Kirstie & George | Quantock Lakes Wedding
I knew this Quantock Lakes wedding was going to be a good one before Kirstie had even walked down the aisle. The ceremony room was full, everyone was settled, and then instead of music starting, a recording from Kirstie and George's son began to play. It completely caught everyone off guard. You could see people looking around trying to hold it together, and by the time Kirstie made her entrance there were already a fair few tears being wiped away. It was such a lovely way to start the ceremony and one of those moments that nobody expected but everyone will remember.
March weddings can sometimes be a bit of a gamble weather-wise, but Quantock Lakes always looks incredible whatever the season. The lakes, the views and the light around the venue worked perfectly as a backdrop for the day. One thing that stood out throughout the wedding was just how relaxed Kirstie and George were. There wasn't any rushing around or worrying about timelines; they were completely focused on spending time with their family and friends, and actually enjoying the day they'd spent so long planning. After the wedding breakfast we headed out for a few photos around the grounds, giving them a chance to take five minutes together and soak everything in while the celebrations carried on around them.
One of my favourite things about photographing weddings is seeing all the little moments that happen in between the big ones, and Kirstie and George's wedding had loads of them. The hugs after the ceremony, people catching up during drinks, kids running around causing chaos and grandparents sitting back and taking it all in all helped tell the story of the day. The speeches were another highlight. I've photographed a lot of speeches over the years and these definitely hit the emotional end of the scale. There were plenty of laughs, but there were also some really heartfelt moments that had people reaching for tissues again. You could see just how loved these two are from the reactions around the room.
Then came one of the best wedding cake alternatives I've seen, or rather the complete lack of a wedding cake. Instead, Kirstie and George had a piñata, and they fully committed to it before the first dance. With everyone gathered around, they both took turns trying to smash it open and it was absolute chaos in the best possible way. Everyone was laughing, phones were out and it made for some brilliant photos. As if that wasn't enough, Kirstie had another surprise lined up for the evening. Before the piñata, she had her hair cut. Not a little trim; an actual wedding day haircut. I've never photographed that happening before, and judging by everyone's reactions neither had the guests and I hope it catches on.
The rest of the night carried on exactly how you'd hope, with plenty of laughs, lots of dancing and a dancefloor that stayed busy. Looking back through the photographs afterwards, what I kept coming back to wasn't one single moment but how personal everything felt. Every part of it felt like Kirstie and George, from their son's recording before the ceremony to the emotional speeches, smashing a piñata instead of cutting a cake and a surprise haircut. Just a brilliant day from start to finish. Huge congratulations to both of you, and thank you for having me there to capture it all.
Dress – Elizabeth Anne Bridal
Make Up – Annabel Rayner
Hair – Lucy Stott Hair
Flowers – Loolabells Floristry
Harpist – Scarlett Smith
Stylist – The Planning Lounge
Stationery – Anna Victoria
Piñata – Pinyatay
Videographer – Sam Kinsella / Champagne Kisses Wedding Films
Caricature Artist – Sarah Bailey Cartoons
