As far as Somerset wedding venues go, Orchardleigh House takes some beating. An amazing 19th century Victorian Country House in a stunning country estate just north of Frome. Orchardleigh House is a fairy-tale wedding venue and an absolute favourite with us Somerset wedding photographers. Lola and Luke chose the perfect venue for their autumn wedding.
On the day, I caught up with Lola who was getting ready on site in Orchardleigh’s stunning Bonita Suite. She had her bridal party with her and everybody was really chilled out and ready for the day.
I also managed to get a couple of images of Luke before the ceremony. He was with his grooms’ party and family and was looking just as chilled out as Lola. Honestly, these two were so laid back and it really set the tone for the whole day.
Lola looked amazing in a stunning champagne-coloured dress with a plunging neckline and beautiful antique lace detailing. The A-line skirt was elegantly layered to create a beautiful silhouette giving that coupled with Lola’s long blonde hair and tiara, the look of a fairy-tale bride. Lola really suited being a bride, she was so comfortable and totally beamed all day. Us Somerset wedding photographers do love a smiley bride.
Experienced Orchardleigh House wedding photographer
Luke looked very smart in a blue check three-piece suit. Now I must two very handsome page boys, Lola and Luke’s sons who looked very smart and had a great day.
The wedding reception took place in The Great Hall. Which takes us neatly to another reason why I love capturing Orchardleigh House wedding photography and that’s the interiors. The Great Hall is accessed from the grand staircase which gave Lola a chance to make a dramatic entrance on her dad’s arm. The Great Hall has a high chandeliered ceiling, period artwork and ornamental mirrors on the walls, a wood floor and large wooden panelled doors. It’s a dramatic room but with large open fires, its also cosy, so is perfect for autumn and winter weddings.
After a lovely ceremony, everybody headed outside for a fun confetti moment and I took my chance to get some great group images. It was a mild sunny day for November, so it was lovely to be able to capture so many outdoor images. The images I got of the bridal and grooms party’s were great. I love the way the girl’s outfits were all so colourful.
With guests happily enjoying refreshments, mingling and exploring the house. I quickly whisked Lola and Luke away for a few minutes for a mini photoshoot around the stunning gardens and grounds of Orchardleigh House. Lola and Luke were a dream to work with, so easy going, which I think reflects in the images I got. They were amongst my favourites of the day.
Storytelling Somerset wedding photography
The wedding reception was held in Orchardleigh House’s grand and elegant ballroom. With a beautiful wood floor and wood panelled rooms, an ornately decorated chandeliered ceiling and a feature fireplace, it made the perfect setting for a sumptuous wedding breakfast.
On arrival, guests enjoyed a cheeky shot of limoncello before taking their seat. Before food, Lola and Luke hosted a fun quiz to see which table knew the most about them. A table of Luke’s friends won and they celebrated their win very loudly. Speeches were also great and very well received by everyone.
I love the moment at weddings, after the food, before the evening celebrations, when guests are at their most relaxed and just milling about. Which brings me to another thing I love about being an Orchardleigh House wedding photographer. Weddings enjoy exclusive use and guests are encouraged to roam and explore the venue. So, by the evening time you can have guests dancing the night away in the library, enjoying a game of snooker in the billiards room, sitting in the vestibule in front of a roaring fire or having a chat at the bar. This is why Orchardleigh House really suited Lola and Luke’s laid-back approach to their wedding.
Evening celebrations started with the cutting of the most delicious looking naked wedding cake, followed by a romantic first dance that saw Luke lift Lola off the floor and swing her round. It was so fun and unexpected and created one of my favourite images of the day.
Creative wedding photography at Orchardleigh House
With a live band, the library proved to be a big draw as Lola and Luke’s guests were definitely up for a party. And I braved the dancefloor to get some great images. And it was the image of Lola and Luke partying with their loved ones that felt like the perfect image to close the story of their amazing wedding day.
A gorgeously fun and laidback wedding for this gorgeously fun and laid-back couple. Congratulations to Lola and Luke for getting married and thank you for allowing me to tell the story of it with timeless storytelling images.