Chris Geary Photography http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com Documentary Wedding Photographer covering Hampshire, Berkshire, Surrey and beyond. Tue, 16 Oct 2012 21:54:56 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 ChrisGearyPhotographyhttp://feedburner.google.com Castle Farm, Capel-y-Ffin http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/travel/castle-farm-capel-y-ffin/ http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/travel/castle-farm-capel-y-ffin/#comments Tue, 16 Oct 2012 21:39:26 +0000 Chris http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/?p=6467 It’s been a while since I posted anything of a personal nature so here goes. I took a few days out last weekend to escape for a while. The last couple of years have been some of the toughest of my life so I decided to treat myself. Castle Farm is nestled in the Black Mountains on the English/Welsh borders, nestled so well, in fact, that you are virtually cut off from modern life. No mobile signal, no mains water or gas and hardly any cars at all. Just as well since the roads are single track most of the way into the valley. Extremely well tarmacked but single track nonetheless. As I drove along the valley floor, I felt the stresses and strains wash away as the traffic disappeared. I was met by Sarah, who runs More To, with a welcoming hug and a cup of tea. Actually by the time I arrived it was wine! She took us on some breathtaking walks which reminds me.. the air. It’s clean and crisp, like mineral water is compared to tap. I wish I could take it home with me. We were amazingly lucky with the weather. Cold, crisp, little fluffy clouds and lots of sunny spells. I’m reminded that I love walking, I miss yoga and I need to take better care of myself.

Thank you, Bertie (the cat who owns the house, pictured last), for letting us use your amazing house and thank you Sarah for your hospitality and guidance. I’m usually quite good when it comes to choosing the best of similar images, but 4 and 5 I couldn’t so I left both. You decide which you prefer. There is a mixture of iPhone 4S and Fuji X100 images here, which is why some have funky borders and some don’t. Thank you also to Anne, Caroline, Dave, Greg and Margret, my excellent farm buddies for the weekend.

 

]]> http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/travel/castle-farm-capel-y-ffin/feed/ 4 Sarah and Adam, Northcote House http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/sarah-and-adam-northcote-house/ http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/sarah-and-adam-northcote-house/#comments Sat, 06 Oct 2012 10:05:15 +0000 Chris http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/?p=6369 This time last year we were having an Indian summer but it was quite a lot cooler for Sarah and Adam’s Northcote house wedding this year. I drove over to Northcote House to meet Sarah and her bridesmaids for the prep and despite the cool temperatures, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky! As the ceremony approached, Sarah realised that the harpist she had hired hadn’t yet arrived. It turned out that she had gone to the wrong venue and wouldn’t be able to make it. Sarah had a list of music that she had planned her to play. I looked at my iPhone. Well it turns out that years ago I had synced Classic FM: Music for Babies to my phone. I’d never played it before. Most of the music Sarah needed was there. The venue had the last remaining song on CD so between us we made sure Sarah had the music she wanted. On this wedding day I was part photographer, part music provider. The ceremony went without a hitch and the guests were none the wiser.

Sarah came into the room down the main staircase with her father and what an entrance! The whole room turned to see the absolutely stunning Sarah come down the stairs and along the aisle. On with the reception itself and towards the end of the group photos, we could hear some rustling from the bushes. After, what seemed like, several minutes, one of the guests appeared through the bushes stating that he “wanted to be in the photos”. Sarah and Adam just laughed. Congratulations, sir, you made it to the blog :D

Here are my favourites from the day…

 

And here is one for the caption contest… submit your best caption in the comments section below :D

]]> http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/sarah-and-adam-northcote-house/feed/ 0 Leanne & Alan, Lansdowne Club http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/leanne-alan-lansdowne-club/ http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/leanne-alan-lansdowne-club/#comments Fri, 31 Aug 2012 13:46:55 +0000 Chris http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/?p=6268 I met Leanne and Alan in a cool juice bar in London last year. I don’t remember what I ordered but it contained more fruit than I normally eat in a week and once blended it was a taste sensation! I wanted to move to London at that moment. Upstairs I went and sat with the lovely couple feeling ever more healthy the more juice I drank. They told me all about their Lansdowne Club wedding, a place I know quite well now. Sitting in this juice bar and seeing Leanne’s energy, I could tell this was going to be a great wedding.

