Chloe & Adam’s stunning September wedding at Wotton House Hotel in Dorking, Surrey
Set amongst magical Grade II listed Italian Gardens, with a pristine mansion boasting 17th-century detailing, Wotton House Country Estate Hotel made the perfect backdrop for Chloe & Adams gorgeous wedding day. This stunning House has been one of my favourite wedding venues to photograph this year.
I received Chloe & Adam’s enquiry in July 2021, just after their recent engagement in April. Adam popped the question on Easter Sunday by hiding Chloe’s engagement ring inside an Easter egg and proposed on their favourite walk. As well as being newly engaged this gorgeous couple had also just moved into their first home together so it was a very exciting time for them both.
Pre Wedding Shoot
Chloe & Adam decided that they wanted to have their pre wedding photo session somewhere meaningful so chose Clayton Windmills which is where Adam Proposed. The Windmills sit on top of a hill overlooking the stunning countryside and provided the perfect backdrop for their photo shoot. With smoke haze from the summer fires and a heavy wind & rain forecast on the way we were a little worried how long we would get before the heavens opened, however we were still able to get some amazing results.
As you can see from the images, we were blessed with a beautiful orange sunset which pushed through the clouds, this produced a gorgeous soft warm light, perfect for portraits. Chloe & Adam had a lot of fun during their photo session as we ducked into our cars in between rain showers, they learnt how to relax in front of the camera before their big day. It was so lovely to capture their close and playful connection.
Morning preparations at Wotton house Hotel
Wotton House Dorking is one of the country’s most romantic wedding venues in England as it combines charming character with stylish interiors. As a Wotton House wedding photographer I’ve been lucky to explore the gorgeous grounds to discover the amazing options there are for backdrops at this stunning venue. Everywhere you turn looks picture perfect and it’s clear to how much this wedding venue is loved and cared for by the amazing team there.
Wotton House’s bright and airy bridal suite offers plenty of space for your bridal party to pamper and prepare for the day ahead. Chloe had 7 bridesmaids, and it was important to her that everyone could get ready together and still feel comfortable. The girls enjoyed a delicious continental breakfast together whilst having their hair & makeup applied by Bex Hair & Makeup.
Adam and the boys prepared for the wedding in another part of the hotel and then congregated in the Old Library for some group photos together. The groomsmen helped Adam with his finishing touches such as cufflinks, bow tie and buttonhole ensuring everything was perfect ahead of the ceremony. Adam then read a letter from Chloe which was a special and emotional moment for him.
The Ceremony – The Old Library at Wotton House
Chloe & Adam chose to hold their marriage ceremony in the breathtaking Old Library. The grand vaulted ceilings, pillars and centuries-old original marble fireplaces in this spectacular room set a romantic tone for an indoor ceremony. As a Wotton House wedding photographer I love photographing ceremonies here as the room allows lots of natural light to shine in through the gothic stone windows.
Chloe & Adam’s ceremony was so beautiful, I was able to capture so much emotion and joy in the room. They had two wonderful readings from family members and the newlyweds showed their love of music and dance by dancing their way back down the aisle together to one of their favourite songs which I loved!
Family photos at Wotton House
After their gorgeous ceremony, bubbles and canapés were enjoyed by guests whilst we headed to the iconic Italian Gardens which are the perfect setting for family group photos. These pristine botanical gardens offer lots of space and the steps in front of the fountain make a fantastic tiering system if you have bigger groups to gather together for your family photos. As a wedding photographer at Wotton House I can’t recommend this venue enough if you’re looking for Spring or Summer wedding venue with plenty of outdoor space.
Romantic Portraits
Chloe & Adam chose Wotton House to host their wedding day as they fell in love with the Italian botanical gardens there. On our initial Zoom call they expressed how important this was to them and they really liked that I incorporated the surrounding grounds and environment in my photography as well as the people. With this in mind I tried to create as much variety as possible as well as focus on the main features that Wotton House exhibited such as the grottoes, temples, woodland and gardens.
It was lovely for Chloe & Adam to enjoy a few private moments alone together away from their guests whilst we explored the grounds of Wotton House. This part of the wedding day is the perfect time to relax, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy being together. Chloe & Adam had such a beautiful connection & energy and were such a joy to photograph. It’s days like theirs where I have to pinch myself that I get to do this for a living!
