It may be stormy but #LOVE is in the air…..

I’ve had several orders placed over the weekend from various shoots and thought I would choose one of these images for my blog post today. It’s from a pre wedding shoot I did in the local countryside near my home last year of a couple who’s wedding is later this year.

I love the composition of this pictures, with the nettles giving some foreground interest, the dramatic sky and of course the lovely expressions on the couple. My portrait shoots or pre wedding shoots are always very relaxed and fun and it’s a great way to get to know each other before the big day. For the bride and groom, it gives them confidence in knowing how they look in front of the camera, and for me I can see if I have any serial blinkers!

Portrait Photography Oxford

To see more of my portrait and wedding photography in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and beyond please visit http://www.marklordphotography.co.uk

Weddings at The Tythe Barn

A couple of weeks ago I was back at my favourite Oxfordshire wedding venue, The Tythe Barn nr Bicester. I have photographed several weddings there over the years and know the venue and staff really well. However, this wedding was going to be a little different….

Tim and Cat contacted me earlier this year to check my availability. On talking to them they told me about a few things they were going to do differently. One of those things was a ‘First Look’. I had never done a ‘First Look’ before but was keen to photograph one. A First Look is…. well a First Look at each other generally with the bride walking up to the groom and then looking at each other for the first time (that day!) Got it! Well, I was very excited about photographing my first ‘First Look’!

I was not disappointed. Tim positioned himself amongst the trees at The Tythe Barn and Cat approached from behind and it really was a lovely moment when they saw each other for the first time and made for some great photographs.

As Tim and Cat had seen each other now before the wedding ceremony we decided to do a few pictures of the two of them and a few family groups for those that were there. It was quite cool doing a wedding day in a different order, and also with a Winter wedding with it getting dark by 4pm it made a lot of sense to shoot the group photos and pictures of the bride and groom pre ceremony. Obviously this will only work if you are doing a ‘First Look’ but something I would recommend if you wanted to do things

Tim greeted their family and friends as they arrived whilst Cat was tucked away. We all then enjoyed a wonderful ceremony with some entertaining readings, a few more group shots and a drinks reception in the cow shed. Then another first for me was The Tythe Barn’s self carve roast, which went down well with everyone.

Tim and Cat had several lovely touches to the day with georgous flowers by The Flower Fairies and a massive LOVE by Vowed and Amazed.

Finally another cool idea Tim and Cat had was for the first dance, where Cat starts dancing with her Dad, whilst Tim eyes Cat up and then comes onto the dance floor, kicks Dad off and has his first dance with his bride. It was a lot more romantic then I have made it sound!

I am one of the recommended photographers of The Tythe Barn and have a special offer for all couples who get married at The Tythe Barn. If you are getting married there in 2014, 2015 or beyond please do get in touch. www.marklordphotography.co.uk

Grace and Brian’s sneaky peek – Notley Tythe Barn

A few weeks ago I photographed the lovely wedding of Grace and Brian at the Notley Tythe Barn in Long Crendon, Buckinghamshire.

Grace and Brian had a civil ceremony at the barn with approximately 60 of their nearest and dearest. After the ceremony it was drinks, canapés and a few group photographs on the lawn before they had a Chinese tea ceremony with Grace’s parents. After the wedding breakfast the DJ was primed and the guests partied into the night!

Notley Tythe Barn is a wonderful wedding venue near Thame if you are looking for that rustic wedding venue. It offers great locations for your guests to enjoy themselves as well as fantastic potential for great wedding photography!

Notley Tythe Barn will be having a wedding fayre this coming Sunday (29th September) 11-3 so if you are looking for a wedding venue close to Thame and Aylesbury then you may want to check out Notley Tythe Barn.

See you there!

Here are just a small selection of images from Grace and Brian’s big day……

A #Ramsbury #Wedding #Wiltshire

A few weeks ago Jack and I were back in Jack’s home village of Ramsbury, Wiltshire. It’s a place very close to my wife & I as that is where we kindled our relationship; over a few coca-colas in the local pub,The Bell. Still that’s another story for another day. In the meantime, a mutual friend of ours and the bride and groom’s recommended me for their wedding photography.

Laurie and Chis are local to Ramsbury and got married in Ramsbury’s Holy Cross Church with a reception at a nearby barn called Wick Bottom Barn near Barbury Castle, Marlborough. The barn is a great venue if you are looking for a blank canvas to put your own stamp on and Laurie and Chris really made it their own. Typically for August we had a few heavy showers but this did not dampen proceedings too much. We managed to do the few group photographs outside of the church and a picture of everyone at the barn, in between showers!! Then the rain stopped for a good half an hour and we nipped off into the nearby Wiltshire countryside to get some pictures of Laurie and Chris together. The barn is well positioned for Marlborough and Swindon and the M4 yet is set in an idyllic location with absolutely nothing surrounding it except rolling countryside!

