Beautiful wedding photography at Manor House Hotel in Moreton-in-Marsh
This was my first time visiting Manor House Hotel in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire. Wedding Photographers anywhere would be happy to photograph in such a beautiful location. The gardens were immaculate and extensive, giving me plenty to play with…which is always nice! …and the staff were extremely friendly and helpful while I was there.
When I booked Kristy & Ben’s wedding, I knew I was in for a lively and exciting day. I met them both at a wedding I photographed at Warwick House in Southam. They are both a laugh a minute and very easy going! Thank you so much for inviting me Kristy & Ben…congratulations! 🙂
Their Love Story
1) Please tell me how you first met?
We met through a mutual friend, 5 years before we actually started dating! This was on a night out…to Rainbows, a Gay bar in Coventry! 
2) When was it you knew they were the one?
Kristy – When we first met 5 years before we started dating, I knew he was an awesome guy with a very similar sense of humour to mine. I thought he was gorgeous but it wasn’t our time…just yet! I think the moment I realised that this guy was different was on our first date. He didn’t pull out one single stop…or chair. He was late, took me to the local Wetherspoons, had me in fits of laughter and then didn’t call me for days!
Ben – Kristy is a one of a kind. I found this out the first time we met, a vicious sense of humour and gorgeous to boot! We connected straight away, after 5 years and we finally got to have our first date, I played hard to get, it worked a treat 😉
I don’t think there was a particular event that happened, when you feel you just want to enjoy every moment life throws at you with a person and couldn’t imagine doing that with anyone else, that is it.
3) Could you give us the story of the proposal?
Kristy – The most amazing proposal ever! We went on a holiday to South Africa where Ben met all my family and my wonderful Gran, as I am originally from here. We then went into the bush for a week and at sunset in the Kruger National Park in a hide whilst enjoying sundowners watching the animals over the crocodile river. Ben dropped onto one knee and popped the question! It honestly was the most amazing moment ever, being in my homeland in the bush at sunset. My favourite place to be!
Ben – I finally got to go to South Africa (Kristy’s Home Country) and meet her amazing family. As soon as we were talking of booking the Holiday I knew this was where I wanted to propose. I started work on choosing a ring, Kristy is hard to buy for, especially jewellery and I always choose the hard route so opted for a ring I designed myself. I started to go through the options of where and when I wanted to drop on one knee (if I wanted to do the traditional knee thing at all!). I collected the most beautiful ring ever (I designed it of course) and packed it securely in a sock in my hand luggage. Obviously with my luck we got searched at security in the airport but I made it through without them giving the game away. I had 2 options, Kruger park excursion (sunset game drive) or Cape Town Shark Dive (kidding …or am I?!). We got to the park and everything was perfect, we saw the big 5 that day and I found out that we were the only ones on the sunset drive that night! perfect! I grabbed the ring and off we went.
The location was amazing, we had a bite to eat, opened a bottle of wine, I gripped the box in my pocket and plucked up the courage to go for it. This was definitely the prefect time…forget Cape Town… However… At that moment, visitors to the same spot on the river turned up! I prayed they would see we were having a romantic evening and move to the next one…Kristy being Kristy, offered them food and wine and had a long chit chat! Nooooo!!! …Eventually they left and it was back on, our guide went to get more wine from the bakkie and although I didn’t plan to do it, I dropped on one knee, I said what I said and she said yes, she loved the ring and the location was stunning…best time of my life.
4) If you don’t mind sharing, can you tell me something quirky, funny or silly about your partner?
Kristy – He likes to dance…he pretends he doesn’t but he can shake it!
Ben – She adores dolphins, seriously, if she see them, she cries uncontrollably. She also loves Pandas and has Panda related clothing from head to toe, Panda baseball cap, Panda Tee Shirt, Panda trousers, Panda slippers… and wears them regularly (in the house only). If you randomly find a panda sticker on your car or phone, Kristy has struck! 
5) What is your perfect day together?
A camping weekend away and spending our days outdoors with our pup. 
6) Apart from the obvious, what are you most looking forward to on your wedding day?
Kristy – Walking down the aisle with my Dad.
Ben – Seeing her walk down the aisle, I know it will take my breath away
7) What was it that inspired you to go for the theme or the decor you chose for your wedding?
We both really love the beach and wanted to bring it to the Midlands
8) Please tell me one thing you wish you had known at the beginning of your wedding planning process, that you could pass on to future bride’s reading this blog?
That you can elope!! Only joking… don’t take it too seriously, it is one perfect day but it is also only one day!
9) When searching, what were you looking for in a wedding venue?
We wanted an outdoors wedding and the gardens were perfect! The venue is really laid back and not fussy, it is naturally beautiful!
10) Could you tell me the process you went through when you were looking for a wedding photographer?
We went to our Besties Mark and Sophie’s wedding and fell in love with Duncan’s work and his sense of humour! He told me to iron out my forehead…its been over a year and I’m still getting stick for it from the girls!
Vendor List
Photography | Duncan Cox Photography
Ceremony & Reception Location | Moreton in the marsh – The Manor House Hotel
Florist | Nicola, Family friend
Wedding Planner | A what now? Were not lazy!
Dress Designer | one off piece designed by myself and my bridesmaids. My mum and I went travelling around China and found a wonderful dress maker who brought our vision into a reality. The dress itself was made in my Grandmother’s home town in china.
Wedding Dress Retailer | I Do, Xian, /china
