Grant and Gala’s English Wine Centre wedding in Alfriston was exactly ten years to the day since their first date, after meeting at school as teenagers. Worlds away from a burger at Wimpy and a trip to the cinema, the day was every bit the dream country winter wedding (despite a little drizzle and grey clouds).
Grant’s father is Arabian, and for a lot of his extended family this was their first visit to England. The English Wine Centre in Alfriston is a wonderful and typically British venue, with a beautiful beamed barn for the ceremony and reception, and a recently built modern barn for the meal (which was hands down, one of the best wedding meals I’ve ever had). And of course, a fantastic selection of wines for them to choose from! We are lucky living in this part of England that we are surrounded by fantastic vineyards, who have become serious competition for the Champagne region in France. One of my particular favourites is Ridgeview’s Bloomsbury sparkling wine, whose vineyards are in nearby Ditchling village. Well worth a tour in the summer months, or to their tasting room all year round.
One of the many highlights of the day for me was when Grant, at the end of his speech, burst into song with Andy William’s ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’. Gala initially cringed, until a few seconds later Grant’s best man stood up and joined in, followed one by one by Gala’s brother and the other groomsmen and friends. The whole room was in hysterics, as was I. It was the first ever wedding flash mob I’ve witnessed! I’d love to see this again, so any grooms-to-be reading take note, it was a great crowd pleaser!!!
Too often at weddings people are shy to get involved with the dancing, but not at this one! Grant’s family were the most energetic party people I’ve ever met, and I had a great time dancing along with them whilst snapping away (the best method to capture natural dance shots is to get involved yourself!).
