Madison and Blair's Wedding Blessing in Buckinghamshire, UK
Although I am based in Woodstock, Vermont, I truly love photographing destination weddings and sessions and this trip back to the UK was no exception. The excitement of arriving back at Heathrow and taking off for a fun filled, but intensive few days was thrilling and having good friends to help out with the equipment, travel and lodging made the experience even better.
Madison and Blair were actually married in New Orleans last year, but since Blair is from England and has a lot of connections there, the couple decided to have a "wedding blessing" for friends and family who could not make the New Orleans wedding. Their actual blessing was at The Holy Cross and St. Mary's Church in Quainton, Buckinghamshire, where Blair's father is laid to rest. Quainton is also the village Blair grew up in. We were only there a few days since Blair is a very busy surgeon and Madison is a very busy lawyer the couple rarely have a lot of time off. Unfortunately the session at the amazing Waddesdon Manor was rained out and there was no time to reschedule. The reception however was at the charming Five Arrows Hotel which is actually part of the Manor so we were able to capture a little feel for the Rothchild's spectacular family estate.
For more information here is a link to the Manor. Waddesdon Manor.
Five Arrows Hotel
Madison got ready in one of the lovely rooms, with views over the village of Waddesdon and hotel garden.
While Madison was getting ready I also had time to take a couple details photos as well. I always like to try and incorporate the hotel's stationary or advertising in the wedding detail photos and in this case it made a perfect background for the rings.
After Madison had finished getting ready it was time for her and Blair to enjoy a little time alone in the hotel restaurant before heading off to the blessing. We had planned to take some romance photos in the grounds of the hotel, but we ran out of time as we needed to head to the church before the guests arrived. I did have time to take a few photos of the couple inside the restaurant before we had to leave.
Then it was time to head to the Holy Cross and St. Mary's Church in Quainton, Buckinghamshire where the blessing was going to take place.
Since the rain let up they were able to visit Blair's father, Michael's grave and take in the spectacular views over the Vale of Aylesbury.
Blair's mother, Lorna also joined them for a few minutes while I stayed in the distance and let the family have their privacy and intimate moments, as well as a minute of laughter when Blair gave his mother a kiss on the cheek.
We took advantage of the weather and took some more photographs of the couple around the church before heading inside.
Once inside the church Blair and Madison signed the guest book and we continued to take some photos before the guests started to arrive.
Then it was time for the blessing to start. Here are a few of my favorite images of the wedding blessing and a huge thanks to my good friend Ingrid for taking control of my off camera light, which allows for more natural wedding photographs balanced with the ambient lighting. It also makes for some fun, more contemporary ones, with the light coming from behind the couple instead of in front of them. I use off camera light as much as possible but some of the church photos were taken with no added photography lighting at all. The capabilities of the professional cameras nowadays allow for photographing in almost any situation without the use of commercial lighting if need be.
After the wedding blessing and ceremony everyone headed back to The Five Arrows Hotel for an intimate reception dinner.
Although there was no wedding cake, there certainly were some scrumptious desserts to choose from!
All and all this was an amazing opportunity and great fun for me to revisit my old friends and extended family members and this was not the end of the photo sessions by a long run. Please check back to see the blog on Blair and Madison's London session, hopefully I will get it posted after the Holidays and please contact me for any 2020 and 2021 destination or local Vermont wedding and/or portrait photography. I am currently over 50% booked for 2020 weddings, so be sure and contact me soon for wedding photography inquiries.