On the hottest day of the year.

Tamsin and Ash had chosen the Church in Ingatestone, Essex, for their Wedding.

We have some beautiful churches in Essex. St Edmund and St Mary’s Church stands in the centre of Ingatestone High Road surrounded by a lawned garden.

It was the hottest day of the year with the temperature reaching up to 30 degrees, the temperature inside the Church was nice and cool.

My day started with the Bride at her family home in Ingatestone, where I capture the buzz and the excitement of everyone getting ready, the little flower girls were happily playing in the conservatory.

I take photographs of the Bride and Bridesmaids having their hair and make-up done. Tamsin’s Make up artist was Kayleigh Whiting MUA (linked to her Facebook page).

The Tamsin and Ash had spent a long time planning every little detail of their Wedding day. I capture all those little things for them, as they will hold great memories in years to come.

Time for me to leave the house and take the short drive to St Edmund and St Mary’s church in the High Street. To photograph the guest arriving and to photograph the flowers in the church and other details.

With the guests in the church and the flower photographed I go outside and wait for the Groom with the Groomsmen to arrive in a vintage bus and the horse and carriage with the Bridesmaid and Flower girls.

A little late.

The Groom and Groomsmen arrived in style in a 1949 OB Bedford  Duple Vista Vintage blue bus hired from Lodge Coaches, which had been slowed down by the carnival but still arrived in plenty of time. Remembering this was the hottest day of the year the Groom and the Groomsmen wore grey morning suits.

Bridesmaids and Flower Girls arrived by horse and carriage, two magnificent white Shire horses pulled the white Landau carriage. The Carriage then returned the short drive back to the family home to collect Tamsin and her Father Tom.

An abundance of confetti was thrown at the couple, Ash was smiling so much, he ended up with confetti in his mouth.

After the ceremony, the new Mr & Mrs Harwoth went by horse and carriage to the majestic Ingatestone Hall.  Where their guests eagerly awaiter their arrival. Ingatestone Hall makes the most amazing background for wedding photography with its gravel drive and formal gardens.

The wedding breakfast was to take place later in the day in a large marquee. It was very hot so the sides were removed from the marque to allow the breeze to pass through.

A stroll in the formal gardens.

Before meeting their guests Tamsin and Ash wanted to have a quiet stroll in the formal gardens of Ingatestone Hall.
They wanted a little time to their selves, accompanied by only Me to capture these intermate memories. These photographs are for the couple only.

The gardens have a sloping lawn which leads down to a large pond covered with waterlilies. What an amazing background that Ingatestone Hall makes to wedding photographs.

After their cooling stroll and photographs in the formal gardens and woodlands, we returned to the front of Ingatestone Hall where the dove release was planned. White Doves Experience had been getting the birds in place and keeping them cool too.

Let the fun begin.

All afternoon a Steel Band has been playing, Tamsin and Ash had to have a go on the Steel drums before dancing and chatting with their evening guests.

As the afternoon moved on it was time for everyone to move into the marquee for the Wedding breakfast, the theme for the table was cornflower blue.

The wedding breakfast was finished off with speeches and gifts for the key people involved in their wedding day, cake cutting and first dance then party, party, partying into the night to the DJ sounds of Fox and Braces but its goodnight from me.

Best Wishes and thank you for choosing me to capture your memories.
Shiralee
www.shiraleeswan.co.uk

Wedding Tips from Tamsin.

It’s your day, plan it how you want it, try not to stress although it’s super hard, as it’ll all be ok in the end.

Be selfish on the day if you have to and limit your time with guest so you enjoy the day as much yourself  as people will undersand.