Hyde Estate – Chloe & Martin

Hyde Estate wedding photography

A Hyde Estate wedding in West Sussex, or more correctly, a Hyde Estate, Wild Garden wedding, for Chloe and Martin last weekend. An outdoor wedding ceremony, in a clearing by a lake, in August – so summer weather was needed. Standing on the spot where the tipi was due to be erected, only two days before the wedding, along with the groom, Martin, who had just flown in from his home in Dubai, summer weather seemed rather remote. The rain was lashing it down, with lightning flashing in the sky around us. Nearby roads had become just patches of tarmac between temporary ponds. More rain was to come on the Friday. The question was, what would Saturday bring? Chloe and Martin wanted the colour of the venue and their wedding day, to come out in the photographs. For that you need good light – not flat, white skies. Good directional sunlight, to add contrast and vibrance to the backdrop. Saturday brought both, but not always at the best time.

Coverage begins in a room at a tucked-away boutique hotel, near Crawley. Only fifteen minutes or so away from the Hyde Estate, which has a very discreet entrance is next to the village of Handcross, just off the A23. Easy to drive past and miss it! Preps had been due to take place at Chloe’s mother’s house in Woking – a good hour drives away, via the M25 and fraught with the danger of delays. It’s always a good idea to keep the getting ready location near the wedding ceremony. Unfortunately, a mix-up meant the make up artist went to Woking. This set the day in motion with a small delay. Chloe would arrive with her brother, in a white Fiat 500, forty-five minutes late for the wedding ceremony.

The sun was hidden by clouds now – not a bad thing for an outdoor wedding ceremony. But as the drinks reception went on it stayed hidden. The landscape was waiting for the sunshine, so it could show itself off. The sun would come, as it always seems to, just as people go into the tipi/marquee to eat!! (You can lay money on it, it happens so often)  It would not be around for long, as by now it was almost behind the opposite hill and it moves fast. A spot for couple portraits, lit by gorgeous evening sunlight, changes to shade in minutes. We still got some dipping sun.

The Hyde Estate is a beautiful West Sussex wedding venue and close to where I live. Just a shame the weather didn’t quite play ball but then again compared to Thursday’s rainfall!

Here are a few images from the day at The Hyde Estate…