Last Saturday was my final wedding of the year at Stonelees Golf Centre. As one of the recommended photographers, I often work here and have enjoyed this year tremendously. However, I was a little concerned that Holly-Anne and Daniel might not manage to have their October twilight wedding ceremony outside. The weather forecast looked a little dodgy … but an email arrived the day before from Suzannah, the wedding co-ordinator confirming that all was going ahead … outdoors!

“Smile with teeth” is an instruction that I use quite often both for weddings and corporate headshots. People often tend not to smile broadly … and I met my match with Riley, Holly-Anne and Daniel’s son … but more about that later. I arrived at the venue, looking glorious in the gentle autumn light and managed to catch up with Daniel and his brother, and best man, Sean before the ceremony for a few images. Another bonus, and a tick on my list, was that Joey, my lovely couple’s German Shepherd arrived as a surprise … I love photographing dogs and Joey was my first ceremony with a dog this year (please can I have some next year … please!).

Kent twilight wedding at Stonelees Kent twilight wedding at Stonelees

Holly-Anne and her bridal party arrived in a huge white limo … forty minutes early which rather caught us off our guard. Ushering the guests into the ceremony gardens and managing to find a few minutes for portraits with the bridesmaids, flower girls and page boy, along with Holly-Anne’s dad … the ceremony started early! I absolutely love the colour of the dresses – all complementary and catching the colours in the bouquets too (as always, beautiful work from Karen at Black Iris Floristry).The dresses were super-flattering to both the bridesmaids and to Rachel, a long time friend of the bride. And, of course, Holly-Anne you glowed!Kent twilight wedding at Stonelees Kent twilight October wedding at StoneleesRiley was a very well behaved and super-attentive ring bearer and didn’t mind having his photo taken …

Kent twilight October wedding at Stonelees Kent twilight October wedding at Stonelees

“Smile with teeth” – you got me there Riley!!! Holly-Anne tells me that Riley lost four teeth in the few weeks before the wedding and she had really hoped that he wouldn’t lose any more!Kent twilight October wedding at Stonelees smile with teeth

Instead of confetti for my couple’s exit, Holly-Anne and Daniel had provided streamers with bells – it was a great alternative (and far less messy) although the flower girls had some sparkly stars which they threw over my lovely couple and which got stuck in some difficult to reach places!Kent twilight October wedding at Stonelees Kent twilight October wedding at Stonelees

At Stonelees, they offer all couples the opportunity to go out after the wedding breakfast in a golf buggy to get a few portraits around the beautifully manicured grounds. At this time of year, sunset was at 6.28pm and we could see from the cloud cover that it wasn’t going to be a golden sunset as I’ve had recently at Stonelees and Holly-Anne made an extremely sensible suggestion, as we were running ahead of time, that we take the opportunity to go out in the buggy before the meal – their guests were all comfortably inside and keeping warm and it was a great idea. Although Holly-Anne and I would appear to share a dislike of crane flies … as I was taking this image, it seemed like hundreds of the little critters decided it was time to fly out … I’m sure I had some in my hair but we made sure that Holly-Anne had none in the layers of her bridal gown!!Kent twilight October wedding at Stonelees Kent twilight October wedding at Stonelees

After a relaxed meal and some speeches, cake cut and first dance were quickly upon us. Holly-Anne loves Anime characters and this shot really sums that up! (I had to Google it and you can find out more here).Kent twilight October wedding at Stonelees

It was such a lovely bright wedding with which to end my year of weddings at Stonelees. Thank you to Holly-Anne, Daniel, Riley and Joey for being such great fun to photograph and I’m looking forward to editing and sharing your final images. Much love and happiness to you both! xx

P.S. And thank you too to the team at Stonelees for looking after me so well and always making me feel very welcome indeed.