Lisa & Barrie’s Wedding at The Upper House, Barlaston
On Sunday 6th September, I had the honour of photographing Lisa and Barrie’s wedding at The Upper House in Barlaston, Staffordshire.
Their wedding at The Upper House came about somewhat unexpectedly. They were unfortunately one of the couples affected by the closure of Slaters, meaning their original plans had to change. Luckily, they found themselves at this beautiful Staffordshire venue, and I was delighted to be there to capture their day.
I only had three hours with Lisa and Barrie, so there was no time to hang around! My aim was to make the most of every minute and capture as much of their day as possible, while still allowing them time to enjoy it.
Getting ready at The Upper House
I started upstairs with Lisa in the bridal suite, photographing some relaxed moments as she got ready with her beautiful Maid of Honour and her daughter, who was her Bridesmaid.
I then nipped downstairs to see Barrie and his Groomsmen and capture a few photographs before heading back to Lisa.
Lisa had already told me about a special surprise she had planned for her mum, so I was ready with my camera when the moment came. She had changed her wedding dress! I was able to capture her mum's reaction, which was such a lovely and personal moment to photograph.
Lisa also made use of the balcony overlooking all of her guests, carefully making sure that Barrie didn't turn around and see her!
We then made use of the stunning grand staircase for some photographs of Lisa before I made my way downstairs to get into position for the ceremony.
Walking down the aisle
Barrie was waiting eagerly at the front when Lisa appeared, arm in arm with her son.
She made her way down the aisle to the beautiful singing of Chloe Rose Fisher Music, with the greenery surrounding The Upper House providing a gorgeous backdrop.
I was also able to capture Lisa's walk down the aisle from above with the drone, giving them a completely different perspective of such an important moment.
The ceremony was incredibly personal. One of my favourite touches was their decision to tie a rope together to symbolise tying the knot, while their personal vows to each other were incredibly touching. There wasn't a dry eye amongst the guests.
The setting worked brilliantly for photography too. Being outdoors meant I could move around and capture the ceremony from different angles, photographing not just Lisa and Barrie but also the reactions of their family and friends.
And then came the kiss!
With pretty flowers framing the archway behind them, it made for a gorgeous photograph.
After they signed the register, it was time for confetti.
Confetti, congratulations and family photographs
Lisa and Barrie's guests lined the path as the newlyweds walked through them, showered in confetti.
They were absolute naturals in front of the camera, looking straight ahead and smiling all the way through!
Thank you for making my job so easy, guys!
While Lisa and Barrie enjoyed some well-deserved congratulations and a drink from the bar, I headed upstairs to the balcony to capture their large group photograph, with the lush green trees and foliage creating a beautiful backdrop.
We then took some smaller group photographs on the steps at the front of the building. I particularly liked using the steps because they allowed me to create some lovely layers and depth within the photographs, while also having the stunning Upper House as the backdrop.
A quick couples' shoot
With only three hours to capture their day, we didn't have a huge amount of time for portraits, but we managed to fit in a lovely little couples' shoot around the venue's gardens.
We started with photographs of Lisa and Barrie in front of the house, before facing out towards the countryside for some photographs making the most of the views.
We then used the Japanese steps, bench and pathway for some more relaxed photographs of the two of them together.
And, of course, we couldn't finish without making use of that incredible grand staircase one more time!
For the final photograph, Lisa and Barrie posed on the grand staircase, looking every bit like Lord and Lady of the Manor.
And then, sadly, it was time for me to go.
I left Lisa and Barrie as they headed into their wedding breakfast, eager to enjoy the rest of their day with their nearest and dearest.
Thank you, Lisa & Barrie
Lisa and Barrie, thank you so much for choosing me to be part of your wedding day.
Despite everything that had happened with your original plans, you created such a lovely and personal day at The Upper House, surrounded by the people who matter most to you. I feel very lucky that I got to capture a little part of it.
I wish you both all the love and happiness for the future!
If you're getting married at The Upper House in Barlaston, or anywhere in or around Staffordshire, and are looking for a relaxed, natural and candid wedding photographer, I'd love to hear about your plans.
Get in touch with Charlotte Myles Photography to arrange a call and tell me all about your wedding day.
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