Rugby Wedding Photography at Bourton Hall - Asaad and Kayleigh

Evening all! Today I’ve got a gorgeous Rugby  wedding to tell you all about – the day in December that Asaad married Kayleigh, the love of his life. 

Asaad and Kayleigh got married at the gorgeous Bourton Hall, overlooking Draycote Water. This gorgeous Rugby venue is a favourite of mine, and Asaad and Kayleigh found me because I’m one of Bourton Hall’s preferred suppliers list.  It gives a couple getting married a sense of comfort when you’re a preferred supplier, because they know that I’ve shot at the venue before, know the site, and have a good relationship with the staff there.

Like most couples I meet these days, we had our first meeting through the wonders of Zoom. When I first dialled in, Kayleigh was on another call, and I got chatting with Asaad. It turned out that we had a common local interest – our favourite pub, The Saxon Mill! By the time Kayleigh joined us she could barely get us to stop singing its praises and chatting away about dog walking in the adjacent fields and lazy afternoons with a pint overlooking the water.

Once we moved onto the important topic of the wedding itself, Asaad and Kayleigh explained that it was important to them to capture the spirit and atmosphere of the day as well as getting lots of  beautiful creative portrait shots that showed off Bourton Hall to its full effect. It’s so important to chat this stuff through beforehand so that we can make sure nothing gets missed on the big day itself, and with it being a winter wedidng plan the timings so we have some daylight.

One of the best things about Bourton Hall is its beautiful bridal suite. It’s a huge space with big windows and loads of natural light, a gorgeous sunny and luxurious spot for brides to get ready in – and it’s also great for shooting! The size of the space makes it ideal for brides who have several bridesmaids as there’s loads of room for the glam squad as well as plenty of space for those waiting in line to lounge around.

So when I rocked up on the morning of the wedding, I was surprised to see Kayleigh’s bridesmaids squished into one of the corridors getting ready while Kayleigh and her sister were inside sorting out their make-up. I’m sure there was a very good reason (though it escapes me now), but it certainly gave me a big laugh and made for some entertaining bridal prep pictures!

Asaad and Kayleigh had opted for a really moving and dramatic entrance to their wedding ceremony – they’d carefully chosen a gorgeous piece of instrumental music which, played at full volume, had an instant calming effect on their excited guests. Letting the music play out in full once Kayleigh and her bridesmaids had made their way down the aisle, the bride and groom embraced before the ceremony began and it felt like everyone in the room was sharing in this special, momentous moment in their lives.

After a beautiful ceremony, it was time for some fizz, and Kayleigh and Asaad had a slightly extended drinks reception so that they had time to make sure they had a picture with every one of their guests. Later, they made the special effort of personally greeting all of their guests as they arrived for the wedding breakfast – a traditional custom, but one which isn’t often observed any more.  Asaad and Kayleigh explained that it was important to them to have at least a few special moments with each of their guests. They had family and friends flying in from across the Atlantic and being the thoughtful people that they are, they wanted to make sure that the big financial and time commitment that each of those people had made to join them at their wedding was recognized. What a lovely way of expressing their gratitude and appreciation to each person.

For these family and group shots, we headed outside into the lovely grounds of Bourton Hall, where the setting made for a stunning backdrop. It was a frosty winter’s day ( two degrees! )– and I was a little worried that Kayley would really be feeling the chill in her stunning gown, but her heart must have been brimming with love because she didn’t utter one word of complaint!

Once safely back in the warm, it was time for a delicious wedding breakfast. Asaad and Kayleigh had opted for long banqueting-style tables, a popular sight at weddings now and I can understand why – they make for such a lovely congenial atmosphere as all the wedding guests get to know each other rather than being seated with just a handful of other people. There was plenty of love and laughter in the room, which gave way to tears during Asaad’s speech. He spoke so beautifully about his deep love for his new wife, it was enough to melt the frost outside!

After the sun had set, it was time for Kayleigh and Asaad to brave the cold again for some night-time portraiture shots. Fortunately I think by this time they had a few glasses of fizz inside them to provide a little bit of a booze jacket, because Bourton Hall looks stunning after dark and the photos were definitely worth the cold. Bourton Hall is one of the best venues for taking night-time portraits because the imposing architecture of the building is so well lit; it’s a perfect venue for a winter wedding like this one because of the thought that’s gone in to presenting the Hall after dark.

After dodging the tray of jagerbombs being passed around the guests, Kayleigh and Asaad headed in for their confetti-filled first dance, before their guests were surprised by a beautiful firework show and an abundance of sparklers. Often, fireworks signal the end of proceedings but Asaad had assured me that this wouldn’t be the case and, true to his word, fifteen minutes after a stunning firework finale, he was back in the centre of a full dancefloor leading his friends and family into the night’s celebrations. What a gorgeous day – huge congrats to the happy couple!

 

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