Wedding Photography at Clevedon Halll – Claire and Derek

Claire and Derek – Wedding Photography at Clevedon Hall

So much fun and laughter at the wedding of Claire and Derek. As soon as I met Claire I knew her wedding day was going to be really enjoyable. So relaxed and easy to talk to with an infectious laugh, I was thrilled when her adult bridesmaids were exactly the same and clearly enjoying every minute of their best friends Big Day. The cheeky ladies were about to pop the first cork of the morning on my arrival at 10am. With drinking that early I knew we were going to have lots of fun!

Claire chose the beautiful Tawny Owl suite at the top of Clevedon Hall to get ready. A lovely choice for getting ready….apart from the very narrow staircase. Luckily Claire bypassed this entirely by using the lift down to the first floor before descending the beautiful grand staircase ready for the ceremony.

Derek was extremely organised and completely ready more than an hour before the ceremony and had even pursuaded the catering manager to get him a morning tipple from the closed bar. I captured some images in the snug of the boys attaching their buttonholes before heading back up to see the girls.

The Dame Rosa Burden Room is my favourite room for ceremonies at Clevedon Hall. A photographers dream it is bright and light (and often very warm as Derek found out during the ceremony, when he was desperately gesturing to me to open the window wider) Lots of laughter during the ceremony with personal readings from Derek’s Dad and daughter Sam, and Claire’s good friend. I love capturing those moments that are just a second or two before they are gone. As Claire entered the room Derek’s bestman Terry placed his hand on the groom’s shoulder and I love the pictures as Claire came down the aisle grinning at her guests. It’s moments like that which go by in a blur for the couple at the time but they can recall forever more with an image that says it all.

After the ceremony we headed out onto  the lawn infront of the house for a huge confetti tunnel followed by by group shots around the fountain. I then continued with smaller groups on the grass near the fountain while guests listened to harpist Siona Stockel and enjoyed canapes. Lovely to see Simon from Parsnip Mash, back at Clevedon Hall for a one off wedding. Always fantastic food from this lovely team! Just a tad windy…There were moments when Claire’s mum Violet lost her hat and Siona’s sheet music flew off the music stand in a violent gust, the guests were a little windswept in the pictures, but it will remind the bride and groom of a slightly blustery day! We dashed inside as the rain started to all and completed the last photo of Claire and her million hens, with their silly faces, on the balcony over the great hall.

The weather then changed again and beautiful sunshine shone over Clevedon so Claire, Derek and I took the opportunity to pop outside without anyone else (even though Claire’s Dad Winston did try to hide in plain sight so he could ake some pictures) We wandered down to the tree and used the house as backdrop against a beautiful blue sky. During our meeting before the wedding the couple had said to me that they liked light and bright and green. With the Dame Rosa Burden Room, huge green trees and beautiful open parkland I hope we achieved this!

After the shots down by the lake we headed back inside to pose with the cheese tower created by Pong. The couple were thrilled that it contained all the cheeses they had expected rather than just a few as they had expected. Simple styling in the library involved greens from their colour scheme and burnt oranges and cream in the fishbowl centre pieces. glass candle holders were both name places painted with glass paint and personalised m&m holders as favours for the guests. The newlyweds went with a simple escort card system for their table plan. VeryAmerican style and something I expect to see more and more of in the coming seasons. Simple luggage labels were tied to a frame with the guests name on one side and the table name on the other side. The idea is simply to remove your card and take it with you to your table.

I left the new Mr and Mrs Jenkins as they took as their seats for their first meal as husband and wife. On the Sunday they jetted off to a surprise honeymoon that had been booked by Derek for his new wife. (It was Mauritus for those who would like to know….and I think they had a great time!)

Here are some images of the newlyweds Big Day on 12th September 2015 at Clevedon Hall. Please do like our facebook page 

Dress – Harmony by Enzoani at 14 and Sixpence

Venue – Clevedon Hall

Bridesmaids Dresses – Clare’s Dress Design

Flowers –Emma Petersson Designer Florist

Make Up – Portia Channel from Pia Makeup Designs

Hair – Harriet from Escape, Norton Fitzwarren

Photographer – Interlace Photography

Caterers – Parsnip Mash

Cheese Tower – Pong

Harpist – Siona Stockel

Are you looking for a wedding photographer at Clevedon Hall? Get in touch to see more of our images from this lovely venue.