Andrea and James – wedding pictures from Cooling Castle Barn

Random naked people, the A team van and a dress you could set up camp in.  Oh and rain.  Quite a lot of rain actually.  Yep, I had lots of fun yesterday at Bridgewood Manor and Cooling Castle Barn with Andrea and James.

First of all we had flowers.  Or rather not just flowers but FLOWERS from the very talented Caroline Grimble.

Here are a few of the, erm red ones…

Every so often, some quite unusual things happen on wedding days.  Frequently it’s a special request from a client, something that means a lot to them or a particular idea they have have had.  I try not to be phased by them.  So I guess I wasn’t particularly surprised when Andrea said to me “I’d like you to go down to room 236 and take a picture of my friend Vicki in a towel”.  Of course I was happy to comply.  There were only two small problems.

1. Vicki wasn’t in room 236.  She was in 238 and the person in 236 was pretty confused by all of this.
2. She’d actually finished getting ready and already looked fabulous in her dress.  When a random bloke she’s never met before hammered on her door and said “could you take your clothes off so I can take a picture please?”

Still, things have a way of working themselves out….

Meanwhile of course with “the lads” things were a lot calmer.  There was no messing about and absolutely no drinking at all.  Until of course the A-Team van turned up to take James and his seven (yes really) groomsmen to Cooling Castle Barn.

By the way, if you think any of those people look familiar then refresh your memory with Caz and Rob’s wedding at the London Golf Club.  Same best man and ushers, different groom.  Similar weather as it happens…….

Anyway, back in the room.  Thomas and Louise were on hand to heckle help with all the proceedings.

Meanwhile, Tara had turned up from Fripperies to help with the dress.  And it’s probably just as well she did.  There’s no easy way to say this.  It was a big dress.  In fact a b-i-g dress.  The kind you have to get inside to put the finishing touches to.

So we have flowers, random naked person, A-team van, page boy, flower girl and dresser.  I guess now we just need the bride…..

Yeah.  Worth waiting for.  Did you expect anything else?

And just before leaving the Bridgewood Manor there was time for a picture of Andrea with her dad Trevor.  Of course outside the hotel would have been nice.  But we were already enjoying a little “liquid sunshine”.

Speaking of time, here’s a picture I know James will treasure.  It shows

1. The rather lovely watch he had as a wedding gift
2. The date of his wedding just in case he needs a reminder
3. Proof if he ever needs it that Andrea was just the tiniest bit late for the wedding

But then of course you can afford to be fashionably late if you’re going to make an entrance like this.

Did she make an impression?  Did she take James’ breath away?  I think so…..

In fact I’m pretty sure she did.

You’ll have noticed that I’ve mentioned the rain a couple of times.  Yeah it rained.  Quite a lot.  In fact a LOT.

But you know.  When you have a vintage Rolls Royce.  The beautiful Kent country side.  A rather ominous looking sky and loads of baby wipes to clean the dress then you can’t let a little rain put you off.

Meanwhile, back at the barn Matt Parro was busy entertaining the guests with some stunning close up magic.  Which provoked, well, quite a reaction.

And then all too soon, it was time for Andrea and James’ first dance.

(Told you the dress was big….).

But of course, there’s always time for one more picture.  Even in the dark.  And of course the rain.

Loads more pictures when Mr and Mrs Burley return from slightly drier climes.  In the meantime please leave your thoughts and messages for them below.  I’m pretty sure they will have their Blackberries with them.