Lucy & Alex’s Alternative Autumn Wedding

While I’m in the final stages of completing the full set of edits, let me journey you through some highlights of their wedding day. We started this October day at Alton House Hotel where the wedding prep and ceremony was happening. It was a glorious day. You know, one of those autumnal days where the sky is blue, the leaves are starting to turn and the air is still warm!

As some of you may know, autumn is one of my favourite seasons. You may also know that I have a penchant for black clothing and I’m a little too fascinated by skulls and other kooky things.

There is also a strong chance you will not know any of this, but you may well know Lucy and Alex, who I discovered also shared my quirkier tastes. We planned from the offset how to incorporate those black and gold deer skulls into their portraits and I couldn’t wait!!

While Lucy and her bridesmaids were getting ready, and Alex was returning from a coffee run, we took the time to take some shots of all the details available. Lucy had chosen a stunning black gown from Hannah Black Bridal in Luton, with the bridesmaids dresses sourced from Ever Pretty.

I was chatting to Lucy during the lead-up to their wedding about how she found her dress. It seems there aren’t very many places that actually stock black or alternative styled wedding dresses, so she worked hard to get this right for their wedding! We’ve also got a blog here all about finding your perfect dress!

The bouquets were adorned with black feathers, skulls and chains as well as a spray of white flowers… So striking! Lucy’s shoes were from Demonia. Apparently they were VERY comfortable!! A win when spending the whole day on your feet. After seeing Motley Crüe a few of months previously, I was mighty envious of that jacket too!!

Alex was wearing a Charles Gale green tweed suit and gamers dice cufflinks, which were a perfect complement to Lucy and the general theme of their day.

Lucy and Alex exchanged gifts during their preparations. Lucy had purchased some pretty special rum for the occasion and had it delivered to Alex in a newly personalised hip flask (of course she made sure to have a flask for herself too!!) Alex had commissioned a necklace which contained images of their three cats whom were unable to attend their wedding day for obvious reasons!! Lucy was under strict instructions to open her gift before applying her makeup incase she cried…. unbelievably she resisted all watery temptations and held it together!!

Lucy’s dad came to collect her for the ceremony, but not before he had a little readjusting to his buttonhole. With the final details of ensuring Lucy’s mum’s garter was secured and boots all zipped up, all were ready for the ceremony.

Lucy and Alex’s alternative autumn wedding kicked off at Alton House Hotel in their light and airy ceremony room. It was a lovely ceremony presented by a Hampshire registrar with some wise words of wisdom! I loved how the rings exchanged continued the green theme spun through the day.

Before Lucy and Alex walked back down the aisle together as husband and wife, we made sure to create a quick group shot of everyone. This is often a super time saver that is worth considering, as once that bar opens, gathering your whole congregation again can be somewhat like herding cats!!

While the guests journeyed to Beech Village Hall for the reception, we had planned a short interlude for some specific group portraits at the hotel, then off to an old abandoned Abbey that Lucy and Alex had found, just down the road! We went armed with smoke bombs and a host of inspiration! Here’s a peek at that time!

Once at the Beech Village Hall, we were met with a “Rumception” drinks bar and a parliament of owls being handled by the guests. We won’t talk about the unwelcome deposits the birds made on a certain gown!!

With the weather so fine and warm, most of the guests found themselves mingling outside, munching on canapés while supping on rum cocktails (or from whatever concoctions were now in those hip flasks!!!) It wasn’t long before everyone was ushered inside to be seated at a decadent table display of blacks, greens and golds, including some hand-painted deer skulls set midst the flower displays.

After the meal, and with a box of smoke bombs still to play with, we gathered Lucy and Alex with their bridal party to have a quick play. This led to some others waiting in the wing for a turn and some time of hilarity while we all ran around getting engulfed in plumes of smoke! In the green at the village hall there was a play area for children…. this, however, is what seemed to keep some of the “bigger kids” entertained for a while!!

I loved the detailing that went into Lucy and Alex’s cake table, but what tipped it all off above that was the knife that Lucy had commissioned as a gift for Alex. Unbeknownst to her, their friend had also engraved it with key dates in the coded language used in World of Warcraft.

The evening reception continued after the cake cut with a first dance and a father/daughter dance. With a playlist full of the couple, and their guests favourite songs, plus a photo booth and continued bar, there was much more continued merriment to be had!!

We had absolutely the most fun time shooting Lucy and Alex’s alternative autumn wedding, being able to sink our teeth into venues and landscapes we don’t regularly frequent, with a couple who truly chose to create a wedding day that honoured who they were and what their interests and personalities are.

I’m really looking forward to finishing the complete set of edits over the coming couple of weeks. In the meantime, if you’d like to pre-register to see Lucy and Alex’s gallery once they have received it and made it live for their family and friends, you can do so here.

Thank you so much for having us!

xX Fiona Xx

Lucy & Alex’s Alternative Autumn Wedding

Lucy’s Dress: Hannah Black Bridal

Lucy’s Boots: Demonia

Alex’s Suit: Charles Gale

Bridesmaids Dresses: Ever Pretty

Venues: Alton House Hotel & Beech Village Hall