Wedding at Old Thorns Hotel Hampshire

Old Thorns Hotel and Resort in Liphook, Hampshire is a venue I absolutely love shooting at and Emma and Gary’s warm October wedding was a brilliant reminder of why. Today my role was to second shoot alongside a great local photographer who also happened to be my past college mentor!

Bridal Prep at Old Thorns

The day started with the beautiful bride in the bridal suite, joined by her two sisters, her daughter and her lovely mum. Everyone was buzzing with excitement from the very first moment and it was not long before the bubbles started flowing and the giggles started.
I soon learned that Emma was a fellow Celt — Scottish to be precise — which meant one very important thing. There would be Ceilidh dancing later. More on that in a moment 😄

The Ceremony in the Hampshire Suite

While the girls finished getting ready I went to explore the ceremony room and walked into the Hampshire Suite to find the most gorgeous natural light, beautiful decor and panoramic views across the golf course. Just stunning.
As guests arrived I could not help capturing a cheeky little moment between the couple’s son and his grandparents — he completely melted my heart.
Emma did not keep us waiting long and the look on Gary’s face when he saw his bride was just everything. The ceremony was relaxed and heartwarming with plenty of smiles and you could literally feel the love in that room.
Emma and Gary incorporated two really beautiful rituals into their ceremony. A sand blending ceremony where members of their blended family each added sand to create one combined jar — such a meaningful and personal touch. And a ring warming ritual where both wedding rings were passed along to each guest for them to hold and pass on their good wishes and positive intentions before the rings were exchanged. Really lovely ways to involve everyone in the celebration.
After the ceremony there were some genuinely heartfelt congratulations and a pretty impressive freshly made cocktail selection for guests to enjoy while they mingled 😄

The Reception

When it came to speeches the couple’s cheeky little boy had some brilliant fun with his half sister and completely stole the show. There were great stories, plenty of banter and possibly some sneaky Tequila Rose doing the rounds. No comment.
Then came the cake, the first dance and then — the moment everyone had been building up to.

The Ceilidh.

I had absolutely no idea what to expect and honestly it was one of the most energetic and joyful dance floors I have ever witnessed. The energy in that room was completely electric and I loved every single second of it. I would absolutely love to shoot another Scottish wedding because it was completely and utterly epic 😄

Thinking About Old Thorns for Your Wedding?

Old Thorns Hotel and Resort in Liphook, Hampshire is a stunning venue with gorgeous spaces, beautiful natural light and those incredible golf course views. The Hampshire Suite is a genuinely special ceremony room and I would love to shoot there again.
If you are planning a wedding at Old Thorns or anywhere across Hampshire, West Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire and beyond and you are looking for a fun candid photographer who will capture every real and joyful moment of your day, I would love to hear from you 😊

👉 Get in touch here