The Dreys Wedding Photography
Jenn and Mike’s stunning wedding at The Dreys, Sittingbourne, Kent
Mike and Jenn at The Dreys, Sittingbourne, Kent
The Dreys Wedding Photography of Jenn and Mike
In August 2021, I had the privilege of capturing Jenn and Mike’s beautiful wedding at The Dreys in Sittingbourne, Kent.
This stunning woodland wedding venue couldn’t be more perfect for couples looking for something a little different on their special day. Set in 80 acres of private Kentish woodland, The Dreys is also a photographer’s dream.
After photographing Jenn’s bridal prep at a hotel in Maidstone, I made my way to The Dreys around noon - roughly two hours before the ceremony got underway. Arriving at the venue early ensures that I have ample time to capture detail shots, the guests’ arrival and anything else that catches my eye on the day.
Mike appeared cool, calm and collected as he welcomed everyone to the venue. If he was feeling nervous before the ceremony, you never would have guessed it!
Jenn arrived shortly before the ceremony and I fired off a few candid shots outside a picturesque log cabin as some of her friends and family saw the bride-to-be in her wedding dress for the first time.
For me, it’s vitally important that I don’t interrupt these special interactions. I want to be a fly-on-the-wall, capturing real moments between friends and loved ones rather than orchestrating or staging them.
The ceremony itself was a genuine joy to witness and capture.
Jenn arrived to the sound of bagpipes in a spine-tingling few minutes for everyone waiting to see the couple come face-to-face for the first time that day.
I’ve included a handful of shots from the ceremony which featured some beautiful readings, warming of the rings, hand fastening, a funny game of Mr & Mrs, and concluded with an old tradition that I wasn’t familiar with prior to this particular wedding: jumping the broom!
Oh… and the choir (Gospel Touch) were absolutely fantastic, too. Hearing those talented guys sing was truly the cherry on top of the cake.
Kind words from Mike
“We were both quite anxious about our photos as neither of us feel like we were photogenic, but your unintrusive style made us feel comfortable, beautiful, happy and in love in every shot.
”The photos of our guests are brilliant too, especially the family shots. Your easy going approach and minimal direction really allowed us feel present at our wedding, rather than at a photo shoot. Thanks again for doing such an amazing job!!!”
The celebrations then began with plenty of impromptu dancing and bouncing on the bouncy castle. Jenn and Mike were at the heart of all the fun!
Then it was on to the wedding breakfast, where guests had the choice of either delicious Jamaican street food (Artel’s) or the equally tasty vegan option from The Fat Carrot.
But first… the speeches! And an opportunity for me to make some striking black and white images of all the best moments.
The rain was coming down by this point but a little bit of the wet suff was never going to stop me from making some beautiful portraits of the newly-weds, as well as handful of group photos.
I offer a maximum of 10 group shots to couples who book with me to ensure that we get back to what really matters as quickly as possible: having the best time with your friends and family.
After that, it was party time!
It was fantastic to see so many people having such a fun time on the dance floor during the final hours of what was an unforgettable wedding day.
Jenn and Mike: thanks so much for allowing me to be a part of it!
In my humble opinion, The Dreys was the perfect wedding venue for this loved-up couple.
The Dreys Wedding Photographer - Contact
If you’re also getting married at The Dreys, I’d love for you to get in touch so we can discuss your plans for the big day!