Frankie & Brendan - Dodford Manor, 24/10/22
On a crisp, autumnal day in October 2022, I had the pleasure of providing the wedding videography for Frankie and Brendan at Dodford Manor in Northamptonshire. And what a day it was!
Frankie and Brendan have known each other since childhood, with their parents having been friends for years. It’s amazing to think that these two met as youngsters, and then, 20 years later, here they were finally tying the knot. As a wedding filmmaker, I’m a sucker for a romantic backstory!
Dodford Manor is such a gorgeous backdrop for a wedding at any time of the year, and it was made even more gorgeous thanks to the venue styling by Beau Weddings, incorporating lots of deep burnt orange along with splashes of ivory and plenty of fresh greenery. The venue comprises a series of stone barns arranged around a central courtyard, with plenty of fields (complete with very brave sheep!) and country lanes that lend themselves really well to portrait shots. The autumn foliage was in full bloom for the happy couple and I was able to capture some beautiful, natural footage that really fitted with the rustic theme.
The day kicked off with the arrival of Frankie and her bridal party at Dodford’s Bridal Booth: an ensuite room, hidden away at the back of the Mortain Barn and exclusively used by the bridal party. It features an arrow slit window with one-way glass so that brides can excitedly watch their guests arriving with a glass of bubbly in hand. There were plenty of laughs behind the scenes as Mode Bridal worked their magic on the hair and makeup, and Amore Fiore delivered stunning autumnal bouquets. The peace and quiet was slightly punctured by the arrival of a very noisy Ford GT40, booked by one of the groomsmen as a surprise for Brendan!
With preparations well underway, it gave me a great chance to capture all the little details like Brendan’s pocket watch, the pumpkin and pallet arrangement that had been created at the venue’s entrance and the groom and groomsmen doing a great job of greeting all the guests. I even got to capture Frankie’s very personal ‘something borrowed’: a lace hankie from next door neighbour ‘Auntie Pam’ with a handwritten note. In fact, Auntie Pam made a surprise appearance through the wrong door and got a sneak peek at the bride before anyone else. “That way, Auntie Pam!”
After an emotional first look with a very proud father of the bride and some family in-jokes to calm the nerves, Frankie made her way down the aisle towards her handsome groom. She was played down the aisle by the incredible Distractions band who also performed for guests during the drinks reception.The bride chose a stunning Stella York fishtail gown with custom lace sleeves supplied by her hometown’s bridal boutique, Gowns & Garters. She later wrapped up warm in a custom ivory leather jacket, hand painted with her new married name and their wedding florals - nice touch! Following a slight hiccup from the registrar which resulted in Frankie nearly marrying the best man instead, this lovely couple were finally pronounced Mr and Mrs May in front of their nearest and dearest.
Sneaking the couple away for some time to soak it all in is hugely important for me as a wedding videographer, and the distraction of a smashed glass (there’s always one!) was the perfect opportunity to steal the newlyweds from their guests for a few moments. Along with the incredible husband and wife team Sky Photography, I accompanied Frankie and Brendan, still in their finery but with the addition of wellies, on a romantic walk through Dodford Manor’s stunning grounds. The love between the two of them was evident as they strolled hand in hand and giggled over the events of the day so far before heading to the Oak Barn to join their guests for hilarious speeches and a delicious wedding breakfast provided by Jenkinsons Caterers. Brendan, I still stand by the name Epic Love Films, no matter how dirty you think it sounds! Get your mind out of the gutter!
The party got into full swing in the evening, with noughties hits filling the fairylit barn thanks to Smooth Moves Events and drinks flowing from Dodford’s Dairy Bar. Frankie and Brendan led their guests outside for a stunning sparkler moment which really added an extra wow factor to their wedding film. The evening continued with some wild moves on the dance floor (I’m looking at you, groomsmen!), a DRI (Dress Related Incident) and even a fleeting appearance from Kensington the dog.
Frankie and Brendan, it was an absolute delight to share your wedding day with you and create a cinematic wedding film for you to cherish forever. I wish you love, laughter and happiness in your journey as a married couple, and Brendan, if I might offer you one tiny bit of feedback, if you’re going to smoke a secret cigar on the wedding day then it might have been helpful to:
1. Choose a more dishonest best man.
2. Not marry a black belt.
28 мар 2023
