Shaw House in Newbury

In the centre of Newbury, Shaw House is an Elizabethan building which was recently given a £6 million renovation.

Although Shaw House is open to the public, I didn’t encounter anyone outside of the wedding party, so the House felt exclusive throughout the short ceremony. I was working in a reportage role, so the lack of public mingling certainly helped. As Shaw House is a registry office, you may find at weekends this exclusivity starts to fade, so before booking it is worth asking about this.

A custom made day

The bride and groom wanted a small wedding where they had a high level of control over the day. They pieced together an ad-hoc event which effectively split the day into three parts, the ceremony, a family meal and finally having a evening reception at the family home.

I think it’s fair to say the couple wanted to avoid the formality and ceremonial aspects of a wedding, so the wedding itself was very short. Within about 30 minutes we had arrived at Shaw House and left for The Wellington Arms in Baughurst. This brilliant restaurant was hired out  for the wedding party.  So no more than 10 minutes after leaving Shaw House in Newbury, we arrived for Pimms and drinks in the garden (I say we, I mean everyone had Pimms apart from me!).  It was very much a seamless transition from one location to another.

The Wellington Arms in Baughurst

The Wellington Arms (not to be confused with the Wellington Arms Hotel) is run by Jason King and Simon Page. They have clearly invested a great deal of effort and time in the creation of their restaurant. Much of their food is locally sourced if not self-produced (I assume the chickens in the rear field are not for display purposes!)

Without giving detail, as I just cannot review food – it’s an awesome place to eat.  Although due to the size, only suitable for smaller groups and definitely a place you’ll need to pre-book.

Later in the day

As I noted above, the day ended with a larger party at the family’s house. The emphasis was still very much on a close-knit family type event. I had already befriended everyone (well maybe I flatter myself), so by this stage, despite the small numbers, I could work relatively discretely.  Something which I always try to do, in balance with not being a stranger at a wedding.

My relaxed approach to wedding photography allows you time to enjoy your day without hassle.

Thanks to my reportage style, I can take photographs that embrace the personality and emotions of everyone at your wedding. This approach removes the need for formal and group photographs, so I can work without disrupting or disturbing your day.

Prices

Currently. I offer a unique wedding photography package. This gives you the freedom to use your wedding photographs as you like. There is no need to pre-pay for albums or prints.

• Photographic coverage – from morning preparations until the end of your wedding speeches.
• Two personalised DVDs or CDs of your wedding photographs (see below).
• A DVD/CD Album (as below).
• Edited digital photographs at full resolution, which you can print to your hearts’ delight – and at no extra cost.
• Black and white and colour photographs.
• Piece of mind organisation, from a photographic plan to scouting of your wedding venue.
• Your own online, and password protected, viewing gallery.

For this service I charge £1000.

This price applies for wedding photography in Hampshire and Berkshire, but I often move beyond these counties at no extra cost. Every wedding varies, so I’ll do my best to deliver an ad-hoc service to you. For example I can also cover your evening celebrations after the speeches.

> Additional Information <

Professional Photographic Prints

These are often offered by wedding photographers as an additional extra, with premium prices that don’t match quality. Photographs are simply printed by high-street printers rather than professional labs. And yet you’ll pay a professional price.

Please avoid paying extra for this. With my services you are able to print and share your wedding photographs as much as you like, without any extra cost. That includes your friends and family.

Wedding Album Design

Due to demand, I now offer premium quality, hardback photo books, produced by Loxley Albums. These products are only available to professional photographers, so unlike prints they cannot be purchased on the high street. I charge a small fee for album design on top of the cost of production.

Flexibility

No wedding is the same, so if you have any particular requirements or requests, I am happy to try and accommodate them. If they are beyond my capability, I will try to help you find someone who can help.

Questions or Enquiries?

If you have any questions you can email me at Alex@afweddings.co.uk or phone me on 0118 9814117. You can also use the contact form on this website.