Abbie & Josh’s Summer Wedding at Gaynes Park | Essex Wedding Photographer
There are some love stories that feel like they’ve been quietly writing themselves for years.
Abbie and Josh met when they were just 13 at middle school. Ten years later, they got married, on their 10-year anniversary. And if that isn’t one of the loveliest wedding day details ever, I don’t know what is.
Their summer wedding at Gaynes Park in Chelmsford, Essex was my first time photographing at the venue, so I arrived incredibly excited to explore somewhere new. And Gaynes Park certainly didn’t disappoint.
It was also, and I cannot stress this enough, hot.
The kind of hot where the groomsmen were already feeling the effects before the ceremony had even started, the wedding cake was beginning to question its structural integrity and everyone was very grateful whenever they found a patch of shade. But it was absolutely worth it.
From an incredibly emotional ceremony in the Orangery to hilarious speeches, a surprise singing waiter, cocktails in the sunshine and one of the most beautiful golden hours I’ve photographed in a while, Abbie and Josh’s wedding was a brilliant one to photograph as an Essex wedding photographer.
Abbie & Josh’s Summer Wedding at Gaynes Park | Essex Wedding Photographer
There are some love stories that feel like they’ve been quietly writing themselves for years.
Abbie and Josh met when they were just 13 at middle school. Ten years later, they got married, on their 10-year anniversary. And if that isn’t one of the loveliest wedding day details ever, I don’t know what is.
Their summer wedding at Gaynes Park in Chelmsford, Essex was my first time photographing at the venue, so I arrived incredibly excited to explore somewhere new. And Gaynes Park certainly didn’t disappoint.
It was also, and I cannot stress this enough, hot.
The kind of hot where the groomsmen were already feeling the effects before the ceremony had even started, the wedding cake was beginning to question its structural integrity and everyone was very grateful whenever they found a patch of shade. But it was absolutely worth it.
From an incredibly emotional ceremony in the Orangery to hilarious speeches, a surprise singing waiter, cocktails in the sunshine and one of the most beautiful golden hours I’ve photographed in a while, Abbie and Josh’s wedding was a brilliant one to photograph as an Essex wedding photographer.
Getting ready with the boys
I started the day with Josh and his groomsmen as they got ready for the wedding, with the dress code being classic black tie.
Now, black tie on one of the hottest days of the year might not sound like the most sensible decision… but there is no denying that the boys looked very good.
They were already feeling the heat by the time I arrived, but they absolutely pulled it off. There was something really timeless about the black tie against the summer setting, and it made for some lovely photographs during the morning.
Getting ready with the boys
I started the day with Josh and his groomsmen as they got ready for the wedding, with the dress code being classic black tie.
Now, black tie on one of the hottest days of the year might not sound like the most sensible decision… but there is no denying that the boys looked very good.
They were already feeling the heat by the time I arrived, but they absolutely pulled it off. There was something really timeless about the black tie against the summer setting, and it made for some lovely photographs during the morning.
A calm morning with Abbie
Over at Gaynes Park, Abbie was getting ready in the little cottage on the grounds.
Compared with the energy of the boys, it was such a lovely calm morning. There was a real sense of anticipation, but without everything feeling rushed.
And then came one of my favourite moments from the morning: Abbie’s first look with her dad. I absolutely love these little pockets of time before the ceremony. They’re often when the emotions suddenly become very real. You’ve spent the morning getting ready, chatting, laughing and trying to comprehend that it’s your wedding day – and then someone you love sees you in your dress for the first time.
It was such a special moment between the two of them and Abbie looked absolutely incredible.
A calm morning with Abbie
Over at Gaynes Park, Abbie was getting ready in the little cottage on the grounds.
Compared with the energy of the boys, it was such a lovely calm morning. There was a real sense of anticipation, but without everything feeling rushed.
And then came one of my favourite moments from the morning: Abbie’s first look with her dad. I absolutely love these little pockets of time before the ceremony. They’re often when the emotions suddenly become very real. You’ve spent the morning getting ready, chatting, laughing and trying to comprehend that it’s your wedding day – and then someone you love sees you in your dress for the first time.
It was such a special moment between the two of them and Abbie looked absolutely incredible.
