A surprise marriage proposal at Heckfield Place.
The luxury 5 star hotel in Hampshire
Heckfield Place proposal photography, paparazzi style !
Leslie had been carefully planning his surprise proposal at Heckfield Place to Tadi for some time. He’d booked a weekend stay at the luxury georgian country estate & decided to propose during their stay. Although they had discussed wedding plans as a couple, Leslie wanted his proposal to Tadi to be as much of a surprise as possible.
Set in a total estate of some 438 acres, there are many places to hideaway at Heckfield Place & Leslie was keen that Tadi wouldn’t see me until after the proposal, but he did want me to be able to capture the moment on camera !
Honestly,I hid in a bush !
I met up with Leslie at Heckfield Place to carefully plan his proposal location a couple of weeks before. The events team kindly gave us a guided tour of the upper & lower lakes & gardens so that Leslie could decide upon where his surprise proposal to Tadi would take place.
The pavilion overlooking the lower lake was perfect, private, scenic & incredibly romantic. I scouted the nearby bushes for places where I could hide myself & cameras ! When the day arrived, our June weather had taken a turn in a rather chilly & wet direction. Leslie decided to move the timings as a break in the cloud was forecast for early evening & we were hoping to be able to use some of the gorgeous soft, golden evening sunlight in the photos. As I live only 25 minutes away from Heckfield Place it was no problem at all.
I arrived & was driven down to the pavilion with my equipment in one of Heckfield Place’s 4×4 vehicles. Although wet underfoot, the rain had stopped & I rushed around setting up cameras & hiding.
As Leslie & Tadi walked down to the pavillion, a pocket of blue sky appeared……
After reading a personal & heartfelt letter to Tadi, Leslie turned away to walk to the step & knelt before her with the ring box in his hand. Tadi exclaimed “Of course I will” before running to embrace him. I photographed them from a distance, before climbing out of the bush & walking over to them, still capturing these beautiful moments before introducing myself to a very surprised but elated Tadi !
As an extra service to the package that Leslie had booked with me, I’d hidden a tiny camera in the bush opposite the pavilion. My hope was to capture some video to create a moments movie. He also recorded his wonderful words …
Golden evening light.
Tadi had dressed for dinner including a gorgeous pair of strappy sandals. Not knowing at all that Leslie was going to take her for a walk as far away from the house as the lower lake is. So after a few portraits around the pavilion,including this favourite one of mine of them in the evening sunlight, we took a slow walk back towards the house taking in some of the photogenic spots in the grounds of Heckfield place along the way. I was thrilled to capture this portrait of them at the pavilion in the gardens of Heckfield Place during the evening sun’s very brief appearance from behind the clouds.
Creative & Natural engagement photography.
Leslie & Tadi weren’t used to working with a professional photographer, in fact this engagement photoshoot in the gardens of Heckfield Place following Leslie’s proposal was their first professional photoshoot together as a couple.
As a UK wedding photographer who captures natural & romantic portraits, I specialise in capturing beautiful unguarded moments between couples. Relaxing in front of a camera isn’t easy for anyone, I work patiently with my couples giving them helpful tips which help them to overcome their nerves & self consciousness enough so that we can create those fun & natural portraits that they’ll always love.
Heckfield Place proposal photographer.
If you’re currently planning your proposal and wondering if you should have it photographed, feel free to get in touch with me. It’s going to be a defining moment in your life, and naturally, you will want to make it perfect!
From your initial contact with me, through the planning process, and on the big day itself, I will be there to guide & advise you.
Simply talk me through the kind of proposal you have in mind & your location ideas. I will advise you on the best way to photograph it. Whether it’s a paparazzi-style shot where I discreetly capture the exact moment you propose, an arranged photoshoot during which you surprise your partner with the proposal, or a family photoshoot where you both surprise your loved ones with the news of your engagement, It’ll be special so why not capture it with great photography?
Already proposed ?
Not all of the couples who wedding I photograph have organised a photographer to capture their proposal. Often their first photoshoot together will be on their wedding day. So I like to meet with couples who have booked me as their wedding photographer for a pre wedding photoshoot & venue visit purposely to spend time getting to know each other & overcoming those photoshoot nerves !
If you are reading this & are at the start of your wedding planning journey, why not get in touch ?
Although I am very local to Heckfield Place, Wasing Park, Hedsor House & many more amazing wedding venues in the home counties, I do also travel all over the UK photographing weddings & would love to hear from you.
