Tag: chichester wedding

Chichester Cathedral Wedding | Sabrina & Luke

Chichester cathedral wedding | sabrina & Luke

Sabrina and Luke booked me for their Chichester Cathedral Wedding followed by a reception at Southdowns Manor, so when planning their engagement shoot we chose to visit the Cathedral and Bishop’s Palace Gardens to familiarise ourselves with potential shots spots on their day and make the most of the Autumnal weather at the time. Here’s a little look back at that!

The Preparations:

As a wedding photographer, I’m always involved at the event planning stage where the location and other details are taking precedence. I do love finding out how people met! Sabrina and Luke’s love story began in their local gym where they met and got to know each other. I think this is brilliant, and I am always in awe when people say they met at the gym, as from my own experience I’d be such a sweaty ball of mess I think I’d be hiding from public view!!

On their wedding day, Sabrina and Luke planned for a Chichester Cathedral Wedding, followed by a reception at Southdowns Manor. What a beautiful pairing of locations to have as a backdrop their day!

Sabrina and her ladies primped and prepared at the gorgeous location of 4 Canon Lane, just behind the cathedral… the light and space within the house was just absolutely breathtaking! Perfect for capturing those small details while looking out to see the cathedral right in front of you!

Luke and the boys got themselves ready a short walk away at their home! You’ll probably notice the difference between the serenity of the ladies vs the playfulness of the gents as they prepared for their wedding!

As a photographer, I usually lean towards colour as my main supply of finished images, but when shooting at the cathedral and it’s grounds, I couldn’t help but feel more and more of the frames lent themselves to a black and white conversion. Sometimes it’s very easy to define whether an image should be either colour or black and white, however there are occasions when even I can’t make up my mind so I supply both versions… perhaps it’s also because I’m already considering the album layout and whether a set of images will work better than the other version!

When the girls were getting ready, for me there was a very strong sense of wanting to use monochrome. Sometimes I find it just makes the subject more impacting! The light and setting just really lent itself to this classic feel… I’m not surprised Arleta D picked that prime spot to apply Sabrina and her mum’s make up! The girls had the run of both 4 Canon Lane and an additional building to wait and prepare in which we were able to jump between while the preparations continued.

To complement the monochrome prep, I ensured that a selection of images of Luke and his Groomsmen were also provided in black and white! I love how when showing off his Dartagnan’s “Black & Gold” suit, Luke’s gang of fellas couldn’t help but get really handsy with him!! I especially like their “strut walk” through the city to arrive ready for their Chichester Cathedral Wedding, anyone else hear the soundtrack to Reservoir Dogs in their mind?

While Luke was on his way to the Cathedral ready to greet the arrival of their guests, Sabrina was still in the final throes of getting ready. With the most striking gown from Proposals in Chichester (which is now Whyte Weddings), it was hard not to feel the anticipation and excitement in the room as Mum helped Sabrina into her dress. You could feel the pride and love flowing through mum at this special moment!

Sabrina retained the reveal to her bridesmaids until she was dressed, who then helped her with the finishing touches of her veil and shoes!

The final stage of the bridal prep was still not done! Sabrina had yet to see her Dad…. when we were planning her day photographically, she mentioned the statement staircase at 4 Canon Lane. What better way for a father’s first look than seeing his beautiful daughter emerge from height and walk towards him down such a grand aisle?! The front door made a tidy little frame too for their first pictures together!

The pathway connecting Sabrina’s preparation venue and the cathedral was in full bloom of colour. What a sight to see them all walking down towards her guests and waiting groom whilst ensuring her dress was kept aloft and pristine before her arrival for their Chichester Cathedral Wedding.

Most of my weddings are shot by two of us. This serves a number of purposes. Firstly, it ensures that we don’t have to compromise between choosing a candid or more structured moment to capture. Both can happen simultaneously by either of us. My second shooters and I have worked closely together for a number of years where our communication has largely become non-verbal. This has really helped our shooting become seamless and cohesive.

Secondly, it means we are able to capture both evolving scenes from each partner. So many of my couples love to be able to see and share the experience of what the other was doing while they were busy with their own preparations.

