Annette and Richards wedding date marks 6 years to the day since they went on that first date.

I arrived at the Manor Suite at the Barns Hotel to capture Annette’s bridal preparations.  This spacious room was a luxury to work in, with its own en suite, and grand free-standing bath, there was for plenty of space for Annette and her two niece bridesmaids Amy and Emma to get ready.  Annette’s mum was there too and we were soon joined by Lana, Annette & Richards super cute 20 month old daughter who had spent the night at Richard’s parents to ensure she had a good nap in the morning.

While Annette and Amy were having their hair done, Emma helped me set up Annette’s gorgeous wedding gown photograph and Mother of the Bride Ann, gathered up all the little special pieces and accessories that Annette would be wearing come the ceremony, so I could get some images of them too.

As you will have seen from their pre-wedding shoot, Annette has pretty short hair but on this day, the hair stylist was able to work miracles and sculpt her hair into an up do that made it look like Annette could have had super long hair to start with.  A simple and delicate cut to Annette’s wedding gown was perfect for Annette’s petite frame, with pretty lacy detail across the top which continued down one side of the dress.

Richard had bought Annette a rose gold watch which was designed with 2 rings on the face for their wedding day and this matched the wedding jewellery and hair piece that Annette had chosen to wear down the aisle.  A lovely gift with great sentiment as this watch can stay with Annette over the years of their marriage and she may still be wearing when they are retired and their family have grown up.

I nipped downstairs when Richard arrived with his 2 best men Gary and Dave.  These guys were taking no risks, sharing equal responsibility for the rings by keeping one each!  Richard’s buttonhole was made with a series of real buttons which looked great set again his navy suit.

The sun was shining as Annette and her father made their way to the barn for the ceremony.  This couple had opted for bright and vibrant flowers with a mixture of colours, shapes and textures that added a nice splash of colour as the bridal party made their way down the aisle.  On the trees outside the Autumn berries were out and these were matched in Annette’s bouquet as well.

After the ceremony, I took Richard and Annette off in the sunshine for some photos while their guests enjoyed the popcorn and cookies and other sweet treats this couple had organised with the reception drinks by the canal.

When we arrived back into the barn it had been transformed ready for the wedding breakfast.  This is where you could see the real creative flair that Richard and Annette have as the room looked incredible!  In keeping with the rustic barn, the couple had opted for a naked cake.  There were flowers tied to the chairs, fairy lights and bunting hung from the ceiling and there was even some bunting made using images of Annette and Richard.  When this couple had their pre-wedding shoot a couple of months earlier they mentioned that while making this bunting they suddenly realised that they only had something like 15 photos of them together.  Hopefully after today they will have lots to choose from.

This couple have known each other for over 20 years and took a chance 6 years ago to move from the friend zone and go on a date.  I am so pleased they did as Richard and Annette make a solid couple and I know they will have lots of fun years ahead with their little family.

Sam got ready with her dad and bridesmaids and some family friends.  Both Sam and James’s daughters were bridesmaids and to make it more confusing, they both happen to be called Jess.  The two bright and funny girls tried to help matters by explaining that to keep it simple, one likes to be called Bob and the other something else but regrettably, my small brain couldn’t keep up and I reverted back to Jess…and…. Jess!

I arrived early to photograph Sam and all the bridal details. Sam & James had the cool idea of having a dinosaurs and unicorns themed weddings and I can guess from Sam’s home that there was lots of inspiration taken from there.  I started to count the number of unicorns I saw and I lost count quickly!  This girl has some style and along with Sam’s Vivienne Westwood shoes, she had also opted for a brooch bouquet.  As I photographed it and all its colourful pieces it sparkled and rustled.  Lush!  Sam had attached her engagement ring and her nan’s wedding ring with ribbons around the stems.

Sam’s dad came in handy as after several failed attempts to attach the half sixpence to Sam’s shoe for good luck, it was her dad that went into the shed to dig out the marine silicone to save the day.  While Sam was putting on her dress, her dad explained to me that he was wearing the tie with his family’s tartan print on it which is a nice way of including the whole family with you.