An emotional ceremony in the Orangery
The ceremony took place in Gaynes Park’s Orangery, decorated with classic white roses and beautiful greenery. It was emotional…Very emotional.
I captured so many guests wiping away tears throughout the ceremony, but the moment that really got me was Josh seeing Abbie for the first time. He couldn’t stop crying. I love moments like this. There is no better reaction than someone completely forgetting that they’re supposed to keep it together because they’re just overwhelmed by seeing the person they love walking towards them.
Abbie had a beautiful, long walk into the Orangery with her dad, coming through from the gardens before making her way down the aisle. There were tears. There were smiles. There were plenty of very emotional guests.
It was a gorgeous ceremony to photograph as a Gaynes Park wedding photographer.
An emotional ceremony in the Orangery
The ceremony took place in Gaynes Park’s Orangery, decorated with classic white roses and beautiful greenery. It was emotional…Very emotional.
I captured so many guests wiping away tears throughout the ceremony, but the moment that really got me was Josh seeing Abbie for the first time. He couldn’t stop crying. I love moments like this. There is no better reaction than someone completely forgetting that they’re supposed to keep it together because they’re just overwhelmed by seeing the person they love walking towards them.
Abbie had a beautiful, long walk into the Orangery with her dad, coming through from the gardens before making her way down the aisle. There were tears. There were smiles. There were plenty of very emotional guests.
It was a gorgeous ceremony to photograph as a Gaynes Park wedding photographer.
Drinks, hugs and a little bit of sunshine
Once Abbie and Josh were officially married, everyone headed outside to enjoy the gardens. Drinks were flowing, people were catching up and there were plenty of hugs going around.
This is one of my favourite moments of a wedding. It gives me loads of opportunities for those candid photographs I love – the hugs you don’t plan, the conversations you don’t hear, friends seeing each other for the first time and family members simply enjoying themselves.
Then, with the sun blazing down, I made the decision to move the family photographs underneath a lovely large tree.
Not only did the shade give us much nicer, softer light for the photographs, but it also gave everyone a little respite from the heat. By this point, it was getting seriously scorching, so I think everyone was pretty grateful to be standing somewhere that wasn’t directly underneath the sun.
Formal photographs don’t need to be stiff or take forever, and I always like to leave a little room for the wedding party to have some fun with them too.
Drinks, hugs and a little bit of sunshine
Once Abbie and Josh were officially married, everyone headed outside to enjoy the gardens. Drinks were flowing, people were catching up and there were plenty of hugs going around.
This is one of my favourite moments of a wedding. It gives me loads of opportunities for those candid photographs I love – the hugs you don’t plan, the conversations you don’t hear, friends seeing each other for the first time and family members simply enjoying themselves.
Then, with the sun blazing down, I made the decision to move the family photographs underneath a lovely large tree.
Not only did the shade give us much nicer, softer light for the photographs, but it also gave everyone a little respite from the heat. By this point, it was getting seriously scorching, so I think everyone was pretty grateful to be standing somewhere that wasn’t directly underneath the sun.
Formal photographs don’t need to be stiff or take forever, and I always like to leave a little room for the wedding party to have some fun with them too.
A five-minute breather for the newlyweds
Next came a very short couples portrait session.
I already prefer to keep couples’ portrait sessions fairly short because, frankly, you have much more exciting things to be doing at this point on your wedding!
But I also knew something else was coming later…Golden hour. I had a very strong feeling it was going to be good.
So instead of taking Abbie and Josh away from their guests for ages during the afternoon, we took five minutes to get some beautiful daytime portraits, give them a little breather together and let them process the fact that they’d just got married.
I’m very glad we saved the bigger portrait session for later. Because…Well…Keep scrolling. The golden hour photographs were chef’s kiss.
A five-minute breather for the newlyweds
Next came a very short couples portrait session.
I already prefer to keep couples’ portrait sessions fairly short because, frankly, you have much more exciting things to be doing at this point on your wedding!
But I also knew something else was coming later…Golden hour. I had a very strong feeling it was going to be good.
So instead of taking Abbie and Josh away from their guests for ages during the afternoon, we took five minutes to get some beautiful daytime portraits, give them a little breather together and let them process the fact that they’d just got married.
I’m very glad we saved the bigger portrait session for later. Because…Well…Keep scrolling. The golden hour photographs were chef’s kiss.
