Lois and Lee Knight – Fantastic Wedding at Manor of Groves

#hertfordshireweddingphotographer

Wedding Date 26/09/2015

Church – St Marys, Old Harlow

Reception – Manor of Groves (Colinade)

Bride – Lois Savage

Groom – Lee Knight

Bridesmaid – Kylie Savage

Flowergirl – Sienna

Best Man – Lewis Holbard

Ushers – Luke, Ross, Rene and Nathan

Video – Spotlight

Toastmaster – Clive Maynard

 

The build up to the day.

I first met Lois Savage when she came to a wedding show that I was working at. My stand had some nice fresh Reportage / Natural images on and Lois was looking and really loved the style and natural pictures that I specialise in taking.  As soon as we started chatting we immediately got on and I said to her she will make a stunning bride, she agreed lol and we spoke about Photography packages etc. Then she told me that she was just about to sign up and book another photographer. I was gutted because I knew I wanted to do her wedding and be her photographer and I wasn’t going to let that stop anything.  We carried on chatting and I had a feeling she would be getting in touch and hopefully going ahead and booking me.  Sure enough – a couple days later she called me and we got the forms filled out and I booked her in.

The Wedding Day

I arrived in Church Langley to do the preparation shots of Lee (groom) with  his best man and ushers all getting ready.  This was the first time that I had met Lee as everything up to this point was all done with Lois.  As soon as I met him, I liked him and we hit it off straight away, the boys were all relaxed and putting their waistcoats on.. this was a nice little shoot and a brilliant opportunity for me to meet the Boys before seeing them later at The Church.

I drove over to Manor Of Groves and walked into Room 1 to see Lois, she was sitting having her hair done drinking a glass of bubbly. This was one very beautiful bride – she looked AMAZING.  I met Kylie (sister), mum Sally and Sienna (niece). The atmosphere in the room was lovely Kisstory was playing, champagne flowing, the windows and doors open and outside the Sun was shining – this day was perfect.

Lois posed for some beautiful underwear shots and then got into her wedding dress, her dad Dean came into the room and he was speechless, i don’t think he was ready for just how lovely she looked.

I left the hotel and drove over to St Mary’s Church, all the boys and guests were having a drink in the pub next door and I got some natural shots using this location then headed down to the church and met the Vicar.  The guests all went in and then Lois arrived and walked into the church with her dad, sister and niece. The entrance in was lovely, there was a beautiful atmosphere inside and the singing was loud – Perfect.  Whilst the couple signed the marriage certificate Lee’s sister Ellie sang a beautiful song acapello and when she finished it the church erupted – these were a great crowd and I knew we would have a lot of fun later photographing them all.

The couple walked out the church and I set up the confetti shot – nearly 100 people in it. We all then headed back to the wedding cars and all made the way over to the Hotel.

On arrival Clive Maynard Toastmaster organised for the couple to have some private photos taken with me and then they joined their wedding guests for the drinks reception.  We then shot the group shots including all the Brides Girls who went on the Hen do to Marbeya (great girls and all very close mates to Lois).

We then went in and sat for the meal and afterwards the speeches started. Kylie started with a beautiful poem written by her mum Sally for the couple ‘this was so beautiful”… we then had a lovely speech from the groom, best man and (Dean) father of the brides speech.  Dean didnt just do a speech no… “for the first time in over 2000 weddings – I saw the father of the bride sing and Dean can sing he was AMAZING (see pic number 37.. Bride and Groom) the room was up and the guests singing and waving anything they could get their hands on including napkins and selfie sticks..  I felt sorry for Lewis “best man” having to follow him –  but he also delivered ‘ and did a speech worthy of The Best Man Title to his closest pal.

After the speeches the couple had their first dance and then the friends and family all joined in for the rest of the night. I finished the Pictures with some shots of the Bride and Groom outside the front of the Mansion House. I then said my goodbyes and left them to enjoy the rest of their night.

Personal note to Lois and Lee.

I have loved getting to know you, Lois I am really pleased that you didn’t book anyone else and you booked me as your Photographer, the day I met you I knew then that I was going to do your wedding.  Lee its been brilliant meeting you and your friends and family.  I wish you both all the luck in the world for the future.

Here is a selection of pictures that I have selected from the day.  They are low resolution – There will be a higher resolution set going into an album on Facebook soon so don’t screenshot these but wait for the better ones. JP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photographed and written © John Paul O’Donnell Photography.

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