As the guests arrived at the reception they were greeted by 2 hungry horses who welcomed carrots and apples that were helpfully laid out for them. The guests walked down the hill to the marquee, drinks, hay bales, table tennis, outdoor bar and lots of fun games. The marquee was laid up with beautiful tables with pretty flowers, cake stands, huge scones, strawberry jam, pink process, macaroons, mini sandwiches and all those delicious afternoon tea treats that you can pop in your mouth in one !
Rosie and Ben met through good old Tinder, so the best men took full advantage of that fact and made some side splitting jokes about their love story. The marquee was buzzing with laughter and joy as people tucked into the wonderful array of beautiful cakes and treats. The evening progressed with fun and games all topped off with a delicious hog roast.
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Nicola and Alex had clearly taken so much time to put together a wedding that was relaxed, fun and a joy to be a guest at. Get Knotted produced the most wonderful array of flowers for the church, marquee and surroundings. They were truly luxurious and made your bottom jaw drop as you walked up to the church and walked into the marquee.
Nicola had an army of little pageboys and flower girls that met her at the church, ran wild through the confetti, had a picnic tea while the guests enjoyed their canapés, and generally looked very sweet in their green plus fours and little dresses, plus we even managed to get them to sit for a photo!! The champagne flowed as guest chatted next to the lake and enjoyed delicious food by Ginger Snap caters. They are a wonderful energetic and creative company who did not serve pudding the usual way, but got all the guests out of their seats and created an interactive dessert !
This was a wedding with out a dull moment. Nicola and Alex said a 1/2 way farewell to guests as they got into a beautiful rowing boat decorated with wild flowers dripping off the sides and waved good bye to guests across the lake. This marked the end of the first half of the wedding and welcomed the second half. The evening reception was a whirl wind of delicious food, fantastic music, evening fire pits and all topped off at 2am with Sparklers!! I am sure everyone rolled into Sunday utterly exhausted but truly exhilarated !! I know that as i dove home that early morning my head was still buzzing with the memories of a great wedding.
The day started at the lovely Vanborough Hotel in the heart of Oxford in a beautiful Georgian building. As soon as i walked in I knew the hair and makeup artist was going to be great at her job as the Beckie and her bridesmaids had their hair in curlers! Over the past years of observing many makeup and hair dressers i have learnt that curlers are the way forward for picture perfect hair that lasts. Susie from the Oxford Hair and Make up Company did an amazing job. Beckie wore a stunning dress from Paverly Bridal in Wimbledon. It had a beautiful combination of vintage and elegance to it, and Beckie was a picture of natural beauty and loveliness. I just love the way that brides have a natural gift of always choosing the prefect dress. She decided to walk from the hotel to the Bodleian where she arrived to applause and cheers from an enthusiastic group of forgien students much to Beckie and her fathers embarrassment. I felt this welcome was a fitting start to how the rest of the day continued. There was such laughter and celebration through out the day. Everyone of my images had laughter or smiling in and the Jam Factory's decorative hanging baskets festooned with flowers set the scene with a joyful feel.
Naturally the Bodleian Library gave an incredible atmospheric back drop and the flowers by The Garden of Oxford looked stunning at the front. Two amazing luxurious pedestals added to the elegance of the chapel and soften the dark wood. They then were walked back through the streets of Oxford over to the Jam Factory where they added to the wild, vibrant and colourful decorations at the Jam Factory. The colourful bunting complimented and helped to bring a sense of celebration to the angular, supportive iron beams above our heads. For me it looked so dynamic and creative. The guests were happily settled into the reception when we arrived after a wonder back through the streets of Oxford gathering a few memorable portrait shots in this wonderful city of Oxford. I love to capture images along side the classic famous landmarks and mix them with beautiful intimate moments amongst the hustle and bustle of the city. It always makes me smile seeing a bride and groom dressed in their best and most beautiful gowns casually walk through the crowds as if it is any normal day, and a stunning white dress always creates smiles claps and cheers of congratulations from passers by.
