Why Couples Choose Great Fosters for a Surrey Wedding

TL;DR: Steph and Alex’s wedding at Great Fosters in Surrey mixed classic surroundings with plenty of fun. From a castle proposal story to a surprise gender reveal during the cake cutting, the day felt was so much fun! A lovely example for couples planning a Surrey wedding that feels romantic without taking itself too seriously. Oh and a suprise Waiter Singer...

How it began

Steph and Alex meet on Tinder - (I have now photographed so many Tinder weddings!) "We met at The Hotel Bosco in Surbiton. We had such a great time we ended up doing a pub crawl around Surbiton!

Then a little while later, Alex booked a surprise trip to Disney Land Paris for my birthday. The day after my birthday, we walked up to Cinderella’s castle where he got down on one knee and proposed!" I mean how perfect is that?

Steph and Alex's wedding at Great Fosters was a celebration full of laughter and so many happy tears. I've been lucky enough to photograph weddings at Great Fosters quite a few times over the years and it never fails to deliver something special and unique for every couple who choose to marry there. The venue itself is a Grade I listed manor house dating back to the 16th century. It comprises of an extremely handsome house with many twisting corridors and utterly charming rooms and a lily filled moat - with the most delightful wooded bridge. Steph and Alex’s day was just stunning, filled with warmth of friendship and family - it was their day.

Morning Preparations

Steph and Alex had already booked their wedding at Great Fosters when they found out they were going to be a three. They chose to go ahead with their plans and enjoy the day with Steph's growing bump. Bring in Steph's mum, a skilled seamstress, stepped in to make the perfect alterations so the gown would fit Steph perfectly. Her background of working in a wedding dress shop was so perfect.

The day began with the bride and her bridesmaids getting ready in Great Fosters’ bridal suite. There was a gorgeous buzz of excitement as the bridal party, dressed in personalised pyjamas, laughed and sipped prosecco while having their hair and makeup done. The bride looked absolutely gorgeous as her hair was styled into soft curls gently decorated with pearls and a tiara by the amazing Sophie SW Hairdressing. Steph's bridesmaids helped her prepare for the day ahead. There was a lot of laughter in the room when I arrived.

Steph’s dad, dressed in his fireman’s uniform decored with his service medals, saw her in her dress for the first time. His pride was obvious as he hugged his daughter and helped her with her jewellery. Her mum, equally emotional, shared a long hug with her. The bridesmaids stood by the entrance to the room with happy tears.

The Groom

Over in a modern part of the venue, the groom and his groomsmen were also getting ready. There was a much more laid-back vibe with music playing and nervous laughter. Alex shared a few moments with his closest mates as they adjusted ties, pinned on buttonholes, and helped each other with final touches before heading out to greet the arriving guests.

The Ceremony!

The Orangery at Great Fosters was the perfect setting for their ceremony, filled with natural light and elegant floral arrangements by House of Flowers. Alex had ensured that the Mum's would be perfectly seated with reserved labels on their chairs - this is genuinely such a great idea - Mum's should always be considered highly in the seating arrangements!

Their guests looked on as the bridal party entered; bridesmaids in flowing lavender gowns and groomsmen in dark green ties and sharp suits, setting a beautiful colour palette for the day. Steph's brother was the Man of Honour! Utterly fabulous in my opinion.

The Arrival of The Bride

Then it was the turn of the Bride to walk down the aisle. Alex was visibly emotional as Steph walked down the aisle on her father’s arm. He was also super smart in his ceremonial Fireman's Uniform.

During the vows, my bride and groom just couldn't stop smiling at one another. There were tears, laughter, and a lot of love felt in that room for Steph and Alex.

 The Wedding Party stood next to their Bride and Groom throughout the wedding. They were simply gorgeous!

Their ceremony was just wonderful, culminating in their first kiss as husband and wife to a huge cheer from their friends and family.

Confetti and Celebrations

After the ceremony, guests lined the aisle for the confetti throw. The newlyweds beaming, surrounded by flower petals and hoots of applause!

Wedding Reception in the gardens at Great Fosters

Guests then made their way outside into the beautiful gardens of Great Foster's for a relaxed drinks reception.

