Gate St | Lara & Alex

Gate St wedding photography

Gate St Barn, a relatively local wedding venue for me and the location of Lara and Alex’s wedding, on a chilly Monday in March. Luckily the snow of the previous week was long gone, although Spring was still resisting the urge to kick in. But at least the ‘beast from the east’ hadn’t prevented Lara’s family from getting to the wedding, from their home in Scotland. Or the wedding flowers making the journey from Lincolnshire.

The first wedding I photographed at Gate Street Barn, a reception, was way back in August 2002. Still a relatively new venue then I think – the barn and the front garden. Each time I’ve been back, over the years, it has changed and grown a bit more. Becoming one of Surrey’s premier wedding venues. No more than this time. Big new extensions to the main barn, built just weeks ago, giving more light and a covered route between the main barn and the bar in The Pheasantry. The last time I was here, was at a wedding in November 2015.

Coverage kicks off at the Harbour hotel in Guildford (a hotel that’s not near a harbour?). A crowded room of bridal prep, hair and makeup chaos, with the soundtrack of the construction site next door. Amidst it all, a very calm Lara.

The dress – made using old French and Scottish lace – by a friend, the dress designer, Minna Hepburn. (She used to buy brownies from Lara’s stall)

Then down the road to Bramley and to Gate St. Alex was arranging his tie and getting more nervous. The ceremony started – an overwhelmed by-it-all young ringbearer and some mix-up of names during the ceremony – but the end result, Lara and Alex were now married. All those visits by Alex, to Lara’s market stall, with the excuse of buying cupcakes, had paid off.

Drinks next, in The Pheasantry, with the fiddle played by Finn. (They found him busking near their market stall). A few quick pictures outside in the cold – a bouquet toss (not caught) and then into the barn for speeches and the meal. A classic step-on-the-bride’s-dress-as-she-walks-in moment first though. Speeches, laughter and emotions, multiple toasts and then the food from Jacaranda – led by the ultra professional, JJ.  Then back into the Pheasantry, as the barn was turned around for the evening. An impromptu bit of ceilidh dancing, in the gloom, next to the bar. A rehearsal for the freestyle ceilidh dancing to come in the barn, before the first dance. Cut the cake – guess who made it? Then it was over to resident DJ,  Chris Haslam to get the first dance and the party started…

Here are a few images from this day at Gate St…