The reception rolled on with the guests being served many varieties of drinks and gins from the bar at the Jam Factory until they were all asked to take their seats on beautiful long tressel tables. Remembering that the Jam Factory is a gallery space the guest were amused by the array of nude drawings they had keeping them entertained. Another beautiful quirk to the original and creative space for a so called formal meal.
I loved this wedding. Despite being a small venue it was creative, and filled with vibrance. I love the images of the guests dancing to The New York Royals framed by the palm branches. I so enjoyed photographing the day and this beautiful couple that were so clearly so loved by all their friends.
Sophie got prepared in the bridal room known as The Pump House. She had her hair and makeup done by Bellissimo Hair and Twist Makeup. She wore the most perfect dress by Georgina Pimms. There was a flurry of excitement as Sophie and her bridesmaids got ready all fuelled by lots of Prosseco! Just the way bridal preparations should be. Cathy May Flowers filled the Ceremony room with bundles of lavender and at the bridesmaids had sweet little possies of different coloured Jip.
The weather was stunning and the guests sipped their champagne as they looked over the Cotswold hills while being serenaded by a unique and very talented violinist. Sophie and Alex heard him busk in Bristol and asked if he would play at their wedding. Sure enough he turned up and amazed the guest with his multi layering spin on many popular rock classics. Sadly I do not know his name as everyone should be booking him.
The day was filled with food by Ross and Ross who served Beef burgers !! A first for me, but they were absolutely delicious, and honestly who doesn't like a burger - any excuse.
I was in my element enjoying photographing the guests with such lovely surroundings, and taking Sophie and Alex off for a few portrait photos of their own. Each corner of this wonderful venue lends itself beautifully for the portrait photos. We even came out at sunset and managed to capture some great shots in a field of stubble with a stunning sunset. I always think if you are lucky enough to have a sunset on your wedding day it should be captured - even if it means leaving the party for 10 minutes.
The day was a celebration and party with all their best friends who got fully involved in the inflatable obstacle course, enjoyed a spin in one of the 3 Austin Martins, played all the games, and ate a delicious BBQ style food by Charcoal Grill, all within a beautiful Tipi which was the perfect setting for the day. The sun shone and everyone relaxed on haybales until the dancing was kicked off by music by Visually Sounds (the best DJ in the area) to a fantastic comical first dance by Pete and Victoria who made everyone smile and join in. The sun went down and everyone gathered around open fires in the Tipi and outside where they were fed fish and Chips by the Goujon Monkey and toasted marshmallows. It really was a magical day.
Amy and Ben were so relaxed, and the whole wedding day was filled with laughter. The best man got everyone laughing and the groom creasing with embarrassment. A few new stories for the bride to go into married life with !
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The Wedding industry Awards is not only purely about the photography. It is based mainly on the reviews and comments from couples I have had the privilege to photograph over the past year. With out their reflections and reviews of my work I would not have become a finalist at all. So it is to them I owe my gratitude to.
Each year I meet a selection for wonderful and inspiring couples who i greatly enjoy getting to know, and becoming a part of their wedding journey. I only can see it as a privilege to be one of the people to be apart of this journey. From right at the beginning when ideas for the day are shared, to walking and hearing engagement stories as we spend time over the pre wedding shoot. Understanding family dynamics, joys and lows. To giving encouragement and advice of the shape of the day, colours of flowers, bridesmaids dresses and even bands! - I am not musical !! and to being that person who is looked at with a face of Help...... how do i tie a cravat??
I honestly love what i do and each year i can not wait to enter in to a world of creativity expression and joy. I am so looking forward to 2018.
Below is the video that I put together which was part of my Wedding Industry Awards application. Enjoy the joy!
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Inside the warm and glowing marquee champagne was flowing and the guest were entertained by an amazing acoustic singer and a magician who was doing the rounds. Goose and Berry served a delicious meal and the reception got under full swing. The New Year was seen in with a count down, confetti guns that filled the dance floor and followed by a rendition Old Lang syne! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL !!
