Poppy & Tom | Gloucester Wedding Photography
Bowden Hall Wedding Photography for Poppy and Tom
Poppy and Tom celebrated their wedding at Bowden Hall Hotel, surrounded by close family and friends in one of Gloucestershire’s most elegant wedding venues. Their day was filled with emotion from the very beginning, with heartfelt moments, thoughtful family connections and a relaxed atmosphere that made the whole day a pleasure to photograph.
Morning Preparations at Bowden Hall
I arrived at Bowden Hall at 12:30 to begin with Poppy’s getting ready photographs. Reception directed me to her room, where Poppy was already with her mum, along with her hairdresser and make-up artist, all busy with the final preparations. The room had a calm but excited atmosphere, and those early moments always help tell the fuller story of a wedding day.
Not long after, Sophie, Poppy’s brother’s partner and maid of honour, arrived with her three children who were acting as flower boys. All three were dressed in matching suits, and they immediately brought a lovely energy into the room. With everyone together, it was the perfect time to capture those natural moments before the ceremony began.
An Emotional Ceremony
Once I had finished upstairs, I made my way down to the ceremony room where Tom was waiting with his brother, who was also his best man, along with their parents and other close family members. There was a real sense of anticipation building as guests took their seats and waited for Poppy to arrive.
As the ceremony was about to begin, I stepped outside briefly to photograph Poppy before quietly returning inside. Sophie entered first, followed by the flower boys, who quickly found their seats. Then Poppy appeared at the doorway with her dad, and the moment Tom saw her, he immediately became emotional. Even as they stood together at the front, he was still wiping away tears, which made for some incredibly genuine photographs throughout the ceremony.
Confetti and Family Portraits
As Poppy and Tom walked back down the aisle as husband and wife, their guests showered them with confetti inside the ceremony room. Once downstairs, a second confetti throw had been planned at the front entrance, and it worked just as beautifully as the first.
Afterwards, we moved into the formal photographs, beginning with a group photograph before capturing portraits of the couple and their families. One especially meaningful moment came when we recreated one of Tom’s parents’ wedding photographs, as they had also married at the same venue. We then created the same image with Poppy and Tom, which added a lovely connection between two generations.
Because Poppy was expecting, we also spent time on the staircase inside the hotel creating a few quieter portraits of the two of them together, celebrating not only their wedding day but the next chapter they were about to begin.
A Relaxed Wedding Breakfast
Following the portraits, everyone had a chance to relax before being called back for the wedding breakfast. One guest had been unable to attend, so I was kindly invited to sit and eat with them, which was a thoughtful gesture that reflected the warmth of the whole day.
During the meal, speeches were given and gifts were handed out to some of the people closest to them. The room felt relaxed, with plenty of conversation and laughter, and it was clear how loved Poppy and Tom were by everyone around them.
Dancing into the Evening
Later in the evening, everyone moved into the reception room where more guests had started to arrive. The room quickly filled and the atmosphere changed as the evening celebration began. One unexpected highlight for me was seeing Georgia, someone I used to salsa dance with many years ago, which was a lovely surprise after so long.
The dance floor stayed busy, the disco created a brilliant atmosphere and there were plenty of moments worth capturing. Poppy and Tom’s first dance was a beautiful way to begin the evening, and shortly afterwards they cut their cake before the celebrations continued late into the night.
A Day Full of Genuine Emotion
By the time I left, it was clear that Poppy and Tom had created a wedding day that felt deeply personal and full of genuine emotion. From Tom’s tears during the ceremony to the laughter on the dance floor later in the evening, it was a day full of moments that deserved to be remembered.
Planning your own Gloucester wedding? Or are you further afield in Cornwall, Devon or the South West?
If you’re looking for relaxed, natural photography that captures the real moments as they unfold, I’d love to hear more about your plans. Get in touch HERE and let’s chat about how we can create something just as special for you.
