Cissbury Barns Wedding: Chris + Iain
"Help, I can't find the right photographer!" Bride-to-be, Chris, wanted a truly personal wedding at beautiful Cissbury Barns, with a bespoke ceremony, and suppliers that she could relate to and trust. Happily, whilst at the venue, she had already met celebrant Claire Bradford of Creating Ceremony, and knew instantly that Claire would be perfect to help create and deliver the perfect wedding ceremony for her and Iain. I have worked with Claire previously at Sarah & Pat's Pangdean Old Barn Wedding; I can't recommend her highly enough for couples wishing to take a more personal approach to their wedding vows, or who want to tie the knot in a non-licensed location with a special ceremony to mark the occasion. (For more information on what a celebrant does, and why you might consider having one for your special day, please click here!)
In addition to finding their celebrant, Chris had sourced Dreams 2 Themes Catering & Events Specialists to help realise their Midsummer Night's Dream wedding theme, and To Have and To Hire for stunning drapes and a chandelier to dress the barn ceiling. She had entrusted her themed cake to local cake maker Melanie, aka The Cake Artist, but still hadn't found the photographer she felt would be right for her and Iain. "Lots of candid, natural and fun photos that reflect our day and a person I can trust and work with" Well, I'm pleased to say that on hearing what she wanted, celebrant Claire immediately thought of me, and put the two of us in touch.
Chris came to me with loads of ideas and enthusiasm and I soon realised that this would be an ultra fun and slightly off-the-wall wedding! Chris had travelled extensively with her exciting career as a dancer, and her bridesmaids were to be her former fellow showgirls from all over Europe. The wedding was thus to be an exciting reunion of the former dance troupe, and having photos to reflect this part of her day was very important to Chris. Many of the couple's other guests also hailed from the entertainment industry, and were some of the most eclectic personalities I've ever had the fun of photographing. In honour of the groom's Scottish heritage, Iain and his Best Man wore kilts, adding to the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the day. This was a colourful, crazy wedding, but also a very genuine and intimate celebration of a couple in love.
I take no credit for the fabulous dance troupe poses, which were beautifully choreographed by the ladies themselves with a little encouragement from a Nightclub owner from Germany, I think it was. The most traditional part of this amazing day was probably the car - a classic silver Jag from First Choice Wedding Cars, which chauffeured the three of us from the barns to the stunning grounds of Cissbury House. This was a chance for Chris and Iain to enjoy some romantic time alone, and for me to capture their first hour together as husband and wife, with the South Downs providing a gorgeous green backdrop.
Thank you both so much Chris and Iain for inviting me to be a part of your day, and for your kind testimonial:
"How lucky were we to get Jenny as our wedding photographer this year in mid-summer!
Not only is she a top-class professional but also a warm and friendly person who will put you at ease from the moment you meet her! She takes the time to get to know what it is you really want from her on your wedding day, and we couldn't have been happier with the results!
We had such fun with her on our engagement shoot, and on the big day itself she captured all the moments that made our wedding truly unique. We have the most amazing wedding pics and slideshow, and we can't thank you enough Jenny for an awesome experience!"
Chris & Iain
The celebration kicked off mid morning, with the scene inside the Village House Coaching Inn, Findon not unlike that of a backstage dressing room. Colourful make-up complimented the crimson red dresses and silver shoes, and these ladies were backcombed and lacquered to within an inch of their lives! As was my camera lens, which needed a little hairspray removal therapy before the ceremony!
Whilst the girls polished and preened, Nell's Flowers arrived with gorgeous bouquets and garlands of locally sourced blooms. The natural wild flower arrangement was perfect with Chris' bohemian style dress (from Whyte Weddings, Worthing), and thistles were incorporated to complement the groomsmen's Scottish kilts.
I hope you enjoyed this insight into a truly fabulous day.
Jenny x
Chris & Iain's West Sussex Wedding Team:
Venue: Cissbury Barns
Celebrant: Creating Ceremony (Claire Bradford)
Catering/Decor: Dreams 2 Themes (Angie & John); To Have & To Hire (Sara Ellis)
Dress: Whyte Weddings
Florist: Nell's Flowers
Cake: The Cake Artist (Melanie Marley)
Transport: First Choice Wedding Cars
Harpist: Sally Whitaker, Harp Music For Special Occasions
DJ: 247 Discos
