My favourite quote from the feature: the couple chose their photographer “We met Dean Robson at the venue, and his enthusiasm for the photo opportunities and a friend’s testimonial was enough to convince us,” Annemarie says. “We were so at ease with him.”

Useful links:

Venue: Down Hall hotel, Hatfield Heath (Tel. 01279 731441 Web. www.downhall.co.uk)
Photographer: RT Weddings (Tel. 01279 723228 Web. www.rtweddings.co.uk)
Bride’s Outfit and bridesmaids: Peaches wedding shop, Harlow (Tel. 01279 404101 Web. www.peachesweddings.co.uk)
Groom and groomsmen: Moss Bros. Hire, Lakeside (Tel. 01708 869667 Web. www.moss.co.uk)
Flowers: Arts & Roses, Hatfield Heath (Tel. 01279 730400 Web. www.artsandroses.co.uk)
Hair and Makeup: Maxine Warner (Tel. 07747 806900 Web. www.maxinehairandmakeupartist.co.uk)
Toastmaster: Mark Greatbatch (Tel. 01279 866011 Web. www.yourweddingtoastmaster.co.uk)

To view my blog feature about this wedding please take a look at: Annemarie and Dave’s wedding.

By Dean Robson LBIPP – RT Weddings (May 2012) Qualified Member of the British Institute of Professional Photographers – Professional Wedding Photography for Essex and Hertfordshire

I met up with the girls at the Waltham Abbey Marriott Hotel (www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/lonwa-waltham-abbey-marriott-hotel) where they were getting ready.

I then moved on to Gaynes Park where the ceremony and reception were due to take place. Gaynes Park is an award winning venue with fabulous gardens and scenic locations.

The bride arrived shortly after.

We then took the short walk to make an amazing entrance to the wedding ceremony which was taking place in the orangery.

The couple had Ted Prior the Toastmaster (www.toastmaster-tedprior.com) assisting them throughout the day. I have worked with Ted many times now and always find it a privilege as he is extremely helpful especially during the group photographs in between a couple of rain showers.

I then took the couple for a romantic shoot utilising some of the lovely locations around the venue.

We returned for the wedding breakfast, the food was amazing! Then the speeches started.

After reading the Gaynes Park facebook page before the wedding I read about the amazing fields of yellow down at the entrance to the venue and couldn’t resist taking a look. I have to give huge thanks to Ted for making this possible as he put on his chauffeur hat for ten minutes. It was well worth the trip!

Robert Fox (www.R-Fox.co.uk) Magician and Mind Reader was on hand to entertain the guests.

It was time for the cutting of the cake and the first dance. The couple had a live band which was good. All of the coloured lighting at the venue and the dance floor was provided by Lovelight Entertainment (www.lovelight.me.uk) which made it very colourful in various changing shades of pastel.

I had an amazing time photographing Natalie and James’ wedding and it was great to be at Gaynes Park again. The weather on the day was pretty mixed, with quite a few rain showers, but we were able to work around it as best as we could.

By Dean Robson LBIPP – RT Weddings (May 2012) Qualified Member of the British Institute of Professional Photographers – Professional Wedding Photography for Essex and Hertfordshire

It was raining as I arrived at the brides home for the pre-wedding photographs.

I then moved on to the church, Christ Church in Wanstead where I met up with the groom.

After the ceremony it was still raining, but it didn’t dampen the mood.

As it was light rain and the couple wanted to, we popped outside for some quick photographs outside the church. The guests soon followed us outside armed with their umbrellas and we all embraced the great British weather.

After a brief journey up the M11, we arrived at the Manor of Groves and the rain had turned to a light drizzle.

We ventured outside for some romantic photographs utilising the grounds. On a dry sunny day I would have had a shot of the couple sat on the steps and also taken a wander onto the grass with the dress spread out. As it was so damp we stayed on the paths and kept the dress dry.

The rain stopped for 5 minutes which was just enough time to get everyone out for the aerial group photograph before heading back in for family photographs in the library.

