Abbie & Michael’s Wedding at Woodlands Park Hotel by Myriame Lawley Photography
As a Surrey wedding photographer, I get to work at the very best wedding venues in Surrey and this is certainly the case when I returned to capture Michael & Abbie’s wedding photography at Woodlands Park Hotel. Abbie and Michael chose the perfect location for their summer wedding.
I first heard from Michael & Abbie when they found me via google maps and we tried several times but failed to find a good time for a pre wedding shoot. This busy pair have eight children between them so with that and organising a wedding it was hardly surprising we couldn’t nail down a time. So, it was lovely to finally see them at the wedding.
Woodlands Park Hotel is a grade II listed country mansion house built in a gothic style with wood panelled rooms, a vaulted ceiling and characterful antiques. Situated just outside Cobham on the borders of Surrey and Hampshire, its rich history has seen it play host to various dignitaries and royalty and on a sunny day in July, to Abbie and Michael’s wedding.
On the day, I headed to Woodlands Park Hotel, to catch up with Abbie and her bridal party who were getting ready in the bridal suite on the top floor of the house. The top floor is a beautiful space with a stained-glass ceiling and elegant chandeliers, which make for great pre ceremony photos of the bride and the bridesmaids. The bridal party were in great spirits and looking chic in matching pyjamas and there was a bit of bubbly and snacks on hand to get the celebrations started early.
Experienced Surrey and Hampshire wedding photographer
Abbie looked stunning in a beautifully fitted dress with lace detail and a fish tail shape that kicked out at the bottom giving her an amazing silhouette in all of my images. She bought the dress at Wed2Be and teamed it with a pretty bouquet created by local florist @siobhan. Abbie’s bridesmaids looked elegant in navy blue dresses.
Michael had got ready at home before making his way to Woodlands Park Hotel. He looked very smart in a petrol blue three-piece suit from Slaters and I took a lovely image of Woodland Park’s toastmaster helping him with is button hole.
Before heading downstairs for the ceremony, I captured some really special first reveal images, first with Abbie’s mum and then her dad. The look of love on her dad’s face was so sweet and created one of my favourite images of the day.
I also took some lovely images of Abbie as she made her descend down the elegant staircase to the ceremony.
The wedding ceremony was held in Woodlands Park Hotel’s beautiful Cornwall Suite. This light and airy room has neutral décor for you to decorate as you wish. Its large windows offer picturesque views of the private grounds and bathe the room in tons of natural light that I played with to create even more beautiful images of Abbie and Michael’s ceremony. Abbie and Michael said their vows in front of a beautiful flower wall of white flowers and green foliage provided by Nuts About Events.
Storytelling wedding photographer in Surrey
The ceremony was lovely, emotional, and it was lovely to see how happy their children were for them. At the end, Abbie and Michael walked back down the aisle hand in hand and the room exploded in applause.
Then everybody headed outside for a fun confetti moment, and an elegant drinks and canapes reception in the pretty courtyard. I took my chance to get some candid images of guests happily mingling, enjoying refreshments and enjoying entertainment from a live singer. I love taking unposed images of guests as it really suits my style of documentary wedding photography.
We then called everyone needed for the group shots. The kids wanted me to get an image of all of them so that they could make a canvas for their parents as a special present which I thought was such a good idea. The group images were so much fun as everyone entered into the spirit of it.
With guests happily catered for, I whisked Abbie and Michael off for a couple’s photoshoot. Which brings me to another reason why I love capturing wedding photography at Woodlands Park Hotel, and that’s the beautiful gardens as they make an idyllic backdrop for romantic portrait images. I took some great images and the ones of them on the swing were amongst my favourites of the day as they were so radiant and happy. Abbie then headed onto the lawn for a fun bouquet throwing moment that I captured perfectly.
The wedding breakfast was held back in the Cornwall Suite and it looked amazing, having been decorated by Nutsaboutevents https://www.nutsaboutevents.com The tables were dressed in crisp white linen with elegant candelabras and floral arrangements. Abbie and Michael were welcomed into the room rapturously by their guests waving their napkins over their heads. I got a fantastic image of this with a mirror reflecting their image back.
Creative and Natural wedding photography in Surrey
Everybody then enjoyed a delicious wedding breakfast prepared by Woodlands Park Hotel’s team of in-house chefs. This was followed by some very well received speeches including a very amusing speech by Michael’s son.
Evening celebrations started with the cutting of a gorgeous three-tiered white wedding cake made by local cake maker Jeanette and this was followed by a romantic first dance for Abbie and Michael. Not that they were alone on the dancefloor for long. Their guests were up for a party and the DJ from Surrey Event Services made sure they got one and I took the chance to get some really fun dancefloor images.
A wonderful, family friendly fun wedding full of love and laughter for Abbie and Michael. Congratulations to both of you and thank you for having me there, I loved it!
If you’re having your wedding at Woodlands Park Hotel and are looking for an experienced Woodlands Park Hotel wedding photographer to capture your day with beautiful storytelling images, then feel free to get in touch. I’d love to hear about your wedding plans.
I’ll leave the last words to Abbie and Michael, here’s their review of my photography
“Thank you sooo much they are amazing pics”