The second shooters I use are also professional photographers themselves, and I often shoot for them too in a “second” capacity. This really helps us as professionals step away from being primarily responsible for capturing the day (as well as ensuring timings are kept to, people are where they should be etc) and helps us practice our craft with a creative freedom. It also enables us to practise our ninja skills in a variety of settings where rolling under bushes and hiding behind walls and pillars are essential moves to “get that shot”!

The point is illustrated perfectly here for this Chichester Cathedral Wedding where both perspectives in these final few moments before the ceremony are captured for the other to see.

The Ceremony:

The time has come! The Dean of Chichester Cathedral is ready and waiting with the Verger to accompany Sabrina and her Bridal Party down the long aisle towards her waiting groom. This is always the moment that gets me in the solar plexus… no matter how many weddings I shoot, I’m still a softy at heart, feeling the knot of nerves in my gut and the emotion seeping out of my eyes as both partners experience the anticipation of the ceremony about to start. I’m glad when I see my couples also feeling ALL the feels!!

The images will speak for themselves, but you can see that Sabrina and Luke chose very well with a Chichester Cathedral Wedding. With the gothic architecture, the traditional symbolism and the tall grand building, it was a ceremony fitting for all the time, planning (and pandemic re-scheduling), styling and love that was packed in that space.

The emotion was palpable, the celebration from their guests immense and the traditional aspects of their service felt perfectly sacred too. What a pleasure to be able to create images that not only show the intimacy of the ceremony, but the grandeur of the venue too.

During the wedding planning session, Sabrina and Luke wanted to minimise the the “formal group” shots, focussing on just the immediate family and bridal party. One of the reasons for this is they wanted a more candid approach when documenting their day, but also so while their guests were mingling and being transported to Southdowns Manor for the reception which was planned to be a full on party, they could spend some quiet time together in the cloisters and cathedral grounds capturing their portraits.

Sometimes having a large number of formal shots can be time consuming, especially when guests need to be somewhere else for the next stage of the day. To minimise disruption, we often plan in the timeline the vital “formals” then structure in a list of “must have” shots which can be more candidly captured and arranged in a more relaxed way at appropriate times later during the day.

There is limited availability to book a Chichester Cathedral Wedding, perhaps 12 per year, so taking the opportunity for some portraits of just the newlyweds in the grounds was a must have! While waiting for Luke to see off some of the guests, Sabrina was the perfect model to show off her stunning style and poise in her finest gown.

We revisited the cloisters from the engagement shoot as well as ensuring we had a shot of the vintage car Sabrina and Luke had hired for the occasion. Scott at West Sussex Wedding Cars was as wonderful and accommodating as usual to get his 1025 Rolls Royce Phantom looking it’s best for it’s close up!

The Reception:

Next stop, Southdowns Manor! A firm favourite of mine, not just for its location and setting, but also the service and team that make it a joy to work at. A wedding venue that truly goes above and beyond, I can’t recommend them enough.

The guests were already being served with drinks and canapes when we arrived, a self service Pimms set up was a great idea (and one I wished I could have taken Sabrina and Luke’s invitation to partake in, were I not driving and on duty!!). While the newlyweds greeted their guests, Lee and I did the rounds capturing the candid moments and the details involved in this part of the day. From a violinist providing background music in the courtyard, to the guests getting into the social spirit, to the table details and Beauty and te Beast themed wedding cake by Foxwood. Here’s a small selection from that time…

In the 10 minutes or so needed for the Southdowns Manor staff to usher the guests in to the dining hall and find their seats, I usually take this period to take the newlyweds away from the crowd to capture a few more portraits. This serves 2 purposes… On the one hand, when you remove the main attraction, the guests are more likely to head to their next destination… this helps the serving staff immeasurably. On the other, it gives the couple a few minutes together to reconnect with each other. We’re often using long lenses at this point and asking them to just walk and talk together. Giving them some privacy and us some more candid portrait moments.

I had to include Sabrina and Luke’s “we’re done, we’re off ” moment as it made us all laugh that they could go back to their drinks ready to be welcomed into the dining room for their wedding breakfast!

