Pete & Gabi: Lakeside love in Herts (part one)

There are some weddings where everyone is just riding on a wave of love and happiness and this was definitely one of them! Pete and Gabi chose to make their vows last summer at Micklefield Hall, an 18th Century country house (still lived in by a family) set in 350 acres of verdant Hertfordshire countryside. An idyllic setting provided the scene for a romantic and picture perfect wedding day.... Proceedings began for Gabi at home in Highgate, North London, with her bridesmaid, her sister, and bubbles in hand - both ladies looking suitably glamorous in their bespoke dressing gowns, embroidered with 'bride' and 'bridesmaid', adding a touch of luxury to the preparations and pre-wedding anticipation and excitement. Gabi's elegant wedding dress, designed by Suzanne Neville, was a work of art and fitted the bride to perfection - she looked utterly amazing! Oh, and not forgetting the shoes - royalty of all footwear - the gold Manolos (sigh of envy)....

Meanwhile, the boys....well, the boys were at the pub. Not just any old boozer, but the upmarket Saracens Head Inn in Amersham, close enough to the venue to allow them to get ready and relax over a soft drink (ahem) or two, before heading off to the Hall. Their dressing-gown equivalent was a t-shirt with Pete hearts Gabi for the groomsmen...and I heart Gabi for Pete. Yes, a simple statement capturing the sentiment of the day perfectly! They then took off for the Main Event, all looking très dapper in dark suits and pale pink ties (you may notice a hint of a theme beginning here...)

The ceremony itself took place in the Grotto, set down by a large pond in the gardens of the Hall - a very romantic and picturesque location. However the guests' chairs were positioned either side of the Grotto - exposed to the elements and utterly dependent on the unpredictable British summertime weather! As the bride arrived at the Hall, you guessed it, the heavens opened and whilst umbrellas were quickly distributed and assembled, there were a few tense moment where the whole wedding looked like it might be moved inside (not ideal). Fortunately, the weather gods looked kindly upon our lovebirds and decided to hold fire which meant the ceremony could go ahead outside as planned - phew!

Drinks and elegant canapés were served after the ceremony, with a musical ensemble providing a sophisticated classical soundscape. The guests later moved into the marquee - stunningly designed by the inimitable Melanie at Cranberry Blue Wedding Planners - for the evenings proceedings.

As I mentioned earlier, the theme of the day incorporated a plethora of pinks - elegantly crafted and designed by Melanie - and furnishing all corners of the marquee in the form of exquisite table decorations, floral arrangements (creations of the very talented Philippa Craddock, along with the bridal bouquets) and lighting. Philippa's flowers were abundant, adorning tables in vases of all shapes and sizes; a mix of full blooms and buds, roses and peonies, for all to admire and enjoy. And enjoy they did - from various different vantage points - the girls relaxing with cocktails at 'Gabi's bar' and the boys enjoying a bit of hard liquor at 'Pete's bar' (another clever Cranberry Blue creation). The wedding cake, designed by Tina K cakes was elegantly flanked by two pyramids of smaller desserts and looked almost too good to eat!

The many elements to this wedding were such a pleasure to photograph -and with that in mind I've decided to showcase these aspects in a bit more detail in another blog post - part two - so please have a look!

The bride and groom danced the night away with their friends and family, wrapped in each others' arms and encased in a bubble of love and happiness. It really was a perfect day and I hope you can feel the love in the photos below....