Walton Castle Wedding Photographs
We love taking Walton Castle Wedding Photographs and were very excited to be heading back to Bristol this weekend to shoot another wedding there. Our last visit was to create Walton Castle wedding photography in late September. With the deep red/ green Virginia creeper coating the walls in contrast to the azure blue summer sky. We wondered how the venue would differ seasonally for an early spring wedding.
The 17th-century castle Walton Castle is a perfect dream wedding venue. A private luxury castle with panoramic views of the countryside and the Bristol channel.
The Night Before – Prepararing The Peacock Theme
We arrived at Walton Castle in Clevedon the dusky evening before Louise and Dan’s big day. The happy couple and bridal party were busy arranging the many many home crafted details for the next day.
We don’t think we have ever seen so many details! From peacock feathers to peacock picture frames to peacock tissues. In fact, anything you can think of with a peacock theme. Hundreds of paper and button flowers were ready for arrangement as tissue pom-poms were busily constructed.
A quick look into the turret that would be the wedding breakfast space revealed even more. Strings of a thousand origami paper cranes hung from the ceiling. More peacocks adorned the candelabras on the tables. An ancient Japanese legend reads that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by the gods, happiness or eternal good luck. We took this as a good sign for the day ahead and retired early to charge our batteries for tomorrow’s Walton Castle wedding photographs.
Morning Preparation Documentary Coverage
Driving around the Clevedon golf course and ascending the driveway causes the turrets and stone walls castle to loom above the woodland in front of you. A truly breathtaking venue straight out of a fairy tale. We arrived as the courtyard was being prepared for an outdoor wedding ceremony. Chairs decorated with blue sashes were finished with iridescent peacock feathers. Origami flowers hung in the archway and large flowers fixed to the wall overhead
Walton Castle Wedding Photographs of Bridal Preparation
At the top of the central castle tower, in the bridal suite, Louise and her bridesmaids were busying themselves with hair and makeup. Each wore a personalised hoodie and permanent grin! Four peacock detail dresses hung on the wardrobe door in the space lit between bright morning sun and the tungsten glow of the indoor lights. A mixture of shoes lay around the room including labels such as Irregular Choice, Vallagnosc and Kurt Geiger.
Upon a wooden chest lay a varied array of wedding shoes arranged with the girl’s gorgeous paper and button flower bouquets. The popping Bucks Fizz corks signalled that serious preparation had begun. Tom was impressed by how well organised and calm the proceedings were. Even with the gorgeous distraction of the panoramic views across the countryside and Bristol channel.
Once the bridesmaids were in their dresses the wardrobe was opened to reveal Louise’s stunning dress, hoop and veil hanging inside. Before she knew it Louise was being laced into her dress. Upon seeing just how stunning she looked in the mirror the emotions of the day caught up with her.
Any tension in the room was immediately broken upon the arrival of the ever jovial father of the bride proudly showing off his spectacular peacock braces.
Final touches were added to the stone courtyard and the wedding party disappeared to don wedding attire. A happily beaming Dan appeared from the games turret almost ready to meet with the registrars. It should be noted that the games turret had been decorated with some pretty risqué pencil ‘life drawings’ of Dan sketched on his stag do!
Outdoor Wedding Ceremony Photographs at Walton Castle Wedding Venue
In the warming, mid-day sun the bunting and paper flower chains swung in the breeze. The wedding guests, groom and groomsmen took their places awaiting the arrival of the wedding party.
The gorgeous bridesmaids and page boy led Louise her father down the aisle to Dan. During the outdoor wedding ceremony, we were treated to heartfelt readings from Dan’s father and one of Louise’s friends. Hidden behind the scenes Tom noticed that Dan couldn’t resist whispering ‘I Love You’ to Louise while the registrar spoke.
Once Louise and Dan were pronounced husband and wife the castle walls were filled with the echoing sounds of cheers and rejoicing. Instead of traditional confetti, the guests blew bright rainbow bubbles in a shower over the happy couple.
As the guests congratulated the newly-weds drinks and canapés were served in the sunshine. After a while, we noticed Louise and Dan’s fixed grins had started to look a little painful. This was our cue to steal them away for ten minutes of peace and calm. We used the amazing backdrop to capture some Walton Castle wedding photographs of the couple alone.
Bristol Castle Wedding Speeches Photos
Back inside a bell was rung as a signal for the guests to filter into the “Dining, Dancing and Party Turret” for wedding breakfast. Wedding speeches took place under the thousand paper cranes in the subtly lit room. In his own words, the father of the bride kept his speech short and sweet. Dan gave thanks and gifts, making the crowd whoop and applaud with the novel phrase “my wife and I “. Much to Dan’s relief the best men finished formalities with limited ridicule of his character.
In keeping with family tradition, the bell was rung again and “dry” was announced. This signalled certain table members to and collect and the trees of high tea from the kitchen.
Wedding Evening Reception Photographs at Walton Castle
With bellies full of tasty food and drink the wedding guests emerged onto the sunlit grounds. They then enjoyed the array of lawn games available. A particularly serious game of Kubb was so involved that Louise decided she was going to show them how it was done. You may remember kubb or “Viking chess” from our Balmer Lawn wedding photographs. It is a highly entertaining game for participants and spectators alike and we will be buying our set soon.
In the games turret, the page boy was enthusiastically playing a game of pool with his granddad. Next Louise decided it was time to scale one of the castle walls to take in the incredible views.
In the main castle young and old warmed themselves with some rest and relaxation next to the open fire in the Living Room. We could tell that this was the calm before the storm as more guests were expected shortly.
The courtyard filled with the female wedding guests and Louise threw her bouquet from the castle steps. Without missing a beat Dan joined her. The games turret filled to bursting with guests wrangling for a space to witness the cutting of the cake. The cake should get a special mention. Not only was it topped with two sparkling silver peacocks but it was actually three different flavoured cakes expertly crafted by the groom’s sister (and bridesmaid).
Not surprisingly the bar opened in the Bar turret! Louise and Dan showed their pageboy exactly how to add fingerprints onto the peacock fingerprint picture guest book. The sun then started to dip below the horizon.
First Dance Photos In The Turret
With the dining taken care of the “Dining, Dancing and Party Turret” had been turned around for the dancing part of the evening. Louise and Dan danced their first dance together surrounded by family and friends. They were quick to join them throwing shapes upon the floor. The dark candlelit room had one major light source, the door. This was randomly opening and closing. Instead of fighting the light variation we decided to embrace it and use the doorway as a source of silhouette haloing.
The dance floor cleared a little and the girls decided it was time for a dance-off! The castle lights came on, illuminating it against the deep blue sky. The smell of a hog roast from Bowberry Fayre drifted around the grounds.
We left Louise, Dan and their guests merrily dancing the night away. Once outside we could fully appreciate the stunning shapes of the castle silhouetted against the starry night sky. A truly wonderful day to be creating Walton Castle wedding photographs.
You can see what Louise & Daniel thought of our services in their Walton Castle wedding photographers review.
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