Last weekend saw us photographing the Southend Barns wedding of Gemma and Michael. We both remember our first meeting with them because not only are they a gorgeous couple, they are also great fun and we knew their wedding would be a fun one and we were not disappointed!
They told us: “We met at Michael’s Sister’s wedding in May 2005. Gemma had been invited to the evening reception, but it took Michael until the end of the evening (with a little bit of help from his matchmaking sister) to pluck up some (dutch) courage to approach her!” Eight years later, (yes eight!) on a camping trip to the Lake District for Michael’s birthday, he had arranged a surprise afternoon tea at Storr’s Hall overlooking the beautiful Lake Windermere on what Gemma thought was their last day there. Michael suggested taking a quick look around the grounds and the hotel before the 6 hour drive home, and led her upstairs and into the honeymoon suite. In front of her was a huge bouquet of flowers, champagne on ice, and rose petals on the bed. As she turned, Michael was on one knee and asked her to marry him! They chose a beautiful oval diamond engagement ring together from Wakefield’s in Horsham.
Gemma got ready for the wedding in the beautifully converted Milking Parlour at the Barns. This is not only a remarkably tranquil place to get ready, it has fabulous natural light and neutral colours which is just perfect for photography. While Gemma was getting ready at the Barns and her bridesmaids were having their hair and make up done by Kirrily Rickeard, Michael was at home making his final preparations with his Best Man and ushers and he looked very handsome in a Navy Mohair Gresham Blake suit with their wedding date embroidered in to the lining of the jacket. As an air hostess, Gemma told us she tried on dresses all around the world from the south of England to Las Vegas but she finally found the one, a gorgeous Maggie Sottero dress with really delicate lace detail and plenty of sparkle, in Florida. As the wedding was planned in little over four months, Gemma says she was cutting it fine to get a dress ordered at all!
Her bridesmaids all looked gorgeous in long purple bridesmaids dresses also from the USA. Gemma’s dress was a total surprise to everyone including her bridesmaids so we did a big reveal in to everyone and more than a few tears were shed! Southend Barns is a perfect wedding venue with everything a Bride and Groom could possibly need all in the one place and the ceremony took place in the lovely bright Dairy Barn, again a photographers dream thanks to the natural light and neutral colours.
The ceremony was lovely with a very funny and heartfelt reading written and red by Gemma’s Nan and also a fantastic reading by eight year old Koby, which left everyone speechless he delivered it so perfectly. After the ceremony, the guests enjoyed drinks in the sun in the courtyard at the Barns while we took some group shots. This was particularly important with many of Gemma’s family flying in from America for the wedding.
The Threshing Barn had been decorated beautifully with such wonderful goodies as a naughty table laden with sweeties and a fabulous cake consisting of 180 Krispy Creme doughnuts, which Michael valiantly taste tested prior to the wedding day to ensure that they chose just the right flavours! Gemma and Michael made a donation to St Wilfrid’s Hospice instead of having favours, something very close to my heart as a volunteer at the Hospice myself. This is such a lovely idea and very well received.
The meal prepared by the wonderful in-house caterers at Southend Barns, Field and Fork was served prior to some very funny and very moving speeches. After the meal, we were able to take Gemma and Michael away on their own for a few minutes to make the most of the gorgeous low light to create some of our signature images in the fields around the barns.
In the evening, the brilliant Deloreans got the party rocking and the inflatables provided by Gemma and Michael were very well used by their crazy friends! This was a lovely wedding with a gorgeous couple, a great atmosphere and at a beautiful venue – what more could we ask for! If you are getting married at Southend Barns and you would like to discuss your wedding photography, please do get in touch. We offer some extra special treats as we love this venue, which is just five minutes from our home base. 
Southend Barns Weddings
Getting married at Southend Barns? There’s more on the barns, the light and the grounds on my Southend Barns wedding photographer page.
