The Fernery, Ashridge House Wedding Photographer

This was my first time photographing a wedding at Ashridge House in Hertfordshire, despite being a local. Perhaps it's because Ashridge House is a big, grand building and my couples are a bit more lowkey. Fay and Joe knew exactly how to have the best of both worlds. A wedding in glorious surroundings, that still felt intimate, casual and personal. They used the small Windsor Room in the main house for their ceremony and then the reception followed in The Fernery.

Let me take a moment to gush about The Fernery. It is stunning. It's a houseplant fanatics dream and I've spent the months since the wedding dreaming about how I can adjust my kitchen extension plans into having my own fernery. From the arches doors and windows, exposed brick, moss and ferns growing down the walls and the light pouring in from the glass roof and the huge windows...I'm smitten!

You could get away without a single item of decor in there, to be honest. Fay and Joe dressed The Fernery perfectly. Firstly, when you looked up, you saw glass orbs hanging at different levels, each of which could be taken home by the guests as a favour. Little fairy lights snaked around large glass vases and simple flowers lining the single, large trestle table for the wedding buffet.

"We LOOOOOOOOVE THEM!!!!! What a photography superstar you are!"

Fay, bride

In our first meeting, Fay told me that they didn't want to have a traditional wedding, they wanted it to feel like a cosy evening in a sitting room, to sit and chat as the light faded. No dancing or loud music and limited wedding traditions. It was perfect.

And I couldn't skip to the photos without talking about the gorgeous couple themselves. Fay wore a cape! It started life as a veil but she didn't love it, so got clips attached to the shoulders of her dress to create a veil-cape that was simply stunning. We also can't ignore the tartan trouser and cowboy boot combo that Joe was sporting. While we're here...let me talk about Fay's son in his all white suit and their daughter with her own mini veil (made from the top of Fay's adjusted veil).

This wedding was an absolute treat, for the eyes, for my tummy (yup, I had three mini desserts) and how welcome and part of the party I felt with their lovely friends and family.

OK, to the photos...!

NICE PEOPLE (CREDITS)

Photographer - Hannah Mia Photography

Venue - Ashridge House - The Fernery

Florist - Fabulous Floristry by Carla

Wedding Dress - What Alice Wore Bridal

Hair - Sally Kindell

Make up - Amy Brown