It may have rained all day and added some good measure of thunder to boot but it didn’t dampen any spirits and the Lansdowne is the perfect venue to be at if you are forced indoors all day. Leanne got ready in room 204 overlooking the courtyard which has a wimbledon-esque retractable roof. She has the kind of smile that you can’t help getting drawn into and she smiled a lot! Alan was waiting nervously in the ceremony room while a quartet played as guests arrived. I’m always amazed by the Ballroom at the Lansdowne. It’s big, beautiful and elegant.

So on to the photos. Here are my favourites from the day…

 

]]> http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/leanne-alan-lansdowne-club/feed/ 0 Jill and Martin, Wasing Park http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/jill-and-martin-wasing-park/ http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/jill-and-martin-wasing-park/#comments Mon, 27 Aug 2012 23:30:08 +0000 Chris http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/?p=6168 Summertime in England these days is a bit hit and miss. August isn’t a guarantee. You might get hot weather or rain. For Jill and Martin’s berkshire wedding at Wasing Park they had the perfect summer’s day. I’ve known Jill since the late 90s when we worked together at a software company so when she asked me to document her wedding day, of course I said yes! Jill spent most of the morning getting ready in the bridal suite being made up by the amazing Eric and Mel. A card from Martin, the flowers, her finished make up – these were just some of the things that moved her to tears, tears which were quickly and delicately mopped up to keep her make up intact.

It was such a great day and I thank you both so much for choosing me to capture it. Here is a sneak preview! :)

 

]]> http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/jill-and-martin-wasing-park/feed/ 2 Sally and James, The Three Horseshoes http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/sally-and-james-the-three-horseshoes/ http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/sally-and-james-the-three-horseshoes/#comments Mon, 23 Jul 2012 09:48:07 +0000 Chris http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/?p=6079 I arrived at The Three Horseshoes Country Inn bright and early on Saturday morning for Sally and James’ Buckinghamshire wedding. When I met them both for the first time for their pre-wedding shoot, they told me that they’d have a camper van on the day. I knew then that this was going to be a great wedding. I’m not sure if a formula exists such as camper-van=great-wedding but it certainly did apply here. The VW was absolutely immaculate. I’ve never seen one in such great condition. The owners were polishing it ahead of my photography, such was the attention to detail. The camper van theme continued with the wedding cake, the seating plan and even the favours.

The morning started up in the pub bedrooms where Sally and her bridesmaids were getting ready. This was a proper old pub. I’m 6ft tall and some of the doorways were coming up to my chin. It was certainly cosy in the hair and make up room too. With Sally there were three bridesmaids, two hairdressers, one photographer and just about enough room to move around a little.

The ceremony took place in the beautiful St Mary’s church just down the road in Radnage and then it was back to the pub for the reception. I’d like to thank Sally and James for seating me at their reception. It isn’t often I’m invited to do so, so thank you once again. Sally has had a tough time over the last couple of years health wise, so much so we didn’t get to meet until the pre-wedding shoot and the original date for that had to be moved due to an emergency hospital procedure. When James wrote to me to let me know I was deeply worried but thankfully she recovered quickly and we did the shoot some weeks later. Sally thanked her guests for their support during her tough times and despite her best efforts to remain composed, this brought her to tears. I get to see a lot of speeches and some are really quite moving but having witnessed the closeness of Sally to her sister, Katie and the warmth and love in the room, this moment brought a tear to my eye too. Gah I’m welling up just writing this! I think the first dance song sums it up perfectly… Take That’s Greatest Day. It really was.

I had a wonderful day and I can’t thank you enough for letting me be a part of it. :)

 

]]> http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/sally-and-james-the-three-horseshoes/feed/ 0 Lisa and David, Old Thorns Manor Hotel http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/lisa-and-david-old-thorns-manor-hotel/ http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/lisa-and-david-old-thorns-manor-hotel/#comments Mon, 23 Jul 2012 09:20:47 +0000 Chris http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/?p=6017 I’d been watching the weather forecast expecting a wet day for the first of a double wedding weekend on Friday. Despite some moody looking clouds, Lisa and David were blessed with a cool, dry and sunny (at times) summer’s day for their wedding at Old Thorns Manor Hotel. Lisa got ready in the Hampshire Suite with her mum and bridesmaids. It may be suite in name but it’s more like a flat in there with three bedrooms, a huge open plan kitchen/living room and it has amazing views over the golf course. I’m not a golfist myself but as golf courses go (and of the few I’ve seen), this one is pretty impressive set in the beautiful, lush green rolling hills of Hampshire.