Southdowns Manor always provide the most scrumptious food for their guests and this wedding was no exception! With the speeches set between courses and drinks flowing freely, I think everybody thoroughly enjoyed this break in the day to refuel. With 2 best men, the speeches were very tongue in cheek, Luke took this all in his stride with laughter, even when he was presented with lingerie of his own! It was great to see the top table (and the guests) wiping away the tears of laughter!

When Sabrina and Luke said they were going to bring the party, they really did! With a hefty supply of prosecco and pimms stocked up behind the bar, an extra cocktail bar as well, they and their guests were all in a great celebratory spirit! A lot of fun was had…

Here’s a small glimpse midst the cutting of the cake and the first dance!

As we say our goodbyes and head off into the sunset, while the revellers continue their party, our job is not yet over. The first thing that happens is the lengthy process of ensuring all the memory cards are uploaded safely and backed up securely. The editing process is quite complex and goes through a number of stages over the next 8 weeks or so resulting in a beautiful set of images from the day.

Firstly, the couple get to view their images before they then choose which ones are for the album! Sabrina and Luke had gone for the Deluxe Collection which means they get a Duet Album. One for the main highlights, with thick pages and a high definition finish and the other a larger coffee table style book which holds the whole day in print. The great benefit to this is you don’t really have to compromise on what’s printed and what’s not. This collection also includes smaller, parent copies of the highlight album which make a great gift for those family members who have supported you on this journey.

Sabrina and Luke also chose a number of fine art prints for their wall. All of my printed products are handmade in Italy using the finest materials and inks, using the most up to date printing technology to ensure the optimum quality, colour balance and longevity of the photographs.

Here’s a quick glimpse at their albums, I’ll save the video of the un-boxing for another time!

Thank you so much Sabrina and Luke for choosing us to create the memories of your beautiful day. We had the most amazing time getting to know you both better over the years of preparations (and covid) and wish you health, wealth and happiness for your future together.

xX Fiona Xx

Chichester Cathedral Wedding

SUPPLIER LIST:

Venues: Chichester Cathedral & Southdowns Manor

Dress: Proposals (now Whyte Weddings)

Suit: Dartagnan’s “Black and Gold”

Rings: Ebony

Flowers: Mundham Nursery

Cake: Foxwood

Car: West Sussex Classic Wedding Cars

MUA: Arleta D

Chichester Guildhall Wedding Photographer | Julie & Lewis

You may remember Julie & Lewis from our very monochrome Pre-Wedding Shoot on a foggy day at West Witterings? Here’s the link to that day. Thankfully their April wedding last year was on a warm and sunny day… our fingers and noses were very happy for this!!

Julie chose the Chichester Harbour Hotel & Spa as their venue to get ready in, a fantastic choice as not only does it have the most stunning Georgian features with sleek, sympathetic interiors… It is mere meters from their Wedding Venue, The gorgeous Guildhall in Priory Park.

As Julie, her parents and bridesmaids were getting ready, I noticed something hugely profound (for me). Julie’s parents were looking back on a photo album that had been brought along on the day. Now, if we have had a conversation, you will likely know that I am a self confessed “Print Diva”! I love printed images, I really believe we as photographers are doing our future generations a disservice if we are only offering digital files. These precious images get lost on a tiny USB, the files corrupted, or even worse the technology has changed over the years and they no longer fit our computers. ALL of my couples get a wedding album, no matter what. It is something I believe passionate about, future generations looking back through their family history with real printed images. Anyhow, I digress! Here’s some more of their getting ready!

As a Chichester Guildhall Wedding Photographer I know the area pretty well. Very handy when you’re popping back and forth between two venues! I nipped across to The Guildhall to see how Lewis was getting on with his greeting of the guests. The venue had been set up beautifully in their colours of Cadbury’s purple and blue with a drop of fuschia in the flowers. A vase on display made by Julie and her girls during one of her hen activities and some other hand made decorations finished it off beautifully. I love how close Julie and Lewis are with their families. The tenderness shown to one another is palpable.

