Great Fosters Wedding with a Gender Reveal: Steph & Alex Celebrate with Style and a Baby Boy

TL;DR: Steph & Alex’s Great Fosters wedding in Surrey blended classic elegance with modern fun—from a castle proposal to a surprise gender reveal during the cake cutting. If you’re planning a romantic, stylish wedding in Surrey and want natural photography that captures every emotion, their day is full of inspiration.

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!"

Steph and Alex's wedding at Great Fosters was a celebration full of love, laughter, and many happy tears. I've been lucky enough to photograph weddings at Great Fosters many times over the years and it never fails to deliver something special and unique for every couple. The venue itself, a Grade I listed manor house dating back to the 16th century, offers grandeur at every turn, from its red-brick façade and historic interiors to its ornamental gardens and lily-filled moat. Set against this remarkable backdrop in the Surrey countryside, Steph and Alex’s day was just wonderful, filled with warmth, humour, and moments that truly reflected who they are.

Morning Preparations

Steph and Alex had already booked their wedding at Great Fosters when they found out they were expecting. Rather than postpone the day, they chose to go ahead with their plans and enjoy the day with Steph's growing bump. With this in mind, Steph’s dress needed a few adjustments and her mum, a skilled seamstress, stepped in to make the perfect alterations so the gown fit beautifully. She had previously worked in a wedding dress shop so was the perfect at altering Steph's wedding dress!

The day began with the bride and her bridesmaids getting ready in Great Fosters’ charming bridal suites. There was a gorgeous buzz of excitement as the bridal party, dressed in satin pyjamas, laughed and sipped on prosecco while having their hair and makeup done. The bride looked absolutely radiant as her hair was styled into soft curls adorned 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 adorned with his service medals, saw her in her dress for the first time. His pride was palpable as he hugged Steph, his daughter and helped with her jewellery. Her mum, equally moved, shared a long, warm hug with her, adding to the loving atmosphere in the room. The bridesmaids stood with happy tears witnessing these moments.

The Grooms Party

Over in another part of the venue, the groom and his party were also getting ready. There was a more laid-back energy with music playing and banter flowing. Alex shared a few quiet moments with closest mates as they adjusted ties, pinned on buttonholes, and helped each other with final touches before heading out to greet 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, Steph and Alex couldn't stop smiling at one another. There were tears, laughter, and a sense of happiness that resonated throughout the room.

 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 applause. Their joy was infectious as they shared a celebratory kiss and basked in the love of their guests.

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 champagne. It was a great opportunity for candid photos and mingling as guests congratulated the happy couple. Steph shared another tender moment with her mum in the gardens, while friends enjoyed the sunshine and bubbles.

Couple Portraits

Great Fosters’ grounds offered the most stunning backdrops for Steph and Alex’s portraits. They walked hand in hand through the walled gardens, kissed under pergolas, and paused for intimate moments surrounded by the wisteria covered wooden bridge, the lavender and historic brickwork.

Their happiness shone through in every photo. These moments captured 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!

The Wedding Breakfast and Speeches

Inside the Tithe Barn, dinner was served in a warm and inviting space filled with candlelight and rustic beams. The tables were perfectly and simply styled, and the mood was relaxed as guests enjoyed their meal and each other's company.

The Entrance of The Bride and Groom!

The Speeches

The speeches were a rollercoaster of emotion, hilarious anecdotes from the best men, heartfelt words from the fathers, and emotional moments from the groom and bride. 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 concluded, there was a crash as a waiter fell in front of the top table. All was concern and hush - then he leapt up - it was a suprise singing waiter! The energy in the room changed from concern 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 Waiters was fabulous!!!

The bride and groom led a spontaneous conga line, joined by their bridal party and guests, including a special appearance from their dog Meeko carried by the Bride, featured on an oversized cut-out! It was one of the fun moments of the day, and perfectly captured.

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 the 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 was packed with emotion, energy, laughter, and a few brilliant surprises. From the big family moments and chilled portraits to that unforgettable surprise singing waiter and a seriously fun party, it was one of those days that just felt completely them.

It honestly meant the world to be there with them and to capture it all. Steph and Alex, thank you for trusting me with your day. I’m so excited for everything that’s coming next for you both.

If you're planning your wedding and think we might be a good fit, I'd love to hear from you. No pressure, just drop me a message, tell me a bit about your plans, and we’ll 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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