A wedding breakfast and a cake crisis
Inside, the wedding breakfast room had been beautifully styled with the same classic white roses from the ceremony, along with twinkling fairy lights. It looked gorgeous.
The wedding cake, however, was having a slightly more difficult day. The heat had started to take its toll, and the cake was beginning to look suspiciously like the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
So rather than risk leaving it until later in the evening and potentially discovering that the cake had completely given up on life, Abbie and Josh decided to cut it earlier. Which led to one of my favourite funny moments of the day.
After cutting the cake, Abbie jokingly threatened to start slicing up her guests. I think it is fair to say that everyone knew who was boss…and honestly, I’m all for a bride who knows how to wield a cake knife.
A wedding breakfast and a cake crisis
Inside, the wedding breakfast room had been beautifully styled with the same classic white roses from the ceremony, along with twinkling fairy lights. It looked gorgeous.
The wedding cake, however, was having a slightly more difficult day. The heat had started to take its toll, and the cake was beginning to look suspiciously like the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
So rather than risk leaving it until later in the evening and potentially discovering that the cake had completely given up on life, Abbie and Josh decided to cut it earlier. Which led to one of my favourite funny moments of the day.
After cutting the cake, Abbie jokingly threatened to start slicing up her guests. I think it is fair to say that everyone knew who was boss…and honestly, I’m all for a bride who knows how to wield a cake knife.
Emotional speeches and lots of laughter
After the meal came the speeches. There were plenty of laughs, plenty of heartfelt moments and lots of brilliant reactions from everyone around the room. I also particularly loved hearing from Abbie herself. I’m always delighted when a bride decides to give a speech because I think it’s such a lovely opportunity to hear directly from her – and Abbie absolutely smashed it.
As always, the reactions around the room were just as important as the speeches themselves. Tears, laughter, embarrassed smiles and those little glances between people who clearly know the person giving the speech very well.
Emotional speeches and lots of laughter
After the meal came the speeches. There were plenty of laughs, plenty of heartfelt moments and lots of brilliant reactions from everyone around the room. I also particularly loved hearing from Abbie herself. I’m always delighted when a bride decides to give a speech because I think it’s such a lovely opportunity to hear directly from her – and Abbie absolutely smashed it.
As always, the reactions around the room were just as important as the speeches themselves. Tears, laughter, embarrassed smiles and those little glances between people who clearly know the person giving the speech very well.
Surprise! A singing waiter
Just when everyone thought dinner and speeches were over, there was a surprise…A singing waiter. What a brilliant way to kickstart the party.
It completely changed the energy in the room and got everyone ready for the evening celebrations. After such a hot day, I think everyone needed that little burst of energy – and it was so much fun to photograph.
It’s moments like this that make weddings so brilliant. You can have the most beautifully planned day in the world, but it’s the unexpected things that people often remember most.
Surprise! A singing waiter
Just when everyone thought dinner and speeches were over, there was a surprise…A singing waiter. What a brilliant way to kickstart the party.
It completely changed the energy in the room and got everyone ready for the evening celebrations. After such a hot day, I think everyone needed that little burst of energy – and it was so much fun to photograph.
It’s moments like this that make weddings so brilliant. You can have the most beautifully planned day in the world, but it’s the unexpected things that people often remember most.
Cocktails and a beautiful Essex evening
By the evening, the temperature had very slowly started to drop. Everyone headed back outside for cocktails, and it was glorious.
After the heat of the afternoon, there was something particularly lovely about being outside in the slightly cooler evening air, drink in hand, with everyone relaxing and enjoying themselves.
Cocktails and a beautiful Essex evening
By the evening, the temperature had very slowly started to drop. Everyone headed back outside for cocktails, and it was glorious.
After the heat of the afternoon, there was something particularly lovely about being outside in the slightly cooler evening air, drink in hand, with everyone relaxing and enjoying themselves.
The golden hour that was worth waiting for
Okay…This is why I kept the couples’ portrait session short earlier. Look at this light!
Long grassy fields. Golden skies, soft evening sunshine and two people who had just got married after being together since they were 13. I was in absolute creative heaven.
This is exactly why I love keeping some flexibility in the wedding day timeline. You don’t always know what the light is going to do, and sometimes the most beautiful photographs happen when you leave a little bit of room for them. The best part is, we were still only out for around five to ten minutes. That’s it.
