Dewsall Court wedding | Jo & Addie

Dewsall Court wedding

Dewsall Court wedding photography

A Dewsall Court wedding for Jo and Addie – this is how to hold a wedding day!

When Addie got in touch with me at the start of May, there were some keywords/phrases in his description of the wedding day. It included, “…. a big ol’ country house in Herefordshire…informal…fun…a shared table of family-style food, locally-sourced flowers, our own bottled cocktails, Prosecco on tap…a stunning bride..amazing friends..lovely family…it should be an absolute ball “. Well, it ticked all those boxes!

The emphasis was on informal and Dewsall Court is perfect for that. Has to be one of the best wedding venues I’ve been to. A few miles south of Hereford, it’s a beautiful canvas upon which to create your own wedding day. So much better than the ‘by-the-numbers’ approach you often get at big hotel chain venues. An open-air wedding ceremony on the lawn, with views looking out towards the Black Mountains, Hay Bluff and Wales, how could a wedding there not have anything but a relaxed vibe? Jo and Addie are both creative people. Addie is a photographer, while Jo runs a creative agency in London, so this wedding was always going to look good. It was also very DIY. When I arrived, Jo was working outside with family and friends sorting out the flowers for the long table and ceremony area. Family and friends had also made up the bouquets, the cakes, the signs and the cocktails. Addie was inside, sleeping off the night before…

So to getting ready. Jo got ready in a massive suite on the side of the house. Ready also with her iPad “the ultimate wedding day photo checklist”!!!!!?  🙂   The getting ready was relaxed, maybe a bit too relaxed, as she was half an hour late to arrive downstairs for the ceremony. Addie says it is usually him that is late – he now has some ammunition. This did cut into the reception time but the main worry was the ever-increasing cloud cover. Wet weather was rolling across Wales. The clear blue skies of the morning had long gone, it was now a question of when it would rain. The weather just didn’t play ball.

Accompanied by her father in a pale suit and Panama hat, he may remind you of someone? The Man from Del Monte perhaps? Funny that……he is. Brian, Jo’s father, is that actor from the 80’s commercials and to keep to a theme here, a photographer himself also. With the ceremony under an open-sided tarpaulin, Jo and Addie, with their witnesses, had to pop into the study to complete the ceremony – some rule about ‘bricks and mortar’ to make it legal… Next, out to a full-on confetti ambush!! They then led the guests around to the Mediterranean lawn for drinks. The clouds meanwhile were getting a touch darker. It meant pictures of Jo and Addie in the drizzle. But thankfully it was light and brief. Later the view towards Hay Bluff would be obscured by a squall that swept along just a few miles away but left Dewsall untouched.

Before the meal, Addie had set up his own photo studio next to the swing, so time first for a selfie holding up his wife! The food finished, it was time for speeches from Brian, Addie and his best man, David.  Even Jo said some heartfelt words of thanks after the cake cutting before the band started up. But the last part of my coverage was Addie and Jo opening up a Jeroboam of champagne – I don’t imagine anyone had an early night.

Here are a few images from the day at this Dewsall Court wedding…

Hopefully some from the checklist? 😉

Dewsall Court
Dewsall Court wedding venue
Dewsall Court detail
Dewsall Court wedding detail
Bride and friends getting the tables ready at Dewsall Court wedding
Bride laughs as she works with family and friends
Table laid out at Dewsall Court
Young wedding guest
Bride in the mirror
Bride tries to cover up her wedding photography checklist
Bride reaches for her wedding dress at Dewsall Court
ceremony sign
Bride hug
Bride getting ready at Dewsall Court
Laughing with the best man
Groom waits in the ceremony tent
Start of the outdoor Dewsall Court wedding ceremony
Bride and her father
Outdoor wedding at Dewsall Court
Bride's father gives her away
Dewsall Court wedding photography
Filming the wedding ceremony
Dewsall Court wedding ceremony
Bride and groom hug
Bride and groom head to the house for the legal part of the ceremony
Groom and best man hug
Legal part of the ceremony held in the study at Dewsall Court
Bride and groom kiss in the Study at Dewsall Court
Confetti
Confetti at Dewsall Court
After the ceremony
Happy bride
Hug
Young guest
another hug for the bride
Drinks reception at Dewsall Court
Reportage wedding photography at Dewsall Court
Dewsall Court wedding photography
Rain
Dewsall Court wedding photography
Dewsall Court wedding
Bride and groom pose for the groom's camera
wedding cake
Speeches at Dewsall Court
Bride and groom kiss
Bride and groom in the evening at Dewsall Court
First dance
Dewsall Court first dance
Opening the booze
A taste

 An image from this wedding, caught during the wedding ceremony, went on to win in two international wedding photography competitions. In one gaining first place.

The Wedding Photojournalist Association

&

The International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers

Award for wedding photograph captured at Dewsall Court

4 Comments

  1. Fantastic work Martin, the photographs tell a beautiful story of the day. Your clients must have been delighted with these.

  2. Valerie and John Nicholson says:

    Jo and Addie’s wedding was such a delight and the odd spit spots of rain failed to dampen anybody’s enjoyment as can be seen in your wonderful photographs.
    Your photography has revived and renewed the memories of a wonderful family wedding and the joy of our niece Jo and the welcome to Addie.
    Your talent as a photographer shows in the relaxed and unposed photographs.
    Thank you for being kind to the old lady in the white hair and lime green dress, its been wonderful on this foggy morning to remember such a great day and to make us both smile!
    Valerie and John

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