Swanage Wedding Photographers Capture an Incredible Wedding Day on the Dorset Coast

As Swanage wedding photographers we have seen some amazing weddings in our time but this one blew us away! A wonderful same sex wedding by the sea in Dorset with pirates, a helicopter ride, a lighthouse, a clifftop castle, the beach, a Victorian pier, antique arcades, cowboys and Punch and Judy. Sounds made up doesn’t it? But this was our fantastic wedding weekend in the summer sun with the lovely Scott and Paul organised by the incredible Polly from Blue Bay Events (one of our recommended Dorset wedding suppliers).

The night before Scott & Paul’s wedding they gathered close family and friends for a  meal at The Canteen in Swanage.  It was a chance for everyone to get together before the big day and catch up.

There was much to speculate as details of the wedding were being kept a secret. Even Cathy (Master of Ceremonies) was in the dark with regards to certain location details. The warm evening heat was just a sign of what was to come.

Morning Preparation at Anvil Point by Swanage Wedding Photographers

Tom began his day with Paul at Anvil Point Lighthouse situated within the grounds of Durlston Country Park up the hill from Swanage. After breakfast in the walled garden under a cloudless sky he began getting into his wedding attire.  Paul was soon looking the part in his blue suit with long jacket and contrasting deep ruby red waistcoat.

Morning Preparation at Purbeck House Hotel by Swanage Wedding Photographers

I found Scott at Purbeck House Hotel wedding venue where he was getting ready with his brother Kial and some help from Cat Mutter. He too wore the same tailored blue suit with long jacket and red waistcoat. The two grooms wore matching silver colour cuff links, Paul’s with a blue stone and Scott’s with a red.

Pier and Pirate Photographs by Swanage Wedding Photographers

Both chaps made their way in the glorious sunshine to Swanage’s Victorian pier . Here they met a group of local ‘Pirates’ and posed for some pictures with them. They took a stroll along the pier and found the plaque that they had sponsored commemorating their big day.

The talented Sophie from Digital Bohemia joined us and we witnessed Scott’s penchant for antique arcade games in the Pier museum. We left them to relax on the sea front together, heading back to the guests at Purbeck house hotel.

Purbeck House Hotel Ceremony by Swanage Wedding Photographers

Wedding guests gathered for a pre-wedding drink at The Purbeck House Hotel. Just before the ceremony they received the latest is a series of cryptic postcards from the grooms. This let them know the location for the reception at Durlston Castle wedding venue.

Scott and Paul made their promises to each other and were announced as husband and husband. There were few dry eyes in the room.

Paul’s sister played music on piano and then it was time for them to sign the register.

We utilised the lovely gardens at Purbeck House Hotel for some group shots and headed down to Swanage sea front. On the pedestrianized seafront road everybody gathered in front of the new beach huts. The wedding guests were then bussed off to Durlston Castle by South Coast Travel whilst Scott, Paul and Tom were whisked away in a Taxi.

Durlston Castle Wedding Reception by Swanage Wedding Photographers

On arrival at Durlston Castle wedding venue the guests were greeting with welcome cocktails. They enjoyed the coastal views out from Durlston Head.

In a local field Tom and the chaps arrived at the wedding helicopter from Bliss Aviation. The new Mr & Mr were treated to an aerial tour of the Isle of Purbeck .They Flew over Corfe Castle, St Aldhelm’s head, Chapman’s Pool and Durlston Lighthouse. Further up the coast they could see their guests gathered in the cliff top gardens at Durlston Castle.

Back at the Castle there was much anticipation of the arrival method. Whispers of them parachuting in or arriving on jet skis could be ruled out as it was revealed that they were above us in the helicopter. After a couple of fly bys they headed back towards the landing site at Godlingston Farm.

More cocktails and canapés were enjoyed as the guests. They were kept in further suspense with regards to the wedding breakfast decoration as all the shutters to the gallery were kept shut.

Durlston Castle Wedding Breakfast by Swanage Wedding Photographers

Scott and Paul returned from their flight and after greeting their guests outside ordered that the room could be revealed. Everyone took their places on the tables that were named after various female sitcom characters. The gents entered the room to the TV theme tune from Dallas. Above the top table the guests were treated to a short video of ‘Scott and Paul’s Swanage’ complete with opening titles.

Red, white and blue flower arrangements from Charlotte Trim Floristry (one of our recommended wedding suppliers) adorned the tables and above the top table were the cartoon faces that were Scott and Paul’s logos for the wedding . Scott and Paul had designed an incredible ‘wedding restaurant menu’.

Simply Gourmet Catering  provided a mouth-watering wedding breakfast after which everyone was invited upstairs to the Belvedere suite for the speeches.The team from The Wedding Crècherz  were on hand to keep the kids entertained with face painting and other activities. After wedding speeches, a lot of laughter and tears Scott and Paul enjoyed a first dance surrounded by family and friends.

Evening entertainment at Durlston Castle by Swanage Wedding Photographers

Meanwhile, unbeknown to the guests Perfectly Pretty Wedding & Events  were busily changing the gallery around with a barn dance theme complete with hay bales, American Flags and band. Even the cartoon logos had swapped top hats for cowboy hats and neckerchiefs. The grooms returned donning authentic cowboy attire including leather cowboy hats down to real cowboy boots. They opened the shutter doors to reveal the room’s transformation. They too were greeted by their guests in a change of outfit.

Soon every one was enjoying the line dancing and outside on the decking a bucking bronco from Scooby Crew.

Sunday After Party BBQ by Swanage Wedding Photographers

The following day was a scorcher. We arrived to find Scott and Paul AKA the ‘Bucoones’ in the walled garden at Anvil Point Lighthouse Cottages.

Blue and white deck chairs a with tables were arranged on the lawn with many of the wedding decorations. The newly weds, friends and family were treated to an amazing BBQ from Simply Gourmet Catering.

They enjoyed lawn games and drinks in the sunshine. A hilarious Punch and Judy show from Professor Joe brought the day to a close. We left Scott and Paul saying farewell to guests who had enjoyed a relaxed afternoon in the sun.

We shoot many same sex weddings in Dorset, often with publishing restrictions. It is a special pleasure to be able to share this wonderful couple’s wedding photographs.

You can see our next Durlston Castle wedding photographs in Dorset on our wedding photography blog here. You can also read what Paul and Scott wrote about our Dorset wedding photography services in our wedding photographer reviews.

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