Countryside Weddings | Polly Alexandre Photography

Lou & Rocco – An English Country Wedding

April 27, 2015

When you are a cool, edgy couple working in the entertainment industry, you don’t throw a wedding that is like anyone else’s right? No….. you stamp your own very personal style and create a celebration at home that’s full of meaning and personality, and uniquely your own: both laid-back and lively and a ton of fun!

Lou and Rocco chose Lou’s family home to host their wedding, which her parents had very kindly held onto a little longer so the couple could complete the family tradition of marrying there, before her parents sold the house and moved on. The celebrations were hosted in different locations around the gardens – from a humanist ceremony is a marquee in the apple orchard – to a lively band in the driveway.

The stars of the show – after Lou & Rocco of course – were the amazing original Doritos band off the TV advert – the Mariarchi Band. Hilarious, fun and awesome musicians to boot, these guys got the party going at full swing right from the drinks reception.

As the sun set the family released gold balloons into the dusky skies, one to mark each dear family member who had moved on, in a meaningful and poignant acknowledgement to those loved and lost, but never forgotten.

And as the balloons flow off into the sky, so this couple were about to fly off to their own new life. Lou and Rocco’s wedding was a statement of their love and marriage, a coming together of 2 happy families, and also a send off to the newly married couple who shortly after emigrated to the US to begin a new life together.

To Lou and Rocco: America is a better place for your sense of fun and personality, and I hope your have a long and happy new life together and a marriage that is filled with just as much laughter and love as the day it started. All my love xxx

Venue: Clients Home // Bride’s Dress: Pronovias // Band: Mariarchi Band

Angie & Dag’s Wedding at Gaynes Park

March 30, 2015

Angie met Dag, and such was her love for him, she even committed to learning his native language, Norwegian, going to classes after work each week, such was her dedication to her husband-to-be.

Gaynes Park is set in the sprawling English countryside and has the most beautiful gardens, perfect for a quintessential English summer wedding. The old barn with an outdoor/indoor feel was the perfect place for guests to gather pre-ceremony for a drinks and chats.

The ever talented Sev, from The Hepburn Collection , worked his magic on Angie creating a timeless up-do in the form of a ballerina bun topped with a lace trimmed, cathedral length veil. I just love the oversized bun with it’s nod to the 60’s; so elegant…..

Florals, by Poppies Designer Flowers , were kept simple and elegant with white roses for the bridal bouquet and a mixture of purple hues for the bridesmaids who wore lilac. The colours played cleverly off of the gardens which had blooming lavender throughout. I first shot at Gaynes Park the year it opened as a wedding venue and it’s amazing to see how the gardens are developed. They really make a gorgeous backdrop for photographs.

Angie wore a halter neck, lace gown by Pronovias which added a modern twist to a classic look. This was accompanied by one of the most beautiful beaming smiles I have ever seen! Angie you just radiated happiness and love!

During the reception I love to shoot a lot of black and white. With black and white you focus in on the pure emotion, the feeling behind an image, and it lets the viewer connect with those special moments; a hug between father and daughter, a kiss from wife to her new husband, laugh out loud speeches, and a first dance to showers of paper confetti: the perfect celebratory end to a magical day.

Angie & Dag: with your first baby due soon, I would like to wish you a beautiful long and happy marriage and joyful and loving life together. It was a pleasure to be a part of your journey! Much love for your future together xxx

Credits: Brides Dress: Pronovias // Hair: Hepburn Collection // Florist: Poppies Designer Flowers // Cake: The Cake Parlour; Catering: Galloping Gourmet // Videographer: Gorgeous Films // Ceremony & Reception: Gaynes Park // Stationary & Paper Design: Rose Ruby Paper Co

Contact me for your Wedding Photography At Gaynes Park

Eva and Matt – Wedding at Cambridge Cottage, Kew Gardens

February 9, 2015

Eva & Matt met when they were both students at LSE in London. Given that their love story officially started back when they were students, it was only fitting that Matt should revisit their University Library to propose to Eva. The couple chose me as their Photographer with a brief to capture the smiles, the happiness…and special moments of their big day. Images that felt sweet and happy and would reawaken the feelings from their magical day in years to come when they looked through their album.

