On Saturday I had the pleasure of photographing Sophie & Matthew's wedding at Kingdom. I've wanted to photograph a wedding at Kingdom for some time now, but every time I have had an enquiry, it's been for a date that I was already booked. So I was excited anyway for this wedding, but then when Sophie told me that their wedding was to be black tie, I couldn't wait; I knew the contrast of black-tie attire with the rustic nature of this venue would be amazing.
I started my coverage with photographing Sophie getting ready pre-ceremony at The Spa Hotel in Tunbridge Wells. Sophie had her make-up done by Freya Paxton and hair by Jessica Simpson Studio, and looked incredible.
Sophie & Matthew enjoyed an outside wedding ceremony at Kingdom - standing in front of the the mighty Seven Sisters chestnut tree (the largest living tree in the British Isles). It's such a unique and beautiful outside ceremony location. For background music, there was Tara from Toby Boyle music playing the harp and singing. I'll be adding Tara straight away to my recommended list; her playing and singing was truly beautiful.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds and their guests enjoyed drinks and canapes, on the roof of the main building, before heading inside for the wedding breakfast. They had speeches from Matthew, the best man (Kit), and the father of the bride (Richard).
They started the evening party of with a first dance to "Lover" by Taylor Swift with the sun sinking below the horizon, and marshmallows being toasted over a fire-pit. A perfect evening following a perfect day.
Congratulations Sophie & Matthew!
Here is more about the couple & their beautiful wedding:
How did you meet, & how did you become engaged?
"We met as friends in college but lost touch. A mutual friend invited us both out of an evening, and that's where it all begun!
Matthew proposed as we were taking a walk along the beach after a lovely dinner in Greece on 5th July 2023."
How long did you take to plan your wedding?
"9-months"
What made you choose your wedding venues and how did you decorate them?
"We wanted something different, with natural beauty, & somewhere we could have the ceremony & event without the need to travel. Kingdom worked perfectly for this!"
What inspired you to style your day the way you did?
"Timeless colours, nothing OTT, adding to the features to the venue, rather than taking over them was the goal."
How did you decide on your dress and accessories?
"My dress was different to what I thought I would go for. Which is why trying multiple different styles is key! I kept going back to the same dress."
How did you decide on the outfits for the groom and groomsmen?
"Keeping in with the theme and vibe, we went for classic black tie, this looks amazing in our photos!"
Who walked you down the aisle? And did you walk down the aisle to a particular song?
"We had a Harpist playing. Sophie’s father walked her down the aisle."
Please describe your wedding breakfast and the reasons behind it?
"We didn’t go for the traditional seating plan due to family dynamics, this worked well for us. Definitely not something to overthink! Between each course we all had a wander and mingled, which was perfect."
Did you provide wedding favours?
"We had beautiful wax melts from The Wells Candle Company for the women and little chocolates for the men."
Please describe your cake and why you chose it?
"Sophie’s mother made the wedding cake, 3 tiers covered in fresh fruit. We sprinkled with icing before cutting, which was a lovely touch."
What was your first dance track?
"Taylor Swift, Lover"
What was your favourite part of the day and why?
"It's too hard to choose one!!! So many highlights from first looks, to saying our vows in the gorgeous sunshine, followed by signing inside the tree, to wining and dining with our favorite people and dancing the night away - not wanting it to end!"
What led you to choose Parkershots as your photographer & please can you comment on the results?
"After looking at Nick's work after we had a recommendation to do so, the main thing that drew us to Nick’s work was his timeless shots. He was incredibly personable throughout. It doesn’t matter if you’re uncomfortable in front of the camera, after a couple of photos, he makes you feel settled and full of confidence. We really couldn’t fault anything at all. Our family and friends were full of compliments about him which meant so much to us."
If you could impart any words of wisdom to a bride to be planning her marriage and wedding day, what would they be?
"Remember, you are not the host, your guests are there to celebrate your marriage with you or your day."
P.S. Special thanks to Laura at Kingdom for everything during the day!
Suppliers:
- Bride’s gown (Designer and boutique) Isabella Grace Tunbridge Wells. Justin Alexander
- Jewellery (Designer & Boutique) Lily & Roo
- Shoes Stuart Weitzman
- Veil / Headpiece - Isabella Grace
- Perfume - Jo Malone
- Hair Stylist - Jessica Simpson
- Make-up Artist - Freya Paxton
- Florist - Charlotte Dawson
- Rings - Camelot Brighton
- Venue- Kingdom, Penshurst
- Cake Maker, Wendy Wynne-Pedder
- Caterer - I’ll Be Mother
- Groom / Groomsmen suits - MOSS
- Entertainment - MINT DJs
- Photographer - Nick!
- Honeymoon - Maldives
- Harp - Tara (Toby Boyle Music)
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