Photographing weddings is just great, I love meeting and working with people and the challenge of different venues and varied lighting, the job is made even better when you work with lovely people like Elspeth and Sam who had am amazing wedding day. My financee Angela and I shot the wedding together and were made to feel so welcome by everyone there.

The weather was unsettled with a forecast of showers, Elspeth was determined that she wanted an outdoor ceremony however the hotel were rightly concerned by the black clouds. They need not have worried, half an hour before the ceremony started the sun came out and shone down on the proceedings and Elspeth and Sam were married. Following the ceremony we took photographs of the drinks reception before the rain started and we had to go indoors. This did not last long and we were soon outside for the couple and group shots. The weather seemed to be on our side and the second shower of the day passed while the wedding party were seated for the breakfast.

Elspeth had planned two surprises for Sam, the first was the VW camper van that she had booked to drive him to the ceremony, the second was a VW ice-cream van! This went down very well, as did the free ice-cream that we all enjoyed!

Into the evening we took a few more couple shots as the sun set and then stayed for the first dance and the band. They had booked a great band and we didn’t want to leave but after providing nearly twelve hours coverage of their wedding tiredness was setting in and we said our goodbyes. A very enjoyable wedding.

Below are some of the images from the day, we hope you like them as much as we do!

A few days prior to Chris and Lauren’s wedding I met with them at Christ the King Church to discuss their final plans and went to see the field where the marquee was to be for the reception. The work they had done on the field was amazing, basically they had cut down the crops, flattened the area, grown an immaculate lawn, laid a pathway down the centre and put down a red carpet. This looked amazing, although I must confess that a reception with no buildings in sight caused me concern thinking that if it rained our wet weather options would be very limited. I need not have worried, the weather was just stunning, blue skies and a light breeze.

I was working with a photographer friend Adam who had travelled down to second shoot for me, he and I arrived for the bridal preparation pictures before I headed off to the church to meet the guys and get some photos of the venue before the guest arrived. In the meantime Adam stayed with Lauren and her bridesmaids to get some photographs of them once they were ready.

The ceremony was lovely, everything went very well and all of the guests enjoyed the service. Afterwards the couple left the church we took shots of the guests before moving over to the gardens where I organised the group photographs. It was then off to the reception venue where the guests enjoyed a drink and the amazing countryside bathed in sunshine. We took the couple off for photographs in a nearby field where the corn made a great location for some good photographs.

The evening soon came round, after a very good hog roast the evening guests started to appear and many of the guest headed to the marquee for the cutting of the cake and first dance. After we had photographed the first dance I took pictures of the sun setting at the end of what was a most enjoyable day. I hope that you enjoy a selection of some of the images;

Earlier in the week I wrote a post about James and Becky’s wedding, here is part two with some more images from their day. One of the many things I love about wedding photography is the great variety of people, locations and lighting. It is always good to plan for both good and bad weather, I had plenty of ideas for indoor shots at this wedding which fortunately I did not need. Coombe Lodge would work very well for a winter wedding, I would love to shoot one here and use the stairs, rooms and wood panelling as backgrounds with continuous video lighting and flash options.

James and Becky’s big day was sunny so we used the amazing grounds for their couple and group shots, below are a few more of the couple shots from the day. I think my favourites were the ones taken at sunset.

I first met Claire and Shakil at Claire’s cousins wedding last year, they liked my work and booked me which was great as they are such a lovely couple. They chose the same venues for their ceremony and reception as Claire’s cousin, not unusual but it was like deja vue when a lot of the guests were also the same!

The day started with bridal preparation at their house where Claire was getting ready, the weather was hot and sunny and the forecast showers seemed unlikely. After taking the preparation shots I drove to Poole Court in Yate where the ceremony was being held to meet Shakil and the other guys. They arrived and spent time trying to find Shakil’s video camera before realising he had left it on the roof of the car before they set off down the M32!

I don’t often see a ceremony with as much fun, Shakil’s humour and infectious smile had everybody laughing and the Registrar said that she rarely conducted such an enjoyable ceremony. After the confetti we left for the Grange, now known as The Jarvis Bristol North, as we drove over the sky’s started to darken and it started to spot with rain.

The happy couple arrived and after a drinks reception were seated for the meal which was followed by speeches. These were fun and enjoyable with Shakil again entertaining us with some good humour. Fortunately the weather gave us enough of a break for some group shots outside before the rain started again when we had to head back inside and use the stairs and landing for photographs of the couple.

The evening festivities commenced and after the cutting of the cake then Claire and Shakil headed to the dance floor for their first dance, this ended very romantically with Shakil down on one knee. As the evening continued the rain came down and by the time I left there was a small river running down the hotel driveway and flooded sections of road on the way home. It was a most enjoyable day with lovely fun people, I wish Claire and Shakil future happiness and look forward to presenting them their photographs.

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I was recommended to Neil and Holly by a friend, as soon as I met them I knew it was going to be a great wedding, they both have great energy and a sense of fun.

Their wedding was held in the lovely village of Hindon at the church, with a marquee reception at Holly’s parents house. Sadly the weather was against us, a dull damp day with showers, but this was not an issue and we got some great photographs.

Hindon Church was lovely, the ceremony was great and I enjoyed watching from the back and taking shots down the aisle. As the couple left the church the sun came out, we enjoyed the only fifteen minutes of sunshine to get photos of the couple and their friends and family throwing confetti before heading off to Holly’s parents for the reception.

The reception was fun, they had a great set of friends and family and everyone enjoyed their evening. After the food and speeches we had the first dance, I left them all on the dance floor at about 10.30pm with some great photos in my camera that I know they will love. Below are some pictures from their day;

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Sean and Kelly were to be married at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Stroud. My fiancee Angela joined me for the day as my assistant, her and I drove to Gloucester to meet Kelly and the girls who were getting ready at her fathers house. We arrived to find that most of the bridesmaids were already in their dresses, we said hello to everyone and then started taking bridal preparation pictures, dress, shoes, tiara, flowers and then pictures of Kelly having her makeup done and getting ready. We then set off to meet the guys at the church.

Sean seemed very calm and was chatting with Father David when we arrived. I took shots of the groom, best man and usher and then some of the church and the rings. Kelly arrived and the ceremony started, I was very impressed by Father David who conducted the ceremony in a very relaxed and friendly way which made it very enjoyable for everyone. After getting good photographs of the ceremony I took photos as they left the church and we set off for the reception at The Hill which is situated just down the road.

The sun was shining as everyone arrived and met on the lawn outside for drinks. After some reportage pictures we took the happy couple of to get some pictures of them in the grounds and also with Kelly’s dads (very nice!) Mercedes. Due to the timing of the meal we decided to take the group shots after the meal. Mike and the team at The Hill provided an excellent meal, the couple cut the cake and everyone had some for dessert (this again was excellent and they tempted me into a second slice!). The groups pictures were taken on the front lawn before heading inside for the first dance.

This was another very enjoyable wedding with great people. Below are a few images from the day;

If you are planning your wedding at The Hill in Stroud please click below to check my availability.
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