The Rochford hotel wedding venue in Essex followed government guidelines and lays on a beautiful ceremony for Theresa & Steve Brooker.
Considering having your wedding during Covid-19? Theresa & Steve took that leap of faith and they were really happy with how everything came together. From the unique church pews inside the ceremony room to the stunning secluded landscaped gardens & helpful staff, the Rochford Hotel could be an ideal setting for you.
We discussed the possibility of covering both getting ready sessions to make the most of the coverage on the day. I started with Steve in Leigh-on-Sea and in true groom style, he forgot I was coming and still had his PJs on. I actually anticipated this and arrived slightly earlier than arranged. It allowed me to capture a creative ring shot before we got started.
It never takes long for the groom shots. It’s very laid back and light hearted. Nothing too over posed and the jobs a goodun! The groomsmen much prefer this approach – 20 minutes and your done.
I arrived at the Brooker household where Theresa and the girls were getting ready. There’s always a hive of activity in the mornings with the ladies and this was no different. You could tell that everyone was comfortable around the camera. It really helps if you can just be yourself and this allowed me to capture a more intimate account of the family (almost from a family member perspective).
The morning actually flew by and we all left for the Rochford Hotel venue on time and looking goooood 🙂
The couples main request was to try not to overshoot anyone with a mask on, so I had to work the angles during the ceremony to ensure I didn’t include the guests in the background. It’s a tad tricky wearing a mask and looking through the viewfinder as a wedding photographer. It kept steaming up on me but we got the shots we needed. Steve shed a tear which was a nice moment & the ceremony flowed perfectly.
The masks were off once we got outside in the gorgeous grounds in Rochford. Everyone let loose and there were some really heartwarming moments in the time we had there. The happy couple were lucky enough to have 30 guests at their wedding – the rules changed the following Monday to just 15 so it made their day even sweeter 🙂
Once we’d enjoyed the grounds at the Rochford Hotel in Southend, we headed back to the Brooker residence for the reception. I was incredibly impressed with what they had pieced together in their back garden. It basically had the feel of a wedding venue but with all the comforts of your own home – perfect!
They had a professional catering/bar team on hand to keep everything running smoothly. It was a lovely idea that may just be the new normal if we continue with these uncertain times.
The music, lighting & mirror photobooth were courtesy of Trez Entertainment who did a great job.
My coverage ended with a beautiful song from a family member – a very talented young lady!
So there you have it, Steve & Theresa became Mr & Mrs during a pandemic at the Rochford Hotel in Rochford, Essex and loved every minute of it. Things may be different for a while but you can still have a fun, intimate wedding that’s in keeping with government guidelines.
If you had to cancel or postpone your wedding due to Covid-19, here’s a nice little blog I wrote previously to put a smile on your face and ease your disappointment: 5 Ideas for celebrating your would-be wedding during lockdown
I’m Chris Woodman – a Creative Essex Wedding Photographer. Thank you for reading and here’s to the next adventure 🙂
Take care and stay safe!
~ Chris
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