A wedding that found a new audience

I photographed Hannah’s wedding at Larmer Tree Gardens in 2022. Around the time of the wedding Hannah shared a short video online featuring the reception dress she wore that evening.

More recently the clip began gathering attention again, passing two million views and later being picked up by Newsweek, which featured the dress and the reaction it sparked online.

View the gallery below.

The Oliver Rubin Dora Dress

The dress featured in the video was designed by London designer Oliver Rubin and forms part of the brand’s bridal collection. Known as the Dora dress, it features a high neckline, long sleeves and soft pastel pleats that move beautifully when worn.

In the clip Hannah can be seen twirling in the dress, capturing the playful energy it brought to the evening of the wedding.

The Dress Reveal

The dress itself became a moment during the evening.

When Hannah came back out wearing it, many of her friends had not seen it yet. As she stepped back into the gardens there was an immediate reaction from the group around her. Surprise, excitement and a lot of laughter followed as people realised she had changed for the evening.

Those reactions made for some strong photographs, particularly among her close friends who were clearly delighted by the reveal.

Dusk Portraits in the Gardens

A little later we stepped out briefly into the gardens for a few portraits as the light softened across the grounds.

Larmer Tree Gardens has a lovely atmosphere at that time of day. The buildings and trees begin to fall into softer light and the gardens take on a completely different mood from the daytime celebrations.

In the softer light, the dress took on a different feel altogether. The movement in the pleats and the quiet of the gardens made those portraits some of my favourites from the evening.

The Dance Floor

Once the dancing started, the dress came into its own for a different reason. It felt light, playful and easy on the dance floor, the kind of dress that seemed made for dancing. By that point it had stopped feeling like a second look and had simply become part of the celebration.

Larmer Tree Gardens Weddings

Larmer Tree Gardens remains one of the most distinctive wedding venues in this part of the country. The historic buildings, colourful architecture and open gardens create a setting that naturally encourages personality and expression.

It is a venue that works beautifully for weddings that feel relaxed and full of character, and Hannah’s celebration captured that atmosphere perfectly.

See the Full Wedding

If you would like to see the full story of the day itself, you can view Hannah’s Larmer Tree Gardens wedding.

You can also read more about weddings at Larmer Tree Gardens.

Planning a Larmer Tree Gardens Wedding?

If you are planning a wedding at Larmer Tree Gardens or anywhere in the region, you can find more information about documentary wedding photography.

To talk through your plans, get in touch about your wedding photography.

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