You really don’t need a huge chunk of your wedding day dedicated to portraits. A few minutes in the right place, at the right time, can give you some of the photographs you’ll treasure most.
It also gives you a lovely excuse to escape together for five minutes, take a breath and have a little “we’re actually married!” moment before heading back to your guests.
For me, these were some of the standout photographs from Abbie and Josh’s entire day.
The golden hour that was worth waiting for
Okay…This is why I kept the couples’ portrait session short earlier. Look at this light!
Long grassy fields. Golden skies, soft evening sunshine and two people who had just got married after being together since they were 13. I was in absolute creative heaven.
This is exactly why I love keeping some flexibility in the wedding day timeline. You don’t always know what the light is going to do, and sometimes the most beautiful photographs happen when you leave a little bit of room for them. The best part is, we were still only out for around five to ten minutes. That’s it.
You really don’t need a huge chunk of your wedding day dedicated to portraits. A few minutes in the right place, at the right time, can give you some of the photographs you’ll treasure most.
It also gives you a lovely excuse to escape together for five minutes, take a breath and have a little “we’re actually married!” moment before heading back to your guests.
For me, these were some of the standout photographs from Abbie and Josh’s entire day.
Time to party
Then it was time to properly celebrate. The dance floor opened, the band got going and they absolutely did not disappoint. After a day that had already included emotional ceremonies, hilarious speeches, cocktails, a singing waiter and one very unstable wedding cake, the evening finished exactly as it should:
With a packed dance floor and everyone having a brilliant time. This is always one of my favourite parts of the day to photograph because there’s no posing, no expectations and absolutely no one worrying about whether they look good. They’re just dancing. And that’s when some of the best photographs happen.
Time to party
Then it was time to properly celebrate. The dance floor opened, the band got going and they absolutely did not disappoint. After a day that had already included emotional ceremonies, hilarious speeches, cocktails, a singing waiter and one very unstable wedding cake, the evening finished exactly as it should:
With a packed dance floor and everyone having a brilliant time. This is always one of my favourite parts of the day to photograph because there’s no posing, no expectations and absolutely no one worrying about whether they look good. They’re just dancing. And that’s when some of the best photographs happen.
Abbie & Josh’s Gaynes Park wedding
Abbie and Josh’s wedding was such a lovely day to be part of. Their story alone makes it pretty special – childhood sweethearts who met at 13 and then married exactly ten years later. But the wedding itself was full of all those little things that make a day memorable: Josh completely losing it when he saw Abbie, Abbie’s emotional first look with her dad, the ridiculously hot weather, a wedding cake slowly leaning towards disaster, a bride threatening her guests with a cake knife, a surprise singing waiter and one very beautiful golden hour.
It was my first wedding at Gaynes Park, which made it even more exciting for me.
As a Chelmsford wedding photographer, I absolutely loved exploring the venue and discovering all the different spaces and photographic opportunities it has to offer. But more importantly, I loved that Abbie and Josh’s photographs weren’t just about the venue.
They were about their story. Ten years together. One wedding day. A lot of laughter. A fair few tears. One spectacular golden hour. What a way to celebrate ten years!
Abbie & Josh’s Gaynes Park wedding
Abbie and Josh’s wedding was such a lovely day to be part of. Their story alone makes it pretty special – childhood sweethearts who met at 13 and then married exactly ten years later. But the wedding itself was full of all those little things that make a day memorable: Josh completely losing it when he saw Abbie, Abbie’s emotional first look with her dad, the ridiculously hot weather, a wedding cake slowly leaning towards disaster, a bride threatening her guests with a cake knife, a surprise singing waiter and one very beautiful golden hour.
It was my first wedding at Gaynes Park, which made it even more exciting for me.
As a Chelmsford wedding photographer, I absolutely loved exploring the venue and discovering all the different spaces and photographic opportunities it has to offer. But more importantly, I loved that Abbie and Josh’s photographs weren’t just about the venue.
They were about their story. Ten years together. One wedding day. A lot of laughter. A fair few tears. One spectacular golden hour. What a way to celebrate ten years!
Essex wedding Photographer | charlotte wotton photography
Essex Wedding Photographerr | charlotte wotton photography