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Lisa & Mark: Straight Outta Compton (Acres)

March 13, 2009 | Filed Under: Compton Acres, Couple shoots, Dorset photography, Poole photography 

There’s nothing like kick-starting the year off in style. It seems like an aeon ago that we visited Lisa and Mark to plot the details of their wedding and with an extended Christmas break we had plenty of time to get excited about their big day and our first photo job of 2009.

Merely a few days before their wedding we’d been trudging around in slushy snow wellies as the country came to a halt. But, lady luck was shining on us this weekend. Not only was there no sign of sleet or even rain but it was unusually warm - a good job too as we were about to spend a day whizzing around three separate locations as well as some of the most beautiful gardens in Dorset.

The day started with me heading off to meet Lisa for some prep shots at The Harbour Heights Hotel in Sandbanks, Poole. Arriving just after the hairdresser had set Lisa’s veil in place there was plenty of time to snap up bouquets, shoes and capture the finishing touches of the bridal preparations. Whilst it wasn’t a gloriously sunny day you couldn’t help but feel relaxed and contemplative looking over the beautiful scenery of Poole Harbour and glancing over the views of Brownsea Island. Well, it certainly did its job in this room anyway as everybody was so calm and looking forward to the day ahead. Meanwhile, Ian set-up at the church and met up with the boys for some pre-ceremony shots.

Waiting outside The Harbour Heights Hotel we were greeted with a wonderful vintage car (I can’t remember the model, but it was a beauty - Lisa’s Dad did tell me, but I’ve forgotten) that drove us to Compton Acres in Poole so we could meet up with two eager horses and their cart.

Not only did I get to ride in the front on the way to Compton Acres, but also in the back with the bridesmaids as we held up an impressive queue of traffic on our way to All Saints’ Church in Branksome Park. It was great fun waving to the folk in the hairdressers in Canford Cliffs although I suspect they were bemused as to why the “bridesmaid” was wearing a stretch jersey Dorothy Perkins dress and obviously hadn’t put any effort into her hair at all

We had already recce’d All Saints’ Church at the wedding rehearsal a couple of days before so we were prepared for the fact that we had to keep to the back and wouldn’t be able to get some front-facing ceremony shots. We don’t think it mattered too much - the church had some wonderful decals and stained glass windows that really added to the sense of occasion.

Register all signed and the wedding party duly bundled off in a smashing red Double Decker bus we scooted off back to Compton Acres where we’d be spending the rest of the day capturing the reception and the evening celebrations.

Compton Acres is such a wonderful place to hold your wedding reception as not only do you have access to the Italian Villa for the your wedding breakfast and evening do (you can also have your ceremony here too), but you have full reign of the picturesque gardens for your photographs. Of course, as this was February there wasn’t much in the way of colourful bloom but we did have fun working our way through the Japanese and Italian Gardens.

The Italian Villa was kitted out with really beautiful table decorations, not to mention a very impressive cake (pre-sliced as well!).

The speeches took place before the meal so the wedding party could enjoy their food without the fear of having to shortly stand up in front of everyone. So, whilst everyone got stuck into their dinner Ian and I had a break upstairs and took advantage of Compton Acres café and muffins.

Finally, as dusk started to kick in leaving the gardens in darkness, we made our way to the downstairs of the Italian Villa ready for the first dance and general boogy-ing.

Emma - BB

Posted with thanks and congratulations to Mr and Mrs Gwinnell