When everyone was ready we departed in the VW campervan and stopped off at Sam’s nan’s care home for a quick hug and a few portraits before we were back on the road for the trip from Milton Keynes to Northampton Town.

The Guildhall is an historic building with high arching ceilings with interesting art throughout.  I met up with James who had just seen his Godparents for the first time in ages.  He hadn’t thought they could make it and they only confirmed at the last minute and it had really meant the world to James.  In addition to this, James’ ‘Best Man’ was his sister who had travelled all the way from Australia to support him.

The moment a bride walks down the aisle always makes a big impact but imagine making your entrance to the magical and all consuming tunes of a full brass band.  For Sam though these were all her friends as she plays in this band in her spare time.  It was like watching someone arrive with their own movie soundtrack to accompany them.    Wow, it was impressive!

When it comes to shooting ceremonies, photographers are at the mercy of the registrar, often there are strict rules about where you can stand and what equipment you can use and sometimes there are sections of the service that registrars will not allow you to capture.  I think James and Sam lucked out with their registrar as she was so relaxed.  With hair to match this couple’s colourful scheme, this registrar told me from the offset that there were no rules and I could capture the ceremony how ever I saw fit.  She laughed and joined in with the couple and put everyone at ease.

Sam’s daughter did a reading that was really emotional and I know her family must’ve been very proud that such a young girl could grab the attention of so many people in such a huge hall.

The brass band continued to wow the guests after the ceremony as they set up in the courtyard while the canapés of mini sausage and mash hotdogs were being served.  Sam and James are such a musical family and they joined the band to play “Walking on Sunshine” with Sam on the French horn (I hope I’ve got that right!) and James on the drums.

I had to tear them away to Becketts park to grab some quick portraits and the campervan was ready and waiting to take us.

Meanwhile the Great Hall was being turned around for the afternoon tea the couple had laid on.  Each table had glittery dinosaurs and unicorns as place names with a little badge and a charity donation in place of favours. The cake was the most colourful and magical thing I have ever seen with hidden dinosaurs and unicorns all around it.

The evening entertainment came from the fantastic band the Mighty Macca.  Sam and James opened the dance floor and all was revealed that their dancing lessons had paid off and they were twirling and spinning across the dance floor much to the amazement of the guests.  This polished band had guests dancing all night and even got Sam and her bridesmaid up on stage to add tambourines  for a couple of tracks.  A really fun evening.

Thank you Sam And James for a truly funky wedding.  It really was a wedding to be remembered!

Vendors 

Venue: The Guildhall www.northampton.gov.uk

Make Up Belles Beauty www.facebook.com/belles-beauty

Car Calico Moon www.facebook.com/calicomoonvwhire

Band The Mighty Macca www.maccamusic.co.uk

I first met Chas & Tracy in November 2015.  Tracy had already seen some of my work so I came to meet them at their home to find out more about their wedding plans.  Tracy & Chas had organised a lot already and were able to create quite a good picture of how they were hoping it to look and feel on the day and I have to say I left feeling quite excited at being a part of it.

This couple have been together for 8 years.  They both had new babies when they first met and were living in a little rented place together.  They always said they would never get married but as the years have gone by, everything began falling into place and now, with 3 gorgeous children, a beautiful new home, and a family dog it just felt right for them.

Chas proposed on Valentines Day.  Tracy had thought the surprise was Elsie, their new puppy but all was revealed when Chas popped the question!

On the morning of her wedding, Tracy made her preparations at the Cock Hotel in Stony Stratford Milton Keynes.  The hotel is situated on the High Street so you could see all the usual Friday morning comings and goings of the small market town through the 15th Century windows in the suite upstairs.

We had Tracy, 5 bridesmaids, 2 children, a couple of close friends, a make up artist, a hair stylist and myself, all in one room and some of them with slightly sore heads from all the excitement the night before.  They were all team players and  helped each other out, with nail painting, doing up necklaces and getting the children ready meaning that everyone managed to get ready in good time and enjoy their morning.

