St. Giles House Wedding Inspiration – Wimborne, St. Giles Dorset

22 Mar

A Beautiful Styled shoot at the incredible St. Giles house

In 2023, we’re expecting to see couples reshape traditions and do things their own way. Predicted for 2023, is the decision to have a ‘first look’ together, before your ceremony. This beautiful styled shoot is to give you an idea of what having a ‘first look’ can mean for you and your partner on your wedding day.

St. Giles house in Wimborne is the perfect backdrop for any Country House Wedding. The house has been recently restored, breathing life back into this beautiful Country House. It is full of incredible locations within the building and in the grounds. It was so amazing to spend the day in this charming building. I am a lover of period properties and this one is full of lovely details that honours it’s history, yet it brings a contemporary feel. I can’t wait to show you more from this styled shoot series. I have posted a couple of nice interior photos at the bottom, to give you a feel for the space.

Groom is sat in a chair, looking up at the bride standing next to him, smiling — **Why have a first look?**

Firstly, you can make your own rules your Wedding day! It’s ok to question traditions. There isn’t someone with a rule book that comes to audits your Wedding day. So long as you’re following guidelines for the part that is legally binding, it’s your day and you can do what you want. If you google the reasoning behind a couple not seeing each other before their Wedding day, it’s actually quite devoid of romance. That said, in our modern culture, it has been reshaped as a lovely way to build the suspense and heighten the emotion of the Wedding day. The key point I’d like to make, is that we have traditions, not ‘rules’. I see a lot of reveal moments with Mother’s and Father’s of the Bride and they are some of the most special moments of the Wedding day.

A First Look portrait of Bride and Groom

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Reasons to consider a first look together…

It allows you to have this emotional moment together, without an audience. It’s intimate. With a photographer you can really trust, this moment can be precious and feel like that moment when you get engaged - the two of you against the world. It realigns the true meaning of a marriage and what that day really means, stripping all the beautiful stuff aside. It’s about two people coming together to spend the rest of their lives together. The wedding day is a celebration to be shared with your family and friend, but ultimately, you only need each other and couple of witnesses.

In-case of tears, your make up artist can touch up your make up before you head to the ceremony. (You can part ways and meet your partner at the end of the aisle.
It staggers the momentous moments. Indulge in one at a time. I can’t express how incredible it feels to see all your loved ones sitting there, willing you on and admiring you. You will not lose out on that experience, if anything, it slows things down. That is such an impactful time, for you anyway.
It gives you a chance to have some lovely couples portraits together, with the morning light, especially if you have chosen a beautiful place, like St. Giles House. You have chosen a breath taking venue, it allows yourselves time to enjoy the space.

In true Lottie Topping style, I had to tell the story, styled shoot or not. These two are a real couple, which I love, because the expressions and adoration is so sincere. I captured some Bridal Portraits, Groom Preparations and some lovely details.

Bridal Preparations in the Bridal Suite at St. Giles House

$Full length shot of Bride, using a fractal prism$

Groom Preparations

Groom looks in the mirror for some final checks

Ken stands in the doorway of the bathroom and bridal suite at St. Giles house

Emanuela, the Bride, stands in the doorway, holding her bouquet of flowers

Bride is revealed to the groom, she is smiling and holding her bouquet of flowers

Bride sits on a yellow sofa, holding her bouquet of flowers and smiling candidly

A few details of the Bridal Suite in St. Giles House, because it’s simply gorgeous! The exposed brick, the wallpaper and various other details. It’s full of beautiful backdrops for photographs and is generally just a great space to be in.