Thank you Lisa and David for sharing your beautiful day with me, it was a real privilege to document it. Here are my favourites from the day…

 

]]> http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/lisa-and-david-old-thorns-manor-hotel/feed/ 0 Lizzie and Matthew, Royal Mid Surrey Golf Club http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/lizzie-and-matthew-royal-mid-surrey-golf-club/ http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/lizzie-and-matthew-royal-mid-surrey-golf-club/#comments Sun, 01 Jul 2012 17:12:31 +0000 Chris http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/?p=5932 Summer is back! Yesterday was an absolutely beautiful day, a perfect summer’s day indeed for Lizzie and Matthew’s surrey wedding. Prep was at Lizzie’s parents’ house in sunny Twickenham followed by a beautiful ceremony at the All Saints Church just a mile down the road. I have to say a big thank you to the vicar who was not only a lovely gentleman but was quite happy for me to move around during the service, which of course I always do discretely. We then moved on to the Royal Mid Surrey Golf Club for the reception. Congratulations Lizzie and Matthew!

 

]]> http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/lizzie-and-matthew-royal-mid-surrey-golf-club/feed/ 0 Charlotte and Michael, Chaffeymoor Grange http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/charlotte-and-michael-chaffeymoor-grange/ http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/charlotte-and-michael-chaffeymoor-grange/#comments Fri, 29 Jun 2012 20:40:42 +0000 Chris http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/?p=5854 Last weekend I had the pleasure of documenting the intimate wedding of Charlotte and Michael at Chaffeymoor Grange. I arrived in the morning to begin shooting the bridal prep to find a very chilled Charlotte and Michael wandering in the grounds together. We walked around the house which was warm and inviting and being readied for the day ahead.

During Charlotte’s prep, an iPod played Cafe Del Mar in the background and this really represented the day perfectly. Chilled and relaxed. I have to say that the design work that went into the order of service and all the other stationery was just incredible. And the flowers… they were just beautiful with amazing detail. The kids had their own little teepee outside with a young chap who did amazing things with balloons. The speeches were really emotional at times, a real mixture of laughter and feeling.

Here are some of my favourites from the day…

 

]]> http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/charlotte-and-michael-chaffeymoor-grange/feed/ 0 Kirsty and Neil, Oakley Hall http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/kirsty-and-neil-oakley-hall/ http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/kirsty-and-neil-oakley-hall/#comments Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:04:40 +0000 Chris http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/?p=5654 This is going to be a slightly longer blog post than normal. Well, I say longer, it’s basically the same length as all my other blog posts, there are just more photos in the slideshow than usual. But with good reason. Kirsty is gorgeous. I mean drop dead gorgeous. She could have rocked up to her wedding without makeup on and noone would have known. She’ll probably disagree when she reads this but it is true. Look! And when she smiles, which she does a lot, she has these amazing dimples that are so cute.. you can’t help but smile back! When I first met Kirsty and Neil way back in 2010, I knew this was going to be a fun wedding. They are both really relaxed with each other and laugh, a lot!

We were blessed with dry weather for most of the day, it was warm enough to have the marquee sides open and the kids could run around the extensive gardens freely. A stark contrast to the following day where I was sat in the rain with 4000 other Jubilee revellers enjoying the longest street party in history, at just over 1.5km long! Anway, here are my favourites from Kirsty and Neil’s Oakley Hall wedding…

 

]]> http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/kirsty-and-neil-oakley-hall/feed/ 0 Vicky and Sean, Cripps Barn http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/vicky-and-sean-cripps-barn/ http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/vicky-and-sean-cripps-barn/#comments Sun, 20 May 2012 22:29:32 +0000 Chris http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/?p=5550 Vicky and Sean booked me last year after seeing the work I did for David and Ella. I met them for the first time on Friday for their Cripps Barn Cotswold wedding. First up, weather report. It was cool but dry and overcast. Ideal conditions for a wedding photographer, a touch cool for guests but don’t worry, Vicky and Sean had that covered with blankets and the venue had it covered with a massive log fire indoors (and out!).

The day went absolutely perfectly although I’m sworn to secrecy about the mention during prep of a strap-on or the fact that it took two bridesmaids to rescue a third from being eaten by an ironing board. And there is absolutely no photograhic evidence whatsoever of the latter. Honest. :D

 

]]> http://www.chrisgearyphotography.com/weddings/vicky-and-sean-cripps-barn/feed/ 3