Ashfield House Wedding Photography | Jenny & Stu
2 Dachshunds, A Lot of Laughter and Even More Love
Jenny and Stu got in touch in early 2018 to look for a wedding photographer for their Autumnal wedding at Ashfield House. I’d not worked at Ashfield House before so was looking forward to the opportunity to mark it with the ALP stamp!
When I met Jenny and Stu I think we spent more time talking about our love for dachshunds than the actual wedding. They have two and I have one also. I do always find having a dog is a great conversation starter for a lot of couples. Especially having a dog which has bags and bags of cute factor which she flaunts everywhere.
On the day I drove through monsoon road conditions to get to Ashfield House well before schedule. With the wedding on a Friday and the weather conditions, I didn’t really want to take any risks with timing. Upon arriving I met up with Craig a Northwest Wedding Videographer and a really nice guy. Having to work so close with every videographer I always take the time to reach out before the big day and build a small rapport with whoever it may be.
Jenny & Stu both listened intently in our final meeting and this really showed on the day. With loads of moments unveiled in front of my camera for maximum impact. Suggestions I make are always in the best interest of my couples and are designed to only add to your day. Nothing invasive just guided points so we can get the most out of the photographs.
The day flew by in a blur as we moved quickly after the service to grab a moment outside Ashfield House whilst the rain had stopped. Luckily for us, the rain stayed off and in between the meal and speeches, we grabbed another moment outside with a little more atmosphere in the sky whilst standing below the beautiful festoon light collection.
As much as I’ll be doing my own thing on the day I do find it particularly important to take a handful of your most cherished parts of the day into my work. Jenny made a few requests in our final meeting which I was happy to fulfil on the day including loads of photographs of the details including her incredible Harriet Wilde shoes and the gorgeous venue detailing of The Rose Boutique. She even brought an unopened invite for me to photograph which was part of the wedding stationery she got from Hawthorne and Ivory.
My First Wedding at Ashfield House
Living just under an hour away from Ashfield House meant this was my first time photographing at this beautiful Nottingham wedding venue. I love exclusive country house wedding venues with a traditional edge. The team at Ashfield House make it even more enjoyable with their very welcoming attitude. I often venture further afield to photograph weddings and I don’t charge for the pleasure. I find it incredibly exciting actually and really relish the opportunity to shoot within a new space and a new wedding adventure.
My style of wedding photography is built on a great relationship with my couples. All of my weddings are different and unique; even if I was to shoot again at the same venue like Ashfield House. Time on your wedding day is really important to me as I’m sure it is to you too. So if I can help it I don’t really want you to miss a thing and would love you to remember as much as possible. This caring and relaxed approach to my wedding photography is the reason why so many couples recommend me. They always say it feels like a friend is taking their photographs and not a photographer.
A few of my Favourite Moments from this Standish Wedding
As seems to be the trend this year I brought Jenny’s father into the room to see her in her dress. It was an emotional moment for both of them as I caught side by side reactions which called for a last minute make up touch up by Melissa Sue.
Whilst Jenny and Stu were cutting their cake they pulled the knife out and Stu took a big lick of it which caused absolute laughter to ensue from the both of them.
Jenny chose to have her dance with her father first before her first dance with Stu which was awesome as if you do it in the other order then it normally kills all the atmosphere built from the first dance. During this first dance Jenny’s dress got stuck under her feet and she had a little help with it as it was carried around enabling her and her father to turn. Whilst doing this I was able capture a shot of the dress stretched across the camera and Jenny dancing with her father.
During the room turn around I was setting up my lighting for the first dance when I saw one of the young guests messing around on the bands keyboard. Playing a rendition of Mr Blue Sky he was pretty nifty on those keys. Later on the Manytones got the young man on stage to perform in line with them and it sure was a great crowd pleasing moment.
Being a Ashfield House Wedding Photographer
I often speak about how the size of a venue is important when speaking about guest numbers but what I rarely mention is the size in regards to the couples portraits I do. Having too much choice can sometimes become a paradox of choice. “Which of these several acres of garden should I choose for the photographs this couple will treasure for a lifetime?” I ask myself. It’s a huge decision when framed like that isn’t it! This is why venues which are of Ashfield House’s size are perfect. They have gardens but nothing too expansive and nothing with say a “photography area” which lures people into a false sense of security when wanting original photographs at their venue of choice.
So when it came time to photograph Jenny and Stu’s portraits I was able to make some really quick decisions and use several small features of the venue within my work. Once again existing more on the natural beauty of the foliage outside Ashfield House as it changed colour for Autumn.
Being an Ashfield House wedding photographer was an absolute dream. Josh, Leanne and the rest of the team I met there were so awesome it was an absolute dream to shoot there. Being fed and watered to a grand degree was thoroughly lovely experience as I noticed a real care for me by the whole team.
