The wedding of Denise & Joe - Westenhanger Castle, Kent - August, 2019
“Hi Matt,
The photos are amazing! We love them all. We have been recommending you left right and centre to everyone who’s looking for a photographer too.
We are glad you had a good day and we have heard nothing but praise for your work from our guests since the wedding.
Thank you and we hope to work with you again in the future.
Joe & Denise ”
You may know by now that I am a Kent Wedding Photographer and I love photographing castle weddings. So having been on there preferred supplier list for a few years and having my images featured on their website shows I know this Kent wedding venue well. This is one of my favourite wedding venues in Kent - and maybe the only Kent wedding venue to have a ship in it’s grounds...
The wedding of Denise & Joe was much anticipated and I was looking forward to it ever since they booked me - quite a long time in advance. We first met at an open day they attended at Westenhanger Castle and as the recommended wedding photographer I was there and able to speak with them. We ended up making some portraits that day and got on really well too which is always a good start. I think having a pre-shoot lets you gain a bit more experience being in front of the camera and these portraits can help many couples get used to their photographer too. A lot of us aren’t too keen on having portraits made of us, however couples have always given good feedback and said their pre-shoot helped reduce their nerves and anxiety on the day.
I am a documentary & candid wedding photographer throughout the wedding which is achieved by observing what happens; almost from another wedding guests point of view. I blend in with the wedding rather than controlling it. So this does not involve me telling anyone where to stand, what to do or anything else that interrupts the natural feel and pace of a wedding day. These photos will make up 85% - 90% of my work during the wedding but most couples are still keen to spend 15 minutes or so making some beautiful, natural looking portraits to compliment the candid style for their wedding album. Plus the fact that I am a portrait photographer means I’m a bit biased when it comes to shooting these, as I love to make portraits.
The day started as many weddings at the Castle, Westenhanger do.
With Champagne!
The weather was perfect too and since the day before was very wet, I wasn’t expecting the sun to shine.
But not a spot of rain was seem.
Bride preparations always seem to start with something fizzy. At Westenhanger Castle the prep is held within the large room upstairs in the main building. I say large room but I really mean 3 large rooms. Denise and her girls had use of all 3 rooms so her and her bridesmaids could have their hair & make up done in one room, the food was laid out in another and the 3rd room can be used as the dressing room or you can relax on the large double bed whilst you wait for your turn.
This all happens upstairs whilst downstairs is another of the great castle rooms which is often used for when the boys turn up. They can make themselves look as beautiful as the girls do - and never the two will meet - until it’s time to get married of course! Wedding photographs of the boys getting ready is often missed but when your wedding venue is set up like this one it means I can move from one room to the other quite easily to get those candid moments no-one else notices - but the ones we love to look back on. Oh and if you make sure you ask a barber to be one of your ushers you can pick up some good deals on the perfect hair do too.
Now the bride is almost ready, it’s time for the father-of-the-bride to come and see his little girl in her wedding dress for the first time… This can be a great time for those candid photos with lots of emotion.
Portrait - Bride with Flowers
After her Dad has had a moment with his daughter it’s time to walk her down the aisle and get married, so it’s off to the ceremony where all her guests are waiting. Westenhanger Castle has different options when it comes to ceremony rooms and an outside space too. Denise & Joe’s wedding ceremony was inside the main building. Which has a dark, atmospheric vibe with light pouring in through the windows to give us some beautiful photos.
After they had their ceremony, the confetti was thrown high in the air and the congratulations, hugs and kisses had started, there was a little spare time for the couple and their guests to have a drink, a little catch up and for the best men to go over their speeches for the 10th time. Before the wedding breakfast couples often want to spend a short time making some portraits. This can give them a little time together and a little chill time - Portraits are only about 15 minutes or so and before they know it we are heading back in for the speeches.
For me as soon as the couples portraits are done, I go back to candidly capturing the wedding again. It’s also the time of the day when everyone eats, drinks, gets entertained by the the speeches and the cake cutting.
There was also an impromptu game of Mr & Mrs! It’s funny what you find out about your clients…
P A R T Y T I M E
What a lovely Kent wedding, spent with friendly guests in a beautiful Kent wedding venue with perfect weather too.
PHOTO-FILM
Hit the play button in the middle to watch Denise & Joe’s - Photo-Film below.
Photo-films below - To see another wedding at The Castle, Westenhanger press play on this images below and turn the music up.
Wedding below was in 2017
Another photo-film from 2018 below - press the play icon and turn the music up.
Hit the play button in the middle to watch another wedding from Westenhanger Castle - August 2018
View the wedding blog of Kayleigh & Jack - Westenhanger Castle - September 2017 BLOG
If you would like to book me to photograph your wedding with creatively candid, natural, photographs that document your big day and maybe some beautiful couple portraits too, please get in touch HERE. I am a Kent wedding photographer however I am available to work all over the UK and I’d love to work on my first European wedding in the near future too.
Are you looking to book your wedding?
VENUE: The Castle, Westenhanger a call - details HERE
CATERING: NOSH mobile catering - details HERE - I tried the SPICY LAMB BURGER which was very - very - tasty…
IF YOU RECOGNISE ANY SUPPLIERS INVOLVED THAT I HAVE NOT MENTIONED, PLEASE DO CONTACT ME SO I CAN INCLUDE THEIR LINK ABOVE. 
