Rebecca & Robert

Aynhoe Park Wedding Photography

I’ve entitled this post Aynhoe Park Wedding for the benefit of its visibility to my overlords at a certain company with a multi-coloured logo, but this was actually a tenth anniversary party. You may recognise Rebecca and Robert if you’re a long-time follower of this blog as I photographed their wedding at Stapleford Park in 2009. Fast forward ten years and they asked me back for another spectacular party. It had all the main elements of a wedding, minus the cake and the first dance.

Aynhoe is a venue I’ve been keen to work at for a while, and I was blown away by how amazing the interior is. Filled with hundreds of pieces of art, and a menagerie of stuffed animals, it has to be seen to be believed. The addition of a swarm of balloons in every room courtesy of Bubblegum Balloons made entering each space even more overwhelming. Especially the balloons with silver streamers hanging off them! It was also very strange to arrive and find lots of my photographs from the couple’s wedding in frames all over the venue.

Rebecca got ready with the same bridesmaids as her wedding, and four new additions, her sons. Robert popped in briefly for a glass from the giant bottle of fizz and to occasionally wrangle the kids. Meanwhile, downstairs the masses were gathering, and there were lots of familiar faces.

Reportage Wedding Photography in The Cotswolds

Documentary Vow Renewal Photography

Down in the Orangery, aside from the famous floating giraffe, there was music performed by ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ lead singer Tommy Blaize. Also, Millie Richardson Flowers had installed half of the world’s gypsophila. This included a huge circular display to frame the ceremony. This vow-renewal ceremony, conducted by a friend, with a reading by another friend, was short and sweet. There were still plenty of tears, particularly from Robert who has form for that sort of thing.

After a quick family shot in front of the gypsophila portal, the clan headed into the library for a few moments to debrief. The guests gathered outside under a brooding sky, treated to canapés from the excellent Stones Events. There was also music from the first scout party from The Function Band.

Wedding Photographer at Aynhoe Park

As the drinks reception drew to a close the guests took their seats. They were aided by a table plan and place names created by Mee & Es Designs. Everyone divided between Aynhoe Park’s Salon and Dining Room. More members of The Function Band appeared at this point, to serenade everybody into position. After the main course the music returned for an impromptu selection of the couple’s favourite tunes. And the first outbreak of dancing. The band also marked the birthday of a grandparent with a singalong and a special dessert.

Then there was time for a couple of non-traditional speeches. First from the groom (complete with Jägermeister toast), and a few words from the couple’s eldest son. The evening then got off to an impressive start with a gigantic tower of espresso and passionfruit martinis, and The Function Band performing on podiums in the Orangery. The dancing began in earnest, and presumably continued long into the night!