Just before Julie left the Chichester Harbour Hotel and Spa to take the short stroll to the Chichester Guildhall for their ceremony we took a few moments to capture some portraits before she presented herself to her waiting Bridesmaids.

If you’ve not been in the Chichester Guildhall you will find it is as impressive inside as it is outside. Built in 1282 it has a rich history but became a wedding venue for the first time over 730 years later in 2015! With vast, tall ceilings and filled with windows, it is a beautiful bright space. Perfect for your wedding ceremony!

I love the moments caught just before a bride begins her journey down the aisle. Nerve wracking for many, Julie just looked full of joy! The emotion as Lewis waited for his bride to walk down the aisle was clear to see. The moments caught between them capturing their love, playfulness and adoration towards each other was so warming. Family played a key part in the ceremony, from bridesmaids to witnesses and readings.

For the family portraits and group photos, as a Chichester Guildhall Wedding Photographer, using the grounds in Priory Park is a perfect choice! We stayed for a little while here to capture various combinations of the family groups while also being on hand to capture some less formal shots of the guests as they milled around. It’s always funny when the boys get together, mischief seems to follow….It didn’t take long for Lewis to be back by the side of his gorgeous wife mind you 😉

Julie and Lewis had hired Boxgrove Village Hall for their wedding reception, a versatile hall with large grounds set just outside Chichester in the village of Boxgrove. Well placed to also make the most of the other features the hamlet has to offer….Boxgrove Priory and the ruins there being the obvious.

Like with the decor for their ceremony, there were personal and handmade details throughout their reception. Table names were mocked up from Disney films, showing their love for Walt and his crew. The cake with its dinosaur theme made by the talented couple too! The guests enjoyed afternoon tea before heading into the speeches where again, the love and respect they have for each other and their families was clear for all to see and hear. With tears and laughter the speeches were finished by the best man presenting the newlyweds with a card sent over from Disneyland itself, signed by many of their characters!

While the room was being turned around we popped over the road to Boxgrove Priory to capture a few more portraits. The scenery there changes with the seasons, but the ruins remain the same. A great piece of Sussex history to complete the trend throughout the day with historic buildings!

The evening went on with more food, dancing, ice-cream and jolility! My second shooter, Lee and I invite the guests to register their details on the ipad for the online gallery. A great tool to have that enables us to notify the guests with a click of a button when the images are ready (after the newlyweds have seen them first of course!)

While Julie & Lewis went off to enjoy a beach soaked honeymoon, the work continues for us! All the images are gathered, uploaded and backed up before the editing processes begin. My editing happens in 3 stages: Colour correction; Main edit; Final tweaks. Once this is done and the couple see their gallery for the first time, we then work on their photo album. All my wedding albums are handmade in Italy by Graphistudio. A family run company based in the foothills of the Italian Alps.

Julie and Lewis were also driven by the idea that having printed copies of their images was highly important so they opted to upgrade their collection to the Duet Album. A bespoke creation combining 2 albums in a personally designed box. Using their invitation logo and favoured typography to personalise the box and book covers, this really is a collection that not only holds their whole day in print but represents the theme and styling used on the day too. To complete their collection Julie and Lewis also added Parent Copies to give as gifts. A truly wonderful way to store and present their memories of the most beautiful, love filled day.

I look forward to the next chapters in the Branson Household and wish them every happiness!

Fiona xx

FionaMillsArt | Chichester Guildhall Wedding Photographer

Liz & Jack | The Engagement Shoot

It’s been quite an exciting summer as yet another set of friends prepare to tie the knot this year and I have the pleasure of being their photographer. I have known Liz and Jack for a number of years now, but since they’ve been a couple, with Jack being at University in Canterbury, Liz in Chichester and their time together precious, I haven’t had the chance to really hang with them as a couple and get to know what makes them tick together. The engagement shoot in preparation for their wedding was a great opportunity.

