A fresh smattering of snow was a bit of a surprise, but Winton House seemed to embrace it and were busy building a couple of snowmen when we arrived. But more on that later. I greeted Laura in the bridal suite and warmed up with a few shots of her dress. It looked sleek and slender just like Laura. Before long, I was mixing with the boys downstairs and introduced them to the camera. Kevin seemed in fine form and presented me with a few bits and pieces to record for the album. I spotted Agent Claire hovering outside, trying to keep warm.
With half an hour remaining, Laura appeared in her dress looking utterly stunning. She gazed down the barrel of the lens, eyes sparkling as the focus locked at close range. Despite the risk of running into the boys downstairs, Laura opted for a stroll and stopped to gaze out the window of this spiral staircase. I loved the curved lines and soft light on show, so quickly changed to an ultra wide angle lens, catching the moment as she posed in her beautiful dress. There was just enough light to shoot naturally with a handheld camera.
The ceremony room was bathed in sunlight as Laura was walked down the aisle and presented to Kevin, who by now was positively beaming. The ceremony was punctuated by moments of genuine warmth and humour, something that was entirely in keeping with the setting. The happy couple turned to face each other, saying their their vows and exchanging rings in front of a captive audience.
Laura and Kevin sealed the deal with a kiss before walking back down the aisle together, grinning from ear to ear. It was time a weather check, so myself and Agent Claire popped outside and spotted the fast sinking sun. We re-emerged with a plan and invited the happy couple outside for some pictures alone, making use what was left of natural daylight. The champagne glasses chinked as they got down to business in each others arms. The floral bouquet was cast aside, resting on the soft snow as they cuddled.
The two snowman built by the owners were soon getting into the act with perhaps the ‘coolest’ looking group shot of the year. I knew these two were going to be trouble! The entire wedding party were then persuaded to brave the cold for a mass group shot at the front entrance, despite the heavy snow under foot. Laura and Kevin headed inside as the sun set, prompting us to seek suitable rooms to do family photographs. Not surprisingly, the warmth and comfort offered indoors seemed the more attractive option as folk enjoyed a drink.
The reception room at Winton House had a certain wow factor to it, and must surely rank as one of the nicest I have seen. The poor cake sat quivering as the enormous sword made it’s presence known. The speeches soon got underway with some amusing tales about the happy couple. Kevin in particular was getting a bit of a pasting, although to be fair that was almost exclusively down the best man who brought the show to a fitting climax with some fantastic jokes. It was easy to listen to and all in good taste.
As more evening guests arrived, I invited Laura and Kevin down to the cellar for a signature long exposure. The remote flash setup gave them time to prepare a kiss before Agent Claire flicked the lights and the image was recorded in total darkness. The subtle burst of flash the only clue to the deed being complete. A more difficult version followed on the sofa upstairs, this time requiring them to hold still for half a second. A lot more difficult that you might imagine, but they managed it (in front of an audience) with a few attempts.
Folk gathered around as Laura and Kevin took to the dance floor for the first dance. The band sprung into life as the happy couple joined hands and entertained the crowd with some faced paced moves. Once again, the smiles were present as Agent Claire provided some mobile lighting for me to take advantage of. It was easy pickings on such a happy day. What a cracking couple and a spectacular choice of venue. When we left the snow men were still standing alone in the darkness. I could swear they were smiling too.
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