Balmer Lawn Hotel Wedding Morning Photographs
We arrived in the heart of the New Forest for Toria & Dave’s Balmer Lawn Hotel wedding on a recent sunny summer’s morning. Avoiding cows and ponies aplenty we were gifted with the visual feast of the New forest at its verdant best. Murray found Dave sipping his first tea of the day at the nearby Holands wood campsite. He had spent the night under canvas.
Bridal Preparation Photographs at Balmer Lawn Hotel
Further down the road I joined Toria in her hotel room. She was incredibly relaxed as she had her wedding hair styled. To say that Toria was heavily involved in the planning and delivery of her big day would be a huge understatement. Firstly she had organised most of it from 1200 miles away in Sweden. Secondly most of the decoration and physical aspects of the day were crafted by her own (or her guests own) hand. In addition she had handmade the her beautiful wedding dress which now hung in the bathroom doorway.
Toria’s hair was in curlers as she wrapped bouquets of gypsophila (from Triangle Nursery) in blue and white ribbon. This tied in perfectly with the nautical themed detail for her Balmer Lawn Hotel wedding. Hair and make-up magic transformed not only Toria but her bridesmaid and cheeky flower girls who all wore matching navy blue dresses. Karon Harris, hairdresser extraordinaire worked her magic as Rodney the dinosaur looked on.
Possibly The Most Amazing Wedding Cake!
Now we have to dedicate some the wedding cake hand-made by Dave’s step father Dig. Sat in the bar room was possibly the most amazing wedding cake ever! The three-tiered iced wedding cake featured striped ribbon and two sailing boat toppers framed in a heart. ‘Yes’ – you might think, ‘this sounds like an OK nautically themed wedding cake’. Then you would take a step around the cake and realise that the heart was actually made from two of an octopus’ tentacles. The uber- realistic owner of which was to be found scaling the backside of the cake!
While the guests gathered in the bar area wondering at the cake Toria serenely stepped into her gorgeous wedding dress and slipped on her turquoise wedding shoes.
Outdoor Groom Wedding Morning Preparations
Meanwhile that morning, back at the campsite Dave, his best man and one of his ushers donned their swimming trunks and headed across the lawn in front of the hotel for a morning dip in Lymington river. Murray, also jumped in to document the calm if not chilly experience armed with his waterproof camera housing.
Back from their swim they enjoyed a sparkling breakfast in the dappled sunshine outside Dave’s Mum’s camper van. Dave began to don his wedding attire of matching navy blue bow tie and jacket teamed with pale blue shirt and brown suede shoes. A hint of the nautical theme was seen in his anchor detail socks and pale trousers. He truly looked like was about to step onto his yacht.
Balmer Lawn Hotel Wedding Detail Photographs
Over to the Balmer Lawn Hotel wedding ceremony location of the Beaulieu Suite. The room had been decorated with blue denim and ribbon bunting. The same blue and white ribbon was also paired with and Knot of thin rope for the gent’s buttonholes. White chair covers with blue sashes filled the room. Guests arrived to a huge fishing net sporting family pictures of Dave and Toria. A vintage suitcase and Toria’s grandfather’s travel chest were placed to receive for cards and gifts. This well-travelled family heirloom had accompanied him and his family on many of his civil service postings around the world – Tristan da Cunha, Bermuda, the Falklands and much of Africa!
Balmer Lawn Hotel Wedding Ceremony Photographs
The Beaulieu Suite filled and Dave awaited patiently, joking with his best man (his brother) at the top of the aisle. The room was full of smiles as the flower girls walked up the aisle. They were followed by bridesmaid and finally Toria (beaming from ear to ear) was escorted by her father.
The civil ceremony was full of smiles and laughs and a reading from Kenneth Grahams’ Wind In The Willows. The happy couple walked back down the aisle as husband and wife to rapturous applause.
Balmer Lawn Hotel Wedding Drinks Reception Photos
The drinks reception was held in the garden and confetti was thrown showering the newly weds. We took the wedding party to the Sylvan Pavilion for some group photographs. After which we stole the wedding couple away from their guests for some photographs of just the two of them.
As we headed out of the front of the hotel we noticed that a cricket match was about to commence and managed to borrow some cricketing paraphernalia. Toria and Dave happily messed about with a bat and ball while we took photos.
After returning the sporting equipment we returned to find the Beaulieu Suite ‘turned around’ and ready for the wedding breakfast. The venue was beautifully decorated in blue and white in addition to the nautical themed items such at bottles of rum and wooden boat centerpieces.
Wedding Breakfast Photographs at Balmer Lawn Hotel
The guests were busy enjoying the garden games (one of which, a traditionally Swedish game looked amazing) and Pimms outside in the hot sun. The call went out for wedding breakfast and everyone took their places for the new Mr and Mrs to be introduced. First of all Toria’s father led the speeches followed by Dave and finally Dave’s brother. Every face had teary eyes and huge grins from laughing so much.
Balmer Lawn Hotel Wedding Evening Reception Photographs
After wedding breakfast the guests enjoyed more drinks in the garden as another room was filled with board games and a home made nautical photo booth was erected.
A1 Discos had set up their rig and lighting and the amazing wedding cake was moved to the center of the dance-floor. The newly weds cut it and then took positions for their first dance together as husband and wife.
This well practised first dance routine was performed excellently. Soon many other guests both young and older joined them on the dance floor. Finally we left them all dancing under the disco lights, merrily playing games and laughing away in the photo booth.
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