E & O - Pentney Abbey Spring Wedding - Abi Vincent Photography

Emily & Ollies Spring Wedding at Pentney Abbey

On a sunny spring Saturday, Emily & Ollie tied the knot in the most beautiful and emotional celebration at the stunning Pentney Abbey.

From the moment I arrived, I knew it was going to be a truly special day.

The prep room was a haven of calm, with Emily and her bridesmaids running perfectly to schedule. The girls opted to do their own makeup, and what an incredible job they did! This was top-tier bridesmaiding at its finest, they had all practiced ahead of time, testing products to see what lasted and worked best, and it absolutely paid off. The super talented Lisa Marie Smith was on hair and was fabulous as ever.

Emily, ever the relaxed bride, took time to soak up the atmosphere with her girls before stepping into her gorgeous sleek gown in the beautiful honeymoon suite.

Ahead of Schedule, True to Form

Meanwhile, Ollie and his groomsmen were busy decorating the barn and gatehouse, and let me tell you... Ollie was on it with military efficiency! This definitely wasn't "Emily's wedding featuring Ollie" Every decision had been mutually decided, which was so lovely and frankly a refreshing change!

The couple had lovingly handmade much of their décor, and it was executed to perfection. The beauty of Pentney Abbey’s barn speaks for itself, so they kept the styling minimal, with soft pink accents that tied in beautifully with the bridesmaids' dresses.

Emily & Ollie had both mentioned they hate being late, and true to form, Emily made it down the aisle a whole two minutes ahead of schedule. A rare and impressive feat! It was such a sweet, perfectly ‘them’ moment that didn't go unnoticed and made me smile.

Unfiltered Emotion

The ceremony was one of the most emotional I’ve witnessed. The atmosphere in the room was electric, and when Ollie turned away from the aisle just before Emily’s entrance, I saw his eyes fill with tears. These are the moments I live for as a photographer, the raw, unfiltered emotions that make a wedding so uniquely special.

Adding to the emotion, Emily’s sister delivered a reading of Wedding Poem by Whitney Hanson, one of my absolute favourites, and so fitting for the moment. And just when we thought our hearts couldn’t take any more, Emily’s brother sang for the newlyweds and their guests, leaving almost everyone (including the couple... especially the couple) in tears. It was the perfect close to such a genuinely moving ceremony.

PENTNEY ABBEY NORFOLK WEDDING GATEHOUSE CEREMONY

Unscripted Moments

When it came to the confetti walk, the wind had big main character energy... but these two totally embraced it, even chucking in an epic dip kiss halfway through. They absolutely nailed it. We made the most of the beautiful Gatehouse for group photos, keeping things relaxed and breezy while still giving a nod to the stunning setting.

For couple portraits, Emily and Ollie wanted to keep things short, sweet, and totally authentic. No cringey poses, just natural moments that felt like them. With their littlest ones off having the best time with JoJo the wedding nanny (honestly, such a game-changer, having JoJo really allowed them to be Mr & Mrs for the day rather than just Mum & Dad), they could properly soak up the just-married vibes. We quickly borrowed the littlest pair for a few cute family shots before they dashed off for more fun!

PENTNEY ABBEY NORFOLK WEDDING GATEHOUSE CONFETTI

Speeches and a Spontaneous Serenade

Once the couple were announced into the barn at Pentney Abbey it was time for the speeches which were nothing short of unforgettable. Kicking things off, Emily’s dad delivered a hilarious speech that had the whole room in stitches, although a tough act to follow Ollie did just that with an emotional speech full of love and admiration for his new wifey. The Best Man followed with a cheeky nod to football rivalries, but beneath the banter was a genuinely heartfelt tribute to the couple and the strong bond he shares with them. Just when the guests thought the speeches had wrapped, the new Mrs B took to the mic (with a little help from her sister) and surprised everyone with the most beautiful rendition of ‘Safe Place’. You could’ve heard a pin drop, everywhere I looked guests were wiping away tears whilst Emily's proud mum and dad were positively beaming away at their talented daughters.

After Hours at Pentney Abbey

As the speeches wrapped and the lights dimmed, the party kicked off in full swing, a dance floor packed from the very first song, fuelled by good tunes, fancy cocktails, and guests that came ready to party. From a slow and sweet first dance to full on dance-offs and some serious shapes being thrown, the energy didn’t dip for a second.

Congratulations again Mr & Mrs B - Thank you for having me along for the ride!