Grittleton House Wedding - Beth & James

WeddingsEngagementsPortraitsPhotography TipsPortfolio

9 Aug

Grittleton House was the venue for a truly amazing day for Beth and James and everything was perfect for them. Beth looked incredible, James looked pretty smart and the guests all played their part too - there were some emotional moments and so much joy.

This wedding has strong links all the way back to my very first wedding of Nikki and Charles - From that, I booked a wedding with Charles’ niece, Annie. Annie just happens to be close friends with Beth and so things have all tied together!

On meeting Beth and James before their wedding at their venue, it was clear that it was going to be something special - Grittleton House is incredible and for weddings, you have exclusive use of the property and grounds. In the words of the venue themselves ‘The House was built for entertaining, with its large ballroom, cosy library and elegant social spaces, not forgetting the impressive orangery overlooking the Italian sunken gardens.’

Let me assure you, this venue certainly lived up to it’s billing and the couple enjoyed the most amazing day. Things kicked off with bridal preparations inside the venue and the girls enjoyed their morning getting ready in a beautiful and spacious room overlooking the driveway and entrance, which came in handy as Beth got a sneak peek at James and the boys walking up to the venue from their own preparations at the Neeld Arms, just around the corner.

The girls remained so relaxed and calm with each doing their own makeup and Michelle doing some fabulous work with their hair - as well as getting herself ready, Beth even managed to help provide finishing touches to some of the bridesmaids’ makeup, not something that I’d seen a bride do before!

Once ready, Beth’s father came to join us and see his daughter before they took the stroll down to the ceremony - to say he was emotional would be an understatement. James was downstairs in the Yellow Gallery, and although seemed a little nervous was still laughing and joking with family and friends.

Their ceremony was beautiful and again had so much emotion - Beth herself had the biggest smile on her face and just seemed to glide through it all, her father and bridesmaids couldn’t hold back the tears of joy though and so there was a welcome break for everyone to catch a breath when the couple signed their certificates.

Everyone enjoyed the day’s celebrations, from the sounds of Club Kudo who played a 2 piece acoustic set outdoor for the entertainment of the guests enjoying the gardens, to the most wonderful wedding breakfast and fantastic speeches - the best man even managed to share images of James’ stag do alter-ego.

Shooting portraits with the couple was a pleasure and the property providing an amazing backdrop, the images were really pleasing, the evening entertainment was led by Detroit Soul Collective who I’ve been lucky enough to see play a couple of times and they are amazing - Beth’s sister joined them on stage to sing and braught the house down. It wasn’t long before Andrew (Annie’s husband) launched Beth into the air and had her dancing the night away above the dancefloor.

It was honestly one of the best weddings I’ve shot and I can’t thank Beth and James enough.

Congratulations Beth and James!