Chas and Tracy had planned a hessian rustic theme for their day with lots of woods and natural colours so the bridesmaids dresses (which could be done up in 5 different ways!) really complimented the look.   Looking the part, the gents wore navy suits and tweed waistcoats and together the whole wedding party looked a dream.  Tracy had her bouquet hand made from natural materials to match the theme with pretty beads and textures amongst the flower designs.

Next it was on to the service at St Thomas’ Church in Simpson which was carried out by a great vicar who had the whole congregation laughing at times.  The ladies and men threw everything into the songs and it turned out to be a perfect mixture of sentiment and fun.

With spatters of rain on the way, we headed back to the Cock Hotel for Chas & Tracy’s reception.  I couldn’t wait to photograph the wedding party with the camper van that they had hired as their wedding car! Thankfully we got everything snapped before the rain came properly and Tracy ran for cover just as the wedding breakfast was about to begin.

So much of this wedding had been beautifully crafted, created and styled by Tracy herself.  She really excelled herself and the room looked like perfection with every detail having been thought of.

Tracy had made little hessian heart shape place cards, and bride and groom personalised wine and beer glasses.  There were jam jars filled with seasonal flowers and individual picture frames for table centres.  The children had balloon modelling kits and circus tricks such as juggling that kept them entertained all afternoon. Chas and Tracy had not one, but 3 wedding cakes, some of which were gifts from talented members of the family.

With the evening settling in to full swing, Chas, Tracy and I went for a little stroll around Stony Stratford to get some lovely portraits of them.  It can make a nice change to have a less conventional backdrop of a town with so much history for these shots. I love all the little alleyways and historic features it has to offer here.

The evening partied hard with the Prop Corner set up for the guests of all ages, we got some fantastically funny shots in there!  And the dance floor was packed all night.  I particularly recall the fun when “Much too much, much too young” began to play.

Tracy’s bridesmaids did a fantastic job all day with helping to round people up when needed and keeping the bridal party on schedule.  It helps thay there were such great ladies but I could tell they were the tightest of friends who had each others backs always.  Tracy wore shoes down the aisle with handwritten messages from these ladies which will be something she can keep forever,

Tracy openly admitted that she doesn’t enjoy having her picture taken and in fact this couple had opted to pass up the complimentary couple shoot that was included in their wedding package.  When editing their collection I was taken aback by how stunning Tracy looked on the morning of her wedding.  It would have been easy to for them not to bother having a photographer there to capture their wedding day but I am so so pleased that they did.  Thank you so much for having me Tracy and Chas, you aced it xx

VENDORS:

Venue: Cock Hotel Stony Stratford

Church: St Thomas’s Church, Simpson

Car: Calico Moon

Disco: DJ Lee Powell via The Cock Hotel

Make Up Artist: Yasmin Spink

Wow, so much to say about Jenny & Nick’s wedding!

This pair were high school sweethearts and have been dating since they were about 15 years old.  Nick planned to propose to Jenny during their weekend away in Rome in March 2015.  This was to be a total surprise to Jenny, however Nick thought his cover might have been blown when Jenny’s dad asked him before they left “Have you packed all the important things?” (wink wink).  Thankfully Jenny didn’t notice this at all and the proposal went perfectly and of course she said yes!

On the morning of their wedding, I arrived at Highgate House in Northamptonshire to see a very excited Jenny with her four bridesmaids having a lovely morning.  Nick would say Jenny is unflappable and I’d have to agree.  Having slept really well, not a hint of nerves, and just generally on top of everything, leaving her headspace free and clear to enjoy everything the day had in store for her.

While the ladies were starting their hair and make up preparations, I went over to catch up with Nick who said he hadn’t slept quite so well and was starting to feel pretty nervous.  Thankfully he had some friends and family around him to keep the butterflies at bay and they did a good job of distracting him with the challenge of doing up their wedding ties and arranging pocket squares in their suit jackets.

In the height of Summer, both the bride and groom’s rooms were very hot with the fans on high speed as they got themselves ready.  With Jenny & Nick hidden away at separate ends of the same location I was able to move between the two teams throughout the  morning.

