Dewsall Court Wedding | Seonaid & Theo
Documentary Wedding Photography at Dewsall Court
Only my second Dewsall Court wedding but absolutely one of my favourite wedding venues that I’ve shot at. It’s a shame it’s so far from where I live.
Near Hereford, with views of the Black Mountains just across the Welsh border, it has a unique atmosphere, nestled in one of the most beautiful parts of the UK. The sun shone too, for Seonaid and Theo’s wedding last weekend. It’s not like some clinical hotel venue. It must be like holding a wedding in your own home – if your own home was a very smart, seventeenth-century manor house. Lovingly restored, the house, it is said, was even used for SAS training when it was derelict. Calm, quiet, characterful – a perfect venue, that seems to be going from strength to strength, with the now updated Wainhouse.
Seonaid first got in touch, about photography, early last year but it was sometime before they confirmed the booking. Starting up their two businesses, at the same time as planning their wedding, must have been a big distraction.
The day got going, as the sun burnt off the morning cloud, with some clay pigeon shooting in the grounds. Silent shooting, with laser adapted shotguns – would the SAS have been impressed? Upstairs Seonaid was getting ready with her bridesmaids, when not sneaking a peek at Theo from one of the windows. A bridesmaid courier shuttled their wedding gifts to each other – both bought from the same shop. Then the ceremony on the lawn (a quick repeat inside to meet the strange legal requirements we have in the UK still plus a registrar insisting upon formal pictures, even though that was not what was wanted…), then out to a confetti assault – Seonaid brandishing her flowers in defence. Drinks then in the sunshine. A relaxed, sunny Dewsall Court wedding.
When a wedding guest is a top photojournalist
Now Theo didn’t mention that amongst the guests was one of his relatives, who just happens to be one of the UK’s best photojournalists (no pressure!). Check out John Bulmer’s book! Probably good he didn’t tell me. Perhaps a bit naff showing up at the wedding, with my copy, to get it signed?
As the sun started to dip, everyone made their way across to the Wainhouse for speeches and the meal. Some quick portraits in the setting sunshine and then the dancing. My coverage done, I began my three-hour journey home, to Sussex, the very last light just touching the hilltops.
Now to buy a lottery ticket and see how much I can persuade the owners of Dewsall to sell up for? 😉 I mean, a snooker table on the landing…does it get better than that?
Here are a few images from this Dewsall Court wedding…
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