In October I had the absolute pleasure to photograph at Kelly & Stewart’s lovely wedding at Chilston park. Chilston Park Hotel has to be one of my favourite wedding venues as it has lots of photography potential both inside and out.

The weather was fantastic as the early October heatwave continued, but it was slightly cooler than the previous week (where we hit 28 degrees Celsius!) so all the guests were really able to enjoy the grounds in the sunshine. Kelly and Stewart were so laid back on the day, they made it fantastically easy to get great wedding photographs. Having bridal preparations, the ceremony and reception all in the same place also meant I could run back and forth capturing various moments in the lead up to the ceremony. The bridal suite in Chilston is so spacious and really characterful, which made for great bridal prep photographs – it’s nice to have a bit of space for once!

Halfway through photographing the bridal preps, it was time for a quick dash out to capture the groom arriving in his beloved Landrover, which had been decorated for the wedding, And then some quick groom portraits. Luckily for Stewart, the grungy background I wanted to use (which I’d found on my venue visit) was behind locked gates – would have made for an awesome background, but the brick wall did a good job in its place!

I quickly dashed back up the imposing staircase (lovely shots to follow) just in time to catch Kelly doing up the back of the dress. Then whilst Kelly was with the Registrars, a quick dash back down the stairs (you need to be fit in this game) to photograph some guest arrivals…then back UP the stairs, to capture the bride coming down the stunning staircase on her way to the ceremony room.

And then onto the ceremony, which was really fun to photograph – Kelly had one or two problems with the words, much to everyone’s amusement!

Here are some of my favourite photographs from the first part of their day. Part 2 of Kelly & Stewart’s wedding – bride and groom portraits, speeches, evening and first dance – to follow in a day or two, so please come back soon! Comments are always welcome!

If you’re looking for a wedding photographer, please contact me to discuss your plans.

David Burke is a Kent Wedding Photographer who specialises in photojournalism coupled with stunning bride and groom portraiture. David works throughout Kent, East and West Sussex, Essex and Surrey and is also available to photograph weddings throughout the UK and abroad.

All photographs copyright David Burke Photography 2011