Celia & David – Ramster Hall Wedding

Celia & David’s August wedding at Ramster Hall was a beautiful relaxed day in one of Surrey’s most charming country house venues.

Now that the new website is live (hooray!) I can start catching up on outstanding blogs in earnest. I’ve been itching to share this glorious day because Celia and David’s late summer Ramster Hall wedding was an absolute dream.

I’ve shot at Ramster a number of times and as a venue it’s utterly charming – perhaps because it’s a private house, run as a wedding venue, it retains that personal touch which can be hard to find elsewhere. Celia got ready at her handsome family home just down the road – my wife has subsequently fallen in love with the gorgeous full-length mirror – while David got ready at The Crown Inn, Chiddingfold. If you’ve never been to Chiddingfold, I highly recommend it for a lovely walk, followed by a Sunday roast – it is the quintessential English village.

Secret Singers & All The Music

The wedding ceremony took place in the Great Drawing Room with the room arranged for a long aisle. Afterwards we spilled into the central courtyard, one of my favourite features at Ramster, for drinks in the sunshine. The whole day crackled with energy and joy – check out the singing waiters during dinner (and the guests’ reactions!) as an example of how much fun and laughter was had by all. Music was clearly a top priority in setting the mood – with both a band and a DJ in the evening, there was plenty of opportunity to party.

Bustle Tussle

Celia wore Suzanne Neville and couldn’t have looked more graceful if she’d tried. We did have a slightly hilarious moment just before we went to shoot portraits. The bustle hadn’t quite been hooked up correctly, and it took me and David a few minutes to figure out how to undo the knot to let the dress down. After 18 years in weddings, it’s amazing how many wedding dress incidents I’ve had to negotiate, including occasionally sewing brides into dresses. Needless to say, we got there in the end!

I think it’s worth adding that every wedding has its minor hiccups. These moments often feel mildly stressful when they’re going on, but they speak to the authenticity and reality of a wedding day. A wedding is a live event (think theatre not cinema) and they are full of what I call ‘the stuff of life’. In short, don’t fight the micro dramas – embrace them!

Portraits in the Ramster Gardens

I really love shooting in the gardens at Ramster, they are ever-changing and there seems to be something new around every corner. Much like Ramster’s architecture, the gardens are beautiful and unfussy which adds to the overall sense of ease.

Thank you so much to David and Celia for having me, I loved every minute.