Cranberries Hideaway Wedding Photography
What can I say about Matt and Michelle – They are one of the most kind and generous couples I have worked with to date! Not only did they put us up at the Cranberries Hideaway wedding venue the night before and after the big day, they even invited us to a delicious barbecue with their family and guests the night before their Devon wedding day. As a result, we were well-fed and fresh-faced enough to absolutely knock their wedding out-of-the-park, which I am sure you’ll see from the photos!
Devon Wedding Photography
I had met Matt years earlier, when we were training to become firefighters. I was pretty chuffed when he asked me to shoot his wedding; we’ve both grown so much since that time, having both started our own businesses, so it was nice to catch up. Also, the wedding venue was the gorgeous Cranberries Hideaway, set in the picturesque rolling hills of Axminster, and I have always wanted to do a bit of Devon Wedding Photography!
The fun kicked off in the evening, the night before the wedding. Matt and Michelle had decided to have a big barbecue with all the guests staying at the Cranberries Hideaway accommodation, made of renovated stone barns, which they had booked out for the whole weekend of celebrations. It was a great way for everyone to meet and chill out before the big day, with some helping to finish off with the final touches, and others enjoying the evening sunshine by playing games. Speaking to Michelle in the evening, I realised how kind, generous and lovely she is; she’s one of those people who can put you at ease and you feel like you have known her forever!
The next morning, Michelle, her bridesmaids and family were up early getting ready; I joined the bridal party as they prepared, with the Royal Wedding taking place on the TV in the background (how dare Harry and Meghan try to steal Matt and Michelle’s thunder?!). Meanwhile, Matt was making good use of his time (we all know it takes the groom a fraction of the time to get ready compared to the bride!) by utilising his firefighter skills climbing up a ladder in the reception room, hanging up lanterns and decorations.
The Devon wedding ceremony was set outside, amongst outstanding views over the Axe valley. Matt and Michelle’s 8 month old daughter, Cora, took centre stage as she was pulled down the aisle in a specially-adapted wagon by her cousins, with Michelle following closely behind – an adorable spectacle that had everyone cooing! As Matt and Michelle said, ‘I do’, the guests got to bask in the glorious May weather, followed by popcorn and ice cream canapés immediately after the ceremony!
The hilarious speeches concluded with Michelle having to learn, and take part in, a drinking game invented by Matt called “The Hulk”, and once the meal was over, we stole the couple away for a short time, so they could take in the day with me as their Devon wedding photographer and have some time together for portraits. The first dance was followed by a moving dance between the bride and her father to the Beatles song, ‘Michelle’. And as the sun was setting, we made the most of those brilliant colours in the sky by getting a silhouette shot of the couple – Although, I was intrigued, when I told the couple to ‘relax and do what you would normally do together…”, they both proceeded to grab a stick each and have a sword fight!
The evening concluded with some crazy shapes being thrown on the dance floor, which I am really please that a stayed late for! I could not have been happier to have shot this Cranberries Hideaway wedding. Matt and Michelle are two of the loveliest people I have had the pleasure of knowing, and it was an honour to photograph their Devon wedding.
