Bath Wedding Photographer - Stu Tucker Photography, De vere Tortworth Court Wedding
Chelsea and Ryan married back in May 2022 at the Tortworth Court after 15 years together. A special day for them both - none more than Chelsea who planned their wedding for her fathers birthday - whom they sadly lost in 2020. Something that resonated with as I lost my own father recently. I wont lie, it was a hard day for me. But as always im an absolutely warrior and a drew so much on the emotion I had for Chelsea and Ryan.
I started my morning at Bridal Preparations, its was a chilled morning and this was the theme that continued through the day. A relaxed, family orientated day with cousins as bridesmaids, their children as paige boy/best man and flower girls. Both the mother of the bride and mother of the groom sharing the space to get ready in the morning. The suite at De vere Tortworth Court is a wedding photographers dream, a huge space large enough to have everyone getting ready for the wedding day ahead.
It was important for Chelsea that part of her wedding photography included elements of her father. His ashes sealed in her earrings she wore for the day and his picture pinned to her wedding flowers, as she walked with her brother down the aisle. A chair was left for his during the ceremony and speeches in memory of him and a ballon release with her children.
Part of being a wedding photographer is not only capturing the perfect most stunning wedding image, with good light and all the technical bells as whistles, but also being able to capturing documentary moments of your big day. The flower girls played, while they waited for their mother to reveal herself to her bridal party. Bridesmaids dresses were a green pastel while the flower girls wore white just like the bride.
While the women got ready, Ryan arrived. I had enough time to take some images of him, these groomsmen shots I call James Bond shots, uncomplicated simple images that highlight the groom. I sometimes prefer this to actually providing full coverage for the men in the morning. Stylish important images for years to come. Classic images, I fondly look back on when I look at my own grandfather and fathers wedding photos.
The Ceremony was held in the Orangery, The orangey is a large green house essentially where the ceremony, speeches and wedding party are held. Layla, Chelsea and Ryans daughter read a poem for them during the wedding ceremony.. Happiness was radiated as she spoke. As their ceremony ended, guests were invited to throw confetti in the garden and I started to take group shots. The girls were so much fun and made for excellent images.
After a couple of hours of pure documentary shots while the guest enjoyed canapés and fizz, they were escorted back to the. Orangery by the wedding Toastmaster. At the wedding breakfast, tears were shed, the wedding food eaten, wine poured, ( or in Chelsea's case a cosmopolitan ) speeches spoken and the wedding cake cut. I opted at this point due to the sunny weather to shoot portraits later as apposed to during the middle of the day. Something that I often choose to do this, as harsh light is not the best for photography - especially portraits. Harsh sunlight on very sunny days tends to lend itself best to urban ceremonies apposed to country ones. You can play more with lines and shadows for city weddings. With country venues, shooting in harsh sun for portraits can be a task, as you have to fight the green cast on skin tones as light bounces off the foliage and trees.
Chelsea and Ryan danced together after Chelsea has danced with her brother, another poignant nod to her father. The Party had begun! The wedding band were awesome, RNB and classic funk vibes. Chelsea had booked for me to stay an hour more, I was able to capture little more of the craziness on the dance floor - The children danced and hid under tables, the drinks flowed a the smiles bounced around the dance floor as the guests and couple bash out their shapes.
