Sarah & Matt // Eaves Hall
Eaves Hall is one of my favourite venues and one I have worked at many times. The gorgeous Georgian mansion is surrounded with seven acres of beautifully kept grounds. There are so many layers and visual aspects to explore. Sarah and Matt wanted me to capture their day in a candid fashion so when it came to portrait I know exactly what to do and where to go.
Eaves Hall has The Lodge in the lower part of the gardens. It’s a perfect place to start bridal preparations. Sarah, her bridal party and children started the day there before moving up to The Kemple suite at Eaves. There was no staging to be done, just capturing as it happened. Matt was getting ready in The Pendle Suite just next door. The light is amazing at this time of year and as it streaming through with suits there was a chance for some really artful portraits without any posing.
After a very emotional ceremony, a box of tissues (for me!) and a ton of flying confetti, it was out for a few family shots and a quick group shot. Just five mins with the children and it was time for Sarah and Matt to take a ten minute wander around the grounds. I just leave people to be themselves on my shoots and before long I’d just slipped into the background and they had some very natural wedding portraits.
The day rolled merrily on and the perfect candid moment came. A throw of the bouquet and Lee’s dive saw him downed in the hedge with some ripped pants to boot. I’m just waiting for these kind of moments to happen and then just keep shooting. What a sequence it was! It was nearly as good as the final first dance move when – to the I’m Having the Time of My Life tune from Dirty Dancing – Sarah was up (successfully) in Matt’s arms for a perfect finale.