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We always have a wonderful chat about the wedding while stopping in various locations to get some beautiful relaxed and intimate shots. We come away having really got to know each other better and I always feel even more excited about the wedding. It is all part of the wedding preparation journey.
In this wedding I had the pleasure of meeting Robin and Becky who were so lovely, and having done their Pre wedding shoot where we walked what felt like the length of london, when we saw each other on the day it was like meeting up with friends again which created a great relaxed feel right from the start of the day. Caswell House was in all its usual beauty, nad Becky had also booked the most amazing florist to do her flowers and tables. So a mixture of Caswell House and Flowers by Kirsty was heaven for me and my creative eye was in full flow.
it was a stunning day and the weather could not have been better for us. Becky and Robin looked amazing, the bridesmaids were all in stunning dusty pink dress with fantastic dimonte beading on the arms and chest. This brought a wonderful sparkle and element of elegance to a beautiful soft pink colour palett and soft flowing bouquets by Kirsty.
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The reception carried on with delicious food, great speeches that even got me chuckling, a great band "Get the party started" which they did in style and lots of laughter and fun at the photo booth. Once the tourists had all gone for bed I took Lettie and Matt out for some night shots in the Radcliffe square again and this time got some great ones with only the bicycles in the background.
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Wishing you all a very Happy Valentines Day 2017!!
They say that many couples take the leap and decide to commit to each other for the rest of their lives on this special day. I would love to say congratulations to all those lucky couples who have decided to take that leap into the most exciting adventure of their life time.
When I got engaged someone said to me ...."At this point of your life, little do you know, but you love your husband the least you ever will". I pondered over that for a while and thought surely when we make that commitment to marry each other we are at the hight of our love for each other?
But I was wrong...
Love only deepens and strengthens as life goes on. Through the highs and lows I have realised the depth of what they were saying. 11 years in for myself and I appreciate more and more that little gem of wisdom, and it gives me such encouragement and excitement going forward into the years ahead. It also gives me great enthusiasm for all those couples just starting out on their adventure, knowing they are only sitting on the very top of the iceberg of the depth of love that will grow as the years go on.
I am raising a glass to all of you who have taken that leap of faith into the most exciting journey of your life.
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" Thanks Alice, they look amazing!!" - Siobhan and Charlie
Have a look through a selection of the great images, and beautiful couples that I have had the pleasure of photographing. I had a lot of fun and I am so looking forward to their weddings in 2016, and all the engagement shoots still to come.
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Tom and Courtney had the most beautiful wedding at Tom's family home near Kirby Lonsdale in Cumbria. The day started very wet, and as the bridal preparations were going on the rain continued to fall, but by 3pm the sun had come out and the guests, bridesmaids and Courtney were able to walk to the church in beautiful sunshine. Blue skies burst through and sunlight shone down for the the rest of the day. The whole day was put together and catered by themselves, guests sat down to dinner talking to each other between bunches of wild flowers and candles. Bunting, fairy lights and hay bales decorated the garden and guests enjoyed the warmth from the fire pits in the evening.
" We have just got hold of wifi in our hotel and sat down to go through the photos. They are all beautiful and we Love them all!! " Tom and Courtney
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" We sad and looked at the photos in the quiet lobby area in the hotel, which was a thing as we both cried, the photos were amazing!! " Scott and Hazel
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So having bought all these things I thought I must put them to good use and convince myself that they were all useful choices by a Sunday mornings activity of photographing my lucky children!
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This is my first year that i am incorporating an engagement shoot into my wedding packages, and i am loving them. I am finding it is a fantastic way to get to know the couple before the big day, and a great opportunity for them to get used to being photographed. I try to keep things really relaxed and provide time for time to chat and have a laugh together which subsequently enables the couple to feel so much more relaxed when it comes to the Wedding day.
For the last few engagement shoots I have the joy of photographing in some great locations that have all given the images all such a different feel. I have also had to face the joy of the British weather...... I have faced wind, rain, hail, and bright spring sunshine.
Below are a few of the great images and couples I have had the joy of photographing.
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