Sam and Paul's wedding at the Priest House by the River Hotel Castle Donington
The Priest House By The River was the location for Sam and Paul's wedding but my day started when the groom and groomsmen invited me to photograph them getting ready in their home just a few miles away in Draycott. After a large fry up to set them up for the day the guys dressed in very smart navy suits with pink ties and handkerchiefs.
The groom is a very talented road cyclist so I couldn't miss the chance to get Paul in full suit astride his pride and joy.
Next stop for me was over to the Lodge at the Priest House in Castle Donington. This was my first visit to the Lodge which is a vast detached property just along the same road as the Priest House.
The Lodge was a former gatehouse to Donington Hall but now it offers space for 10 guests with 4 double bedrooms and 2 reception rooms all set within half an acre of gardens. Its a truly amazing place for the bridal party to get ready for the big day and a dream for photography as its packed full of period charm.
The Lodge was a hive of activity with a constant stream of family arriving, the place had a real buzz about it.
Once the girls had gotten ready it was a short 2 min drive over to the Priest House, Paul and many of the guests had been enjoying the sunshine on the terrace with a drink but it was soon time to head into the Garden Suite for the ceremony. The room is long with high ceilings and exposed beams which had been decorated with amazing drapes of lace.
The room had a large mirror hanging directly in front of the groom which was ideal for capturing the moment Paul caught the first glimpse of his stunning bride for the first time.
One of the biggest advantages of a civil ceremony is that they often have such a relaxed feel to them, the registrar had agreed for me to photograph right in the thick of the action.
After the ceremony we took to the gardens in front of the hotel and by the River Trent for a few formal group shots.
Leaning out of the tower window provides a great vantage point for a group photograph.
The wedding breakfast was held in the Riverside suite, we were treated to the most amazing afternoon tea with all the tables named after different types of cakes...whats not to like? My personal favourite was the Whitebait.
After dinner and speeches it was back out onto the terrace for drinks and garden games, I took this opportunity to sneak off with the bride and groom for a few shots in this stunning location.
A hog roast on the terrace and the usual dancing bought a fantastic day to a close, the wedding had such a relaxed feel and was a genuine pleasure to photograph this brilliant couple at an amazing venue making it the highlight of the season so far.
