Rebecca & Ben | Wise Wedding Venue – David Burke Photography

Unusually for me, I thought I’d blog my last wedding asap, rather than (seemingly) wait a year! Rebecca and Ben were married at a small, intimate ceremony at Tunbridge Wells Register Office, before having a woodland blessing and Mad-Hatter themed wedfest at Wise Weddings (if you’re getting married at either venue, please contact me to discuss coverage).

I absolutely loved shooting Rebecca and Ben’s wedding – a lovely couple (and their cute son), a beautiful tea-length dress and grandma’s veil, a funky venue plus outdoor woodland blessing, a Mad Hatter theme, guests in shorts and flip flops, a guest appearance by the family dog – this wedding had it all!

I started the day joining Rebecca and her family for bridal preparations, before we made our way to Tunbridge Wells Register Office.

At the Register Office, I met up with Ben and the few guests – this part of the day had a very intimate, family feeling with just twelve close family members in attendance.

After the lovely ceremony, the happy couple and their guests enjoyed a glass of champagne in the car park!

Once the champagne had been finished, I made my way to Wise Wedding Venue (also known as Whetsted Farm) to join Ben who was second shooting for me. Wise Wedding Venue is a marquee in a clearing in some woods – the venue comes with lighting in the woods, swings made out of old couches, tree-houses (one of which the bride and groom stay in on their wedding night!), lakes and a clearing perfect for woodland blessing ceremonies. Rebecca and Ben (and various family members and friends) had spent ages dressing the venue to fit their Mad Hatter theme, so it looked amazing!

We documented the details and guest arrivals (most of whom were really dressed for the occasion – either mad hatter theme or dressed for the hot weather in shorts and flipflops!), before Rebecca and Ben arrived. Ben made his way to join the guests in the woodland clearing, before the bridal party made their second entrance of the day!

A beautiful ceremony followed, hosted by a friend of the happy couple. Rebecca, Ben, their son and parents added their thumbprints to the signing tree at the end of the ceremony, before the bride and groom led guests through to the marquee for afternoon tea – a fantastic spread of cakes, scones, tea, coffee and drinks (fantastic brownies by the way, I may have needed one or two to keep my strength up!).

After a quick bride and groom portrait session in a lovely shaded woodland glade, Rebecca and Ben were joined by their dog for a special, guest appearance at the reception, whilst the guests explored this amazing venue.

We quickly got through the groups (boy, was it hot!) before everyone made their way into the marquee for speeches, including a fantastic slideshow, groom’s speech, two best men and a quick one from the bride.

The wedding breakfast was then served – well, the guests queued up for it – fish, chips and mushy peas from a chip van! Dessert was from an icecream cart out front of the marquee – the temperature had cooled slightly so trade was brisk, all flavours hand-picked by the bride and groom (the pistachio was lovely!).

After another quick portrait session (you have to find the light at the right time in these mostly outdoor venues), it was time for the first dance and then the party kicked off to a fantastic band. One final sunset portrait and then back to the party, which was by now in full swing!