Johnny and Jurgita married at Highcliff Castle, then moved on to The Oaks for their reception. The day started with bridal preparations in a cottage close to the castle, a sea mist rolled in for the ceremony, and by the afternoon the sun was out over the garden.
Getting ready in the cottage
Jurgita got ready with her bridesmaids in a cottage not far from Highcliff Castle. Hair dryers, make-up brushes, a lot of laughing and the odd look at the clock. It was a busy room and a happy one.
These are the pictures that tell the real story of the morning. The nerves, the help with the dress, and the small moments between a bride and her closest friends.
Sea mist at Highcliff Castle
Highcliff Castle was built in the 1830s on the clifftop above Christchurch Bay, so the sea is never far away. On the way over, a sea mist started rolling in off the water and wrapped itself around the castle.
Guests arrived through it, coming in and out of view as they walked up. It gave the castle a very different look to the one on the postcards, and the pictures are better for it.
The ceremony
Johnny saw Jurgita as she walked down the aisle, and his face said it all. They exchanged their vows and rings, and as the ceremony went on, the mist outside started to lift.
Sunshine at The Oaks
After the ceremony everyone moved on to The Oaks for the reception. By then the mist had gone and the afternoon sun was out across the garden, which made for two completely different sets of pictures in one day.
The reception was lively. Plenty of laughing, plenty of glasses raised, and a lot of dancing. The garden did most of the work as a backdrop.
Evening portraits in the garden
As the day turned to evening, Johnny and Jurgita took a few minutes on their own. They walked through the garden hand in hand in the low golden light, and that is where the last portraits of the day were taken.
Congratulations to Johnny and Jurgita.
Planning a Highcliff Castle wedding
- Be ready for the sea. The castle sits right on the coast, and a sea mist can arrive and clear within a few hours. Don’t write off the pictures if it rolls in. It can be the most atmospheric part of the day.
- Allow for the move. If your reception is somewhere else, as Johnny and Jurgita’s was, build the travel into your timings so the portraits don’t get squeezed.
- Save ten minutes for the evening light. A short walk on your own when the sun is low gives you some of the best pictures of the day.
- Get ready close by. A cottage or house near the venue keeps the morning relaxed and cuts the travel on the day.
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