With both the wedding ceremony and reception to be held at Cambridge Cottage in Kew Gardens, Eva chose the classic, timeless Connaught Hotel in the heart of London for her location for bridal preparations. It has a classic and grand feel indoors which she loved and it was the perfect location to host the extensive Chinese party games, which were a lot of fun indeed as you can see!

As one of the fun Chinese traditions includes playing a series of games before the wedding, Eva wore a crimson red dress and later changed into her beautiful white wedding gown by Pronovias.

The couple had shared that they just loved the black & white shots that they had seen previously on my blog taken during the wedding reception, so that is just what I did for them. I love the way that one is drawn into the emotions and moments with black & white. There is something about omitting the distraction of color that really lets us focus in on what really matters – love, expression and pure emotion….

To Mr & Mrs Z: It’s been a pleasure to get to know you along this wonderful journey in your lives….you are just a dynamic couple with big plans for the future and I can’t way to hear how it all unfolds. May the love you share carry you along this journey together in joy and happiness…..

Credits: Brides Dress: Pronovias; Make Up: Jo Freeman; Florist: Robbie Honey; Cake: Rachel’s Cakes; Videographer: Bloomsbury Films; Bridal Preparations: The Connaught; Ceremony and Reception: Cambridge Cottage, Kew Gardens; Band: Wandering Hands

Robert & Rebecca’s Wedding at Kelmarsh Hall

January 26, 2015

They say that third time is a charm, luckily for the bride – not the man but the venue! Robert and Rebecca had actually paid a deposit for two other venues before they found the beautiful Kelmarsh Hall , situated on the boundary of Rutland and Northamptonshire. The Gardens and stunning Georgian architecture became a running theme throughout the day. Rebecca had a pencil sketch of Kelmarsh Hall made into a stamp online which was placed on their handmade muslin confetti bags, envelopes and stationary suite, escort cards and place settings.

Rebecca had always envisaged her bridesmaids wearing ivory lace (some might say a risky choice but her parents live near Nottingham which is famous for lace). Ami Elisah, who designed the bride’s daughter’s dresses, managed to track down the Kate Middleton lace (yes! that exact lace!) to make her a beautiful kimono wrap to wear whilst getting ready.

The bride wore a designer gown called Hepburn by Suzanne Neville . It was made of corded heavy lace and came with a removable lace jacket which she wore for the ceremony and took off for dinner and the evening reception. Rebecca wore a long silk tulle veil also by Suzanne Neville.

The flowers in the marquee were absolutely stunning. The inimitable Miss Pickering provided six tall arrangements, overflowing with a variety of peonies, roses, mint, hydrangea, jasmine and other flowers. The bride worked together with Miss Pickering to create a DIY style that was elegant and sophisticated and Rebecca actually created the small glass bowls herself for the table centres the day before the wedding. Bright and early at 5:30am on the morning of her big day she hopped in the car and drove over to the venue to check that the flowers had made it through the night! They had…phew!

Dinner was delicious with special his and hers’ deserts, suggested by the caterers, for something unique. Each place setting had two spoons to share. The evening food was a hog roast, cooked by a wedding guest, and served by the bride’s brother. Rebecca’s favorite aspect of the wedding food was the Cheese Room which was, you’ve guessed it, a room set aside for the serving and adoration of cheese! All the cheese was from a local shop to the Bride in Louth – Louth Cheese Shop . The cocktail bar, set up in the adjoining saloon, provided drinks from their favorite cocktail bars around the world.

Following their first dance to Nina Simone’s “My Baby Just Cares for Me”, the dance floor was full all night with a dance-off to top it off!

Rebecca and Rob, it was a long journey to get to the aisle and I am honoured to have shared it with you. You were probably my greatest fan (borderline stalker ha ah ha!) for the years you spent planning your wedding and I am delighted I was able to be your photographer. You created a beautiful wedding that was both elegant and relaxed and the perfect start to your married life together. Wishing you a beautiful future together!

