Emma & Darren were married on Monday 7th October during a ceremony at the stunning Cooling Castle Barns in Kent.
Undeniably, this is one of my favourite venues in Kent and having photographed many a wedding at Cooling Castle, I was really looking forward to seeing how Emma and Darren put their own unique stamp on the venue. I definitely wasn’t disappointed.
I kicked off the day by visiting Emma and her bridesmaids as the bridal prep got underway, before heading over to meet Darren and the boys. With them both getting ready at Cooling Castle Barns, I made the most of my time, moving between the two, making sure that no element went unnoticed.
The finishing touches were pretty spectacular. In particular, I loved Emma’s personalised Converse, which of course, complemented her colour scheme.
The bouquets were bursting with so many beautiful colours and they effortlessly popped in the photos.
The men definitely dressed to impress too. The purple from the bridal party’s bouquets were present in the buttonholes and cravates for the groomsmen.
Cooling Castle Barns has quite a few features that are great to include in photos. The old cart located in front of one of the old turrets is one of my favourites. In particular, I love this black and white shot of the guys on their way to the ceremony.
Back with the bridal party and things definitely looked calm ahead of the ceremony. There was even time for a few selfies before we set off.
The string quartet entertained guests while waiting for Emma to arrive before playing her down the aisle. The atmosphere was just perfect.
The ceremony was beautiful and went without a hitch and Emma even navigated the steep stairs with ease.
Both Emma and Darren loved their D&E initials sign which sat proudly in the barn! And the finishing touches didn’t end there. The personalised names of guests were carved from wood, while each person’s menu choice was held in little wooden place holders. Plus, check out those stunning flower centrepieces! The decor choices effortlessly complemented the rustic barn setting of Emma and Darren’s wedding.
Unfortunately, the crisp start to the day didn’t extend into the afternoon. The usual group photos took place in between showers outdoors, which fortunately didn’t get in the way too much.
The venue boasts various focal points, which are great for photos. Emma and Darren were naturals in front of the camera and easily got into the the flow.
At the wedding breakfast, speeches were given by Emma’s dad, Darren and Darren’s best man, all of which were a big hit with guests.
Darren is a police office and so their choice of wedding toppers were perfect.
Although the sun sets earlier in autumn, I love nighttime shots so we ventured outdoors for a few more photos following the meal.
It was a pleasure photographing their Wedding at Cooling Castle. A big congratulations to Emma and Darren. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together.