A Fort Henry Wedding ceremony with a Thai twist
This Fort Henry Wedding Ceremony was one of my favourites from 2021, sadly I lost the blog post when I moved my websites over but it is too beautiful not to share again.
Kantarose and Dean were married in the Summer and chose Fort Henry (run by the incredible team over at Barnsdale Lodge) because of its breathtaking surroundings, it is wonderfully secluded and was the perfect size to host their 40 guests.
Pastel blue florals and Thai ceremony set up
Talk about a wedding that could have been a styled wedding photoshoot. Kantarose and Dean had invested so much effort into choosing the right suppliers to beautifully style Fort Henry. Pastel blue florals and wedding stationery to match. Eden Flowers provided the simply stunning flower arrangements that were dotted around the tables and on the steps leading into the ceremony. There was a drinks cart adorned with the most wonderfully smelling blooms and a green flower wall to provide the backdrop for the traditional Thai water pouring ceremony.
The civil wedding ceremony at Fort Henry
Fort Henry can seat up to 50 guests for a civil ceremony inside so this was perfect for Kantarose and Dean’s wedding. It was a warm summer day and still in the throws of various lockdowns, everyone was still required to wear masks indoors which did make for some very warm guests.
A traditional Thai water-pouring ceremony
Following their civil ceremony, Kantarose and Dean had the traditional Thai Water Pouring ceremony. This is the most important part of a Thai wedding ceremony and traditionally this was the part that validated the marriage (although this now is accompanied by an official marriage certificate)
The couple sat at the Dtang Rot Naam and a ceremonial headdress made from one piece of cotton was placed on each of their heads. This signified the joining of them together as one.
Kantarose and Dean placed their hands, palms together overhanging the water pouring table, carefully positioned above flowers so that they could catch the water that ran off. Then, beginning with the elders, the wedding guests took turns pouring water from the traditional conch shell with each person giving a wish to the couple as they poured.
The reception that followed was so wonderfully relaxed. All of the wedding guests relaxed on garden furniture under big umbrellas whilst we headed off to take a few portraits in the grounds of Fort Henry, a place that if anything was destined to be the backdrop for the most beautiful wedding photos.
One of them even saw me trekking over to the other side of the lake to capture the couple in the full beauty of Fort henry, with the lake in the foreground, I may or may not have been stung a couple of times but it was well worth it.
Kantarose and Dean’s words
“Amanda was more than wonderful on our wedding day. She didn’t just capture perfect photos but she organised the guests for the photos without any confusion, made us laugh when launched herself in the bush to take a shot, and ran across the lake in the heat to take the most beautiful photo of the whole wedding. We had a Thai ceremony, which Amanda wouldn’t be familiar with but she effortlessly went with the flow and captured it so beautifully”
Suppliers for this Fort Henry Wedding
Florist – Eden Florist
Venue – Fort Henry (Barnsdale Lodge)
Hair – Glow at Barnsdale Lodge
Wedding dress – Vow Bridal
Invitations and programs – Artelier Rosemood
If you would like to chat with me about your wedding day please reach out to me on my contact page and take a look at some more of my work here I can’t wait to hear from you. And if you would like to book your wedding at Fort Henry then reach out to Connie at Barnsdale Lodge and she will help make your wedding day dreams come true.
