This one has been on my radar for awhile now. For one reason or another a couple of opportunities to be a Preston Court Wedding Photographer have slipped me by in the past so I was so excited to finally get to photograph one of, if not the very best wedding venues in Kent on Friday.
Preston Court has character. Buckets of it. From the stunning private house with climbing roses and steps littered with potted flowers and cactuses to the rusting trains and carriages that are dotted all over the grounds, not mentioning the obvious showpiece, the one hundred plus year old, fully working, fully fantastic carousel, it’s a real jewel of a wedding venue and every bit as terrific as I’d hoped it would be. Alisa and the team here are incredibly good, warm and welcoming and I just can’t see how anyone could have less than the best day of their lives getting married here.
I’ll allow myself to go off on a slight tangent here, Kent needs more wedding venues with character like Preston Court. They have the balance just right between being a very slick, functional venue who are clearly used to catering for a hundred or so people week in, week out. But crucially they still have all the soul and character of a private home. It’s unspoilt, it’s charmingly shabby in places and it’s not too wedding-y if that makes any sense. As a wedding photographer in Kent my heart sinks a little shooting in places that have become wedding factories and seem to be clearly going through the motions, they’re places I simply can’t get excited by. But Preston Court is the opposite, an elegant venue, with heaps of individuality and best of all brilliant staff who genuinely seem to love what they do and how happy they get to make people. That’s the best.
Sabrina got ready at The Bell Hotel in Sandwich in a gorgeous room with pots of light which made me grin like a loon. Alongside some of the funniest and coolest bridesmaids I’ve had the pleasure to photograph she got ready for her day. Matthew waited patiently on the little island, cut of by a bubbling stream looking out over the lawns with guests looking on. Her arrival was every bit as perfect as the venue and one of my favourite pictures so far of the year.
As you can probably tell, I loved this one. It’s my kind of wedding. If Hannah and I were going to do it all again, this is close to how we’d do it I think. I spent my day watching and photographing guests belly laughing on the lawns with some tasty looking canapés, hurling balls at the Cocount Shy, riding the carousel and admiring the strutting Peacock that seemed to be everywhere. It was a really magical afternoon.
I should give a special mention not only to the team at Preston Court but also to the amazing Bluebell Creative for the incredible decorations and bouquets. It’s fair to say that rarely do I get excited about the details at a wedding but these were some of the best I’ve ever seen. Also, Lucy Jane for the makeup in the morning who was an absolute superstar to work with, I’d recommend both of these Kent suppliers to absolutely anyone.
Here’s a few favourite frame from their day…
Preston Court Wedding Photographer | Jackson & Co Photography
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Simply perfect guys! So many stunning images in this set. Love it.
Ah man, you absolutely knocked this wedding out of the park MJ!! Super good!
Beautiful work brother.