To start off we visited a place close to Liz’s home called Brandy Hole Copse in Chichester. As we were trekking through brambles, warding off wasps and kicking playing toddlers off picturesque benches, Liz and Jack shared with me why this Copse was so special to them. It was where they had their first date, first kiss, where Jack asked Liz to officially be his girlfriend and then later asked her to be his wife! I mean, seriously! How romantic can you get?! To top it all off, Jack had even drawn Liz a picture at random (pre-dating) of the same clearing with a pond, trees and a couple hanging out before he had visited! Meant to be or what?!

I loved the light flares created by the dappled woodland when shooting into the light, and natural framing of the shots emphasised by the surrounding foliage. I could have spent far longer exploring, but the couple of hours at Brandy Hole Copse doing a photo-op recce was definitely rewarding as we plan to return on their wedding day and really come full circle in their dating journey. We detoured via Liz’s house to grab some much needed lunch in preparation for the next stage….Boxgrove Priory & Ruins.

I came to realise during our time together that Liz and Jack are an incredibly tactile couple. I decided to use this to my advantage as it made for some really romantic shots. The ruins are a wonderful backdrop for romance. As they are having their wedding reception at Boxgrove Village Hall it will be perfect to return here with all their wedding day finery and attire to capture some more portraits.

I’m hoping too, to be able to inject some youthful spirit into the wedding day photos as we are planning to bring the bridal party – consisting of their best friends, here for some fun shots!

The last part of Liz and Jack’s engagement shoot consisted of an impromptu trip to Bognor to visit the sea. Jack and Liz really got to know each other in Bognor at Opengate Church that we all attend, so they have spent much time at the beach or walking the prom together. As they will both be moving to Canterbury after their wedding, Liz really wanted to get some photos of them together at the beach, capturing those precious memories.

Again, I had great fun playing with light flares and rebelling against the photographers’ golden rule of not shooting into the sun….especially during the Golden Hour!! One of my favourite moments from this part was the moment Jack lost his footing on the moving stones as a wave rushed in whilst he was paddling and holding a shrieking Liz! They soon made up….as you can see!!

The beach in Bognor, along Aldwick Bay, was a lovely, quiet spot to finish the day. It was lovely to hang out with Liz and Jack and really get to know them better, as well as priming them for a whole day of being papped by two of us on their wedding day. I can’t wait!! Roll on September 6th!!

Mr & Mrs Greenaway | Lythe Hill Hotel & Spa

I met Steve and Diane last year through a friend of mine who put them in touch with me as a potential wedding photographer for their upcoming nuptials. They were planning to get married at a lovely location called Lythe Hill Hotel & Spa in Haslemere, Surrey. Now, for those that know me, I’m always on the lookout for nice spa hotels….with 2 toddlers and a business & household to run I am partial to being treated by my loving husband now and then!!

Steve, Diane and I met up again at Lythe Hill Hotel to discuss and arrange the plan of their day, but also to scope out the land for suitable photographic spots whilst stalking them with my cameras to help get them prepared for being photographed on their wedding day. The hotel had many stunning spots: outdoor gazebo’s; ponds; bridges; acres of green landscaped lawns….but we became a little adventurous and wandered through the thickets and brambles to find a hidden bluebell crop. This is one of the shots from that day that Steve & Diane chose to have printed and mounted so their wedding guests could sign the mount before framing it, as a momento from the day.

Hunting the bluebells on their engagement shoot

On the morning of the wedding day, I dropped Lee (my trusted No 2!) at Lythe Hill to capture Steve as he prepared for the ceremony with his son Dom. I made my way up the road to meet Diane at her sisters….I hadn’t counted on my sat-nav become a little confused in the small country roads and signal-free Surry hills. Thankfully a quick phone call later, we were all where we should be ready to go!

Steve & Dom suited & booted ready to go.

Diane, her sisters and her nieces & nephew were all at the house getting ready, as well as parents, husbands and dogs! It all seemed incredibly under control and calm however. Everyones hair and makeup was done, all that was left to do was get Diane in her dress. After clearing the room from all except one sister and niece (also a bridesmaid), Diane was helped into the most stunning ivory gown. It was simply elegant. The fabric curved and clung in all the right places, the neckline sat just off Diane’s shoulders with a classic brooch on one side and the train showed off it’s length without being flouncy or in the way. It really was elegant.