With speeches before the meal we stayed to capture them before leaving everyone to enjoy the rest of the day. Laurie and Chris also had the great idea of asking those with tents to camp over in the grounds surrounding the barn. There was a great selection of tents there but none as cool as the tent Laurie and Chris had for the night, a bell tent lent to them, complete with chandelier, by my sister-in-law.

Laurie and Chris are now on their honeymoon in Venice but here is a sneaky peek of some of the images from their big day.

#Wycombe Abbey #Wedding and #Mandarin Oriental Wedding Reception

Earlier this month we had the pleasure of photographing Nicolette and Jonathan’s wedding at Wycombe Abbey and then onto the Mandarin Oriental, Knightsbridge for the wedding reception.

Having photographed at Wycombe Abbey before I was delighted when I received an email from Jonathan and Nicolette telling me about their wedding plans. Wycombe Abbey is a girls school in High Wycombe and the chapel has a few weddings a year for staff and ex students. The chapel is a wonderful place to get married set in the grounds of this historic school with stunning parkland which makes for some great locations for wedding photography.

Jon and Nicolette live in Hong Kong so after a few emails and a chat with Jon on the telephone they decided to book my services, we then met up earlier in the year on one of their visits to the UK when they had their pre wedding shoot, at Sir Charles Napier, nr Chinnor, Oxfordshire. This was a great opportunity to put some faces to names and certainly helps break the ice before the big day!

The bride and groom together with their guests all got ready in London before heading out to High Wycombe for the ceremony in the chapel, at Wycombe Abbey. We all got from London to Wycombe in good time and everything was set. Nicolette had let me into a secret that she was going to play the piano in the chapel before she entered and neither Jon or the guests knew about this! Nicolette is a very accomplished pianist and teacher, having played solo in the Hong Kong Town Hall as well as other solo performances. On arrival at the chapel, together with her father and bridesmaids she crept up into the gallery which houses the piano and organ and played the most beautiful piece of music. It really was a magical moment and a privilege to have been there, looking down on Jon and the guests and seeing their expressions as the bride played away. Nicolette then went onto play another piece of music as the bridesmaids made their way down the aisle. It really was quite an entrance!

Nicolette and her father made their entrance to music courtesy of the organist and they had a wonderful wedding ceremony. I am really delighted with the wedding ceremony images, it’s always one of my favourite parts of the wedding, and I will never tire of seeing a groom’s face as his bride approaches or the face of a proud father giving his daughter away.

The wedding ceremony followed by drinks in the grounds of Wycombe Abbey where Jon and Nicolette cut their cake and we photographed the few group photographs they requested. I then photographed Jon and Nicolette alone before we all headed back into London to a drinks reception at the Mandarin Oriental. There was a short reception on the terrace at the hotel before guests headed into the ball room for the wedding breakfast. Jon and Nicolette entered the room and had their first dance before sitting for the wedding breakfast.

With speeches in between courses and a band playing there was plenty of entertainment for the guests and lots of great expressions to photograph during the speeches. The evening for us finished around midnight when the bride had a dance with her Dad. We then left the wedding party to relax and unwind at the after party which I believe went on until 4am.

It was an incredible day and one Jack and I will not forget. Thanks Jon and Nicolette for a fab wedding day. Here are a few images from the day to whet the appetite of Jon and Nicolette and their family and friends. Jon and Nicolette will be receiving many more images soon on a DVD destined for Hong Kong!

Laura and James’s #wedding @stokeplace

It’s been a while since I have worked at Stoke Place but it’s certainly one of my favourite Buckinghamshire wedding venues and only a stones throw from London. It was a real pleasure to work there again as it’s a great location to have a wedding reception. The grounds are wonderful with established parkland and a lake for the guests to enjoy the reception and pretty splendid for great wedding photography too!

The interior of this Queen Anne Manor House retains all of its old charms and features, updated with handpicked modern designer pieces giving you great backdrops for your wedding photography should the weather turn.

Laura and James’s wedding was great fun with a few moments that still make me chuckle…. Those that were there will know what I mean!

I have just posted a selection of images onto my Facebook page here so Laura and James can have a sneaky peek whilst on their honeymoon.

Here are a few of my favourite images from the day…..

Gaynes Park Wedding Photography, #Essex

Last month Jack and I photographed the wedding of Jane and Ben at Gaynes Park in Essex. Jane’s sister Rachel and I used to work together and have kept in touch ever since and in fact I photographed Rachel’s wedding a few years ago too so I know the family fairly well now!

Ben and Jane choose to have a vintage handmade style of wedding and they chose a great venue to hold their big day. Gaynes Park is a stylish and contemporary barn wedding venue set in the grounds of a historic country estate in Epping, Essex which has been in the Chisenhale-Marsh family for generations. There is a collection of various barns, one of which offers the chance to have an outside wedding ceremony if good weather. Should the weather not be favourable there is a large south facing orangery that can accommodate the civil ceremony too!

After the ceremony there is large walled garden for the drinks reception and lots of great locations for fabulous wedding photography.

