Forty Hall Estate Wedding, Enfield | Kyra & Ben
Kyra and Ben’s gorgeous wedding day commenced early at the West Lodge Park Hotel where the bride and groom, and their respective parties, quickly got into the celebratory mood by cracking open a few bottles of bubbly while getting ready.
Not every couple chooses to have their ‘prep’ documented, but I really enjoy this part of the day as I feel it brilliantly represents the transition from single to married life as two sets of families begin the process of getting ready for the ceremony which awaits them in a couple of hours time. I don’t think it’s my right to decide which photos get the black & white treatment, which is why I deliver full sets of colour and B&W images to my clients’ galleries, however, I always feel groom prep just looks ‘better’ in monochrome. Not entirely sure why that is, but I suspect it might have something to do with the wearing a smart, sharply cut dark suit which lends itself to a GQ advertorial vibe. Kyra meanwhile, was with her mother and best friends in another part of the hotel calmly sipping Champagne as the finishing touches were being applied to hair and make-up.
After taking a few pictures of Ben with his closest pals around the lovely grounds of West Lodge Park, it was time to jump into a stretch limo for the short drive to Forty Hall Estate - the venue for the rest of the day. When we arrived, the scene was already set, with an exquisite arch centre stage for the outdoor ceremony in which both bride and groom read out their handwritten vows. Confetti, in the form of rose petals, was available in such abundance that a couple of passes were needed by Kyra and Ben before each cup of the floral tribute had been emptied, but soon enough, it was time for the group photos followed by couple portraits that were taken in the beautifully prepared gardens located just to the rear of the venue.
The location of the wedding breakfast and speeches was Forty Hall’s Coach House, where a hilarious slideshow of Ben’s youth back in South Africa was played back to us by his best man Grant, rendering the entire room in stitches. Alas, the planned golden hour photos weren’t possible due to the conditions, but we still ventured outside and captured a set of glorious images that took advantage of the angry sky and cooler tones to create a moody editorial style that I felt worked nicely alongside the stately home vibes that Forty Hall has in abundance.
As the sun dipped beneath the horizon, we were back inside for the bouquet toss and commencement of the party, which kicked off with everyone doing the Macarena dance in perfect unison! This wedding had an awesome atmosphere with so much packed in that it literally flew by. Kyra and Ben were wonderfully attentive to myself and the videographer, taking time out of their special day to ensure we never went either hungry or thirsty. Thank you guys, and thanks to Forty Hall for lending such a stunning backdrop to a beautiful wedding day.
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