Once Jenny was almost ready she got the news that the bridal suite was ready for her.  As Jenny waited for the room to be unlocked she was able to overlook The Baronian Hall beneath her where she would be saying her vows very soon.  She watched as the musicians began to practices their pieces and spied as the guests started to arrive.  It all started to feel very real.

The bridal suite was very much worth the wait, with an incredible view of the countryside, the flowers arrived and suddenly the room was full of colour.  With plenty of space, I was able to get some beautiful shoots with Jenny and her bridesmaids before Jenny’s dad arrived to see her.  Andy was such a great character and on top form all day.  Jenny gave her dad a fist bump to greet him, I took a few shots of them and it was time to give her away!

After a lovely ceremony, the guests gathered outside in the sun with their bubbly while the string duet played songs such as Toy Story’s ‘You Got a Friend in Me’ and Lou Reed’s ‘Perfect Day’.  The Hall was transformed with all the handmade details Jenny and Nick had made for their wedding celebration.  There were little jars of sweeties with funny alcohol related quotes on them and guests could use this as a token for drinks a the bar.  The name places were inspired by their pet cockatiel Penelope who Nick & Jenny absolutely love but obviously could not attend this gig.  The wedding cake was decorated with flowers to match the bouquets which were so delicate they looked like real flowers and each of the bridesmaids got their own individual cake as a little gift.    There was an instant Polaroid style camera for guests to stick their photos into the couple’s guest book with messages and also a sweet table for kids of all ages to enjoy.

I just love how these two bring out the best in each other.  I know they both tackled this wedding as a team and will have brought their individual talents to the planning. A really lovely day for such a fantastic couple.  Lots of love to you both xx

Vendors:

Venue: Highgate House

Flowers: Homeland Florist

Hair: Nicky Roberts & Tracy Alison

Cake: Hockleighs

Disco: Bob Hammond @ Vintage-Music.co.uk

A little throwback to Ocean & Ricky’s wedding from the beginning of the wedding season.  It has been a busy year for this family and you may recognise Jess & Vince, one of my lovely bride and grooms from last autumn amongst the wedding guests.

Ocean and Ricky got married at the Barns Hotel in Bedford with their super cute toddler Esme as their flower girl.  With a mocha blush colour scheme, Ocean looked divine with her bridesmaids and flowers, beautifully complimenting the spring blossom on the trees around them.

I arrived early to capture Ricky and his dad as they buttoned their sleeves and put on their ties.  They all looked very smart as the guests began to arrive and I know Ricky was extremely keen to see his beautiful soon-to-be-wife come and meet him at the aisle.

After their lovely ceremony I went with Ricky and Ocean to the Embankment in Bedford to take some images of them together.  We knew there was a chance this spot would be really busy on a gorgeous sunny Sunday afternoon but this place had special meaning to them as it is where Ricky proposed to Ocean the previous year.  As it turned out, Butterfly Bridge was fairly full when we arrived there because crowds were gathering to wait for the rowing boats to appear along the river and see which one was in the lead!  After a little persuasion they kindly agreed to give us a quick second to take a few shots of their special place before rejoining their guests back at the venue.

We arrived back to find the guests had begun a family darts match which was actually very funny.

I snuck off to capture all the decorations and details for the reception room which I always love as so much work has gone into creating them.  Guests were treated to lottery scratch cards as favours and there were the most amazing flower filled birdcages above the tables too.  Very pretty!

Ricky told me this was 6 months in the making and I am impressed with everything they created in the timescales.  Teamwork makes the dream work!  Well done guys and many congratulations xx

Venue: The Barns Hotel, Bedford
Flowers: Concetta Elena Dragic

I’ve been much looking forward to sharing this wedding with you.  It was a cracking start to the 2016 wedding season with such a lovely couple that it won’t be forgotten for a long time.

Karen got ready with her good pal Suvi who had flown in from Sweden for the occasion.  Long standing friends who met years ago in Miami were really pleased to be reunited and spoke of how even though they don’t get to spend as much time together as they would like, they keep no secrets and the second they are back in the same room, it is like they have never been away. Good friend and neighbour Elaine was also on hand to help out with button doing, shoe fastening and champagne pouring.  Suvi had brought with her some traditional champagne glasses to drink the champagne that was gifted by Karen’s work.

