Bridal Preparation Photographs for a Harry Potter Wedding
We arrived on a rainy wedding morning in Poole excited to be shooting Jen and Mike’s Harry Potter wedding photographs at Upton House wedding venue in Poole. Jen and her bridesmaids were already busy with make-up and hair adjustments. this was perfectly accompanied with the sound of 90’s pop hits. Jen’s mother zoomed about the family home making sure everything was going according to plan. She even managed to cook up a fried breakfast for Jen’s brother.
Jen was beautifully calm as the girl’s morning activities sped up into a frenetic whirlwind of bridal preparation. This climaxed with Jen beautifully emerging in her gorgeous wedding dress. The huge smile on Jen’s face and tears in her father’s eyes told me that this would be a truly magical day (as you would expect from a Harry Potter wedding!)
Outside the sound of an air-cooled engine brought our attention to the still grey and rainy weather. The stunning classic VW wedding muggle transport parked on the driveway.
Groom Preparation Photographs at a Harry Potter Wedding
Mike was to be found at his parents’ house a short distance away. Here he was methodically preparing for the day ahead with his two best men. They all looked incredibly dapper, wearing traditional grey wedding suits complete with top hats, tails and light purple patterned waistcoats with matching cravats. The boys wedding attire was completed with small purple paper rose buttonholes and cuff links.
Upton House Wedding Photographs
With everyone in the groom’s party ready we set off for Upton House wedding venue. Before Mike’s all important meeting with the registrar he had time to walk around the Venue.
Upton House wedding venue is what we would call a hidden gem. A Grade II listed Georgian country mansion set within 130 acres of parkland and estate gardens of Upton Country Park.
Upton House wedding venue had been decorated with various details from the books needed to complete a Harry Potter wedding. Most noticeable at this point were the various place signs.
Next Mike and his best man greeted the arriving guests and took some relaxed moments outside overlooking the landscaped grounds.
Jen and her father arrived in Dorset Dub Hire‘s Lulu, a 1960 split screen VW van, painted in powder blue over ivory. She pulled up outside and the bridesmaids rushed to assist her. Once inside, the bookshelf doors were closed so that Jen had a moment to gather herself in the Library. She was joined by her father, two bridesmaids and flower girl.
Just the other side of the doors the guests, Mike and his best men nervously awaited the bridal party. The girls checked themselves in the free-standing mirror before giving the go ahead for the doors to be opened and they entered the drawing-room in procession.
Upton House Wedding Ceremony
The civil ceremony was conducted in front of the large glass doors. The sun now shone outside lighting up the happy couple as they made their vows to each other. Following the ceremony the guests enjoyed teas and coffees in the grand entrance hall.
A little magic was in the air as the sun broke free of the clouds. The feel of a winter’s morning changed to a bright summers day.
As the sun was now wonderfully warm in the sky we took the newly-weds for a ten minute walk. We mooched around the gardens of Upton Country Park for some couple shots.
Harry Potter Wedding Details
Back at the Upton House wedding venue the ceremony room had been turned around.
The intricate sorting hat/ wand table plan was created with the Harry Potter series in mind. Everyone had to find their own personal magic wand which would tell them which house/table they would be seated at.
With everyone seated the speeches commenced with the father of the bride followed by groom and best man. Jen’s bridesmaid’s read a fantastic poem. For a good twenty minutes the room was filled with a mixture of laughter and tears.
As wedding breakfast was served a contented quiet settled into the room – always a sign of fantastic catering!
The guests were next kept entertained with board games and a seemingly endless array of Harry Potter props. These varied from Platform 9 & 3/4 station signs to a wide range of magic potions and spell ingredients and even a bowl of rubber ducks!
Another Harry potter themed part of the day was the cake supplied by Baked of Bournemouth which included wands, a golden snitch and the deathly hallows. The couple cut said cake with the sword of Gryffindor which was pulled out of the sorting hat!
Upton House, Poole Wedding Evening Photographs
With the cake cut and now on display for the guests to sample Ashley Hooper set up his DJ booth. The evening guests began to arrive.
We once again stole the wedding couple away from their guests for a wand battle photo. We chose the library’s secret bookshelf door to create this magical image for the wedding couple.
Jen and mike requested that all guests joined them for their first dance and they dutifully obliged.
Alongside the evening buffet you couldn’t help notice the amazing sweet smell of the chocolate fountains from Chocolate fountains of Dorset. A vast variety of fruit and sweet treats to cover in white or milk chocolate made everyone’s mouths water.
We left with a quick look back through the book-case at the multi coloured lit disco dancing. A great image to sum up a magical day.
We would like to mention the staff of Upton House wedding venue who were amazing on the day. Especially Steve Gadd, whose job seems to involve being a tour guide, wedding organiser, liaison, usher, keeper of the keys, bar man and cleaner!
After such a magical day (sic) we can’t wait to shoot our next Upton House Wedding.
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