I was first recommended to Ruth and Simon as their Bore Place Wedding Photographers in Kent by Simon’s sister who’d attended a wedding I’d photographed in Bali several years prior. Massive thanks to Christina! Simon’s sister also happens to be an established wedding videographer so the recommendation was all the more flattering whilst simultaneously creating some added pressure and excitement. For those who don’t know, Bore Place is a unique eco-conscious wedding venue in the heart of the Kent countryside, with a hefty quantity of open green space, it was a magnificent wedding reception choice for capturing plenty of outdoor fun of the relaxed happy couple and their guests.
Between rain showers, we were able to make use of the countless gardens on offer to us, as well as the magnificent fronted house of Bore Place house itself. After initially spending the morning at Bore Place with Ruth, Simon and their nearest and dearest, we (myself and videographer extraordinaire, Ben Foster) then headed to a nearby church (St Mary’s Church Hadlow) for a delightful ceremony and confetti followed by a soft top getaway for the couple. Upon returning to Bore Place the celebrations continued with many laughs, outdoor speeches and quick dashes to avoid the rain, all amongst an international group of friends and family from across the globe – I simply adore the diversity of an international crowd.
I can truly count my blessings for being involved in Ruth and Simon’s celebrations and a huge hat tip to Christina again for putting my name forward in the first instance!
A few words from the bride and groom, Ruth and Simon…
(or scroll down to see a highlights selection of their wedding photos)
Before becoming engaged, did you have any preconceived ideas of what your wedding would be like? And if so, how did this change once you started planning?
All we imagined was being surrounded by friends and family! We knew we wanted the day to feel personal to us and not a package deal. We felt it was important for the day to feel relaxed and enjoyable, we always kept that ethos in the planning too…
How and why did you choose your venue(s)?
Our first decision was the church. We chose to get married in St Mary’s in Hadlow. It’s a beautiful church and has close connections to Ruth’s family. Paul, the vicar, is great and really worked with us and listened to our ideas for the day.
When we found Bore Place, we immediately got a good feeling about the venue. It is a place that has real heart. It is also an environmental education centre with a vision of sustainability.
Bore Place is an eco, sustainable, wedding venue in the heart of the Kent countryside on a private 500-acre organic estate. It has beautiful wild gardens, a stunning Jacobean Manor House and large barn. We had many guests coming from abroad so we appreciated that it offered accommodation for 50 guests on site. There are many rooms and areas to explore, including Bore Place Gardens and vegetable patch, the Terrace for a champagne reception, the Library with toys for little ones to play and the Hide for outdoor speeches.
We had exclusive use of the organic farm and estate for 48 hours, which gave us the chance to spend time with friends and family before and after the event, enjoying the preparations and setting up. We were able to use and decorate the space as we wished, and make the day truly ours. The relaxed and special atmosphere of Bore Place felt right for us.
What were your top one/three priorities in planning your wedding?
A countryside setting able to accommodate 100 guests.
A relaxed, flexible and personal wedding planning approach.
Amazing photographer!
What one thing most surprised you during the build-up to your wedding?
We were surprised at how quickly the planning came together. We loved being able to build our own day, complete with Pimms and champagne reception, talented local florist, caterers – Spanish paella, evening sourdough pizza van, live ceilidh band, disco and sparkler run! Our meetings with Barney were so helpful too, his advice and expertise helped to shape the day and anticipate any hitches. He listened to our ideas and was in tune with the vibe we wanted to create.
What one thing most surprised you on the day of your wedding?
We truly loved every second! Barney really helped the day to run smoothly and he felt like one of our guests. He skillfully made sure that the schedule for the day ran smoothly and to time, even ensuring that we had precious time on our own as a couple.
If you could do it all over again, which one thing wouldn’t you change, and if anything, what one thing would you change?
We wouldn’t change any of it! Well actually, we’d probably have had the wedding the day before when it was really sunny and we could have eaten outside!
In one sentence, or less, what advice would you give a couple planning their wedding?
Enjoy it! Don’t stress on decisions, make them and move on. Do your research and work through step by step. Choose and invest in a great photographer, as these are the memories that will last forever!
A complete supplier list can be found in the footer of this post.
Supplier list:
Ceremony Venue: St Mary’s Church Hadlow
Reception Venue: Bore Place
Videographer: Benjamin Foster – The London Wedding Film Company
Makeup: Myself, Products by Nars
Hair Stylist: Michael Szostek for Jam Deluxe
Catering Team: Paella – Paella by Antonio
Dessert/Cake: Juliet’s
Drinks: Majestic Wines
Pizza: Dough & Deer
Ceilidh Band: Scotch On The Rocks
Disco: Mike and David Brill / Brill Sound
Florist: Posy & Wild
Wedding Rings: Ramzana
Dress Designer: Willoughby by Watters
Dress Shop: The Pantiles Bride
Shoe Designer: Michael Kors
Suit Designer: Sacoor Brothers
