The Kent Garden Wedding of Jack and Alice
You can't get more of a picturesque Kent garden wedding than that of the incredibly lovely Jack and Alice did.
A characterful family oast house near Hever was a great setting for their wedding day, surrounded by fields and a marquee sitting perfectly adorned with stunning hand picked flowers.
Everything about this summer's day in Kent was super laid back. I get to meet truly great folk as a documentary wedding photographer, and not one couple's story is ever the same. So instead of me talking any more I'll let the images take over from here...
Shoreditch Wedding | Ahmed and Kate
Shoreditch in London is an achingly cool place. More flat whites, beards and tattoo's than you can shake a hipster stick at. The Ace Hotel, where the awesome Ahmed and Kate held their wedding, ticks all the cool boxes and was a great venue to photograph at.
These two lovely people had the perfect laid back attitude towards their wedding day, nailing the balance of attention to detail and letting everyone relax and do their thing. I like to tell natural stories with my wedding photography, and when I have a day like this everything comes together perfectly.
The streets of Shoreditch were great fun to go out and shoot in the early evening, almost a 'Brooklyn' feel to some of the locations we stumbled across. The only downer is that I didn't get a chance to play with Ahmed's Leica, boo!
Argyll Wedding Photography | Ed and Amanda
If you've not been to Scotland before then you’re missing out. It’s a stunning place and I used to holiday there as a child so have very fond memories. So when Ed and Amanda asked me to photograph their Scottish wedding at their beautiful home near Cardross in Argyll I was more than happy to oblige.
Ed and Amanda are tv producers who decided one day to sell up in London to move back to Ed’s homeland, having found the perfect family home surrounded by fields of barley and with more character than you can shake a stick at. This character is best told in the images that follow, but needless to say it was an incredible place to photograph. BTW Ed is quite the adventurer, climbed Everest etc, you know.... the usual stuff :)
With zero formalities (and miraculously zero rain), the day was personal, laid back, emotional and rounded off perfectly with a ceilidh to rule them all.
I’m lucky enough to have more weddings to photograph back in Scotland in 2018. The natural beauty of this place on it’s own is quite something, on a par with the fjords and mountains of Norway and New Zealand that's for sure, and so to have a wedding there is something quite special. In fact if you are looking for the perfect venue for your future wedding, then Ed and Amanda are soon to be hiring out their beautiful home as a wedding venue and to find out more you can reach out to them here.
For future brides reading this who are worried about the weather. Well further down you'll see a small doll on a stack of wood. That's a 'Child of Prague' (an Irish Saint) said to bring good weather if put out the night before and faced towards the house. Did the job here that's all I can say!
Also check out these beautifully hand drawn invites too.
(The day before...)
*Pause for breath....* (The main event...)
My Highlights From Last Year...
Another year passes and yet another year of incredible weddings that I got to photograph. It's the people and their stories that I find totally compelling, moving, and downright beautiful, and which never ceases to surprise.
It's always great to take time out to go back through my photographs of the 'blink and you miss it' year that was 2017.
The couples you will see below, along with their friends and families, not to mention the other awesome wedding suppliers, all come together on one day to make it happen, to make it special and to make it the best day ever. I got to be there to tell the story and to them all I say a great big thank you.
These are my picks...
Mike and Fran's East Quay Wedding
Not one day is the same in my wedding photography work. That fact gets a big thumbs up from me. I get to meet different folks from different walks of life and also to photograph at unique and beautiful wedding venues. East Quay in Whitstable is one such place.
Fran and Mike, two of the loveliest humans you could ever wish to meet, decided to hold their wedding day at East Quay which boasts an enviable setting right on the beach. The weather forecast was, shall we say, damp, but this did not deter or take away from these guys having a great time.
When the weather doesn’t play ball on a wedding day (and this is the UK remember!), I always say to couples, don’t fret, embrace it, get stuck in, pop the wellies on and a brollie up and let’s take some pics. Works a treat ☺
Buxted Park Wedding Photography
Human beings don't come much nicer than Will and Clara. Loving, down to earth, and great fun, words that also sum up well their lovely Buxted Park wedding.
Buxted Park is a 300 year old mansion overlooking the rolling hills of the East Sussex countryside, and played perfect host to Will and Clara's wedding day.
Surrounded by equally loving friends and family, the laid back vibe and the discreet attentiveness of the Buxted staff all came together, allowing me to photograph away merrily in the background.
What you see below are genuine moments and love between folk. I see these at all weddings I photograph, and it never ceases to make me smile when people come together from near and (sometimes very!) far to celebrate the union of two friends.
Chris and Holly's Great Gatsby Wedding
When I hear that the wedding I'm going to photograph has a 'Great Gatsby' theme, with all in 1920's dress, and set outside in the beautiful venue that is The Gardens in Yalding, I know it's going to be a winner.
I wasn't left disappointed as Chris and Holly, who can I just say are the nicest humans you're ever likely to meet, nailed every little detail as you'll see below.
Holly's dress in case you're wondering was handmade by her mum, and the epic cake that defied gravity by one of the bridesmaids. I love how at weddings friends and family get to show and combine their talent to make a day great, and Chris and Holly's wedding at The Gardens was no exception.
National Trust Wedding | James and Kimberley
Brian the Bear oversaw preparations on the morning of James and Kimberley's National Trust wedding. That was a first for me!
Their wedding day was to be held at the beautiful former home of the famous author Rudyard Kipling. Probably most well known for writing The Jungle Book. His home is now cared for by the National Trust and which can only be described as the perfect setting for an English wedding.
Surrounded by unspoilt wild meadows of the East Sussex countryside, only a small handful of weddings are allowed here each year. James and Kimberley were one of those fortunate few.
The marquee, set alongside one of these meadows, was a haven for the awesome bridesmaids to play in, in fact I enjoyed the setting as much as they did.
Also a first (and one that I add bonus points for), after the church service the two of them sneaked away from guests for a crafty pint in the local pub by themselves. The locals loved it! Like I say, bonus points.
Moments From 2016
I always look forward to this moment. It's when I get to sit at my desk, play loud music, drink large cups of tea, and go back through all my lovely weddings from last year. It's great to live through them again, sparking off all kinds of memories.
Yet again I have crossed paths with some truly amazing and genuine people. They have put their faith in me to photograph their wedding day and for that I am very honoured. Thanks to you all for not only saying 'yes' to your partners, but also to saying 'yes' to me.
I have witnessed all kinds of moments, all unique and never to be repeated, and because of this is the reason why I will never tire of doing what I do.
What follows are my personal picks from 2016.
2017, I am ready!