Abbie & Matts Alternative Winter Wedding

On a refreshing November day, Abbie and Matt prepared to tie the knot at the fantastic Hockwold Hall. Firstly, wow what a stunning venue, they had a hidden Harry Potter room (do I need to say more?). Hockwold Hall had a homely, warm and cosy feel from the moment I stepped through the door to the moment I left the venue, something that I value as a photographer as it put Abbie, Matt and all their guests at ease and able to enjoy the day. Abbie and Matt booked my Going Green package, which suited them perfectly. I enjoyed photographing their day on my own, by the time the wedding came around, I felt less like a photographer and more like their friend. A recipe for amazing, relaxed photography. They explained from the get go that they're wedding wasn't going to be traditional, and they wanted a vampy, dark style of photography. Although not my usual style, I love creating something a bit different for people, and I love testing myself and exploring photography styles. I photographed with a lot of flash, and when it came around to processing the images, instead of muting the dark tones, I let them take over, creating a darker style for them.

The first step to any wedding day is the introductions, of course I had to have a catch up with Abbie and then Matt, but also meeting the bridesmaids and groomsmen is vital as they make the day perfect, keeping the vibes good and keeping the bride and groom calm. Once introductions were complete, it was straight into bridal prep. Abbie was not your traditional bride, and it was refreshing to see her stick to her style and not lean into the pressure to wear white. A red wine colour theme complimented her black, sparkly dress perfectly. The combination of the winter wedding and dark tones matched the vibe of the day.

In between the hustle and bustle of bridal prep, I captured the set up in the ceremony room, and the reception marquee. Members of the bridal and grooms team all helped to make the vison come to life. May I just add also, the cake was made by family members, and it was amazing!

Matt was enjoying his morning with his friends and a pint, as relaxed as you could be. Matching the bridesmaids red wine dresses, Matt and his groomsmen all wore red wine coloured ties, complimenting the tweed suits. Aesthetically, this wedding belongs on a Pinterest board.

The ceremony came around at late afternoon. The sun started to hide as the ceremony started. Loosing natural light can sometimes be a challenge, however, sticking true to their dark and vampy theme, having less light ensures that I could photograph darker. Anyway, I'll let the photos do the talking below.