A Fairytale Wedding at Greenwoods Hotel & Spa
“Working with Hayley was a joy from start to finish. I was a fan of her candid style of photography, and she did not disappoint – Hayley captured some of the most beautiful and natural moments from our wedding day. When I saw the pictures, I was amazed that she managed to snap so many without me even realising she was there! We got the photographs so quickly and I now have a gorgeous collection of memories with my loved ones on my special day. Would definitely recommend!”
Set within the beautiful English countryside, Greenwoods Hotel & Spa offers a Grade II Listed 17th Century manor house, with a pamper-worthy spa, an AA rosette awarded restaurant and more photograph backdrops than you can imagine. It provided the perfect setting for Chantelle & Joseph’s transatlantic love story!
Earlier this year in August, I had the honour of photographing this charming couple’s wedding. It was one of those perfect days where everything aligned – the weather, the venue and most importantly, the atmosphere. It brings me a huge amount of joy to be able to share a sneak peek of their sun-kissed celebration with you, where you’re guaranteed to draw snippets of inspiration for your very own special day.
Despite coming from different corners of the world (Joseph is from Canada and Chantelle is from Ireland), they fell in love while meeting as teachers at a school. Their bond brought them together, where they have since made Essex their home. Many of their guests travelled overseas from far and wide, joining the couple to celebrate their union.
One of the things Chantelle mentioned when she first enquired was her love of natural, candid photography. She wanted her wedding photographs to be filled with unposed, relaxed moments that documented the true essence of the day. I adore working in this style, allowing me to capture the genuine emotions, interactions and memories that all contribute towards making a wedding day utterly unique.
The bride was wonderful to photograph – her bubbly personality and infectious energy lit up every room she entered! Chantelle is one of those people who just has a natural spark, making everyone around her feel at ease. Meanwhile, the groom was an old romantic, wearing his heart on his sleeve. There were several moments during the day when I caught him wiping away a few happy tears! The love that Joseph and Chantelle share with one another is palpable, and it was clear that his family meant the world to him. In fact, Joseph and his brother (who was the best man) looked so alike that I had to do a double-take a few times during their wedding day.
The styling for their special day was elegant and timeless, embracing an ivory and green colour palette. Statement white bows adorned their reception chairs, a stunning three-tier wedding cake with gold initials and expertly handcrafted sugar flowers stole the show, while their flowers were out-of-this-world! Their outdoor ceremony featured a fabulous floral archway that was brimming with beautiful blooms, with the aisle layered with pillow-soft rose petals, leading the way to the ‘I Dos’. Friends and family made the most of the lawns at Greenwoods Hotel & Spa with games of crazy golf during the drinks reception, the perfect way to keep guests of all ages entertained!
From the stolen glances to the endless laughter, the heartfelt speeches and the electric atmosphere, it was a true joy to capture their love story on camera. A huge thank you to the happy couple for letting me a part of your special day!
