In November we had the pleasure of shooting Morgan and John’s glorious Hyde House wedding. The venue is a beauty anyway – very quickly becoming one of our Cotswolds/Gloucestershire wedding photography favourites – but coupled (pun intended) with two beautiful humans saying I do, what do you get? A chef’s kiss of a wedding and a bloomin’ gorgeous day, that’s what – no matter what the weather!
Hyde House wedding venue
The owners of Hyde House wedding venue have taken great care to preserve the history and magnitude of the building whilst also creating a light, inviting space throughout. It’s basically the perfect “blank canvas” space, where it’s so beautiful on its own that you hardly have to do anything to it if you don’t want to; but if you do want to, you’re able to put your own stamp on it!
The House itself is a stunning original Victorian country house, with 12 bedrooms that you get exclusive use of during your stay. This is where Morgan and her bridesmaids got ready on the morning. It was so lovely to be a part of the bridal prep, because their energy was infectious – I love the photo of two of her bridesmaids dancing on the floor!
Hyde House weddings take place in The Grange (or under the Arbour, if the weather allows). The Grange is the Hyde House wedding ceremony barn, a bright, airy building with rustic oak beams and huge bay windows. What this means – and its music to our Gloucestershire wedding photography ears, of course – is natural light, and buckets of it. You can’t tell from the photos, but Morgan and John’s day was actually pretty grey and windy!
Love-filled, laidback ceremony
Morgan and John had been legally married the year before, so two of their closest friends led their symbolic Hyde House wedding ceremony. Morgan stunned in an embellished dress from Waxflower Bridal, while John was in his full RAF uniform – but the stars of the show were undoubtedly the kids, including their gorgeous son Archie, who played during the ceremony and stole everyone’s hearts. This just added to the warming feel of the ceremony, which was simultaneously laidback and beautifully emotional (John cried during their vows.)
After exiting the ceremony with Archie in tow – and being greeted by fistfuls of confetti raining down on them – we took Morgan and John for some portraits. (With a winter wedding, it’s worth noting your couples’ portrait session will probably be earlier in the day, as it gets dark earlier.) Another benefit of a Hyde House wedding is just how beautiful the surroundings are, with wild yet manicured grounds and the rolling Cotswolds countryside beyond.
Rustic barn reception
Hyde House wedding receptions are hosted in a different, but equally gorgeous, space: aptly named The Barn. Similarly to the ceremony space, The Barn has double height windows and vaulted ceilings, so it’s again super dreamy, light and airy.
Fittingly, they chose rustic, seasonal decor. Long trestle tables were set up across the barn, laid with foliage and flowers in beautiful autumnal shades of orange to match Morgan’s bouquet. Nestled amongst the glassware were gold tealights and candle holders holding tall burgundy taper candles. Each table was named after a place that held significance for Morgan and John, and each place setting was accented by a piece of dried foliage.
While awaiting Mum and Dad’s entrance it’s safe to say Archie stole the show again with his gorgeous giggles and cheeky chappy demeanour – we love the photo of him bonking his grandma in the nose with a party blower, though we should also take a second to shout out grandma’s outfit, with its feathers!
The Barn was designed specifically with wedding receptions in mind, so after some wonderful speeches, delicious food, and a cake cut using John’s ceremonial sword, it was super easy for guests to spill onto the dancefloor and get the party started.
Gloucestershire wedding photography
Morgan and John’s day was so full of love and joy, all of the important things we’d been so desperately unable to celebrate together during the past few years, and it was a total pleasure to be asked to photograph their day. Same time next year, guys?!
In the meantime if you’re planning a Hyde House wedding and are looking for a photographer who knows the venue, we’d love to chat. (And if you haven’t decided on a venue or a photographer yet – take this as a sign to have us shoot your Hyde House wedding! Easy as pie).
Alternatively, perhaps you’re looking for Gloucestershire wedding photography because you’re getting married elsewhere – whatever you’ve got planned, we’d love to hear from you. You can get in touch here to tell us all about your plans, and how we can slot in to take the photos you’ll treasure forever.
