Kimbridge Barn | Hampshire Wedding

Hannah and Josh’s book-themed autumn wedding began with bridal preparations in the Boot Room at Kimbridge Barn, Romsey. Hannah and her bridesmaids were very calm, and it was a lovely chilled morning. I’d met Hannah and Josh at their engagement shoot, so I already knew they were lovers of literature! (and Lord of the Rings, something we had in common!) As soon as I saw the barn at Kimbridge being set up, I could see just how much effort they had put in to creating something that would beautifully convey their passion for literature: the table runners were hand-made from book pages; the bouquet ‘petals’ were delicately cut from book pages; the place names were bookmarks; and small piles of their favourite novels were scattered around the long medieval banquet-style tables. Even their wedding cake (courtesy of Suzy Blake) was designed to look like a stack of chunky fiction! It was transformed into a literary wonderland. Hannah chose a deep emerald green colour palette, which was beautifully displayed in both her bridesmaids’ dresses and her own (handmade by her Mum) velvet cape. She pinned a little brooch to it (LOTR fans will know) similar to the Evenstar, worn by the immortal elf Arwen, to represent her commitment and never-ending love. All these details added to how special the theme felt, and the overall cosy autumnal feel of the day.

Hannah’s gorgeous gown from The Bridal Mill (by Phoenix Bridal) suited her perfectly (as did her hand-embellished Doctor Martins). The ceremony took place at Eastleigh Baptist Church, where the fiction-themed decor continued; Hannah had made sure that every part of the day reflected her and Josh. After the ceremony, I met the couple in nearby Spearywell Woods for some rather Elfish-style creative portraits. Hannah looked breathtakingly beautiful, with her velvet gown around her shoulders, and the deep hood over her head – and Josh looked dashing in his Moss Bros suit, complete with emerald green tie and pocket watch. The wedding car was probably my favourite yet: a 1960s Land Rover (thanks to The Classic Car Company) which added perfectly to the aesthetic of the day. We headed back to Kimbridge Barn, where the couple were greeted with a confetti toss from their guests. We shot a few more beautiful portraits of the newlyweds, set against the pretty backdrop of the River Test.

Hannah did her own speech (which I love) and she wanted to let her guests know how important it was to them as a couple, that all the suppliers they’d hired were women. Josh also gave a heartfelt speech, and then it was onto the cake cutting and the first dance. We finished up with a stunning sparkler exit outside (complete with an outfit change from Hannah!)

Bridal gown | Phoenix Bridal + The Bridal Mill

Bridesmaids’ dresses | Everpretty

Rings | Samara James + Elinor Cambray Workshop

Hair | Guy Kremer Winchester

Cake | Suzy Blake

Bridal party jewellery | Longfield Designs