Right from our first meeting, Keith and Karen had said that they wanted to have a really relaxed feel for their wedding day and just go with the flow, sharing most of the day with just close friends and family.  No stress, just quality time for all.  I loved this approach and I think it shows in their photos that they were just nicely caught up in each other and their family.

Shortly before the ceremony, Karen’s parents arrived to deliver the matching pendant to Karen’s beautiful engagement ring.  It was quite a sweet moment as both items of jewellery had previously belonged to her grandmother and here they were living on as part of Karen’s wedding story.

I caught up with Keith and brother Barry for a few photos as they arrived at the Holiday Inn in Newport Pagnell.  Looking very dapper they were keen to greet their family before seeing the registrar and getting started.  Sometimes the family resemblance is so strong you can instantly tell who is who without an introduction and this was the case with Keith and Karen family.  Very handy, although it’s always worth checking!

Karen and Keith had planned the date of their wedding around their ideal honeymoon destination of the Seychelles.  This meant that they opted for a wintery colour scheme of silvers and blues to compliment the season.

Karen came down the aisle on her fathers arm proceeded by 2 of her daughters and their little flower girl.  On seeing Keith waiting for her, Karen gave her groom the biggest grin.  One of the joys of being able to photograph weddings is being able to capture all these little moments of excitement and joy between two people in love.

After the service, I took Karen and Keith for some photos.  Wanting to capture the beauty outside the venue, it was a little chilly and I wasn’t sure how it would be for Karen in her bridal gown.  Karen assured me the Irish blood in her would see her through and she was very keen to explore the grounds.  I was so glad she did as  this couple did not disappoint and were cheerful and relaxed which meant we got some lovely images of them together.

Back inside, all the guests sat around one main table for the wedding breakfast which ensured everyone felt part of this one big family.

As the evening guest arrived, Keith and Karen had prepared a fantastic first dance to open the dance floor.  As a surprise, this pair had secretly taken dance lessons and prepared a whole dance routine for their guests.  I will never again be able to listen to “Shut Up and Dance With Me” again without thinking of this pair.  Seeing the effort they had gone to and how well they pulled it off made for a few tears and many cheers.  Well done guys!

The evening’s entertainment was provided by the brilliant and polished 9 piece band, Bicycle Thieves which was a real treat.  There was also a caricaturist (had to spell check that!) who was scribbling away all night and a photo booth which bucked the trend with some new and unusual props for guests to play with.

It was a lovely day and I wish you both a wonderful and well deserved honeymoon and many many happy years ahead. xx

Stylist: Clare Louise

Florist Jade Flower Boutique facebook/jadeflowerboutique

Cake Supplier: The Cake Corner facebook/thecakecornermk

Photobooth: Timelss Entertainment facebook/photoboothtimeless

Caricaturist: Cartoon Rich http://www.richcartoons4u.co.uk

Band: Bicycle Thieves http://www.bicyclethieves.co.uk

Karen and Keith met through their work about 6 years ago and struck up a friendship that soon blossomed into an awesome relationship. They are both so busy with their work schedules at the moment that there was only one day we could all get together for their pre-wedding shoot and I am so glad they were able to squeeze me in.

I enjoyed hearing about Keith and Karen’s wedding plans, and think that with such a jam-packed diary they have both done amazingly well to plan their wedding and honeymoon in a relatively shot space of time.

For this shoot, we took a stroll along the canal in Milton Keynes in the fresh, crisp, Winter air with the bright sunshine low in the sky. The sleeping canal boats were a nice backdrop to some of our images but I did not envy anyone resting inside them on this January afternoon and soon we were dreaming of sunny honeymoon locations and tropical seas.

After the shoot, Karen and Keith kindly invited me back to their home for a warm cuppa so we could run through the finer details of their day. With some treats in store, I know this will be a lovely day for all invited and I cannot wait to share it with them.

