I couldn’t wait to finish the year with an absolute show stopper of a wedding. The couple, Stevie and Chris held their ceremony at the Oxford Oratory followed by a beautiful reception at the always fabulous Tythe Barn in Launton.
I met up with Chris and the boys to start the day at The Old Bank Hotel on the Oxford High St. They were all in good spirits and enjoying some banter whilst getting ready. Stevie had already earned major wife points by gifting Chris a beautiful Swiss watch which he proudly wore along with his custom designed suit complete with the wedding date embroidered under the collar and inside pocket. This was to be a running theme with this wedding. Every small detail had been planned to perfection, thought about and it all came together beautifully.
After some fun shots with the boys on the streets of Oxford it was time to meet up with Stevie in the suite where she was busy with her lovely parents and bridesmaids getting pampered with hair and make up. Once again there were so many beautiful details to photograph as you will see below. Stevie’s Mum, Denise was there to help her into her dress and she looked absolutely stunning! So much so that it all got a bit emotional as Stevie’s father Paul came in to see her for the first time, such a special moment.
It was soon time to head over to the church and all the guests had already arrived via a London style Red Bus. Stevie and Paul soon arrived in style, in a vintage Rolls Royce! I think it’s safe to say Chris had his breath taken away as Stevie walked down the aisle and they joined hands to start the ceremony. The Oxford Oratory is a truly special building and a beautiful backdrop for a wedding. I loved photographing the ceremony and seeing Chris, Stevie and all their friends and family look on as they read their vows and exchange rings to become husband and wife.
We had been blessed with a crisp Winter’s day which meant everyone joined together to make a confetti tunnel as the new Mr and Mrs Edwards made their way out of the church and into the Rolls Royce for a glass of champagne, before starting their journey over to the The Tythe Barn.
We arrived just before them and captured their arrival along with their guests before taking a big group photo outside. Then everyone headed in for the drinks reception, canapés and live music! We made the most of the last few rays of daylight and took some shots around the grounds with the bridal party. Stevie had an amazing veil and it made for some beautiful shots before we headed in for the wedding breakfast.
There was a surprise for the guests as one person from each table was whisked away to the Cow Shed and dressed up as a chef before coming out, doing the conga, much to the delight of the guests. These chosen ones were to be the carvers for the table as everyone enjoyed a roast Pork dinner prepared by Jamie Oliver’s, Fabulous Feasts!
The inside of the barn looked amazing! Sarah and Victoria from “The Great Little Flower Company” had done a grand job with the flower arrangements and Stevie had added so many gorgeous touches to the tables. Too many to mention so I made a collage below. Chris’s Mum, Ezel made the amazing cake which was to be enjoyed by all in the Cow Shed later in the evening.
After dessert was served it was time for the speeches! Paul, Chris, Adam and Jonny all did a fantastic job of thanking everyone who had helped with the wedding planning and sharing both sentimental and funny stories. It was a joy to capture all the guests reactions and listen to it all.
The barn lights up beautifully at night so we took the time to do some creative lighting shots outside before many guests filled the outside aisle and lit sparklers before heading in for the cutting of the cake!
It was soon time to finish the days formalities with the first dance, with their song being played by the live band who soon filled the dance floor with some great songs and it stayed that was that the rest of the evening. The perfect ending to the perfect wedding day.
Stevie and Chris, thanks so much for asking me to photograph your wedding. It’s been an absolute pleasure getting to know you guys and both Richard and I loved bring a part of your big day and getting to capture it all for you. I can’t wait to show you the full collection when you come back from your travels. For now I hope you enjoy reliving the day through the sneak peek below.
