Post Lockdown Wedding at East Court

This is my second post lockdown wedding. East Court in East Grinstead was the venue.

Today’s wedding was for an old school friend Richard Kinver. I’ve socialised, worked alongside and been a guest at his restaurant. He’s is a chef. A bloody good one too. He currently runs the kitchen at The Star in Lingfield.

The day started damp and dark, but I wasn’t worried. I normally bring the sun with me and this was no different!

Photography is finally begining to take off again. Since the Covid lockdown in the UK, events such as weddings have been greatly effected. Guest numbers are still very low. My first wedding last week had just 14 guests. This wedding conformed to the latest government guideline numbers of below 30.

Obviously all the usual precautions were in place. At East Court in East Grinstead, they check every guests temperature prior to entering. Hand sanitiser was readily avaliable and used in abundance.

However before we got to the ceremony, there were bridal preperations to be covered.

On entering the home, everyone was so happy. Kasia was having her make up applied and the dress was hanging. Flowers were sitting in water ready for the big day ahead.

The dress was very slinky. A beautiful white modern look that had a style that well suited Kasia and her fab figure. With beautiful white wedge shoes to match.

Kasia had many brides maids and flower girls, there were page boys too. I counted 8 in total!

On arrival you could find them all huddled together in the lounge, watching a film and taking silly selfies to remeber the day.

The couple have a daughter called Hope, she’s a confident little thing and happy to tell me how excited she is to be going to school in September.

I love working with children, especially at weddings. They always seem to keep the party going. With an abundance of energy and excitiment.

With hair and make up finalised the girls jumped into their dresses.

The wedding car was on the drive, Kasia couldn’t help herself and had to get involved with the decoration. A first for me and a great addition for the photography. Here you can see the excitment in her eyes and the joy of helping to get things ready.

With everything now ready, we took 5 minutes to snap a couple of family shots and bridal party images in the garden whilst the sun was shining.

During the preps Richard was in communication with me. Double checking my ETA at the ceremony venue, East Court East Grinstead. I arrived early giving me a little time to recce. It’s great to visit before the day. But sometimes things change, people move things which can throw the photographer off a little. I always tend to arrive early to scope the place out. Being a Post Lockdown Wedding, I try to arrive a little earlier now to ensure there aren’t any suprises. Traditions are sometimes hampered by new laws and it’s worth checking before.

Minutes later came the arrival of Richard and his best man Jake, (who I’ve also known for a number of years) he’s a good lad and socialised in the same circles, even though he’s moved ‘up north’ (his words not mine) and been there for a number of years, we still get on like before.

A few snappy shots with the rings and hand shakes before the bride’s arrival.

The bride arrived early which gave me the oppertunity to capture a sneeky shot of them both either side of the building without being able to see each other.

I think for another edit I might do a little aribrushing and remove the pillar, some of the signs on the wall and the water downpipe. I might even add a little wall gaffitti or Banksy style peice saying ‘love’ or ‘tie the knot’. An idea for a canvas for the lounge perhaps. I think that could work really well.

With the all guest Covid tested and ushered into the Meridian Hall we got underway.

The beautiful bride glided down the isle with her father to meet a now slightly nervous looking groom.

That last image is ‘apparently’ a Polish tradition! Good girl!!

The ceremony was over in a flash and the couple were now one.

A few drinks were had in the ceremony room after and we dashed outside whilst the weather was dry for a few couple romantics and guest group shots. I won’t show too many as I don’t want to give everything away.

You can clearly see the love between the couple. Now just look at little Hope! That smile is infectious.

After around half an hour to an hour we went back to the house for a small celebration, (Post Lockdown Wedding allowed), with the close family and friends. There was a hog roast BBQ, along with more Polish drinking traditions of Vodka shots, smahing glasses over shoulders. I love a Polish wedding!

Richard even carried Kasia over the threshold!

At one point I even caught Kasia in the kitchen doing the washing up in her wedding dress, here’s a sneeky pic I took.

Right that just about wraps this wedding up. There’s more to come in the future with a big celebration when the UK government allow. So no doubt more images will be added to this wedding blog, but until then… Congratulations to the newly married Mr & Mrs Kinver!