Not long after I met Carly & Kevin for their pre-wedding shoot it was time to capture their wedding day!

This couple have a long history together because rather amazingly, Kevin and Carly met when Kevin was a tiny baby and Carly was just a couple of years old. Both sets of parents knew each other through the football club in Fishermead and who would’ve guessed that one day these two would be getting married after 10 happy years and 2 gorgeous sons together. I saw the most adorable photo of Kevin being held in Carly’s arms at such a young age and I would imagine that this would be pretty mind blowing for Kev & Carly’s own children to see now.

I arrived at the Holiday Inn in Milton Keynes to meet Carly as her wedding preparations were underway. She had opted to get ready with only her mum to ensure they had a special and relaxed morning with lots of time to spare. I even got a little involved by helping to secure the cross from a loved one to Carly’s handmade bouquet and listening as instructed to the hairstylist’s tips on how to secure Carly’s veil in place.

I left Carly and her mum sipping champagne in their hotel room and snuck out to photograph her wedding dress. This strapless fitted gown, with lace train and diamante detail around the waist was divine. Carly had a full veil and chose pearl and diamante jewellery to ensure everything matched. As I hung the dress over the hotel balcony to take a closer look, a member of staff paused in front of it for a moment and remarked “Now that is a really nice one”. And she wasn’t wrong.

Downstairs, I enjoyed snapping some of the guests as they arrived and I caught up with Kevin and his best man…. another Kevin. I always ask couples for a brief list of the group shoots they would like during the wedding day as I feel having the information beforehand means no precious time is lost making decisions on the actual day. You can imagine how confused I was when I first got this couple’s list, and discovered there were actually 3 important Kevins in this wedding party!

A real family affair, the lovely ceremony was supported by a great number of family members with Kevin’s sister and the couples’ friends taking up roles of being witnesses, doing readings and even filming the service. With such a large family, every seat was taken and the room was full to the brim.

This wedding had an Autumn theme and the preparations for the day had been a long time in the making with table centres being designed during our first meeting early in 2015. Carly and Kevin had created and personalised nearly every element of their wedding day with help from friends and family. Such beautiful vibrant colours for this time of year, all the invitations, flowers, table centres, decorations, the cake and even the adorable little crocheted place names were made by Carly and Kevin’s wedding team. There was a unique tree where guests could hang personal messages and wishes on the branches, and in place of the usual signing book, friends could leave their mark on a hand painted tree with their fingerprints taking the place of the leaves.

The Autumn weather was kind to us and we were just finishing some shots of the family outside when the rain arrived and we ran for cover, just in time for the wedding breakfast. This couple treated their guests to an atmospheric dining experience with the help of a pianist to accompany their meal. From such classics as Stevie Wonders’ ‘Isn’t She Lovely’, to Jamiroquai’s ‘Virtual Insanity’, the mood was upbeat and fun.

During Carly and Kevin’s pre-wedding shoot, Kevin had confessed to me that he was a little nervous about the responsibility of the impending wedding speeches. He needn’t have worried as he delivered a charming speech to his new wife and guests, while his best man unveiled a signed Liverpool shirt for Kevin during his stint with the mic. Much kinder than the grilling grooms normally receive from their Best Man at this point! Last but not least came Carly’s speech, as she presented a gift to a special friend who’s birthday it was today. This lovely couple made sure that the birthday girl was not forgotten and enjoyed sharing their day with her.

As the evening arrived, I stepped outside the hotel to begin setting up the Prop Corner for the reception guests. There was such a beautiful mixture of weathers which took me completely by surprise, with rain, sunshine and a colourful sunset that left me unsure whether to pause and enjoy or run for shelter.

In keeping with the level of thought that had gone into this day, the evening reception followed on form with a chocolate fountain and sweetie table, an impressive contemporary dance from their niece and of course, the Prop Corner to keep everyone entertained.

We had wanted to get some images of Carly and Kevin with the beautiful reds and oranges of the season from around the hotel but we opted to wait for dry and come out after sunset. This couple were so full of patience and grace with lovely manners, I loved working with them and hope they had the most magical of days xx.

