Glorious Spring Day for a Missenden Wedding
What a day for a wedding at Missenden Abbey! The warm sunny conditions were idyllic, and this was March! I’ve photographed so many summer weddings over the years that didn’t have this kind of weather. To see everyone relaxing in the gardens right through until the evening is unheard of this early in the year!
Missenden Abbey
The abbey needs little introduction from me. I’ve now photographed over 130 weddings at this stunningly beautiful venue. And for every wedding I attend at Missenden Abbey, it takes my breath away! So it’s little surprise to see why Rebecca and Gary also fell in love with this stunning historic venue.
Before The Formalities
Rebecca and Gary were keen for me to capture some pictures of them relaxing before the formalities of the day. And on the morning, I was struck by how calm and relaxed they were. And their easy going and fun personalities were a great indicator as to how fabulous this wedding would prove to be! It’s during these fleeting moments that I get a proper feel of what to expect for the day ahead!
Pre-Ceremony – The Lads
Gary came for a stroll in gardens with his brother who was his best man for the day, and the groom’s two adorable young sons who were the pageboys. All around us we were surrounded by daffodils which were being lit perfectly by the spring sunshine for the pictures. Then after a few relaxed poses amongst the daffodils, I was now making my way upstairs to photograph Rebecca.
Pre-Ceremony – The Bride
Rebecca was having the final touches to her hair and make-up done when I entered the her room. She was full of energy, and looked incredible! Her long flowing gown was crying out to be photographed in the large sunlit window. Then after a few shots of Rebecca relaxing with her attendants, I was soon off to photograph the guests arriving.
On my return to the bridal suite, I had just a few minutes to capture Rebecca’s father entering the room, plus a couple of portraits of them together. Soon I was making my way back downstairs to prepare my camera angle for Rebecca’s grand entrance.
The Civil Ceremony
Everyone was on the edge of their seats as Rebecca made her way down the stairs and into the ceremony room! Rebecca had told me how nervous she was just before the ceremony about her grand entrance, and in particular about coming down the steps with everyone watching. Well I can tell you that she needn’t have worried as she looked supremely confident and assured every step of the way.
This was a real tear jerker of a ceremony, and the damp eyes in the room demonstrated just how much this couple are loved by their nearest and dearest!
Champagne and Group Photographs in The Abbey Grounds
Now that the formalities were over, it was time to get this party started, and there’s nothing better to do this than with a fabulous confetti aisle! The movement, the smiles, the laugher and the big splash of colour always combines perfectly to produce the most stunning and fun results.
After a few family group poses, it was time to enjoy the party vibe and the lovely weather! The buzz all around during the drinks reception was fabulous for photo-opportunities, and I certainly made the most of it. These candid moments really help to tell the story of the day. The resulting pictures are some of my favourites from the day.
The Bride & Groom Captured in The Abbey Grounds
At every wedding I take a short stroll with the newlyweds to capture some of the wow backdrops, and Missenden Abbey is no exception. And this is especially the case when the ten of thousands of daffodils are at their absolute peak! Whilst Rebecca’s long flowing gown really added a magic touch to the these gorgeous images.
Two of my favourite stop offs are the 400 year old cedar tree, and the oh so gorgeous summerhouse hidden away in the corner of the grounds. Both are gorgeous for photographs, and every time they look incredible for a few poses!
Lively Speeches – Surprise Singing Waitress – Incredible Magic Tricks
As to be expected from this lively crowd, the speeches were great fun! And they included the perfect mix of humorous stories and fond memories from Rebecca and Gary’s past.
A wonderful surprise for the guests was a super talented singing waitress who was booked to entertain the crowd. Not only did she have the family and friends singing their absolute hearts out to a string of classic hits, but she also encouraged many of the guests to form an enthusiastic Congo line as they danced their way through some of the abbey’s rooms! I just loved the laughter and giggling expressions on everyone’s faces as they meandered their way around during their five minute circuit.
As if that wasn’t enough entertainment for the afternoon, they’d also booked one of the country’s finest magicians for the afternoon. Paul Megram has the ability to make everyone laugh uncontrollably at times, whilst entertaining them with his mind blowing and baffling tricks. The guest reactions to some of Paul’s magic tricks we’re absolutely priceless!
Partying The Night Away
Once the music started, the dance floor was definitely the place to be! These guys had been partying all day, but from somewhere they found the energy to up their game well into the evening.
And I loved it when the braver souls stepped into the middle of the dance floor to show off their solo party moves to the appreciative crowd. During this impromptu session we were treated to break dancing and some of the most acrobatic moves I’ve seen in a very long time!
Night-Time Photography
At every wedding I attend, my flood lighting comes for the journey. So I can capture some grand finale shots at twilight. Missenden Abbey has such a magical exterior. It’s just begging to be photographed after nightfall! The atmosphere outside this historic property after nightfall is truly surreal. So it seems only right to feature the building so prominently with the newlyweds once the light has faded. The majestic abbey totally dominates the landscape at night. And, the gorgeous light streams through its many stained glass windows.
Time To Say Goodbye For The Day
What an amazing wedding I’d witnessed. I loved every minute of their special day. A big thank you to Rebecca and Gary for choosing me to be your Missenden wedding photographer!
And I wish you every success as you embark on this new chapter in your lives!
Kind Words
Mark did a fantastic job of photographing our March wedding, and the pictures speak for themselves, they are all breathtaking! I need more walls in the house! We just can’t choose what ones we will put up. They are all simply stunning.
Mark has been a pleasure throughout the whole process. He has been so accommodating and caring with us having to postpone and re book our wedding with no problem at all. Mark is very friendly and easy to get on with and also professional.
We 100% recommend booking Mark for your wedding, and I reassure you he will capture it all better than you could imagine, and you will feel just as thrilled as we are with our wedding photos.
Your day goes so fast! We’re so grateful we now have all these photos that tell the story of the day beautifully. It was very reassuring having someone so confident and professional with one of the most important parts of our big day. Thank you so much Mark