Apton Hall · Rochford, Essex
Louise & Zhak: a winter wedding at Apton Hall
A winter wedding at Apton Hall in Rochford, Essex, for Louise and Zhak, with a plum, lilac and ivory colour scheme and a first dance to Justin Timberlake. Apton Hall was the first venue they viewed, and Louise fell in love with it straight away. If you're planning your own day there, have a look at my guide to Apton Hall weddings.
At a glance
Venue: Apton Hall, Rochford, Essex
Time of year: Winter
Colours: plum, lilac and ivory
First dance: Morning Light by Justin Timberlake
Entertainment: Gigglebox Booths photo booth
The venue
A winter wedding at Apton Hall
The next wedding to feature on my blog is the marriage of Louise and Zhak. They tied the knot at Apton Hall wedding venue in Rochford and I was honoured to be asked to be their wedding photographer! Apton Hall is a venue I know very well, as I actually photographed their promotional photos before it even opened. How things have changed since then! It’s quite amazing now to return to the venue seeing it as a beautiful, idyllic wedding venue when I had seen it as not much more than a building site. Luckily working with Craig and his team down at Apton Hall, they very kindly offered for me to be on their recommended suppliers list, which is a great honour to be part of. I love being the wedding photographer at their venue!
If you scroll down this page, you can find a Q&A that Louise and Zhak completed all about their wedding day and the decisions that they made. You can also find some of my favourite photos taken throughout their day at Apton Hall.
In their words
A computer crash and a proposal at The Shard
How did you meet?
We met at work and got talking after the computer systems crashed.
How did he propose?
He took me on a surprise night away in London. He took me to The Shard and proposed in the bar after pretending to get someone to take a photo of us. She actually videoed it.
What wedding venue did you choose and why?
Apton Hall in Rochford. This was the first venue we looked at and I fell in love with it straight away. It was secluded, clean, simply stunning, and not too far away.
Where did you buy your dress?
Grace and Lace in Chelmsford
What about the groom's suit?
We hired the suits from Dels Tailors in Benfleet
Did you have a theme or colour scheme for your wedding?
Plum, lilac and ivory colour scheme. Also hearts ended up being a bit of a theme.
Looking back
Advice for other couples
What source did you use for wedding inspiration?
Nowhere specific, we just searched for things online.
If you could turn back the clock before planning started, what advice would you give yourself?
Don’t worry about the running of the day, that’s what the venue staff are there for.
What was your favourite photograph from the day?
I genuinely couldn’t choose a favourite, there’s so many that I love!
What song did you choose for your first dance?
Morning Light by Justin Timberlake. We saw him live the year we got married and it’s not a common song.
Was Gary Derbridge Photography the right photographer for you?
Absolutely, the engagement shoot was very beneficial as that helped me to relax a bit more in front of the camera. Gary made me feel comfortable and I think that shows in the wedding photos.
Suppliers
Louise and Zhak’s suppliers
Venue: Apton Hall
Wedding dress: Grace and Lace
Men’s suits: Dels Tailors
Florist: Petals Polly (artificial flowers)
Cake: M&S
Hair: a family friend, Victoria
Make-up: a family friend, Karen
Videographer: Adore Video
Photo booth: Gigglebox Booths
Others: we bought a lot of stuff through Amazon.
If you would like to find out more information about my wedding photography services then please do get in touch. I would love to have a chat with you about how I can help, and discuss a collection that is perfect for your day.
Getting married at Apton Hall yourselves? Have a read of my Apton Hall wedding photographer guide, with the photo spots, timings and tips I share with every Apton Hall couple.
