Mercure Great Danes Maidstone Spring Wedding with Jamie & Jemma

I first met Jemma & Jamie back in early 2018 at a wedding fair at their venue, the Mercure Great Danes near Maidstone. They were such a laid back and fun-loving couple and it wasn't long before they ended up booking for their wedding in May this year. We all met up a few times in the interim to make sure they both knew what to expect and how I work on a wedding day. They even opted for one of my engagement sessions, where we went to Knole Park for a 'practice run' before their wedding - we even saw some deer! It wasn't long until their big day came around, and it was a lovely day to spend with such a great couple, celebrating with their family and friends!

Nestled in the Kent countryside just off the M20, the Mercure Great Danes hotel proves to be a popular wedding spot, with some expansive grounds and great spots for some romantic couples photos. Both Jemma and Jamie decided to get ready here in the morning (obviously in different rooms!) which did enable me to pop over to get a few photos of Jamie getting ready with his groomsmen, something that is often impossible to do on your own!

The decision was made to have the ceremony indoors on this on this occasion, as there was a slim chance of it raining (thankfully this never came to pass, and the sun came out!) with everyone heading outside for drinks and the group photos afterwards.

Jemma & Jamie had a bit of a Disney theme for their reception, with little touches wherever you looked! From the seating plan in the bar area, to the table numbers, to the crystal carriages dotted around, and the Micky and Minnie ears on the cake topper. The speeches were really heartfelt and even included a (I can only presume!) reference to Monty Python - see if you can spot it! For Jamie and Jemma's couples photos afterwards, we took full advantage of the lovely grounds at the hotel and the falling sun to get some really dreamy golden hour shots of the two of them.

Then it was back in time for the cake cut and first dance, with all their friends and family getting involved and forming a ring around the newlyweds, before the disco classics kicked in. Gangnum Style naturally had everyone bopping along! This was a great wedding and a great crowd, and I wish the happy couple all the best for the future. Head over to my wedding photography page to view my current collections, or send me a message on the contact page to enquire about your own wedding date.