Orchardleigh Estate Wedding | Frome, Somerset | Helen & James

Helen and James’ wedding was truly a family affair and that was one of the most unique and memorable things about this wedding day. Every family member of the bride and groom had a part to play! The bride’s sister handmade 2 of her wedding dresses (yes, 2 of 3 dresses!!)  and all of the bridesmaid tops and skirts (amazing right?!). The bride’s other sister, her twin, arranged all of the flowers for the table centerpieces, cake and bouquets, and buttonholes. The favors were cherry flavored gin which Helen and James made themselves from cherries grown in their own garden. Even the invitations and wedding stationery was made by the bride! Seriously… if you need help planning your wedding just ask this family!! Everything was done with such care and attention to detail all with an air of ease that I literally wouldn’t have known it was a DIY wedding. It might as well have been planned by a professional wedding planning service!

From Helen’s first email to me, I knew we would get on like a house on fire. I met her in Gloucestershire with her malamute pup for a hilltop walk and stunning views. We literally walked the dog and talked like we’d known each other for years! When the wedding day rolled around, I instantly felt like a friend and a guest on the day and that means so much to me. Helen even lent me her watch because like a doh-doh I left mine at the air b&b! I was given drinks and fed so well throughout the day. The staff at Orchardleigh were so accommodating and quick to feed me (this says a lot to a photographer!). They were genuinely such an amazing team of people to work with and I really hope to return for more Orchardleigh weddings again soon- plus there are so many more many nooks and crannies in Frome to explore!

Helen and James, your warmth and kindness to me throughout this whole adventure have been second to none. It means so much that you would invite me into your day and allow me to capture it. Thank you for trusting me, thank you for spoiling me on the day with delicious food and thank you for being yourselves and meeting me on a “real person” level, not an off-standish professional one. Thank you for absolutely everything and HUGE congratulations to you both!!

Venue: Orchardleigh Estate
Wedding dress and reception dress: Handmade by the sister of the bride
Bridesmaid dresses: Handmade by the sister of the bride
Wedding rings: Designed and handmade by university friend, Roisin Conolly
Flowers: Picked and arrange by twin sister of the bride
Cake: Handmade by the sister of the bride
Favors: Cherry flavored gin (cherries from the bride and groom’s garden and stewed for a year and gins were chosen by close family)
Invite suite: Designed and made by the bride
Ceilidh: Family members and friends
Photography: Hannah K. Photography