As their wedding day approached, we had all been eagerly watching the weather report as a rainy day had been forecast. This is not normally a problem, but Steve & Diane had originally planned on their ceremony being held outdoors on the lawns in the gazebo overlooking the pond. Despite more clement weather arriving for their wedding day, the grounds were quite wet from the previous nights rains, so they moved their ceremony to the stunning Garden Room with wooden beams and a great glass roof. They decorated it with handmade pompoms and bunting which complemented the pink and purple colour theme. It was here that Steve was waiting patiently, doing his best to show how nervous he wasn’t!

As Diane travelled with her father to Lythe Hill, she was met by the rest of her bridesmaids who were waiting for her at the venue. This was also a momentous occasion for Nicky, Diane’s chief bridesmaid and niece as she would not only be leading the way down the aisle for her aunt….she was also the Hotel’s Wedding and Event’s Co-ordinator. nothing like a bit of pressure for the staff working that day!!

Here comes the part of the day that sets the butterflies in my stomach going, even now! The part where the Groom finally gets to watch his bride walk down the aisle towards him. The sun had come out and sunlight was streaming in through the glass roof of the Garden Room, really illuminating the colours that had been put together so thoughtfully. I must admit though, Steve still didn’t succumb to “normal Groom behaviour” as there were still no sign of any nervousness from him!

As friends and family looked on to witness Steve and Diane get married, very few could hold their amusement as the happy couple giggled their way through their vow taking….prompting a question from the registrar as to whether they were actually serious! I felt this just encapsulated the laughter and love they share together as a couple. I had certainly felt this on the previous occasions we had met together. They even managed to squeeze in some time to take a selfie whilst signing the register!

After the ceremony, we spent some time taking some of the formal group shots, before whisking Diane & Steve away for a spell to capture some portraits of just the two of them. The weather held up beautifully. Considering it was due to be a rainy, stormy day, we were all very thankful to see the sun! Steve & Diane had become naturals at having their photo taken, especially after the Engagement Shoot session we had previously had. It was such a great way to get to know a couple better before their big day (and to get them used to being papped all day!!)

As well as the acres of greenery with the old tudor style buildings in the distance, the hotel also had some more modern options for photographic backdrops, including the wall of the Spa we were all desperate to have some time in!!

As Lee and I prepared our last shots for the day and Steve & Diane prepared to enter the Garden Room ready for the wedding breakfast, we lamented that we would not be able to stay for the party….especially as my husband was in the band, The 88’s!! Next time!!

Many congratulations Steve and Diane….May you continue your marriage with as much (if not more) laughter & love as which you entered it! It was a pleasure to serve you both.

CJ & Jon | The Engagement Shoot

Having known CJ and her family for many years, to say I’m excited to be shooting her wedding next month is an understatement!! I’ve been really blessed to have developed a great friendship with CJ and her fiancé Jon over this last year. Also, knowing the family, I have often had inside information and exciting tidbits about developments within their relationship that are yet to happen!The biggest secret so far has been “The Proposal”

You spin me round round, baby right round….

Jon is an avid mountaineer and decided to combine his passion for CJ with that of scaling great heights. Last year, Jon went on a trek to climb Ama Dablam, a mountain in the Himalaya range in Eastern Nepal. Asides from doing the climb to raise money for charity and because he enjoys it, there was another mission. To carry and keep safe an engagement ring with which to propose to CJ. At the summit of Ama Dablam, Jon took a picture of the ring flanked by snow capped mountains. Upon his return, this ring picture was printed into a canvas and hidden from CJ for a WHOLE MONTH before presenting it to her, gift wrapped on Christmas Day. Needless to say, she said yes!! How cool is that!!

A proposal with a difference

So, when we discussed what kind of Engagement Shoot they wanted we decided to combine both of their loves. The Trundle near Chichester, West Sussex was chosen as although not a mountain, it is high (for me). An Iron Age Hill Fort that boasts spectacular views of West Sussex and Hampshire. Jon, being from Bristol, hadn’t been to The Trundle. We also decided to go to the beach in Bognor Regis as it is a place that CJ is often to be found, relaxing, walking, paddling & hanging out with friends and family. The beach is a place close to her heart so it seemed the perfect place to capture her with the man who heart she holds.