Casting my mind back to September I find myself at the morning of Kerri & Paul’s wedding. Right from day one, Kerri and Paul had been honest about not loving having their photos taken. Kerri had seen some lovely photo ideas that she had shared and described to me when we had a consultation earlier in the year, and although I can never guarantee I will get a shot that looks exactly the same, I felt there was a lot of overlap between the work she liked and my natural photography style. I like tho do some scheduled shots at a few key times during a couples wedding day but a lot of what I like to capture are moments that happen naturally so I felt there was great scope to get some lovely natural shots for Kerri and Paul during their wedding day.

We began the day at The Mecure Hotel in Abbey Hill. Kerri’s 6 year old daughter Leah gave me the grand tour of the bedrooms and pointed out where all the glitzy glamorous items were so I could get some photos of them. We shot Kerri’s dress, veil & shoes in various spots and Leah helped make sure everything stayed safely together. I could tell that she was really excited and Kerri had arranged for her to have her hair and a tiny bit of make up done like the rest of the bridal party so she could get the whole experience too.

Paul and Kerri had chosen the beautiful Church of All Saints at Calverton for their wedding ceremony and the service was held by a brilliant vicar who kept the guests relaxed and laughing while they awaited Kerri’s entrance. I photographed Paul with his groomsmen first and as 2pm approached, I went outside to wait by the metal gates of the church ground with Kerri & Paul’s son, Alfie who was keeping an eager eye out for the wedding cars. I really think he was as keen to see his mum arrive as Paul probably was waiting inside the church.

Kerri stepped out of the immaculate white Rolls Royce with her granddad in hand. With butterflies in her tummy, a little wave of nerves hit Kerri before we entered the church and thankfully the Vicar cracked a few silly jokes before she had a chance to smudge any of her make up and she was back on form to make her entrance.

The service was very sweet and tender as Kerri & Pauls love for each other was finally recognised in marriage. They were both totally focused on each other and sometimes a little squeeze of the hand or a discreet smile with their eyes was enough to show how deep their care for each other goes.

After the group shots, we headed to The Kingfisher Golf & Country Club in Deanshanger where Alan Hodge, the toastmaster kept Paul & Kerri’s reception running to schedule and ensured they didn’t miss a moment of their day. We got a huge group photo of all the guests shot from the balcony at the top of the country club before losing the kids to the bouncy castle and entertainment laid out on the field. This gave me a few minutes to capture all the lovely personal details the couple had included such as the string-wrapped lottery tickets, the sweetie cart and the 5 tier wedding cake with their sparkly initials in place of the traditional cake topper.

Kerri’s granddad who had walked her down the aisle earlier, delivered a heart-warming and tear jerking speech about how proud he was watching Kerry grow from a feisty teenager into the beautiful woman he saw before him that day. He then went on to crack some very good gags allowing guests to put down their hankies for a minute too.

For a couple that were unsure about having any special bride and groom shots, I was so pleased when they decided to go for it as I knew they would not have any regrets. Kerri and Paul’s shots came out beautifully with the gorgeous red sunset behind them and the trees and lake as a back drop. Stunning!

After the first dance, we set up the Prop Corner and got some fun shots of the guests. My particular favourite was the little boy in the Michael Jackson hat with the glittery microphone. Pop star in the making! Walking through the bar at the end of the evening, I stopped to take a shot of a group of guests hanging out and chatting. “Lets get the photo first and we’ll introduce ourselves to each other after”. Classic example of how some guests just hit it off and skip the formalities.

Such a lovely day, thank you so much for sharing your day with me xx

Church: Church of All Saints, Calverton

Reception: Brampton Kingfisher Golf & Country Club https://www.facebook.com/Kingfisher-Hotel-Golf-Country-Club-519693428081867/?fref=ts

Reception Organiser: Tony Pearson from Kingfisher Country Club

Toast Master: Alan Hodge https://www.facebook.com/alanmhodge.toastmaster?hc_location=ufi

Photography: Anna Packard Photography https://www.facebook.com/annapackardphotography