Alison and Marks Wedding at Fanhams Hall

Date – 25th August 2016

Ceremony – Japanese Tea House at Fanhams Hall

Reception – Pavillion at Fanhams Hall

Bride – Alison Cruse

Groom – Mark Peruga

Maid of Honor – Caz (brides sister)

Bridesmaids – Nikki, Nix, Sam and Hannah

Best Man – Anton (grooms nephew)

Honeymoon – The Maldives

 

I first met Alison and Mark when they came to a wedding exhibition that I was at which was at Fanhams Hall.  They had come down from Manchester where they live to come to the show.  As soon as I met them both we got on really well and I had a feeling that id be getting a call in the next couple of days to get them booked in. Two days went and I got a call from Alison saying they loved the photography and wanted to go ahead. Her father Graham ( very keen amateur photographer) came over to see me with the booking form.. we got chatting about the pictures and really got on very well.  Mark certainly has married into a great family there and after meeting Marks family – it really is 2 great family’s joining together.

The Wedding day started with me arriving at Fanhams Hall 2 hours before the Wedding Ceremony. I went into the room that Alison was getting ready in and saw her sitting having her hair done in her silk dressing gown drinking a glass of bubbly.  Her sister Caz (maid of honour) had made all the bridal bouquets ( top job ) and was sorting those out whilst the bridesmaids were getting their hair and make up done… great atmosphere and very chilled.  With the help of the Caz and the Bridesmaids we got all the dresses including Alison’s and hanged them all together to get a nice picture.. the white wooden paneling really set the dresses off.

I popped out on to the mezzanine floor and saw Mark, his best man and groomsmen getting their button holes on and having a pint. Mark was looking very well-groomed and was with his family.  I popped down and got some pictures of them all before they headed down to The Japanese Tea House for the outside wedding Ceremony.

When I went back into the room the Bridesmaids were all in their dresses and Alison presented them all with their presents and then opened a beautiful present from Mark “she held back the tears whilst reading some of it’.  She then got into her dress and it was at this point that her father Graham came in and saw her .. you could see that he was indeed a very proud dad.

I did a few pictures and then headed down to the wedding ceremony to see Mark and his friends and family. It was at this point I looked through the trees and in the distance could see the Fanhams Hall golf buggy with Alison and her dad on the back.  The bridesmaids all walked down the aisle and was then followed by the bride.. she looked stunning.  The Ceremony was very nice .. I have only photographed a couple of Weddings outside in this part of the Gardens but the way the sun and slight Breeze was.. this was as perfect as it could get.

I decided after the ceremony to just keep the bride and groom in this area and all the guests made their way up to the Pavilion for drinks whilst the bride and groom stayed and some pictures done. I used the bridges and formal gardens for the main pictures and then we headed up shortly after to join the rest of the wedding party.  Alison and Mark specified that they wanted a Reportage style of photography done which is my shooting style so I shot lots of very natural pictures whilst they mixed with their guests and then did a few group shots just before they headed in for the wedding breakfast.

We then went in for the meal and then afterwards the speeches started.  Graham did a very good speech .. humour seriousness ..it was perfect. Mark was exceptional and spoke with ease ..like he was talking to one person not almost 100.  But the best man (grooms nephew) delivered a speech that is certainly up there with some of the best I have ever heard.. confident, articulate and at the end very touching.. Mark had certainly picked well in his selection (even if he was 3rd choice).. “personal joke between them’.

The meal finished and the couple went out on the terrace for drinks whilst the room was prepared for the evenings dancing and then the couple came in and cut their wedding cake and started the dancing off.

Just before I finished I took the couple out to do a nice silhouette shot on the terrace and said my goodbyes to everyone.

 

Here is a selection of images that I have selected from the day.

Personal message.

Alison and Mark, It has been a pleasure getting to know you. I knew it would be a fun and great day and it certainly was.. I loved the way you both were when I was taking the pictures.. when you were kissing and posing for some shots it really was like I wasn’t there .. this alone makes your pictures so natural and special.  A big thank you to Sarah Fenton one of Fanhams Halls prettiest and most amazing people… the staff there and Paul Bray Exec Chef are all so talented and the best people to work with.

Talk very soon.  JP

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Alison and Marks Wedding at Fanhams Hall Photographed and written © John Paul O’Donnell Photography.

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