The Wedding Breakfast – The Evelyn Suit
Chloe & Adam continued their celebrations in the light and bright Evelyn Suit. This room allows plenty of natural light to flood into the space, with four double doors leading out onto the Italian Gardens. The botanical inspired decor in the room provides a modern and elegant backdrop for a wedding breakfast and allows you to add your own twist with unique finishing touches. Chloe & Adam decorated their tables with stunning dried flowers arrangements by Sage & co floral design.
Champagne spray – Bridal Party photos
Once Chloe & Adam had finished their meal I asked them if they’d like to head outside with their bridal party to do a ‘champagne spray”. We hadn’t planned to do this however as they had a large bridal party who were all very fun, I thought this would work really well with this group. The whole bridal party was really up for it and as you can see from the photos it was well worth it!
Before we counted down to letting the corks go I asked what song they’d like me to play on my bluetooth speaker and Adam asked for ‘jump around’ by House Of Pain which was a fantastic choice! Tying in their love of music into this fun moment made it even more memorable for them. After the champagne was popped, sprayed and sipped the party didn’t stop there, everyone was dancing away on top of the famous steps which was incredible to capture. It was definitely one of the most memorable moments from my 2022 summer wedding season for me!
Golden hour – Wotton house wedding photographer
Before Chloe & Adams big day we made sure to scheduled 15 minutes into the evening in the hour before sunset to capture some sunset photos. Even though it became slightly overcast in the evening we were still lucky enough to capture some golden light as it popped through the clouds occasionally. We started the mini session at the front of the house which offered a little more privacy away from their wedding guests and then we worked our way around the building over the gorgeous little bridge. These locations offered lovely backdrops and as they were different to the ones we had visited earlier in the day this provided more variety in their wedding gallery.
The Evening Reception
As the sun begins to set the Evelyn Suite is completely transformed. Chloe & Adam got the party started by cutting their amazing cake made by Marples Cakery and then heading to the dance floor. For their first dance they performed an incredible choreographed dance routine to their favourite song ‘Afterglow’ by Wilkinson and Becky Hill which was a beautiful acoustic version.
It was clear to see this special couple’s love of music and dance as they partied hard with their nearest and dearest to specially selected music that they knew would keep everyone on the dance floor. I really enjoyed being a part of Chloe & Adams wedding, everyone was so friendly and welcoming and all of their guests were so excited to be there celebrating them and their marriage. I really do have the best job in the world!
If you’re getting married at Wotton House (or at a different venue) and would love to know more about my wedding photography packages, please click the link below, I would love to hear from you.
Kind Words from Chloe & Adam
“Charlotte, these are amazing! I don’t think I can find the words to say thank you enough. You’re absolutely incredible. Chloe & Adam”
“Charlotte, the champagne spray was our favourite moment of our day and we cannot thank you enough for suggesting it. Jump around is one of Adam’s favourite songs, and like you say, really enhanced the mood and made the whole group enjoy every moment.”
Chloe & Adam’s top tips for newly engaged couples who want to get the most out of their wedding day:
* Spreadsheets are your friend!
* Book all the main suppliers quickly because the good ones get booked up, but make sure you get on with them because you are going to spend a lot of time planning/ chatting with them.
Dream Team of Suppliers
Venue: Wotton House
Photography: Charlotte Stoneham Photography
Hair & Makeup: Bex Hair & Makeup
Florist: Sage & co floral design
Cake: Marples Cakery
Suits: Moss
Wedding Dress Designer: Madilane Bridal
Dress Boutique: Wedding Frox
DJ: The DJ
It was great to work alongside the amazing team at Wotton House, their dedicated weddings team help you every step of the way, from your first visit to the big day itself. Wotton house has been awarded the best country venue at the UK wedding awards. Wotton house has a sense of warmth, charm and individuality that makes it the perfect backdrop for weddings and as a wedding photographer I highly recommend this venue.
If you found this blog helpful and end up choosing to get married at Wotton House, I would really appreciate it if you could tell the amazing team there about my blog. For further information about their wedding packages please contact weddings@wottonhousehotel.co.uk
