Tag: Two Woods wedding photographer

Two Woods Wedding Photographer | Kerry & Craig

On meeting Kerry & Craig, it was clear that their love of all things nature was going to be the presiding factor of their day. Their engagement shoot was held in the stunning West Sussex Bluebell Woods. Their wedding was planned for Two Woods in Pulborough which is perfect for those loving the outdoor vibes!

Kerry and Craig’s ceremony was held in October, which has to be one of my favourite months to shoot. Autumn is my visual highlight of the year as the colours change into the most firey of tones. Add in the choice of venue, as a regular Two Woods Wedding Photographer I was truly excited for this one! The creative couple that they are, I found out later that they had designed their own stationary and had done much of the decor themselves.

The Bridal Barn is a light and airy space, perfect for your group to get ready in. Kerry had provided lovely gowns for her and her girls, we couldn’t resist making sure these was part of the picture! The bridal party itself was made up of family members and their spouses, who were also their closest friends, making it a really lovely, intimate feel.

It seems Kerry is a very organised bride, she had sourced her wedding dress a few years before planning their wedding from Whyte Weddings in Worthing. How she kept that a secret, and didn’t keep visiting it and wearing it I don’t know! Shelly Bond Bridal was in charge of the hair and make-up for the day, which also included floral hair pieces and crowns designed by Brandon at Flowers4, also in Worthing. The bouquets were sumptuous, perfectly complementing the Autumnal colours that were everywhere.

The girls got ready swiftly in their Asos dresses and opened their gifts. Stunning earrings which again, fitted the natural theme of the day to perfection. Helping Kerry into her dress, the girls primped with final details before getting ready for the ceremony being held in the Redwoods.

The boys were already at the Redwoods greeting their guests and checking the final details. Craig looked incredibly dapper in his tweed suit from Greys Suit Hire, Worthing. His groomsmen in blues which further complemented the natural orange tones of the season.

It was easy for the guests to find their way through the estate to the Redwoods as Kerry and Craig had thoughtfully marked the way with many handwritten signs and arrows!

It was lovely for Lee, my second shooter to have been able to catch the boys in a moment of calm before they took their places to await Kerry and the girls.

I love how Kerry was escorted to the Redwoods from the Bridal Barn in an open jeep, a great way to travel in style for your day!

One of the most gorgeous things I see as a regular Two Woods Wedding Photographer is the epic aisle! I mean WOW! What an entrance as you round the corner and start making your way to your beloved under the canopy of these beautiful Redwoods! I’m not surprised to see many a tear shed and Craig was no exception to a display of emotion as his bride glided towards him. With music provided by Jade Woodhouse, The Sussex Cellist, it was truly a serene moment.

The outdoor ceremonies held at Two Woods are just gorgeous, regardless of the time of year. Sheltered from the harsh sunlight by the natural canopy overhead, with rustic seating. You can really make it your own. With an unplugged wedding like this, you can really see the emotion and love in the guests as they watch their friends take their vows.

As I often do, rather than a disorganised shamble of a group shot, I find myself taking the group shot just after the signing of the register. That way the guests are all still present and visible while they are seated. This not only looks far neater (in my opinion) but takes less than a couple of minutes compared to longer when you try to reconnect everyone after they have dispersed and found the bar!

The guests enjoyed the bar after the ceremony while we completed the requested group shots within the Redwoods. A perfect spot for those precious photos with parents and your bridal party. It was lovely for the wedding guests to enjoy some mingling time with each other in this space while it remained wonderfully warm.

While the guests were ushered to the barn ready for their afternoon tea and speeches, Kerry & Craig held back for some couple portraits. When planning your photographic timeline, we try to choose the time spent with the couple to fit within those moments where there is either down time, a room is being turned around, or just simply… to get the rest of the guests from A-B! Often catering, especially when hot, is on a precise schedule. If we take the newlyweds out of view for a few moments it enables the team to usher the guests to the next part of the day in a timely manner, also allowing the couple a few moments of quiet to just “be” in that moment.

The short walk back to the barns provided the perfect backdrop for portraits that complemented their natural theme of the day.

