Natalie & Jason’s beautiful late November wedding day at Rowhill Grange - November 2019 - Wedding photos by: Matt Rock Photography
The Clockhouse & Thatchers Loft, Rowhill Grange, Dartford, Kent
With lots of Autumn colours still falling from the trees, Natalie & Jason’s twilight Kent wedding in late November was a beautifully sunny & dry day. I love days like this when it’s cold with bright blue sky. I knew this was going to be a very relaxed day without any fuss. Because, when we met up to discuss the details of their day Natalie & Jason had already said they wanted a relaxed wedding day with natural, candid photos to look back on in their wedding album - No posing required here...
There was lots going on when I arrived at Rowhill Grange that afternoon. I was greeted with big smiles from the bride and her mum at the Thatchers loft suite in The Clockhouse.
Bride prep for a twilight wedding is always much later than normal and it felt like everyone was ready for a great afternoon wedding and a big party in the evening.
The champagne had already been popped a few times I think - the shots weren’t going to be far behind! It was the afternoon after-all.
By now, Jason and his sons had arrived downstairs, ready to welcome more guests to the The Clockhouse bar. Having the two areas close by I can move easily and quickly from the Bride to the Groom to capture both the girls getting ready and the boys greeting guests arriving and getting the last minute plans finalised.
After a few more drinks all the girls start to get ready and that is normally my time to go elsewhere for a few moments. Although sometimes venues, like at Rowhill Grange have a good area for changing, so I don’t need to go far and can still document the wedding as though I am one of the guests, and not be that ‘official’ photographer who gets in the way and barks orders at everyone... Nobody likes those photographers.
One for the road - what’s the worst that can happen?
She didn’t like that!
You can watch a short photo-film below - just press the PLAY tab in the middle & turn the volume up - there’s music too!
Once Natalie, was ready to come down, Jason & all the guests were safely ushered into the ceremony room.
- It was time for the Father-of-the-Bride to see his little girl -
This is the point at which I always imagine seeing my own little girl - who is currently only 4 years old, so plenty of time to save - in her wedding dress on her special day. So I can understand how this guy must be feeling at this point - you can even see a tear in his eye when I made this portrait, just moments before Natalie came down the stairs to see him. When I spoke to him, he seemed a little nervous but very excited to be walking his daughter down the aisle.
Once the ceremony was over and being a twilight wedding in late November, it was already dark outside which meant everyone stayed indoors to greet Natalie & Jason and congratulate them on getting married. There were lots of guests and lots of cuddles! This part of the wedding is all about capturing the guests, the laughter, the conversations, the hugs, the fights!?
No, not really. I’ve never had any fights break out at one of my weddings - yet.
Almost time for the Speeches - I love the build up to the wedding speeches and it tends to start early in the day when the best man and Groom are having lots of banter with each other trying to make the other one more nervous as the day goes on. Listening to the speeches often brings out some funny one-liners which make me laugh or an emotional story or two which can often make for great candid photos of the guests reacting to the stories. There weren’t any speeches planned for Natalie & Jason, just a few words of thanks, so I knew these speeches were going to be less formal than others. But in the end they were longer than expected and quite emotional for the people involved - as an experienced wedding photographer I am used to not having too much of a plan because weddings can and often do change throughout the day. With friends, family and a microphone the combination often brings out the emotional side to people and at times like this, if things need to be said to close loved ones - say them.
Images wise, I like to get in close for these shots - almost like a guest at the table - you can get a sense that you, as the viewer, are there in the room and even sitting at the table all over again.
Remember that at a wedding you will only get to see what happens from your perspective. So getting candid, documentary style photos from an experienced photographer can mean you see your wedding day in a totally different way from a totally different angle and these will be memories you will share for a long time, way into the future.
With all the speeches finished, the tears dried and the cake cut, the room has to have a quick tidy-up & turn around. So there’s time for a few more drinks at the bar and the kids can play outside whilst the band and the DJ’s; The Award Winning Discologic can set up their equipment. Then, it’s time for the the newly married couple to have their first dance as husband and wife.
Then the time that everyone has been waiting for…
P - A - R - T - Y
T - I - M - E
The Clockhouse & Thatchers Loft, Rowhill Grange, Dartford, Kent
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.
Useful supplier links below:
Venue: Rowhill Grange - Wedding Dress: Ring O Roses - Suits: Bespoke & Tailoring -
Bridesmaids Dresses: Lipsy - Singer & Band: Jayne Snow - Flowers: Forever Flowers By Em -
DJ: The Award Winning Discologic - Cake: Belles Bakery - Wedding photos: Matt Rock Photography