There are a few venues that I find myself coming back to time and again, and The Plough at Leigh in the heart of the Kent countryside is one of them! Back at the start of September 2023 it played host to James and Natasha's big day, and this is probably up there as one of my favourite weddings of the year.
As they wanted to make sure all the important parts of the day were captured, James & Natasha opted for my 10-hour Kilimanjaro package. This also includes a second photographer, so while I was covering bridal prep with the girls in the morning, I sent Warren, my second photographer, over to The Plough to get some great photos of James and the boys getting ready in the gardens.
With their guests starting to arrive, I headed over to the venue ahead of Natasha and her family, and it wasn't long before the ceremony began outside at the gazebo. Natasha's sisters walked down the aisle first, before it was her turn, accompanied by her father. James is from Australia originally so had quite a few friends and family here for the wedding, and there was definitely some joviality during the day!
After the ceremony and an awesome confetti tunnel, there were lawn games, drinks and canapes before some group photos in the shade, followed by a little walk around the gardens and out the front of the venue with just James & Natasha before it was time to head back inside for the wedding breakfast.
The main barn had been decorated with golds, pale wood and green, and set out canteen style with long tables along the length of the barn which made for a great atmosphere, with everyone close to talk and laugh together. Even before James & Natasha were introduced to the room, the 'MC' had a great game lined up for everyone with a 'how well do you know the bride and groom' theme, which went down a treat.
The speeches were a particular highlight after the meal, with James' sister and dad doing a bit of a duet for theirs, which also included some touching moments about James' mother, who sadly was only present in spirit, along with a batch of her famous cookies. But continuing the duet theme, James and Natasha had the last word as they did a joint speech to finish off the meal.
With the sun going down it was now time to cut the cake and hit the dancefloor, and boy oh boy did James and Natasha's guests not disappoint! Clearly the Aussies know how to have a party, and it's been some time since I'd seen such a fun-filled dancefloor in the evening. What a great way to end the day.
Whether you're planning a big lavish wedding, or something much smaller, head over to my wedding photography page for prices and lots of information on how I can help make your day as memorable and as awesome as possible! You can also get in touch to enquire about your wedding date to see if I'm available.