Hot on the heels of the last post comes a few favourites from Ryan and Bryony’s wedding celebrations the day following their register office wedding. They had chosen West Stoke Farm, just north of Winchester for the wedding party. It’s a working farm, but possesses great character and a great barn and marquee for the celebrations. The ceremony itself was held on the lawn in front of the farm house with a flower archway that had been especially made for the day.
The weather was kind and it’s difficult to imagine a better place to spend a Saturday afternoon enjoying the company of the family and the wedding guests. The ceremony itself was hosted by Bryony’s uncle who did a wonderful job of performing a very nice ceremony . As the legal odds and ends had been taken care of at the register office the day before, it was a little more relaxed perhaps but still had a great sense of occasion. A vintage fire engine provided the bride’s transport for the day – it was a surprise to the guests, the first they knew of it was the sound of the engine’s bell being enthusiastically rung as it approached the farm. West Stoke Farm has a shady grassed area with several large willow trees which was a perfect spot for the drinks reception.
The wedding meal was held in a marquee which was connected to the barn. This is a great layout for a wedding reception location as it meant the wedding guests could socialise in the barn and flow through to the marquee for the afternoon tea which was a great idea and less formal than the usual three course meal. Entertainment for the evening was provided by Blackbeard’s Tea Party, a fantastic Ceilidh band, fresh from their appearance at Glastonbury. Needless to say, they put on a great set and everyone had terrific fun on the dance floor. Bryony and Ryan are off to the Dominican Republic on honeymoon and I hope they have a wonderful time!
Some favourites from the morning.
The dogs didn’t look too impressed at being locked away for the morning. Paw prints and wedding dresses don’t really go together though…
If you’ve not attended an outdoor wedding, it’s hard to imagine the difference in atmosphere. Of course, wonderful weather and a rural location help a lot.
The guests arrive
Best man Mike sorts Ryan out.
Today’s man of the moment.
Can of pop. Check. Minion goggles. Check.
Ryan’s dad Ron, in charge of the technical stuff.
The girls arrive in some style!
Some drinks and mingling under the shade of the willow trees.
Excited to be married :)
Bryony and Ryan. Man and wife. Pimms and a Coke.
It used to be that most wedding cakes looked the same (3 tiers, white icing) but then you come across creations like this. It wasn’t until I was editing the photographs I saw the two raspberries making a bid for freedom.
A few photographs from the reception in the barn that caught my eye.
Speech time.
Everyone!
Some ceilidh madness…
Thanks again Bryony and Ryan!
Are you thinking of getting married at West Stoke Farm? Get in touch to see if the date is free and to chat about the photography at your wedding.
