Tucked away as part of a rural business park near Ashford in Kent, The Secret Garden is one of those hidden gems of a wedding venue that can be easy to overlooked, but always provides a great place to get married with some really pretty landscaped grounds. There was also a bit of a Disney theme going on, as you'll see in the images that follow below.
As there is nowhere on site to get ready in the morning, bride and groom prep took place at Kelsey & Toby's parents' houses respectively. They also wanted both parts covered in the morning, so I had Harriet assist me for their wedding day. Before I left Kelsey and the girls for the venue, there was a bit of a twist on the first look, where Kelsey presented herself to her bridesmaids in her dress. Needless to say, there wasn't a dry eye in the house at that point!
While Harriet got plenty of candids of the guests arriving and sitting down, I was on hand to capture the bridal party arriving in some stunning white vintage cars, including a Rolls Royce for Kelsey and her dad - very classy! It wasn't long before the ceremony got underway outside in the sunshine under the gazebo.
After the receiving line and confetti tunnel, there was plenty of time for some group photos in the gardens, as well as a chance for Toby & Kelsey to share some time alone for some gorgeous photos of the two of them (including a little dance and a twirl in front of the gazebo). Back inside, the reception space had been beautifully decorated, with all the table centrepieces painstakingly designed and assembled by Kelsey, showcasing some famous Disney movies.
The speeches, as always, were a delight to photograph, with happy tears, laughter and applause in equal measure. The best man even brought his A-game too, with yet another way to incorporate the Disney theme into his speech, with a series of puns and flash cards (you had to be there to understand!) As the sun was setting, there was even time for a few golden hour photos before the evening party began.
Dancing in the evening is always a treat to watch, and it wasn't long beyond Toby & Kelsey's first dance when the classics kicked in, and a few ABBA songs soon got everyone up dancing and joining in, with 'Dancing Queen' surely the hit of the night. The dance moves were pretty incredible, and made for a great ending for a great wedding 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.