FRIERN MANOR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
BRENTWOOD WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
It was an absolute pleasure to be Jenna and Glen’s Friern Manor wedding photographer in Brentwood. Jenna and Glen were having a relaxed day with their closest friends and family. It was my first time as a wedding photographer at Friern Manor, and what a lovely venue in which to have a wedding.
The first wedding held here after lockdown, the management had everything looking perfect. The lush green lawns looked like they had been trimmed with nail clippers. Hats off to the staff the venue looked immaculate, and they obviously set high standards.
Situated in the village of Dunton, and less than a 5 minute drive from the M25, it’s a very popular venue for weddings in Essex, as any local will know.
NATURAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY AT FRIERN MANOR
Jenna and Glen hired me for Friern Manor, as all my couples do, because I specialise in natural, unposed photography. Minimal stopping and posing. I just capture real moments as they happen.
Many hurdles had to be jumped by the couple to tie this knot. 18 months of emails, phone calls, postponements, restrictions. My heart went out to Jenna & Glen, it was not an easy journey. Right in the heart of the pandemic. Uncertainty at every turn, it must of been a nightmare for them to organise. Like trying to nail jelly to a piece of wood. Eventually the government lifted restrictions on weddings and the day could go ahead. The guest numbers were reduced to a maximum of 30, and with no mixing allowed on the dance floor, their first dance was also the last. But as Glen said, he would marry Jenna in an alley if that’s what it had to come down too.
But even the day itself was not all smooth sailing. Of course it had to be a transport problem. It’s ALWAYS a transport problem at weddings. On the way to the venue, Glen and his party stopped at a garage to fill up the car, and dropped the car keys down a manhole. They had to ditch the car at the garage, and get an emergency ride to the venue. An expensive set of replacement Mercedes car keys added to the wedding bill. Drama (and expense) up to the last minute. Stressed and not enjoying the 85 degree heat quite as much as they should, a couple of beers in the garden put them back on track. After that, the only tears were tears of joy. The speeches were touching, you could feel the love in the air. It was a super emotional day. Everybody was crying. Essex boys, Essex girls, the children. A waitress even wiped away a tear. Jenna and Glen with big hearts, obviously close too and loved by their friends. Jenna wore the most elegant dress from Elizabeth and spent the whole wedding laughing with a huge smile on her face. Even though I had not met them personally before the wedding, the whole wedding party were brilliant to get on with. After the first dance, guests moved into the garden and chilled with drinks as the sun went down. It was only on the way home I remembered England had played their first match in the European Championships. What can I say. I can’t give the wedding day higher praise than that : )
WHY FRIERN MANOR IS A GREAT PLACE TO GET MARRIED
Situated just south of Brentwood in the village of Dunton, Friern Manor is less than a 5 minute drive from the M25, it’s a very popular venue for events in Essex, and is hugely popular with Essex couples wanting to marry in style. Built originally in circa 1790 as Friern Manor Country House Hotel, the venue saw a notable transformation in the late 1980s and immediately became one of the nation’s most exclusive hotels. In fact, it was the very first country house in England and Wales to host a wedding ceremony after the new Act of Parliament was passed.
The moment you set foot here, you’ll be greeted with four acres of lush, beautifully manicured and landscaped grounds all accessible to couples. Some wedding venues can be cramped when it comes to finding space for wedding photographs, but not here. The venue offers an array of lovely spaces suitable for hosting the perfect Essex wedding. Both the Old Coaching Stables and South Lawns Conservatory provide a stunning backdrop where the couples can exchange their heartfelt vows. The ceremony set up at Friern Manor is unique with a 25-metre aisle leading up to a conservatory covered by a canopy. The guests are set back slightly and it makes for a more intimate ceremony. I really like it, it has a kind of an American feel too it. Hard to describe really, but you can see it in the photos. It was the hottest day of the year and everyone seemed to keep quite cool.
Once the main ceremony has finished, your guests can dwell in the grounds here for a memorable open-air drinks reception.
Couples get to choose two gorgeous function suites for their wedding breakfast and evening reception. Each one boasts its own private outdoor space, giving your occasion absolutely seamless flow.
Friern Manor can easily accommodate up to 120 day guests and as many as 200 guests for the main ceremony. There’s even a fully decked out, luxurious “getting ready” room to let you and your entire wedding entourage prepare in comfort and style. You will want to make Friern Manor your wedding photography venue this year.
FRIERN MANOR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY - GET IN TOUCH
Although based in Uxbridge I photograph weddings in Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire, Kent. Anywhere where people are looking for good value wedding photography. I am returning to shoot more weddings here this year, so if you are looking for a Friern Manor wedding photographer, and looking for a relaxed style of coverage, then please get in touch to see if I am free for your day.
