Real Wedding · Staffordshire
Weston Hall Wedding Photographer
Carrie & David, a spring wedding in full
Carrie and David married at Weston Hall in spring, and I had the joy of documenting the full day, from the quiet of bridal preparations through to the last dance of the evening reception. What follows is their wedding, told the way it unfolded.
I was with them from morning to night, around nine hours in all, moving through every part of the day as it happened. If you are planning your own celebration at Weston Hall, I hope this gives you a real feel for the day this venue creates.
You can see more of my wedding photography in Staffordshire across the county, and read on for Carrie and David’s day from start to finish.
Stage 01 · Getting Ready
The Morning at Weston Hall
I arrived around two hours before the ceremony. The first thing I always do is take a slow walk around the grounds, noting the styling, the light, and any little details that have changed since my last wedding here. Even after many weddings at Weston Hall, that quiet lap of the venue is something I never skip.
I found Carrie in the honeymoon suite, surrounded by her family and bridesmaids as hair and makeup came together. There was no rush to the morning. Plenty of room, plenty of time, and a glass of bubbly going round. It is the perfect setting for relaxed, candid photographs, with the dress taking centre stage.
From there I stepped into the Westminster Suite, the wedding breakfast room, to capture a few of the details laid out for the day. Then I joined David, who was remarkably calm, playing the host with ease as the first guests began to arrive.
Stage 02 · The Ceremony
The Ceremony at Weston Hall
There are a few spots to marry at Weston Hall, and today we were up in the Shrewsbury Suite on the top floor. It is a compact, intimate room, just right for a smaller, close-knit ceremony where everyone is gathered in close.
Friends and family settled in, and after a few words, a few vows and the rings exchanged, Carrie and David were announced husband and wife.
Stage 03 · Drinks Reception
Drinks on the Terrace at Weston Hall
The weather held for Carrie and David, which meant the drinks reception could spill out onto the Terrace. Guests were entertained by a wonderful singer, who even coaxed a few of them up as backing vocalists.
The cocktail hour is one of my favourite parts of the day to photograph. It is relaxed and natural, everyone catching up over a drink, and it sets the tone nicely for the celebrations still to come.
Stage 04 · Portraits
Portraits at Weston Hall
Led by the two of you, from quiet candid moments to a proper portrait session.
Stage 04 · Group Photos & Portraits
Group Photos & Portraits at Weston Hall
We use the drinks reception to gather the group shots and, just as importantly, the portraits of the two of you. Your preferences guide how directed the session gets, from quiet candid moments through to a more focused set of portraits. Every couple wants something different, and I am always happy to follow your lead. Carrie has such an elegant, classic look, and David brought the fun, full of energy and the life of the party.
Planning Your Day
Photos like these at Weston Hall?
If you like how Carrie and David’s day comes across, take a look at my wedding photography services and the way I work across the day.
View Pricing & PackagesStage 05 · Speeches & Wedding Breakfast
Speeches & the Wedding Breakfast at Weston Hall
Guests were welcomed into the Westminster Suite to sit down and celebrate the newlyweds. I always suggest saving the speeches for after the meal. Guests can be waiting a while for food, and keeping everyone relaxed and content makes all the difference on a long day.
While the wedding breakfast was served, I slipped into the cellar restaurant to back up the morning’s photos and recharge. Guests, meanwhile, were treated to more entertainment from the singing waiters, who never fail to get a room laughing and chatting. Once the plates were cleared, I was back in to capture the speeches.
Stage 06 · Evening Reception
The Evening Reception at Weston Hall
As the day eased into evening, guests slipped outside to catch the last of the light while the evening arrivals trickled in. I am usually with a couple for around nine hours, and that stretch into the night is where some of my favourite frames happen: the cake cutting, the first dance, and that first loosening of the dance floor as the night gets going.
From the Couple
“Thank you so much, Jordan. You captured our day exactly as it felt.”
— Carrie & David
In Closing
Carrie & David’s Weston Hall Wedding Photos
Weston Hall is a grade II listed building set on the edge of the countryside, just a short hop from Stafford. The grounds, the elegant interiors and the warm service make it a much-loved spot for couples, and it photographs beautifully from the first light of the morning through to the dance floor at night.
Carrie and David’s day shows exactly why. A relaxed morning, an intimate ceremony up in the Shrewsbury Suite, drinks out on the Terrace and a wedding breakfast full of laughter, all of it told as it happened.
The best wedding photos are the ones you forgot were even being taken.
If you are putting together a shortlist of your own, take a look at more Staffordshire wedding venues, or read more about how I work.
Jordan Fox
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