It really is a smashing venue if you are looking for something rustic, rural and yet fairly close to London! In the evening you can even see Canary Wharf and the skyline of London in the distance!

Jane and Ben choose one of my Stylish wedding albums with a magazine layout and metal cover which is now all designed and with my lab for printing. Here are a few pictures from their big day!

Last Saturday, what a day.

Firstly I awoke to lovely weather. The 1st June – ‘Is this the start of Summer’ I asked myself?

On Saturday Sarah (one of my assistants) and I photographed the wedding of Kathryn and David at Christ Church, Henley on Thames and then onto one of my favourite Buckinghamshire wedding venues, the magnificent Hedsor House. When I initially got an enquiry from Kathryn for wedding photography and was told it was a Hedsor House I was thrilled. You only have to look at the Hedsor House website to realise how fabulous it is with all of the awards and accolades awarded within the wedding industry.

“Vogue’s Dream Wedding Venue”

VOGUE

“Wedding Venue of the Year”

The Wedding Industry Awards Shortlist

“UK’s Prettiest Summer Wedding Venue”

Wedding Day Venues

“Top 100 Wedding Venues in the UK”

Brides Magazine

“No.2. Royal Wedding Venue in the UK”

The Times

“No.1 Top Venue”

TATLER

“No.1 Wedding Venue in Buckinghamshire”

Brides Magazine

“Marie Claire’s Top Wedding Venue”

MARIE CLAIRE

“Top 10 UK Film Locations”

The Telegraph

“Event Venue of the Year”

Eventia Awards

If you have got this far then you may wish to take a closer look at what Hedsor can offer for your wedding day.

Kathryn got ready at Hotel Du Vin in Henley on Thames with her bridesmaids whilst David travelled up to Henley from Winchester on the morning of the big day. The service was a very special occasion at Christ Church, Henley on Thames as the church was very personal to Kathryn’s family. Her parents got married in the church and her grandfather was very involved in the church and even made the weather vane that adorns the church spire!

After a lovely service, the bride and groom went in a beautiful Bentley supplied by Christophers whilst the guests were all taken to the venue by coach.

On arrival at Hedsor House I heard comments such as ‘Its like something from a fairytale’ as the entrance to Hedsor House is so grand, long sweeping driveway, through the beautiful gardens and parkland before passing the highland cattle and finally seeing this magnificent house in front of you. With a beautiful blue sky it really was like something from a fairytale.

Entertainment was provided for the guests in the form of a Dixieland Jazz band playing in front of the house and a very popular Ice cream trike on the terrace provided by Benecci Ice Cream Bikes The beautiful flowers were all supplied by Hot Flowers and Art at nearby Wooburn Green, and the sensationally delicious catering by Caper and Berry.

The whole operation was meticulously organised by Kathryn with the help of Rachael from Serendipity Wedding Planning who did a fantastic job at keeping proceedings going as well as organising some gigantic balloons!

So without further ado here is Kathryn and David’s sneeky peek. I will be working on their images over the next few weeks and hope to show you all some more soon.

Ohh…. and the dress…… A beautiful Ian Stewart – one of my favourite wedding dress designers.

What a day – hey?

#Hedsor House #Wedding tomorrow……

Tomorrow I have a beautiful wedding at Hedsor house, Taplow, Buckinghamshire. The wedding service is in Henley on Thames and then the reception at Hedsor house. I am very excited as Hedsor is such a splendid wedding venue and great for wedding photography. The Bride and Groom are really up for having some pictures taken in the grounds at Hedsor so fingers crossed the sunshine will be out and everyone will have a wonderful time. With some great props supplied by the bride there will be some amazing photograph opportunities. So keep a look out for the sneaky peek on my blog……. you will not be able to miss these pictures……

In the meantime here are a few images from the last wedding I photographed at Hedsor House.

Antonia and David, Wadham College and The Tythe Barn

Last month Jack and I photographed the wedding of Antonia and David at Wadham College and then onto the beautiful Tythe Barn, Launton, Bicester for the reception.

David studied at Wadham so it was a great choice of venue to wow their guests who were mainly from Belgium and Wales. Wadham College is in Oxford’s city centre and is surrounded by architectural splendour and history. The architecture of Wadham College is simply stunning and offers great backgrounds for photography. Having photographed several Oxford colleges in recent years I always get excited when I get another enquiry to photograph at such magnificent venues.

After the service the reception was held at The Tythe Barn, Launton, near Bicester one of my favourite wedding venues in Oxfordshire. Will & Emma who run the barn have restored this historical building beautifully & their attention to detail shows in every wedding I have had the pleasure to photograph there.

Here are a few pictures from Antonia and David’s stunning day. Please see more on my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/marklordphotography and please LIKE my page for regular updates and offers in the future.

For weddings at The Tythe Barn I offer up to two complimentary hours into the evening if you book me for 6 or more. For more information either pick up a leaflet next time you visit The Tythe Barn or email me for details.

In the meantime enjoy the pictures…..