An Intimate Wedding at Cheslyn House and Gardens and a two-and-a-half-year-old flower girl who might (or might not) walk down the aisle. Beth and Oliβs wedding at Cheslyn House and Gardens was always going to be a small and intimate day – and that was exactly how they wanted it.
With their daughter at the centre of the day and their closest family around them, they planned something simple, relaxed and very much about being together.
The coupleβs story
Beth and Oli knew from the start that a big traditional wedding wasnβt really their thing. When they got in touch, their enquiry form was a joy to read and I knew we would be a good fit:
Our preference is simplicity and we would love photos that are natural and relaxed, capturing bits of the day that will seem like a blur to us! The style of your photos is exactly what we are looking for.
I knew their plans for a small and intimate wedding at Cheslyn House and Gardens one spring afternoon in April would be so lovely to capture.
Why they chose Cheslyn House and Gardens
Cheslyn House and Gardens is the perfect setting for the kind of wedding Beth and Oli had in mind. The small ceremony room seats up to 20 people, with a big bay window as its central feature, and the gardens provide a beautiful backdrop for some celebrations afterwards.
There was also plenty for their daughter to enjoy, including the aviary and fish pond, so it felt like somewhere that worked for the whole family rather than simply being a pretty setting for the ceremony.
I’ve always said Cheslyn House is Watford’s best kept secret, so I was very happy to see another wedding taking place there – and I hope weddings continue to be held there in the future.
The ceremony took place at 1.30pm, followed by time for photographs in the gardens before they headed on to Shendish Manor for their meal and the rest of their celebrations.
How the day unfolded
Beth and Oli booked me for a 1.5 hour photography package, which gave them lots of coverage of their guests arriving, the ceremony and some celebrations in the gardens afterwards.
Oli and his family arrived first and enjoyed some of the sunshine in the garden before heading into the ceremony room. Beth and their daughter arrived not long afterwards.
Beth, her step-father and her daughter all walked down the aisle together. My favourite part of the day was the packet of Haribos Nana had in her handbag as a small bribe to encourage their daughter to walk down the aisle. It worked!
The ceremony was wonderful and emotional, and felt very much like Beth and Oli wanted.
Afterwards, we made use of the gardens for some photographs of Beth and Oli together, as well as plenty of time with their daughter. Family photographs were important to them too, but we had plenty of time in the gardens to enjoy just being together and exploring as well.
My favourite photographs
1. Haribo bribes!
A certain little person eating Haribo out of Nana’s handbag throughout the ceremony – and being so kind as to offer one to Mum and Dad during the vows!
I’m very glad I was there to catch this moment!
2. The photographs of Rosa
Finding a bench and getting the family to sit and have a chat together made for some lovely relaxed family portraits that I hope they’ll treasure for many years!
3. The couple portraits in the spring sunshine
This was my first wedding this year with a proper peak of summer warmth, and being able to wander around the gardens with Beth and Oli in the sunshine was so lovely and relaxed.
The gardens were looking beautiful, and we got some gorgeous photographs of the two of them enjoying a little bit of time together after the ceremony.
Three useful things to know for getting married at Cheslyn House and Gardens
1. It’s for small and intimate days only
It’s for small and intimate days only
The ceremony room seats only 20 people, so Cheslyn House is best suited to genuinely small weddings.
You can hire Cheslyn House and Gardens for a 1.5 hour wedding slot. Ceremonies are available on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 10.30am, midday, 1.30pm, 3pm and 4.30pm.
2. No confetti
Unfortunately confetti is not allowed in the gardens, but bubbles are a great alternative so we can definitely work with those and still get great celebratory photos.
3. Still a public garden
Booking a ceremony here doesn’t mean exclusive hire of the gardens, and they remain open to the public.
But actually, I think there’s something lovely about that. You can return on your anniversary year after year and enjoy the gardens again – and, if you fancy it, book me for a family photoshoot so we can catch up and mark all those changing years!
Gallery
Planning your own wedding?
If you’re planning a small, intimate wedding at Cheslyn House and Gardens and want photographs that feel natural rather than heavily posed, I’d love to hear from you! Contact me here and let’s chat!
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