It was soon time for the wedding breakfast and the couple had a receiving line.

The evening guests arrived and it was time to cut the cake before the first dance took place.

I thought it would be nice to have a night lit shot and the couple were able to shelter from the rain.

I had a great time photographing Rebecca and Richards special day, and it was a special day for me too as it was my birthday although I kept it quiet.

By Dean Robson LBIPP – RT Weddings (April 2012) Qualified Member of the British Institute of Professional Photographers – Professional Wedding Photography for Essex, Hertfordshire and Kent

I arrived a couple of hours before the ceremony time to capture the bridal preparations.

The boys arrived so I took them for a quick photo shoot using some of the grounds at Down Hall.

It was almost time for the ceremony so I took a few more photographs with the girls before we all headed down to the Prior Suite.

After the ceremony we had to wait for a small shower to pass before heading outside for some photographs, so I captured lots of casual moments during the drinks reception.

I was able to get onto the roof to take the aerial group photograph.

After some family photographs I then took the couple on a quick tour of the grounds for their romantic shoot.

There were a couple more formal shots to do before we headed in for the wedding breakfast.

After the meal I captured the speeches. I worked alongside David Grace an up and coming videographer (www.dgpictures.moonfruit.com) and also Andrew Morgan who was Toastmaster (www.mctoastmaster.com) for the day. They were both easy to work with and the day went well.

After the speeches we popped outside for some evening photographs as the low sum produced some great colours.

It was then time for the cutting of the cake and the first dance. The disco and lighting was provided by Joe from Lovelight Entertainment (www.lovelight.me.uk).

We also managed to get some night lit shots to round the day off nicely.

I had a great time photographing Hayley and Steve’s wedding and am really enjoying using my new telephoto lens.

By Dean Robson LBIPP – RT Weddings (April 2012) Qualified Member of the British Institute of Professional Photographers – Professional Wedding Photography for Essex, Hertfordshire and Kent

I arrived at the brides home for the coverage of the bridal preparation.

Make-Up Artist Catherine Bowler (www.thebelleoftheball.co.uk) was busy working her magic and the flowers were done by Karen Andrews (www.roseblossom.co.uk).

I then moved on to Crondon Park to meet up with the guys.

Some of the guests arrived on this old route master London bus, so I couldn’t resist taking a few shots with the groom.

The bride arrived and we had a little bit of time for some photographs before the ceremony.

After the ceremony I took the formal group photographs, then we went for the romantic shoot using the grounds at Crondon Park as there was the possibility of some rain showers.

There were a few more group photographs to do by the request of the couple before the serving of the meal took place.

After the meal I captured the speeches, the cutting of the cake and of course the first dance.

It was great to see the familiar faces of Peter and Jennie whose wedding I photographed the previous year.

I had a fun time photographing Laura and Liam’s special day. We finished the photography off with a couple of night lit shots.

By Dean Robson LBIPP – RT Weddings (April 2012) Qualified Member of the British Institute of Professional Photographers – Professional Wedding Photography for Essex, Hertfordshire and Kent

To view my blog feature about this wedding please take a look at Nicole and Tim’s wedding day.

By Dean Robson LBIPP – RT Weddings (March 2012) Qualified Member of the British Institute of Professional Photographers – Professional Wedding Photography for Essex, Hertfordshire and Kent

I arrived at the venue on a beautiful, sunny day and unseasonably warm for a February wedding.

The bride and the girls were getting ready in the bridal suite which is in a separate building to the main hotel and was great for the bridal preparation photographs.

The boys were also getting ready at Great Hallingbury Manor over in the main hotel.

It was time for the ceremony.

After the ceremony I took the formal family group photographs nice and quickly so everyone could then relax and enjoy the drinks reception.

After some refreshments and mingling, I then borrowed the bride and groom for a quick romantic shoot utilising some of the fantastic backdrops the venue has to offer.

The low winters sun gave these photographs an almost sunset feel.

We headed inside for the meal, the speeches and the cutting of the cake.

