The last wedding of 2011 was always going to be a bit special. Even though it’s quite a way out of Kent, I knew the venue the Elvetham Hotel well. 
I photographed the Madeline Isaac-James 2011 collection there a year or so ago. I’d met Nikki, the bride’s mother (and several of her friends) when they had popped over to the gallery earlier in the year. I even knew the dress pretty well (Victoria from the Madeline Isaac-James 2012 collection).
But when I set off for the venue on a dull morning just after Christmas. I hadn’t actually met the bride. Or the groom.
Hannah was pretty easy to find. She was in a vast meeting room surrounded by her “hand maidens” getting ready. They were, of course, eating cocoa pops.
Her bridesmaids helped her out with a beautiful headpiece and one of the biggest veils of the year. Then it was that moment. When everybody else is busy. And it goes quiet. And you realise that with 85 minutes until the wedding. It’s time to get ready for real.
And then just a few minus later, Nikki came back to help with the dress called Victoria and to get her daughter ready for her wedding.
Yep, looks ready to me….
That’s either the last “wow” of 2011 or the first of 2012 – depending how you count them.
There was some wonderful transport laid on for friends and family. The bridal party travelled to St Michaels aka Farnborough Abbey by vintage Rolls Royces. But the guests had some rather nice buses.
OK. So I’ve met the bride. Hannah’s instructions for the next bit were pretty easy. ”Just go to the abbey and find the best looking guy in a bow tie.” Simple.
In fact, the dress code was black tie. So pretty much all the guys were wearing the same. 
And everybody else had their best skirt on……
I just hope it’s not too draughty. The abbey is built of stone. And on a winter’s day significantly colder than the balmy temperatures outside. Still, as with everything, Hannah and Dan were prepared.
Then it was just a matter of waiting.
For that moment when Hannah walked down the aisle to marry Dan.
I knew there were going to be LOTS of pictures from this wedding – so I’m going to split it into 2 parts. This is the end of part 1 with Hannah and Dan leaving the church.
Part 2 has Empress Eugenie, Napoleon, Terracotta warriors, eating, drinking and of course lots and lots of pictures. You can see part 2 here….
You may also like:
- Dan and Hannah (part 2)
- Melissa and Mark: Abbot’s Barton Hotel
- Emily and David – a wedding at Brands Hatch Place hotel
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