Sarah & Simon! What an absolute belter of a couple! Massive congratulations to you both again! Thank you so much for making me feel so welcome at your wedding at Brackenborough Hotel in Louth, it was an honour to be a part of it!
The Beginning
“We met when we worked together, Sarah didn’t like Simon when we first met! Our first date was a double date at Damon’s in Lincoln and we never looked back since. We’ve been together for 12 years, had lots of fun travelling and making memories with the kids and other family members too! This will be another great time to celebrate with everyone and make memories for years to come.”
“We got engaged on a beach in Mexico at sunset on Sarah’s birthday – she was very shocked!”
Top tip from the newlyweds
“Start early and be all over the detail – save more money than you thought you’d need! (Don’t forget to save plenty for the honeymoon). Most of all be organised and let other people help – it’s not all on you!”
The Wedding
Meet Simon
We kicked things off in one of the lake cabins where Simon was getting ready with his son. Simon seemed super chilled out and I got to witness a groom in make-up for the first time (he had a black eye!) I think Simon looked super swanky and his cream suit looked both amazing and cool to wear in the July heat!
If you’ve seen any of my previous Real Wedding Stories; you’ll know I always start with the guys first because they get ready a lot quicker (sorry girls, it’s true!) and it’s much easier for them to take their jacket off again and relax if they want to!
Suit boutique: Cavani at Coney’s
Meet Sarah
Sarah and her bride tribe got ready in the bridal suite in the Brackenborough Hotel, just a short walk away. We survived the heat in there (somehow!) and the girls looked gorgeous with their hair and make-up done by Christina Barnett and Lauren Aisthorpe Hair & Beauty respectively.
The Ceremony
When you choose a wedding at Brackenborough Hotel you have the option for an outdoor ceremony, with a lovely paved aisle to walk down and a spot of shade to stand in while you say your ‘I do’s’ (which also does wonders for your photos!) Sarah and Simon tied the knot here and to cap it off, had an epic confetti exit!
Love what you see?
Get in touch for a brochure, check my availability or arrange a casual consultation.
Family Photos
After our ‘hugs and high fives!’ we made a start on the family portraits! The Louth weather kept going from bright to cloudy but Sarah & Simon were absolute troopers with seemingly endless patience while we worked our way through their portrait list!
Wedding breakfast
The newlyweds made their rockstar entrance into their wedding breakfast room and were greeted by thunderous applause and cheers from everyone in the room! We enjoyed a delicious three course meal courtesy of The Brackenborough Hotel chefs! Fairytales did a stunning job of their venue décor, the whole place looked magical!
“We have gone for sage & cream colour scheme and as much activity outdoors as possible”
Venue dressing: Fairytales
Speeches
Sarah’s brother Craig was the first to speak, providing us a healthy balance of comedy and emotion – followed by a few words from Sarah’s mum Wendy. Simon nailed his speech and it was so apparent how overcome with gratitude he was to be in the moment, it was lovely to watch as he praised his kids, his parents and his new wife Sarah.
Cheers to the newlyweds!
Newlywed Photoshoot
We had our newlywed portraits all over the spacious grounds the Brackenborough has to offer and we had a great time getting these shots with a lot of laughter!
Cake cut & first dance
The newlyweds cut their cake which looked absolutely incredible; I’m not sure who it was made by though unfortunately!
Sarah & Simon’s first dance as newlyweds was to The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra. I’m a huge Sinatra fan myself! So I knew the moment they told me that I’d be using a cover for their highlight video!
Reception
We played my Wedding Photo Game to kickstart the reception and we also had A Booth and Beyond on photobooth duties, always a pleasure!
Why choose The Brackenborough Hotel for your big day?
As a wedding photographer I have the pleasure of working at so many gorgeous venues and have the privilege of working with so many incredible staff. From ‘prep to party’ everything at Brackenborough Lakes Resort is just flawless. They even have an on-site hair & beauty salon!
Every room has an elegant décor choice and the lodges on the lakes are a fantastic choice to spend your wedding morning in. The lodges let in so much natural light; and they’re all decorated neutrally which goes with any theme or colour scheme; great for your wedding photos!
The food is delicious, and everything from the ceremony areas to the dancefloor radiate with such a timeless elegance to compliment your wedding day.
There are so many photo hotspots with beautiful backdrops and plenty of space; and when the roses are in bloom they add such a romantic touch to your wedding photos. I absolutely love working on weddings here!
