Christchurch Harbour Hotel and Winchester Registry Office wedding photography. The most perfect, super sunny day for the most beautifully loved-up of couples; I don’t think either the bride or groom stopped grinning from ear to ear at any point through the day. And they had every reason to be happy – what a gorgeous family these guys make! The sun was shining, the day was absolutely rammed with music from start to finish… everything was just spot on.
The hotel was very much at the centre of the day’s activities, with bride and groom both getting ready in the annex building (separate suites, so they still managed to avoid bumping into each other before that walk down the aisle) and guests congregating their through the morning ready for a big old bus ride through the New Forest and up to Winchester where the marriage itself was to take place.
At the Winchester end the good old Westgate Hotel once again provided a handy stopping post for everyone to gather themselves and perhaps rehydrate – very important on such a hot and sunny day! – before nipping across the road to Castle Hill and the Registry Office. As Lee, best men and his father took up their posts by the steps up into the building to meet and greet, everyone made their way upstairs to the Castle Room. This is the larger of the two main ceremony rooms in the building. It needed to be; Marina and Lee are clearly popular people!
I really love photographing in this room. The colours are so rich and warm and the light is usually wonderful too, with that huge bay window which looks out across the courtyard to the Great Hall. But let’s be honest, that’s all just scenery really – it’s the couple which makes a wedding and honestly, have you ever seen two people so happy to say their ‘I do’s’? (that’s a tricky one to punctuate, any grammar pedants are very welcome to correct me there). A really lovely ceremony and after a quick sign of the register (still paper-based for now – I wonder who is going to be the last couple I ever photograph signing one when they finally get phased out?) they were zipping back down the aisle and into the sunshine to be showered with confetti and kick off the rest of their day’s celebrations.
As I understand it there wasn’t really any particular Winchester connection; Marina and Lee simply chose Winchester Registry Office because it’s such a beautiful building and with such fab ceremony rooms (I have to concur) and to really take advantage of this we stayed back while the rest of the guests made the way to the bus for the return journey to the hotel. The whole Castle Hill area is a dream for wedding photography – the beautiful building as a backdrop; arches and tunnels, steps and staircases inside and out – perfect for a portrait session before the real partying begins. And most happily Marina’s daughter Sophie could be with us for this part too, so that we could get a whole bunch of family photos with the three of them as well. These guys are gooood in front of a camera, that’s for sure!
Back at Christchurch Harbour Hotel the party was in full swing – literally, with the band kicking out the jazz in the sunshine as everyone soaked up the rays and the sounds. As the afternoon wound through into the evening we were inside for the meal, speeches and more music – loads more music; I totally lost count of how many different people performed or sang through the course of the day – and then out again into that magical golden light for a few more couple photos at dusk. And then downstairs to the function suite for the rest of the party. More music, more dancing, more drinks… and too right, this wedding most definitely needed to be celebrated in style.
What an absolutely magnificent wedding, Marina & Lee, and what a totally gorgeous couple you make! Wishing you many happy years together, and thanks so much for letting me play my part in your wonderful day.
– – –
I hope you’ve enjoyed this snapshot of Marina & Lee’s stunning day. Friends and family can view the rest of the photos and an extended slideshow in their private viewing gallery, but you’ll need to ask them for the password first.
If you are currently planning your Deans Court wedding and would like to know more about my wedding photography services, packages and prices, please do get in touch to check availability and ask me any questions you might have. I’m only too happy to help however I can.
Thanks as ever for reading, and come back again soon for many more photos from many more beautiful weddings!