The barn was set up for afternoon tea by Karen from Henry’s Kitchen, which was kicked off with some hilarious speeches by the best men! The rest of the bridal party also got involved with voicing some words for the happy couple!

I loved the foxy theme used within much of the decor too, from the table displays, to the wedding stationary. Even Craig’s lapel pin was on-point! As the afternoon tea finished, the room was turned around for the evening celebrations. The children played outside, making masks and enjoying the freedom and space the venue allowed.

After a minor mishap with the dress, Craig’s sister Helen thankfully works for a bridal boutique, so there was also a little room for her to apply her skills, ensuring Kerry’s dress was lifted and fastened securely for the evening party! They all looked very relaxed during this impromptu sewing session!

The Bridal Party used the Bridal Barn upstairs to take some photographs. As they were all either siblings or couples, Kerry and Craig had asked if we could create some quick portraits of each couple, which of course was a pleasure to do. We couldn’t help but make sure that the newlyweds got their own Bridal Barn Portrait too!

The evening kicked off with a bang to the First Dance: God Only Knows by The Beach Boys. A favourite of mine and one that holds many special memories for me. The 88’s band were in charge of the party and didn’t fail to get the party tunes rolling out! A brilliant band that sounds incredible at every wedding or event! There was a pizza van later in the evening proving some more delicious food for the guests.

During a quiet moment I managed to also get a closer look at Kerry & Craig’s rings. As Kerry works in the medical profession, she is unable to wear anything with stones, so Timothy Roe jewellers in Chichester had made her a bespoke ring with an entwining leaf pattern so she could wear something more unique in her day to day working life. I think you’d agree it is a perfectly befitting piece of jewellery for her.

I had such joy shooting Kerry & Craig’s wedding. It was a beautiful and happy day filled with my favourite Autumnal colours. No wedding is complete however without an album!

We designed their Graphistudio album to complete the natural feel of their theme. Using a Dark Brown Maple finish for the Original Wedding Album and Design Box, finished with a Burnt Sienna linen lining. I think you’ll agree, a perfect fit for this Two Woods Wedding.

Thank you again for choosing me Mr & Mrs Bendell, may you have a lifetime of happiness!

xX Fiona Xx

Two Woods Wedding Photographer | Kerry & Craig

Pulborough Wedding Photographer | Two Woods Estate | Vicky & Tom

Pulborough Wedding Photographer | Two Woods Estate | West Sussex | Vicky & Tom

When Vicky contacted me at the beginning of June this year to shoot her (very short notice) August wedding at Two Woods Estate in Pulborough I jumped at the chance to be her Wedding Photographer. The date was good, I was free. It’s as if all the stars, planets and polo mints were perfectly aligned.

Vicky and Tom live in Southsea on the South Coast and are very much water lovers so we took the opportunity to meet there for their test shoot, check out their images from that session here and their back story. They had planned a festival style wedding at Two Woods Estate…a Wedfest! Being very much active on the camping and VW Club scene it was only fitting that this should be a more alternative wedding.

On a gloriously sunny and hot August morning Vicky was getting ready at her bridesmaids house in Chichester, her sister diligently applying make up…until her daughter took over Nanny’s application that is!

Vicky had a gorgeous dress, lace panels giving a cheeky peephole reveal effect on the hips while staying classy and elegant. With a colourful headpiece to complement the Wedfest vibe and bridesmaids in bold block colours, the scene was certainly set early on. I loved the light, airy rooms in the house, and the finer details and sculptures which I couldn’t resist including in some of the photos, especially with Vicky and Tom’s daughters cute little outfit!

One the girls had finished fitting Vicky into this most beautiful dress we had a few moments alone before her mother, Ann, got her first peek at her gorgeous daughter. Tears came, of course! I’m sure I would be the same with my own daughters….(to be fair, I’m already like this with each bride I shoot but we’ll keep that between us)

Vicky’s wedding convoy was made up of vintage VW vans and cars. It was fabulous hearing these old engines roaring along! We trundled along the route from Chichester to Pulborough to the wedding destination, the newly opened Two Woods Estate.

