Goodness where to start with this absolute beaut of a wedding day…?
I guess it would be good to start with the back story to this and how this lovely couple have braved the Covid-19 pandemic and still made their wedding day their own.
Libby and Rob were due to be married at Eastington Park. If you’ve been to or come across Eastington Park you will know what a picturesque venue it is. Set in acres of parkland and with the most fabulous wedding team you are in safe hands when you get married there and guaranteed the most fabulous wedding day.
Their date was set for a few days after Christmas. However as we all know; Covid-19 had other plans. This forward thinking duo pulled their wedding forward and changed their date to Saturday 19th December – yes they got married just in the nick of time and before the third lockdown kicked in here in the UK.
Numbers were restricted to a maximum of 15 friends and family including the couple in attendance so they had to make some pretty challenging decisions to take their wedding numbers down to the allowed number. Not something that was easy to do however I doubt that anyone would have wanted for anything other than them to just be married and to be husband and wife.
And so it came to be that Libby and Rob married at Shire Hall in the heart of the historic City of Gloucester.
Shire Hall is a stones throw from Gloucester Cathedral and minutes from the very centre of this country city. The normally bustling city centre was quiet and calm on the last Saturday before Christmas. Something magical in itself!
And the weather held! Well… it was the very least it could do on this special day!
The Team at Shire Hall had ensured that everything was Covid secure. Demarcating chair areas so that guests felt safe, could enjoy the wedding, and still be Covid secure. Not an easy feat but they pulled it off with style.
Libby arrived in Westgate Street in a vintage Bentley and rocked a ‘Bride’ face mask!
The eyes say it all…
The chilly but bright December day created the most wonderful light. The blues of the Shire Hall building complimented the navy and rich reddish pinks Libby had chosen.
So much joy, so many giggles, so much love…
Although its a requirement; this marked out area for the couple is super cute!
And of course nothing is missed… The Best Man had odd socks (below)!
Mr & Mrs C at last! For every moment of frustration and the many challenges that forced them to change their wedding plans; they did it!
And after the wedding ceremony at Shire Hall…
Libby and Rob along with their friends and family walked the short distance to Gloucester Cathedral…
What a stunning day for photographs! And what an incredible location!
We decided to take the group photographs in two locations; outside the West Door and also in The Garth.
Being an archaeology graduate who studied vernacular architecture as part of my degree course this location was absolute heaven to photograph at and in.
The Garth at Gloucester Cathedral for those of you who haven’t yet been there is right in the heart of the Cloisters. Its the perfect setting for photographs and its also a little more sheltered!
There has been a place of worship on this site at the heart of the City of Gloucester since 1058 and worship communicates at this location since 678.
This pretty bee landed on Libby’s veil as we took the photographs in The Garth; no doubt wanting to wish them well!
We then moved inside the Cloisters at Gloucester Cathedral to start what can only be the most exquisite wedding photographs. Libby and Rob had made the superb decision to pay the fee for photography at Gloucester Cathedral. What this means is; that it you’re not getting married at Gloucester Cathedral you can still have wedding photographs there. It was worth every penny!
I was also able to take a ‘socially distanced’ photograph of the bridesmaids and groomsmen with Libby and Rob. They all lined up in the carrels of the monks; each with a different stained glass window behind them. As the Cloisters at Gloucester Cathedral are not wide enough to stand back and take a photograph like this without distortion I used a little Photoshop trickery in post production to make this shot happen!
The carrels were created for the monks as places for quiet study. So in modern terms they were similar to reading/study nooks!
After the final group photograph was taken; family and friends in attendance made their way across to Cheltenham for dinner whilst Libby, Rob and I stayed at the Cathedral to take their beautiful timeless wedding photographs…
The soft gentle milky winter light in the Cloisters was exquisite…
Unusually the Cloisters at Gloucester Cathedral lie to the north of the Cathedral. Most commonly they are found to the south.
When we did our recce of Gloucester Cathedral in advance of the wedding we came across this tomb dedicated to Robert and Elizabeth. Their surname even started with a C as well. So Libby and Rob felt it only right to bring them into their wedding day. How romantic and historical this image now becomes…
Lighting in the Cloisters at Gloucester Cathedral especially in the depths of winter was always going to be a challenge. So off camera flash and numerous triggers were used to ensure that the lighting was perfect. Due to numbers it was not possible for me to have my Assistant with me that day and oh my word did I miss her helping me!
Many of you will recognise the Cloisters at Gloucester Cathedral from Harry Potter!
The south side of the Cloisters doubled as a corridor in Gryffindor, with the door at the west end of the passage being the entrance to the Common Room.
Gloucester Cathedral was also home to filming for Doctor Who, Wolf Hall, Sherlock, The Hollow Crown, and Mary Queen of Scots.
The main Cathedral was beautifully set up for the Christmas celebrations and of course very empty which being a resident of this beautiful City and having attended many events at the Cathedral was both breath-taking and rather special. To almost have such a building to ourselves was a special memory I will never forget.
Tom from the Cathedral Team also let us have access to the Whispering Gallery and the Tribune Gallery high above the floor of the Cathedral…
The Galleries are one of Gloucester Cathedral’s best kept secrets!
High above the Quire, the Tribune Gallery provides one of the most incredible views of Gloucester Cathedral as well as letting you get up close to the Great East Window. For more than 650 years this window has let light and love into the Cathedral.
The Cathedral’s Whispering Gallery takes its name from a feature created during its construction. Just like the Whispering Gallery at St Paul’s Cathedral in London; the gallery enables a whisper to be heard from the opposite side to which you are standing. Perfect for sending messages of love and devotion. And of course its perfect for wedding photographs!
As we came out of the Cathedral the sun was well and truly shining on our happy couple as they posed for a few final photographs on their wedding day before they headed off to meet back up with their family and friends for their wedding breakfast.
The main door to Gloucester Cathedral is in the South Porch and is enclosed by 12 statues which were all installed during restoration of the Cathedral in 1871 .
The sunshine warmed the Cathedral stone which has recently had a huge restoration clean. Its magical the way the light bounces and brings the Cathedral alive.
Many congratulations Libby and Rob! I wish you a life time of happiness…
For weddings at Shire Hall CLICK HERE.
For weddings at Gloucester Cathedral CLICK HERE.