There are those hyperbolic blogs you read, and after you say to yourself, “Yeah, that sounds nice, but it’s probably not as amazing as they make out”. This is going to sound like one of those, but trust me; ask anybody who’s been to The Lost Orangery and they’ll say exactly the same – it really is unbelievably, unhyperbolically, incredible. You’ve likely seen more obtusely grand architecture, but here, the beautiful aesthetics of the building sit amongst the hidden garden of your childhood dreams. The result is an air of Alice in Wonderland magic, unparalleled for a wedding venue.
Just like their effortlessly relaxed venue, Catherine and Ben are a pretty chilled couple. They were excited to get married in such a stunning location, but the day was still all about celebrating with friends and family…whilst being hopelessly in love, of course!
The skies were clear and perfect for a sunny ceremony in the Orangery; guests milled about on the garden terrace until the registrar asked them to sit down ready for the ceremony to begin. There was a hushed wait and then Catherine walked in. Ben looked close to the edge of tears, but there was a smile on his lips and the formalities began. No doubt, the ceremony rushes past in a whirlwind of nerves and excitement for the couple, and with a kiss, it’s official! The couple leave to applause from their friends and family, who are lined up outside to greet them, clutching tight fists of confetti. It’s often my favourite part of a wedding day; it’s so nice to see the couple excited, as any nerves they had leading up to the ceremony are wiped out in an eruption of colour and jubilant cheers.
After a good few glasses of bubbly (them not me) I had to tear the happy couple away from their guests so I could get some photos of just the two of them. The Lost Orangery has plenty of charming spots to amble through and I snapped away.
At the meal, the guests sat down amongst the splendor of the dining room’s decorative walls and were treated to speeches from Ben, Catherine, and all three bridesmaids. The period between the meal and the first dance is often lovely and relaxed, but the garden games, the owners dog joining in, and the warm evening sun really combined to become that idyllic garden party that every Brit has a soft spot for.
From then on it was up to the traditional Scottish Cèilidh band to lead the party into the wee hours, and it was up to me to get photos without anybody accidentally head butting the camera. After a couple of romantic night shots to end the album, I walked back to my car with a smile as the sound of friends, family and future dance floor memories faded into the night.
Images copyright Joab Smith Photography - www.joabsmithphotography.co.uk