Jade from Two Woods is a fantastic organiser ensuring all aspects of the day are run smoothly. The decor is wonderful, from handcrafted wood sculptures to beautifully bespoke furniture, the venue fits the bespoke wedding, Wedfest festival vibe perfectly. With 42 acres of land, the towering Redwoods, plenty of meadow space to camp and party in…not to mention the lofty Bridal Suite (very jealous of this space!) and the converted barn indoor area. It really is perfect! They also have some fabulous vintage caravans on site which can also be used for guests. I’m pretty sure Mark was creating something new each time I visited! If you haven’t already checked out their website linked above, also have a nose at their Facebook page here.

While Vicky, her bridal party and VW convoy was trucking it’s way to Pulborough, Tom and his Best Men were busy ensuring everything was where it should be at Two Woods. Signs put up and facing the right direction, decorations laid out and the meadow ready for those setting up their tents. Tom and Vicky had chosen to get married in the stunning Redwoods. These ancient trees towered gracefully above a long aisle leading to the Wooden Pergola at the end providing the perfect frame and canopy for their ceremony.

In keeping with the Wedfest theme, Vicky and Tom had created Festival style lanyards detailing all the aspects of their day, including a well thought out map and menu. The Redwoods were delicately decorated with paper hearts, paper flowers, tree stumps and tea lights. Much of which hand crafted by Vicky. How she managed to do all this planning and preparationin 8-10 weeks is incredible!

Vicky and Tom had asked for an unplugged wedding, which is a fantastic idea. Not only does it mean your guests are truly engaging with you (rather than through their devices) during such a special ceremony, but I get to capture the emotion that is happening, not faces and people half obscured by someone’s iPad Pro! Here’s a selection of that special ceremony….

As it was such a hot, bright day with gallons of blue sky we decided to use the shaded canopy of the redwoods to create some family and newlywed portraits. I think you would agree, it really is the most photogenic setting for such a beautiful and happy looking couple.

While we were taking a moment to capture some portraits the rest of the guests were settling into the festival vibe, playing giant games, listening to some sweet sounds from Frankie & Louie, supping on Pimms and eating oodles of cheese, pate and biscuits. I had one final request from the newlyweds before they were released to party…They wanted a group shot with their Dirty Low Down Dubbers crew. Easy I hear you say?? I’ll just add that we needed to include the vehicles too!! The VW’s as vintage as they are, behaved with absolute decorum and class…their owners on the other hand….I leave you with our achievements before the crew got back to their Wedfest partying!

As the afternoon moved on, the party resettled into the barn area ready for stage 2 of the Wedfest. The BBQ…as food is always a central point to people’s day it was only befitting we captured the crowd hanging out, and getting into the grub….quite literally!! It was lovely to also see Vicky’s craft work and decoration in the barn too, as well as their quirky Star Wars take for their cake topers!

After all were fed and watered there was a brief interlude for the speeches. Lots of laughter ensued, especially as the best men regaled why Tom had his name legally changed (twice) to include that favourite Top Gun moniker, Maverick. A quick break upstairs to capture a couple more portraits before these guys got their party back on. It was great to capture a few more portraits of Tom too as the groom is often neglected photographically while the bride gets most of the preparatory attention.

Apparantly, no DLDD wedding is complete without the Dirty Low Down Dubbers traditional party piece, The Human Pyramid. No bananas were harmed in the making of that photograph.

Vicky and Tom had a fantastic fun and alternative wedding day, it was a real pleasure to be part of it. As they were planning a delayed honeymoon I was eager to get their images and album design finalised as soon as possible. It was a joy to hand deliver their albums to them this weekend. For me, although sad that my journey with them and their wedding is now complete, seeing a couple react and handle their images, reliving the day and those memories is the perfect end to my job. Here’s a peek at what their finished Graphistudio albums looked like. Vicky was excited to discover I was able to include their Wedfest Artwork into the box, as well as theme the colours to complement the artwork and the lanyard ribbon. Their designer, Mark at Storm Bird Design was incredibly helpful too, forwarding on the appropriately sized artwork and font download so I could match up the font on the album. I hope you agree, it looks fabulous. What a special box of memories to treasure forever.

I look forward to keeping up with your news Vicky and Tom, here’s cheers to the next chapter in your life!

Many thanks for choosing me,

Big love,

Fiona xx