Laura & Alex’s Gorcott Hall Wedding - Gorcott Hall Wedding Photographer
Laura and Alex were getting married at Gorcott Hall, one of my favourite wedding venues in Warwickshire. Not only is the venue itself stunning, but the team there are super friendly, so it’s always nice to return there as a Gorcott Hall wedding photographer.
I arrived nice and early for this one, as Laura had lots of bridesmaids, so I knew it was going to be a fun morning.
And the morning definitely did not disappoint.
Alex had pre warned me that his sister was fairly lively, so as soon as I entered, I immediately knew who she was! But the whole group had such a lovely energy about them, and there was lots of laughter happening around the room as everyone got ready.
Laura was calmly sitting in the corner getting her hair and makeup done whilst watching all the fun and organised chaos unfold around her.
With a lively morning like this, it’s always nice to find out how everyone knows the bride, and it was clear that Laura had friends from different stages of her life. There was a lovely mix of people all coming together to celebrate her and Alex.
As the girls got ready, helped with confetti and buzzed around the room, Laura’s mum arrived, and this was the first hilarious moment of the day.
She walked straight past her now fully made up daughter, totally not recognising her!
Luckily, later in the day, Alex had absolutely no trouble recognising her.
Fun Morning Photos at Gorcott Hall
It was a lovely, warm day, so as the morning’s fun evolved, we managed to get all the girls outside for a few fun photos before heading to the church.
I love these little moments during the morning preparations. Everyone is relaxed, nobody is really thinking about the camera and you get a chance to photograph the personalities of the people who are going to make up the wedding day.
Laura & Alex’s Church Ceremony
Alex was already inside the church, as were the guests, and his groomsmen were doing a great job of keeping him calm.
Although everyone was pretty confident Laura would be late, just to add to the nerves, Laura was actually late!
But in her defence, it wasn’t her fault today, It was her brother and his car parking abilities.
A little something I’m sure they laughed about after the day!
The ceremony itself was lovely, and apart from the normal photographs of the happy couple smiling and giggling at each other, and of course the occasional tears, it’s always nice to keep an eye on the guests for similar reactions.
Today was a great day for guest reactions.
I managed to capture Alex’s sister shedding a little tear, Laura’s brother adjusting his tie, I mean, you need to look good in church and, best of all, Alex’s dad in his very important role as grandad, keeping the little ones entertained.
These are the moments I love capturingr.there are so many stories happening all day.
Back to Gorcott Hall for the Wedding Reception
After the church ceremony, it was back to Gorcott Hall, and we had a grand entrance which involved the car driving towards me, for the second time this year, trying not to get hit by a car.
I’m starting to think this might be becoming part of my job description, Luckily I survived.
The weather was perfect for the drinks reception, and Laura and Alex had arranged for the DJ to play in the afternoon, so it was a perfect atmosphere for smiles, drinks and mingling.
It also gave everyone the opportunity to really enjoy the grounds at Gorcott Hall, which are one of the things I love about photographing weddings here.
There is plenty of space for guests to relax, children to run around and, importantly for me, lots of opportunities to disappear into the background and photograph everything naturally.
The Bouquet Toss
Laura had also requested to throw the bouquet, something I love but which doesn’t happen very often anymore.
So, as all the ladies excitedly lined up, elbows ready if required, the flowers were launched into the air.
And they actually fell to one of the younger girls. and when I say younger, I mean a child who is definitely not ready to get married!
It brought lots of laughter from the ladies who did have their eyes on the prize.
The Natural Moments You Don't Even Notice
The drinks reception was coming to an end and all the guests were being called inside.
This can sometimes be a great opportunity to grab some sneaky pictures of the crowd chatting, laughing or even embracing without the world watching.
These guys did not let me down.
I managed to grab a few lovely moments between friends and family that they probably won’t even realise I photographed until they read this.
The photographs don't always have to be big, dramatic moments. Sometimes it's the person laughing at something their friend has said, a hug between family members or a little expression that lasts for half a second, this time it was the magic of grandma having a little dance.
Those are the photographs that can bring the whole day back to life years later.
Speeches, Screams & Napkin Waving
Alex’s sister had now been promoted to MC, and she absolutely nailed it.
She managed to get the crowd into loud screams and cheers, and I love the current trend of napkin waving.
I have no idea who started it, but I’m very happy it’s become a thing.
It was soon time for the speeches, and we had four, an extra one from the maid of honour, which I always love.
I think maid of honour speeches should happen more often, especially the funny ones.
The speeches had a great mix of humour and touching moments, and I managed to grab some great smiles from the top table.
Again, it wasn't just about photographing the person giving the speech. The reactions around the room were just as important.
Golden Hour Wedding Photos at Gorcott Hall
As the speeches were done, the sun was starting to set and golden hour was really kicking in.
So I took Laura and Alex off to the nearby grounds to grab some stunning sunset pictures.
The couple were so relaxed in each other’s company, and the photos really do look lovely.
This is always one of my favourite parts of a wedding day. You get a few minutes away from the craziness, the couple can breathe, and we can make the most of that gorgeous evening light.
And Gorcott Hall is a brilliant place for it.
The combination of the grounds, the evening light and a couple who are completely relaxed with each other makes photographing these portraits incredibly easy.
An Epic First Dance
As the sun was setting, it was time to head back in for the final formalities, the cake cutting and first dance.
Laura and Alex had actually practised some dance moves during sunset, so I knew we were going to get some epic dance moves.
And they definitely didn't disappoint, the final lift of the dance made for a properly epic image.
After that, the dance floor was open.
While some guests were still enjoying the warm evening outside, the rest headed to the dance floor and the party really got going.
And after a day full of laughter, tears, dodgy parking, bouquet throwing, napkin waving, speeches, sunshine, golden hour and some seriously impressive dance moves, it was the perfect way to finish.
A Brilliant Gorcott Hall Wedding
Laura and Alex’s wedding was one of those days that had everything I love about weddings.
It was relaxed, fun, emotional and completely full of personality.
And that's what I love about being a wedding photographer in Warwickshire.
Yes, the beautiful venues, dresses, flowers and details are all lovely, but it’s the people and the completely unexpected little moments that make every wedding different.
Laura and Alex, thank you for letting me be part of your brilliant day.
And thank you for keeping me alive despite the best efforts of that car!
