracing 300 metre dash through Storm Dennis from the church to The Dairy on The Waddesdon Manor Estate, everyone was able to relax in the warm with some celebratory drinks. The coats and brollies were now firmly tucked away, instead everyone was enjoying the wonderful ambience of this lovely venue. I’m sure the big log fires in The West Hall were much appreciated too during the meal; after all – who doesn’t love a roaring log fire on a cold winter’s day!
Hannah and Adam’s plans for their wedding did not disappoint, and everything came together beautifully on the day. I’m sure many hours worth of organising were necessary to ensure things ran as smoothly as they did. On the day itself, it soon became evident that these guys most definitely knew how to throw one amazing party! Their efforts were complemented perfectly by the staff at The Dairy; the venue have pulled together one incredible team for their weddings. As always the team were highly professional, super friendly, very efficient, and charming to deal with.
Witnessing the strong bond that these two families shared certainly made the picture opportunities plentiful for me. Full of love, laughter and happiness, this soiree had the perfect combination for a truly magical wedding!
Dancing In The Winter Garden At The Dairy
The celebrations continued late into the evening in the Winter Garden, the beautiful glasshouse overlooking the lake at The Dairy, Waddesdon despite Storm Dennis.
At times the dancing was pretty flamboyant to say the least, which is great for my photo opportunities. Lots of credit has to go to the incredible band supplied by Anthem Music Agency who were booked for the evening – these guys were fantastic at keeping the guests entertained!
I particularly loved the dance off they did between the guys and the ladies. This was an ideal opportunity for the not so shy guests to do a solo dance routine in front of the cheering crowd. When a band is this talented and enthusiastic, the celebrations elevate to a whole different level.
Storm Dennis howled outside, and the wind and rain lashed against the Dairy, but inside the music played and the guests danced and laughed and drank champagne. There might be better ways to wait out a storm, but I can’t think of one!
In fact I lost track of my time and ended up staying a fair bit later than usual!
The Dairy, Waddesdon & Winter Weddings
I adore everything about weddings, for me it’s like stepping into another world. Waddesdon Manor is a beautiful setting, even during the dramatic Storm Dennis!
I have photographed quite a few weddings at Waddesdon Manor and other Buckinghamshire venues over the years in stormy weather, or in freezing cold and dark winter conditions. My innovative lighting techniques allow me to capture the most dramatic, colourful moments, even on dark, dreary days, and brides and grooms often tell me they were a key factor in deciding to ask me to photograph their weddings.
Photographing winter weddings can pose special challenges. Daylight is limited, and it’s rarely warm enough outside for guests to enjoy the gardens. Often the weather is changeable, and as a result plans for the day change quickly. As the photographer I’m watching the weather constantly looking for opportunities for a five-minute break in the clouds. On the other hand, a cosy winter wedding reception can be magical, with warmth and dancing inside and cold and wind outside!
I have been a recommended supplier at The Dairy, Waddesdon Manor for many years, as well as their sister venues, The Five Arrows Hotel and Waddesdon Manor. Over the years I’ve built up quite a portfolio of beautiful images from these venues – in all weathers and seasons!
Kind Words
We cannot speak highly enough of Mark. From our first meeting through to ordering our final images he was helpful, supportive and knowledgeable.
Mark was easy to reach in the run up to our big day. He was always on hand to give his expert advice on anything that we were unsure about.
The wedding day itself could not have run any more smoothly. Even with the adverse weather conditions, Mark captured every aspect of the day beautifully, with all of the special little moments. He made the most of the fantastic scenery at our venue (The Dairy, Waddesdon) and offered some fantastic, off-the-cuff, alternative shots.
Mark, the photographs that you have sent us are absolutely stunning and truly capture the joy of the day! we have and will continue to recommend you to everyone!
Hannah and Adam