The evening guests arrived and the nights entertainment began with the first dance. The DJ was Ashley Moore from Floor Filler Events (www.floorfillerevents.com) and it was very colourful.

Great Hallingbury Manor is a very well lit venue at night, so with the aid of my video lamp and one of the ushers to hold it for me I was able to capture these stunning night lit shots.

I had a really fun time photographing Cheryl and Andrew’s special day and it was good to return to Great Hallingbury Manor again.

By Dean Robson LBIPP – RT Weddings (February 2012) Qualified Member of the British Institute of Professional Photographers – Professional Wedding Photography for Essex, Hertfordshire and Kent

I arrived nice and early at the brides home to capture the bridal preparations. The weather was dry but rain was forecast for later in the day.

I then went on to St Johns Church in Havering-Atte-Bower (jamesandjohn.org.uk) and met up with the groom and the guys.

After the ceremony we went outside briefly for a couple of shots before it started to rain.

We all headed to Crondon Park for the wedding reception and some of the guests arrived in a big red bus.

Having photographed at Crondon Park in wet conditions before I decided to use the ceremony room for the group shots as it was to wet for outdoor photographs.

The rain was light enough for a few photographs outside, so we made the most of it. The couple also had a toastmaster on the day, Paul Deacon (www.pauldeacon.com) and he was excellent!

It was then time for the meal, speeches and the cutting of the wedding cake.

The rain had finally cleared and although it was quite a cold evening, it was perfect for some night-lit photographs.

I had a lovely time photographing Lisa and David’s wedding, and it was great to work alongside Paul – the toastmaster as well as all the team at Crondon Park.

By Dean Robson LBIPP – RT Weddings (February 2012) Qualified Member of the British Institute of Professional Photographers – Professional Wedding Photography for Essex, Hertfordshire and Kent

I arrived at Blake Hall nice and early to capture the bridal preparations on a gorgeously sunny winter day which was quite unexpected.

Meanwhile my good friend and fellow photographer Steve was meeting up with the boys at Mulberry House (www.mulberry-house.com) which is just down the road.

The ceremony took place at 3.30pm in the main barn at Blake Hall which at this time of year the sun sets around 4pm.

Straight after the ceremony we took a very quick tour of the grounds as the light was fading fast, allowing us about a 10 minute window for outdoor photographs.

We then head back to the warmth of the barn and took the group photographs.

After the meal were the speeches, the cutting of the cake and of course the first dance.

I had a great time photographing Gemma and Simon’s wedding day and it was a pleasure to have Steve as 2nd photographer for me. We headed outside for one last moment.

By Dean Robson LBIPP – RT Weddings (December 2011) Qualified Member of the British Institute of Professional Photographers – Professional Wedding Photography for Essex, Hertfordshire and Kent

I arrived on what was forecast to be a cold, damp and wet day, although it was chilly, dry and overcast. I was so pleased to see that the Autumn colours were still on the trees.

I do love the mirrors that have been added outside the bridal cottage.

Even on an overcast day the orangery offers a lovely, bright setting for the marriage ceremony.

With the promise of rain we decided to do the romantic shoot first, utilising the lovely grounds at Gaynes Park.

After letting the couple warm up and catch up with their guests I then took the family group photographs.

The wild flower garden area around the pavilion looked great, especially with the fairy lights on in the background.

Yet again the weather forecasters got it wrong as it had stayed dry which I was so pleased about. It was time to enter the Mill Barn for the wedding breakfast. My friends at Piano DJ (www.pianodj.co.uk) were providing the piano music.

As it was bonfire night the children had a special surprise… sparklers! This gave me the opportunity of trying out some slow exposures.

We couldn’t resist having some night lit shots in front of the pavilion.

I was also on hand to capture guest portraits on the evening.

Then it was time for the first dance again the music was provided by James from Piano DJ.

By Dean Robson LBIPP – RT Weddings (November 2011) Qualified Member of the British Institute of Professional Photographers – Professional Wedding Photography for Essex, Hertfordshire and Kent