Sophie & Steven - Owlpen Manor - Trioh Media - Honest Wedding Photography & Videography

Wedding Venue: Owlpen Manor

DESTINATION: Stroud, Gloucestershire

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

Something blue:

Sophie and Steve's wedding took place the stunning Owlpen Manor. A venue that I've had the pleasure of photographing at a few times and thanks to the incredibly friendly and hardworking staff and the abundance of beautiful sixteenth century architecture; its always an enjoyable experience.

Owlpen Manor is a Tudor Grade I listed manor house situated in the Stroud district of Gloucestershire and began construction way back in 1540. The associated estate is set in a valley within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and as you approach this venue for the first time, you immediately understand why this is such popular wedding venue.

Weddings that take place in one single location tend to be a lot more relaxed, not only for the bride and groom, but also for all of the guests and staff involved. Owlpen is ideal for this as they have several little cottages on site. So whilst the bride and bridesmaids are getting ready in the 'Cyder Barn', the groom and groomsmen can get themselves prepared in one of the adjacent cottages. On this occasion Steve and the lads were located at 'Grist Mill', which is small, old stone cottage located a stones throw from the main building. This is what photographers and videographers hope for when shooting a wedding, as it gives the ability to easily capture both bride and groom prep, without the challenge of driving to different locations and finding suitable parking. It also provides us with more time and opportunity to capture moments that we may have missed which adds extra depth to the final wedding gallery. It's a win/win!

Bride & Bridesmaids - Cyder Barn

Groom & Groomsmen - Grist Mill

Something Old :

We've all heard the phrase 'tying the knot', but did you know that the expression originates from a Celtic, pre-Christian tradition that literally saw a couple bound together with rope or string to symbolise the internal bonds they are forging. Sophie and Steve opted for a traditional knot tying and as this was a wedding in November (in the UK), it took place inside the main barn - a good choice as the weather just couldn't make its mind up!

Confetti In Your Shoe:

Although it was a rather chilly winters day, everyone still made the effort to get outside as much as possible. After the ceremony was complete, we went outside for the confetti run and group shots before heading inside for the drinks reception and canapés. It was either heavy rain or blazing sunshine, so we had to take our chances when we could. Luckily the rain held off for a little longer and we managed to go for a walk around the grounds. Using the manor as a backdrop it allowed us to capture some lush Wes Anderson esque formal shots amongst the vibrant autumn leaves..

Joining The Ceilidh:

For evening entertainment Sophie and Steve hired a traditional ceilidh band (The Hilltop Ceilidh Band). If you've not heard of a ceilidh before then don't stress, neither had I before becoming a wedding photographer. The word "ceilidh" comes from the Scottish Gaelic word céilidh, which means "gathering" or "party". It's basically a group of people dancing energetically to up-beat Gaelic folk music and - more often than not - it is undertaken with plenty of alcohol. It's immensely fun and exhausting.

Photographing a ceilidh is almost as exhausting as actually taking part. I'm constantly running around the room like a mad man trying to reposition myself for the best angles whilst trying to not get in anyones way. If you've ever attempted to photograph children after they've had a few too many Haribo, then you'll sort of know where I'm coming from.

Several songs into the Ceilidh and the temperature of the barn started rising considerably. This caused some of the guests to take a break and so this left those remaining without partners. It was at this point the host of the ceilidh announces that they need "just one more to continue the next dance" but no volunteers come forward and the room suddenly fell quiet as they waited for some brave soul to step up. Seeing the smiles of the remaining dancers slowly start to fade, I put my camera down and stepped onto the dance floor and filled the empty space. The sister of the bride yells across the room "YES ROB!" followed by re-ignited smiles and an enthusiastic applause from the rest of the room.

I believe that being a good wedding photographer isn't only about taking great photos, there's a lot more to it. Its helping bridesmaids carry heavy boxes from their car, it's showing the groom how to correctly position a buttonhole on his suit, it's helping lost guests find their way around a venue, it's turning yourself into a sweaty mess by joining the ceilidh when an extra dancer is needed. But most importantly It's allowing your couples and their guests to feel comfortable in your presence.

On that note; I'll leave you with a few pics from Sophie and Steves amazing day.

Much love - Rob