There were hugs, laughter, and trays of cold champagne. It was a great opportunity for natural photographs of my couple as they mixed with their guests. All wanted to give them hugs and congratulate them both. Steph shared a moment with her lovely mum in the gardens, while their friends enjoyed the warmth and sunshine.

Couple Portraits

Great Fosters’ stunning gardens offered you the most stunning backdrops. I took my bride and groom off for a short time. There was so much lovely laughter between them. They walked hand in hand through the walled gardens and posed under the wisteria covered wooden bridge.

Their happiness shone through in every photo. These portraits would capture not only the grandeur of the setting but the love they both shared on the day. All alone apart from a shortish but very friendly Scottish female photographer with 2 cameras following them around the grounds! I returned them to the warmth of their friends and family and set off to the Tithe Barn.

The Wedding Breakfast and Speeches

Inside the Tithe Barn, dinner was served in a stunning space filled with candlelight and rustic beams. The tables were perfectly styled.

The Entrance of The Bride and Groom!

The Speeches

The speeches were a rollercoaster of emotion, hilarious anecdotes from the best men, warm words from both the fathers, and hugely emotional speeches from both the best men. Steph and Alex’s gratitude for their guests, parents, and bridal party was deeply felt. Glasses were raised for toasts, and there was laughter and a few happy tears throughout.

A Surprise Twist!

Just when the guests thought the speeches had ended, there was a loud crash as one of the waiters fell in front of the top table. All was quiet - then he leapt up with a microphone- it was a suprise singing waiter! The energy in the room changed from concern for him to hilarity as everyone got to their feet. The performance turned into a full-on party with napkins waved in the air, guests dancing between tables, and laughter echoing through the barn. Nelson from Vip Waiter you were fabulous!!!

The bride and groom led a spontaneous conga line, joined by their bridal party and guests, including a special appearance in the form of a giant cutout of their dog Meeko carried by the Bride! It was one of the most fun moments of the day.

The Cake Cut: A Sweet Surprise

As guests gathered for the traditional cake cutting, they were in for another surprise, this moment also served as a gender reveal for Steph and Alex’s baby!

Only Steph’s sister had been entrusted with the secret, and she had carefully crafted the cake to hold the surprise. As he couple cut into it, I could see Alex peer into the cake's colouring - blue! A huge cheer broke into thunderous applause as the blue centre revealed they were expecting a baby boy. It was a magical, tearful and very loud filled manly moment that added an extra layer of happiness to an already love-filled day.

Evening Festivities

As the sun set, guests continued the celebrations with dancing, drinks, and more wonderful chats. Steph changed into sparkly sneakers for dancing comfort, and the party continued into the night with plenty of music and revelry. The atmosphere was electric, with guests letting loose on the dance floor beneath twinkling fairy lights strung across the old beams.

Bride and Groom's Favourite Moments

Steph - my favourite moment was the first dance. I had my princess first dance moment which meant the world to me.

Alex - The ceremony was my favourite moment. When Steph walked down the aisle, I became really emotional.

Venue - Great Fosters

Wedding Dress - Surrey Brides

Flowers - House of Flowers

Hair -  Sophie SW Hairdressing

Cake - Bride's sister - Claire Inns

Singing Waiter - Nelson from Vip Waiters

Final Thoughts

Steph and Alex’s wedding at Great Fosters in Surrey was full of energy and laughter, with plenty of surprises along the way. From time with family and relaxed portraits to a singing waiter that caught everyone out and a gender reveal during the cake cutting, the day never took itself too seriously. It was a proper celebration from start to finish.

I really loved being there with them and being trusted to photograph the day as it happened. Steph and Alex, thank you for that. It was a joy to be part of it and I cannot wait to see what comes next for you both.

If you are planning a wedding at Great Fosters or elsewhere in Surrey and think my wedding photography style might suit you, I would love to hear about your plans. Just drop me a message and we can take it from there.

Steph and Alex left a lovely 5 star review*****

 

"Gill took some amazing photos of me and my husband at our wedding. She was great at keeping us relaxed and she captured our guests very well. The photos are fantastic quality and were very flattering. Thank you Gill for capturing our day."

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