Emma & Alex get married at Hawkesyard Estate, Rugely.

In early September, I travelled to Hawkesyard Estate in Rugeley to document the wedding of the lovely Emma and Alex. It was the first time I’ve shot a wedding at this venue and it didn’t disappoint.

It’s probably fair to say that every girl dreams of having a fairy tale wedding and this one really was. From the horse and carriage ride, to the castle-esque battlements of Hawkesyard Hall, Emma must have really felt like a princess and all the more so when she walked up the aisle and saw her knight in shining armour, or prince charming if you like, waiting for her.

Alex serves as a member of the Royal Air Force in case you didn’t recognise the uniform.

After the ceremony it was off for a spin around the estate in the horse and carriage to take in the surroundings of Hawkesyards gardens whilst the other guests enjoyed a drink or two in the orangery. A bit of a competition ensued during the best mans speech, with bets being placed on how long it would last. I’m not sure if that means that the best man has a reputation for talking a lot or that he’s a man of few words, but it was fun to watch everyone shouting both “end the speech now!” and others “carry on a bit longer!” in the hope of winning the pint glass full of cash!

Time had then arrived to take advantage of the evening light – it’s my favourite time of day for taking pictures and so we had a stroll around the grounds getting a few portraits here and there. After half an hour the light turned really magical, and wonderful golden light was shining through the trees. It truly was a fairy tale finish to a splendid day.

It wasn’t all over yet though – as no wedding is complete without a good old dance! Add in a couple of crazybooth sessions and the night was complete! Please enjoy this selection of a few photos from the day.