MARRIED…..Steph & Gary’s Hartsfield Manor Wedding – Putney Wedding Photographer

Nestled in the green Surrey countryside, just a stone’s throw from Box Hill is the gorgeous Hartsfield Manor which is where Steph and Gary were married on a beautiful summer’s day.

First port of call on the photography front was catching up with the Groom and his lads for a few pre-ceremony photos.  The boys all looked wonderful in their dinner jackets and bow ties and said how excited they were to get suited and booted.  It was amusing to hear the goings-on of their morning and it turned out that the Groom’s entourage hadn’t been very efficient or helpful in the early stages of the day.  The Groom ended up cooking them all breakfast, clearing up after everyone, helping them all get dressed, doing all their bow ties and folding pocket handkerchiefs as well as getting himself ready.  What an absolute legend!  I am pleased to report that after a hectic start with the boys trying to gather them together for their photos, with the scene not far removed how herding cats must look, they stepped up to become super-duper efficient and helpful groomsmen throughout the whole day.   So a big THANK YOU to the Best Man and the Ushers > chaps, I’ll let you know the dates of other weddings when you’re welcome to come and help me!!!

The Bride and her girls got ready in the Betchworth Suite at Hartsfield with everything under control and impressively ahead of schedule.  Whilst sipping champagne and nattering away excitedly with each other, the girls had their hair and makeup done and I was able to get stuck into the detail shots, with which I was in my element.  As you can see from the photos, Steph and Gary’s wedding had an Art Deco twist with the colour theme being black, white and gold.  This looked really tasteful, fitting in fabulously with the style of Hartsfield Manor.  From the font  chosen for the order of service to the details on the Bride’s shoes, the Art Deco style had been cleverly incorporated into every element of the day.  Interestingly, they’d decided to forgo flowers at the wedding and instead accessorize in a different way with a black clutch bag for the Bride, white ones for her Bridesmaids, and elsewhere great use of white pearls, black feathers with gold tips and gold champagne bottles.

Downstairs the guests had soon all arrived and along with Gary and his entourage waited excitedly for the arrival of the Bride.

Steph and her girls made their way down the grand staircase on their way to the ceremony.  This staircase, with all the natural light flooding in, accentuating its architectural lines, is one of the many features of Hartsfield that I absolutely love to use in photographs.

I don’t think I’ve ever said this about a wedding before, but the beautiful Bride was almost upstaged and the day stolen before she made her grand entrance…   Her cutie niece of a Flower Girl came down the aisle with her Mummy holding a sign which read ‘Here she comes Uncle Gary!’, which made everyone giggle and Gary smile even more.  It was such a fun and unexpected touch to the ceremony.

When Steph made her grand entrance, everyone gasped in delight.  She looked incredible and she gracefully made her way down the aisle on her father’s arm to join her Husband-to-be.

The wonderful service was complemented by beautiful readings and the couple’s personalised vows.   After the exchange of rings and signing of the register the newly-weds walked up the aisle hand in hand to the applause of their congregation and out into the sunny grounds of the beautiful Manor.

Yes, it was a beautiful, sunshiny day and everyone had a wonderful time outside sipping champers and mingling with each other.  The kids, big and small, amused themselves with the giant chess game and ran about in the grounds.  Working my way around the wedding guests I took a variety of photos, lots of natural and candid ones, as well as our signature reportage and documentary style shots where people are unaware of being photographed.

Towards the end of the reception we organized the group shots and it was a delight using the distant tree line as a backdrop.  My favourite was that of the bridal party together; the boys were a picture of sartorial elegance in their dinner jackets and bow ties with the girls on their arms.  It really was a nice change from the normal suit and ties I photograph at weddings.

The rest of the afternoon and evening was super.  Everyone enjoyed a veritable feast which was then followed by great speeches.

After coffee and a little time to chill, the couple cut the cake and hit the dance floor.  The party was then truly underway and continued right through into the early hours.

It was a real delight photographing Step and Gary’s beautiful wedding and I do have to give a big SHOUT OUT to the wonderful Angharad, the superb Wedding Coordinator at Hartsfield Manor and her great team who, as always, work so hard to ensure the smooth running of every wedding.  As always, it was a real pleasure working alongside them!

Big THANKS to the wonderful suppliers who made Stephanie & Gary’s wedding day so brilliant…

Cake – The Cheese Shed

DJ – DJ2K

Hair & Makeup – Natasha Wiggins

Wedding Dress Shop – David’s Bridal

Wedding Dress Designer – Galina Couture

Hartsfield Manor Wedding Photographer Juliet Lemon Photography (of course!)