Samson & I headed up to the Tythe Barn a few weeks ago to photograph the wedding of Kieran & Sam. I headed straight to The Nook to photograph Sam getting ready. The Nook is the Tythe Barn’s dedicated bridal preparation area. No need to get ready in a hotel room with not enough room or mirrors before squishing you & your dress into the back of the car for the journey to the venue. The Nook is a beautiful space full of style & elegance & is a wonderful place for bridal preparations. Sam was dressed in her first dress of the day as this was a wedding with more than one ceremony. Once she was ready she made the short walk through the gardens to the barn where her groom was waiting for her.
Whilst I was in the Nook with the bridal party Samson was in the barn capturing images of the groom, best man & ushers & all the guests arriving.
Everyone was excitedly awaiting the bride as she made her way into the barn with the warm smiles of their friends & families waiting for them. It was a lovely ceremony & the happy couple made their way back down the aisle. Now, with your average wedding this is when we would move onto the drinks reception but not today. Sam would be changing into her next ceremony outfit soon so we did some family group photos whilst she was in her dress & then took the couple away to do some images of the two of them.
Sam was then whisked off to The Nook to be prepared for the next ceremony. Her Mum & Aunt helped her into her sari & then Laura from the barn helped her back to the barn with the aid of an umbrella.
The next ceremony was a Poruwa ceremony which is a traditional Sri Lankan wedding ceremony. The ceremony takes place on a “Poruwa”, a beautifully decorated, traditional wooden platform. The ceremony involves a series of rituals performed by the bride and groom, and their families. The bride and groom enter the Poruwa leading with the right foot first. They greet each other with palms held together & the ceremony celebrant then presents betel leaves to the couple, which they accept, and hand back to him to be placed on the Poruwa.
It is always really interesting to photograph ceremonies that are not the standard church or civil ceremony. There were lots of symbolic events during the Poruwa including when Sam’s Mum then presented a plate of rice to Sam who fed a piece to Kieran & then Kieran fed some to Sam. As the newly married couple steps down from the Poruwa, the groom’s family member breaks a fresh coconut – we managed to get an action shot as he was soaked! Apparently it bodes well for a good marriage when the coconut is smashed well…no pressure!
After the ceremony we did some more group shots whilst Sam was in her sari & then took the couple out to do some shots of them when the rain lessened. As I was photographing them their guests gathered in the Cow Shed & before long Sam & Kieran joined them to chat & celebrate their wedding.
It was soon time for them all to make their way into the main barn for the wedding breakfast & speeches. After a wonderful meal & some lovely speeches everyone went back to the Cow Shed for coffee & to cut the cake.
After a little while relaxing it was soon time for the first dance & for everyone to hit the dancefloor. Now this wasn’t any disco or band but a ceilidh band with a caller. Soon they had everyone flinging themselves around the dancefloor to their instructions as they twirled around & Do-si-do’d at top speed!
