A Whimsical Spring Wedding at Lartington Hall | Rhiannon & James
Some weddings feel like they've stepped straight out of a storybook, and Rhiannon and James' spring wedding at Lartington Hall was exactly that.
With blossoming gardens, one of the most atmospheric ceremony spaces we've ever photographed, and enough fantasy-inspired details to make any Lord of the Rings fan grin from ear to ear, their day felt somewhere between Shakespeare's enchanted forest and the pages of a fantasy novel. Think Titania and Oberon. Think Feyre and Rhysand. It was elegant, romantic, just a little bit magical, and completely, unapologetically them.
Rhiannon wore the most incredible blush pink ball gown embroidered with delicate florals, while James balanced her softness perfectly in an all-black velvet suit. Together they looked like they'd wandered out of a fantasy kingdom and into the beautiful grounds of Lartington Hall.
The ceremony took place in the chapel, one of our favourite spaces at Lartington Hall. It's wonderfully moody, full of character, and creates such an intimate atmosphere. Before the guests arrived, Rob quietly photographed James and the ring bearer... who just so happened to be an owl. Watching them rehearse the all-important ring delivery before the ceremony was one of those wonderfully unexpected moments that makes this job so much fun.
A few weeks after delivering their gallery and film, we received a phone call from Rhiannon and James simply to tell us how happy they were that they'd chosen us. Knowing that someone who'd been so anxious about being photographed could look back at their wedding and genuinely love what they saw means more to us than we can really put into words.
If you're planning a Lartington Hall wedding and dreaming of something a little whimsical, a little romantic, and entirely your own, we honestly can't imagine a more beautiful place to celebrate.
Afterwards, we wandered through the gardens together, making the most of the fresh spring colours and the softer light that always seems to appear just when you need it. One of the things we loved most about spending time with Rhiannon and James was seeing them gradually relax. They both told us beforehand that they felt awkward in front of the camera, and Rhiannon was especially worried about how she'd look in photographs. As someone who's neurodivergent, being photographed felt like a huge source of anxiety, so we took things slowly, kept everything natural, and focused on giving them space to simply be together.
By the end of our wander around the gardens, they barely seemed to notice the cameras anymore. The result was a gallery full of genuine moments that felt completely like them.
Then came one of our favourite cake cuttings of all time.
Instead of reaching for the usual cake knife, they unsheathed Andúril, Aragorn's sword from The Lord of the Rings. As fellow Tolkien nerds, we could hardly contain our excitement. It's those little personal touches that make a wedding unforgettable, and this one couldn't have suited them better.
The evening ended with a beautifully choreographed first dance that had barely a dry eye in the room. Watching everyone become completely wrapped up in the moment was the perfect ending to such an emotional day.