Feeling On Top Of The World

The Trundle was a great place to take pictures. With fabulous views for miles and scenery awash with different shades of green it felt incredibly peaceful. It was also pretty low on human traffic. That gave us a great chance to slowly meander our way around pausing here and there to take pictures, look at the flora and fauna and have a general natter about the forthcoming wedding.

Watching The World Go By

Trying hard to ignore the creepy crawlies

Happy Faces

After we’d exhausted The Trundle and tried to locate our homes in the views we set off back down to Bognor Regis and the beach. Rather than diving straight in, we had a coffee and ice-cream break. This gave us time to plan the finer details of the wedding day that will be happening at Opengate Church in Bognor Regis and Southend Barns in Donnington. It also gave the tide the chance to retreat some more!

Watch out for those rocks!!

The great thing about the beach is there are a plethora of backdrops and natural props to use. Fishermen leave their boats up on the stones, families lovingly decorate their beach huts and nature has blessed us with sand, sea, pebbles and giant rocks!! We unanimously decided we’d have a shorter session on the beach as the air had developed a windy chill and our tummies grumbled louder for food. We couldn’t resist, however, pausing to take pictures with this fabulous beach hut that gave a cheerful end to a lovely day of photos and wedding talk.

The lingering smell of the fisherman’s haul is not off-putting at all, no really…

Summer Lovin’

Salty Kisses, Summer Wishes

Roll on August 28th!!! Can’t wait guys!!

Mr & Mrs Jennings | Devonshire Terrace, London

For those that know me, May the 4th is usually spent enjoying my birthday… *ahem* 24 *ahem*!! This year however I found myself hotfooting up to the City of London with my trusted 2nd Lee to shoot the wedding of Maria and Stuart.

Just leaning on a post in your wedding day suit, as you do…

What a fabulous day it was. We started the day finding Maria and Stuart at the Doubletree Hilton Hotel in Tower Hill getting ready in their respective rooms,of course, Maria had the bigger of the two….what bride wouldn’t!! While Lee was busy with the boys and their struggles to tie ties and attach cufflinks with one hand, I was on hand with Maria, her mother, and her bridesmaid Lauren. Aside from the make-up and hair, and the fabulous something blue (a gorgeous pair of blue Manolo Blahnik stilettos) my favourite capture of the day must have been the look on Maria’s face as she opened her gift from her husband-to-be…a gorgeous diamond bracelet. Of course, this became a new accessory for her bridal outfit!

These new cufflinks will go on…

A little Manolo Blahnik to make you walk tall

Maria opens her lovely wedding day gift from Stuart

As Stuart and the boys were finishing up their drinks and preparing to head to the venue, Maria was putting the finishing touches to her outfit and hair. It was a real privilege to be there to capture those precious and intimate moments of emotion between mother and daughter, and awe from the flower girl arriving and getting her first look at the beautiful bride.

Stuart and his Groomsmen enjoy one last tipple before the cabs arrive

Maria and her Mother share a touching moment

As Maria greets her page boy and flower girl, the look on her face says it all. Utter awe.

A short taxi drive later and we arrive at Devonshire Terrace in Central London. Being in the centre of the financial district, it is usually closed on weekends, except for weddings, so it was really nice to have an urban oasis in the middle of the city that was relatively tourist free. The building Devonshire Terrace is situated in is impressive. Imagine (with lego, my visual brain says) building the deep, outer walls of a rectangular block 6 storeys high leaving the central space free of building, instead turning it into a usable courtyard space protected from the elements by a glass roof.

The ceremony was fantastic. As the groom, Stuart, nervously waited for his bride, Maria was busy having some photos with her bridal party under the large brick arches that connect the courtyard to the outside world. Then she arrives, a beautiful vision in an ivory bejewelled gown with stunning satin corsetry and a fashionable tulle fishtail skirt.