Florist: Miss Pickering // Hair: James White // Make Up: Liza Smith // Dress Designer: Suzanne Neville // Band: Kelly Dickson // Catering: Lemon Zest , Louth Cheese Shop , KB Hog Roasts // Cocktail Bar: Bar Hire Company // Marquee: Wings Marquees // Stationary: Glasgow Press // Bride Dresses: Rosa Novias // Bridesmaid Dresses: Ami Elisah // Boy’s suits: Moss Bros // Ceremony and Reception Venue: Kelmarsh Hall

Charlotte and Teddy’s Wedding at Iscoyd Park

January 12, 2015

Charlotte is a super talented bridal designer and head of her own brand, Charlotte Balbier, who married her love of her life, Teddy, in a glamorous winter wedding at the beautiful Iscoyd Park.

I was really thrilled when Charlotte approached me to shoot her wedding, as not only do I love working for other creative people, but Charlotte’s feminine, glamorous, romantic style is a great fit with my style of photography. I loved that Charlotte trusted me from the outset and knew what I offered was exactly what she was looking for. I was so excited to create a beautiful, romantic and stylish record of her wedding.

Natural light is really important for me to create the beautiful natural couple shots I am known for, and it was important to me that Charlotte understood the implications of this for the timings of their wedding ceremony. This is especially important for winter weddings when it can get dark as early as 3pm. The ceremony is provisionally scheduled for 1pm, a time that allows natural light for during the drinks reception so I can create soft, flattering romantic portraits of Charlotte and Teddy and make sure everyone is photographed in the most flattering light. Having a great venue in case of wet weather is also important and Charlotte definitely ticks all the boxes with this one! Iscoyd Park has huge windows which provides lots of natural light and was great for shooting in. The stylish interiors looked stunning in the photographs, and the stone house and romantic grounds were the perfect backdrop for beautiful portraits.

Charlotte and Teddy met for the first time at a dinner of mutual friends…. they in turn became friends and a few months later had their first date. Teddy asked Charlotte to be his wife at home in a heartfelt, sweet, romantic from the heart proposal. I loved getting to know them both as they are such a great fit for each other, chat like nobody and have so much fun together. The amazing and magical connection they share was translated perfectly into their wedding, and it was an honour to capture it all.

To read more about this wedding see their extensive features on Love my Dress and Style Me Pretty. The wedding also appeared in You & Your Wedding Magazine.

Charlotte & Teddy, it’s been an honour getting to know you and you are one of the most genuine, glamorous and fun couples I had had the pleasure of working with. I’m so excited to see you share the rest of your life together and I wish you all the very best for an amazing and magical future together!

Wedding Dress: Charlotte Balbier // Wedding Veil: Joyce Jackson // Hair Band: Amanda Wyatt // Ceremony: St. Mary’s Church // Reception Venue: Iscoyd Park // Videographer: Silk Weddings // Wedding Shoes: Freya Rose Wedding Planner: Charley Beard of London Bride // Hair and Make-Up: Sarah Brock, Harry John, Catherine Hughes, Nicholas Austin, Helen Masters // Flowers: Red Floral, Shropshire Petals and Selena Godsall // Cake: Cakes by Krisanthi // Catering: Vanilla and Allseasons // Cakes & Sweets Table: Freyas Fancies, Mums Macarons, Red Floral, The Sweet Hostess, Pretty Little Trio, Lavender and Linen, All Things Nice // Reception Shoes: Jimmy Choo // Evening Clutch Bag “Annie” by: Vintage Styler // Flower Girl’s Attire: Rainbow Club, The White Company and Charlotte Balbier // Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss, Jeffery West Shoes// Stationery: Rose & Ruby // Wedding Signs: With A Flourish // Wedding Favours: Char Bonnel // Gypsy Band: Gypsies Of Bohemia // Magician: Steve Faulkner // DJ: Nick Campbell and DJ Graeme Park // Lighting: Light Tech