Highcliffe Castle Wedding Photographs with Daniella and Dave
Last week we popped over to Christchurch to take a walk around Christchurch Priory and Highcliffe Castle wedding venue. To say they were of stunning proportions would be an understatement. We arrived at Christchurch Priory and essentially spent the next hour straining our necks to take it all in.
Christchurch Priory is the longest parish church in England. It’s huge, with ceilings that seem to go up forever. When you think you have seen it all it goes on further. Frame upon frame of dividers, archways, and old oak doors. As you can imagine we were incredibly excited about shooting a wedding in this place. I had already booked some time off in my diary to come back for a painful neck.
Highcliffe Castle Wedding Venue
To follow the Priory Daniella and Dave had booked Highcliffe Castle wedding venue for their reception. Again, the architecture is mind-blowing. With the possibility of shots under huge wooden doors, stained glass windows, stone archways, manicured gardens, woodlands, and a beach I was suffering from wedding venue overload.
As we walked around Highcliffe Castle wedding venue gardens we spied a couple, dancing barefoot on the lawns to an iPhone. It was Daniella & Dave, the happy couple themselves practicing the first dance before their wedding rehearsal. Looking back at the spectacular castle we could see these guys were serious about stunning venues.
Documentary Bridal Preparation Photographs
The wedding morning arrived and I drove to The Scissor Crew hairdressers in Christchurch. The girls working there are so friendly and hospitable. They had even decorated a mirror and chair for Daniella. Next, they supplied her with a gift pack including the essential wedding morning champagne.
I love working in hairdressers and The Scissor Crew really stood out. Incredible bright light and lots of mirrors facing mirrors. As Daniella, her Mother, and the beautiful bridesmaids had their hair styled I was able to work with multiple reflections!
Daniella’s makeup artist Zoe Nichols had arrived early. She then went about her makeup styling in a quiet manner in the corner of the room. As time ticked on she showed off applying makeup whilst the girls had their hair back combed and styled.
Wedding Preparations at Home
Back at her parents’ house Daniella and the girls had a well-earned glass of bubbly. They munched on scrummy nibbles before putting on her jaw-dropping wedding dress.
Earlier in the day we had been talking about wedding dresses and Daniella had told me that her dress was “a little different”t. She had a very small reservation about it being slightly on the big side. In the attic room, hanging in the sun has to be the most wonderful Ian Stuart wedding dress I have ever seen. Daniella asked me “So what do you think?”. Taken aback by the dress all I could think to say was “Can I wear it please!”. I simply loved it and it was definitely different, Flowerbomb by Ian Stuart.
A gorgeous old silver lady pulled up outside the house and it was time for the girls to leave. When Daniella stepped out into the sun with her dress on I found myself speechless. She had planned her Highcliffe Castle wedding to perfection and was now the perfect bride!
Documentary Groom Preparation Photographs
Meanwhile, the chaps were busy in their riverside apartment in Christchurch.
They spent the morning ‘calming their nerves’ with a few cans of beer. Then made themselves presentable for the day ahead. Despite the rather scary weather forecast, the sun was shining brightly. The chaps strolled around to the church, looking super cool in suits and sunglasses.
Christchurch Priory Wedding Ceremony Photographs
When I arrived at Christchurch Priory I again had to perform a double take to accustom myself to the sheer size and grandeur of the place. The entrance foyer arches were the perfect frame for some group photographs. The stained glass and detailed stone paneling inside gave such amazing backdrops.
The short wedding ceremony was lovely. The sun streamed through the stained glass as the guests merrily sang away.
Highcliffe Castle Wedding Reception Photographs
Down the road at Highcliffe Castle wedding venue, we stopped outside the front door for photos of Daniella and Dave together. Luckily it was covered as that morning’s missing rain had turned up. We could see that weather would play an important role in our logistics of the Highcliffe Castle wedding day.
The drinks reception and canapés were taken in the Wintergarden at Highcliffe Castle wedding venue. This allowed guests to look over the grounds without getting wet. A break in the showers allowed us to shoot a couple of groups. I figured we did quite well with them as the guests congratulated us on our conduct afterward!
Highcliffe Castle Wedding Breakfast Photographs
After mixing with their guests the wedding Breakfast was called in the Dining Room. The wedding speeches seemed to contain quite a few Australian and cricket references (as Dave and his family are Australian). Also a couple of cringeworthy moments for the Groom himself.
One of the happy couple’s friends had created a lovely wedding cake. Along with cupcakes, it stood impressively in the corner of the room. During the breakfast and speeches, we noticed a computer screen with a particularly embarrassing slide show of old photographs of Daniella and Dave. This supplied much enjoyment to their guests.
Wedding Evening Reception at Highcliffe Castle
As coffee and cake were served the wedding band and a Casino arrived and set up for the evening’s entertainment at the Highcliffe Castle wedding.
Dave and Daniella had both separately told me they had forgotten their dance moves for the First Dance at their Highcliffe Castle wedding. Watching the happy couple swirl, turn, kiss, and sway about the dance floor surrounded by their friends and family. I guessed that it had come back to them in the moment.
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