Those precious moments before Maria goes to meet her Groom

This shot gives a great look at THE DRESS, but also an feel for the venue, Devonshire Terrace

Maria surprised her new husband by hiring vocalists and musicians who popped up out of the congregation as the ceremony finished, performing ‘All You Need Is Love’, inspired by the film Notting Hill. They also sang the new Mr & Mrs Jennings back down the aisle to a rendition of Stevie Wonder’s ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered’

I had planned to take Maria and Stuart out into the London streets to capture some urban portraits of them both. Immediately out through the arches provided some fantastic backdrops with which to compose them. They were a great couple to work with who were very happy to be papped on their special day. We went for a series of candid and artistic poses as well as some more traditional shots. One of my favourites was the an edgy edit I did where the (now filthy) underskirts of Maria’s dress were exposed. This appealed to my alternative creative side.

Those first moments where a drink and a catch up is much needed!

Well, it may not be the famous painting….but pretty close I reckon!!

You would never know, 50m on there is a constant stream of traffic and pedestrians. We got lucky!

Something for the dry cleaners….

While Maria, Stuart and their guests sat down to enjoy their meal Lee and I took a well earned break to devour the amazing tapas style food that was on offer and do what all good photographers do…..talk gear & shots and drink coffee!

The rest of the evening continued in good cheer and celebration. Speeches were delivered, toasts made, champagne drunk and dances danced. First up on the dance floor were the page boys and flower girls who well and truly rocked out before Maria and Stuart took to the floor for their well choreographed first dance.

Well, with kids, what else is there to do?!

Before anyone else got to boogie, these little guys rocked!!

Mr & Mrs J take to the dance floor

Maria had thoughtfully provided some comedy props which came in incredibly handy, especially when coaxing the shyest of the party to be photographed. This is certainly something I would recommend doing, especially if a studio photo booth isn’t feasible.

As a rule, every wedding couple have to have at least one picture of their photographer!!

As the night for us came to an end and all our gear was re-packed and loaded into the car, we began the journey back to the South Coast with our eyes on lookout for a coffee stop! The wedding of Mr & Mrs Jennings was a fabulous day. A lot of fun and a wonderful experience. It was a pleasure to be able to play a part in their day. Congratulations Maria & Stuart, wishing you a lifetime of blessings and happiness.

One Last kiss for us to capture under the arches of Devonshire Terrace, London

Weddings, Anniversaries & Marriage

So, here I am on a Saturday night, alone. Tom is at a gig (a local Chichester wedding I believe) and I’ve spent the afternoon chatting to a lovely couple about their impending wedding next year. My brain is full of weddings! But this is great, because as I write, I’m also thinking about marriage.

The (Almost Barbados) Bognor Wedding

My wedding anniversary is tomorrow, Tom and I will have been married for 6 years (or 5 years as the card I received yesterday from my scatty parents read!!). We had the most amazing day, surrounded by our nearest and dearest. Our favourite Indian restaurant delivered its finest to our hungry guests and we finished the evening sneaking off to our hotel room early as our guests danced to the awesome beats of Tom’s brother, A.Skillz, DJing at the reception. By morning we were jetting off for a honeymoon to remember in Bali. However, this is just me feeling nostalgic, because wedding day aside, the thing I’m really celebrating is our marriage.

During the relatively short life of our marriage so far we have experienced some amazing highs and some devastating lows. We’ve grown up and got the family home to renovate, we’ve then created the family to go in it. We are currently in the phase of “relentless exhaustion” that having a two and a half year old and a one year old brings and being self employed in creative industries, our days are never the same. What has remained the same, if not grown, is our commitment to each other. Our decision to walk through the good times, and the bad, hand in hand and side by side, cemented together with love. This is what I will be celebrating tomorrow.

I really love weddings, I feel privileged as a photographer to be able to walk so closely with couples, capturing such an intimate day, as they share such special vows and celebrate these important promises. Their excitement of the preparations and the day excites me, but what I’m most excited for is that they have the pleasure and joy of the marriage to come…..

Quietly pretending not to be freezing!!