Coming soon…

A message to Sue and Jeremy … Please can I have the secret to raising such a lovely family?  The vibe between you all, between you and your friends and with James and his family is amazing.  It was such a treat to witness it at Louise and James’ gorgeous country wedding.  Adlestrop is a picture perfect Cotswolds village, made famous by the poet Edward Thomas – who apparently used to live very near me in Hampshire (I have been told this since by an infinitely more literate friend – and to think I could have had an educated conversation with the vicar about it!).  Louise got ready at her parents’ house, a minutes walk away from the church.

The day was run with military precision so the church bell tolled at 3.45 – in advance of Louise’s arrival at 4pm. It was the first time Adlestrop has heard it’s church bells for over 20 years.  The bridal party, and then Louise and her Dad had a tour around the village on a horse and cart before arriving at the church – the very same horse and cart Louise’s parents used when they got married 34 years previously (they were also celebrating their wedding anniversary).  Honestly, if any more heart strings could’ve been pulled, I think it would’ve tipped everyone over the edge!

After a lovely ceremony with some good rousing hymns (Jerusalem AND Bread of Heaven), the new Mr and Mrs Ayres, fishing confetti out of Louise’s cleavage, made the journey back around the village to the marquee in the horse and cart.  Canapés, Pimms, beers and wine flowed while the smells of an amazing barbecue wafted over the field.  Cracking speeches, cracking band and some absolutely cracking dancing.  One of my favourite things about a wedding is the excuse for cross-generational party.   At Louise and James’ wedding, all generations rocked the dance floor, from the oldest to the youngest.

Huge thank you to Louise and James – and their families and friends for making me feel so welcome.  A perfect English country wedding.

Liz and Mike are one of those couples you know are completely made to be together.   United by a love of life, adventures, hockey and Jägerbombs, their wedding was a photographers’ dream. Beautiful bride and bridesmaids, handsome groom and groomsmen, family and friends having a blast, tears aplenty – certainly from the bridal party and Mike’s dad, but also from a large percentage of the guests.   And every location perfectly matched each occasion!  Liz and the ladies (and brother Steve in his Superman pants) got ready at Liz’s family home – where she’s lived all her life – surrounded by photos of Liz and Steve growing up.  The church was in the centre of Solihull (opposite a good pub conveniently for Mike and the lads.  No Jägerbombs just yet!) and the reception at Fentham Hall, just outside Sollihull with the most amazing views of surrounding countryside.

When I took Liz and Mike’s engagement photos, we were chatting about the wedding plans – they were decorating the hall themselves (Liz was going home to finish sewing the table runners after the shoot) and guests were helping to clear the room between the meal and the dancing.  It sounded amazing but I thought at the time it could be quite stressful for them on the day.  It’s a tribute to Liz, Mike and their friends and family that I didn’t notice any stress on the day – at all!  The room looked amazing and everything worked seamlessly without anyone seemingly asking anyone to do anything!   Even reconstructing a shot of them both sitting on a gate – a shot that they’d taken when they first found the hall and planned to have their wedding there – was totally taken in their stride.  They were even united in their dislike of a lamb that photobombed them at the gate!

Liz and her mother did a speech before the meal – I hope they are recorded on a phone somewhere to listen back to.  And Mike’s speech was toasted with Jägerbombs – served in bomb-shot glasses – and a big hug with his Dad Vic, just in case anyone wasn’t in tears yet.   After a delicious meal (I think the main course was lamb!) and after a beautiful, romantic and swishy first dance, ties were ’round heads (as predicted!) and the dancing was underway.

Thank you Mr and Mrs Norrington for asking me to photograph your day.  It was an absolute treat to be part of it! x

‘It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.’  Wisdom from the Baird.  I’m not sure.  I like to think it’s a bit of both – probably to absolve myself of some responsibility at least.  Either which way, Emma and Richard had the most perfect wedding day.  She was the most relaxed bride and looked absolutely stunning in an Audrey Hepburn-esque lace overlay dress.  The sun was out and shining bright.  The day began in a beautiful church in the village Emma grew up, with a newly ordained, groovy vicar.  Everyone was delighted to get out of the heat of the sun for a short while to enjoy some cracking, traditional hymns and to watch Emma marry Richard.   A gorgeous yellow vintage Rolls Royce picked up the bride and groom and took them to Gate Street Barn – a gorgeous modern oak barn in the Surrey Hills a few miles from Guildford.  Guests applied suntan lotion, enjoyed Pimms and canapés while we had an amazing time exploring the gardens for our photo shoot. Surrey wedding photography, and a good barn wedding, is such a treat.  The Barn looked gorgeous with dusky pink roses on the tables and bunting and greenery on the ceiling.