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Ellie and Chris’s wedding
Ellie and Chris’s wedding began at St Mary’s Church in Broughton, followed by photographs on the southern coast and a reception at Chewton Glen Hotel in New Milton. It brought me back to the UK after a run of destination weddings in France, Italy and Mexico.
The coast gave the day a change of setting between the church and the hotel. Paragliders appeared in the background during the beach photographs, placing the portraits within the activity of the shoreline. At Chewton Glen, the speeches brought the attention back to the guests, with laughter and reactions forming part of the reception story.
A church, a coastal stop and a hotel reception
For a wedding with several stops, plan the journey around the fixed parts of the celebration. The ceremony time and dinner service are useful anchors; portraits need to fit into the time between them, with room for travel and arriving at the reception.
A beach stop should have a practical alternative. Consider wind, rain, walking distance and footwear, and decide whether a short visit is enough. A nearby covered space or photographs back at the reception can be preferable to keeping guests waiting while everyone travels farther than planned.
Before the ceremony, confirm the church’s photography arrangements with the officiant. At the reception, share the speeches schedule so the people speaking and the guests’ reactions can both receive attention. These are the transitions that help a full gallery tell the story of the day.
For another Hampshire setting, see Clare and Hung’s Four Seasons Hampshire wedding, or browse more UK wedding photography. If your wedding is in Hampshire, send the date, ceremony location and reception venue to discuss coverage.