Happy Sunday!
Is that the sun making a brief appearance?!
Speaking of the sun making an appearance, it was without a doubt on top form for the wedding of Adam and Charlotte, who got married in the beautiful sunshine last week at the Manor Hotel, just a stone's throw away from the NEC in Birmingham.
I first met with the fantastic Adam and Charlotte way back in November last year when we went out to capture their engagement shoot shortly after they'd booked with me. Engagement shoots are always a fantastic idea, and from my point of view, it's an opportunity to get to know my couples and to hear about what they have planned for their special day, which in Adam and Charlotte's case was a lot!
Upon my arrival last week, I could already sense that I was about to experience something truly magical. Charlotte and Adam had dedicated considerable effort beforehand to add their personal flair, resulting in a day that was genuinely one-of-a-kind. Moreover, a multitude of other exceptional vendors were present, undoubtedly elevating the occasion and adding an extra layer of excitement to their special day!
Those who know me will know, I arrive early for absolutely everything. Whilst it drives Rachel insane, when shooting a wedding, it's an opportunity to scope out the venue, have a quick wander around, and get some pictures of everything neatly set up before the wedding guests arrive, and I did just that ahead of meeting with Charlotte for the first order of the day, the bridal prep.
However, things didn't go exactly as planned. Just before I could reach Charlotte, I unexpectedly crossed paths with a visibly nervous Adam and his best man, Ricky. They seemed to be eagerly anticipating the opening of the bar, presumably seeking some pre-celebration Dutch courage before the day's festivities kicked off. After having a quick chat with them both, and of course, grabbing the opportunity to snap up some photos of a very visibly nervous Adam, I made my way up to Charlotte and the rest of the bridal party to grab some pictures of them getting ready ahead of the ceremony.
True to form, the bridal prep was a hive of activity. Working alongside Steve (a genuinely lovely guy and the couple's videographer for the day), we pieced together that their preparation had commenced a tad earlier than planned due to an early morning fire alarm. Thankfully, it turned out to be a false alarm, with no need for evacuation. Nevertheless, it acted as an unexpected wake-up call, prompting the start of the preparations a couple of hours ahead of the original schedule.
As the bridal prep came to a close, the time for the ceremony was nearly upon us, so I headed down to meet with the registrars before heading back up the venue's grand spiral staircase to the ceremony room to capture the guests making their way to their seats.
The stage was set, an increasingly nervous Adam was positioned at the top of the room, and I ran ahead to capture Charlotte making her way with the rest of the bridal party ready to meet with Adam and their guests to commence the main event.
Just like the unique couples I have the privilege of working with, every ceremony holds its own distinct charm. On this occasion, what unfolded was a heartfelt celebration of the undeniable connection between the couple. With vows exchanged and legalities sorted, the moments seemed to whisk by, as before I knew it, I was guiding the couple down the stairs and outside into the sunshine for their confetti shot and list of group shots they provided.
Now, here's the ideal moment to shine a spotlight on Adam and Charlotte's remarkable entertainment choice. During our pre-wedding discussion, Adam had playfully emphasized the need for me to identify someone who bore an uncanny resemblance to a classic villain. Lo and behold, that villainous figure turned out to be none other than the exceptionally skilled Neil Edwards, from Elegant Magic. Neil doesn't just excel as a magician but also takes on the role of the day's MC, infusing the event with his charismatic presence and ensuring the festivities remain vibrant and engaging.
But the entertainment extravaganza didn't conclude there. The couple had also enlisted the talents of Rich, who amusingly goes by Cartoon Rich. He was the designated caricaturist for the day, and he truly took the role by storm. Rich effortlessly weaved through the gathering of guests, capturing them in whimsical poses through his artwork. Throughout the event, I continued my rounds around the room, and with every circuit, it was truly delightful to witness the evolution of each caricature into a playful and uncannily accurate portrayal of the individuals he depicted.
From then, we'd allocated a little time, to head over to a pond, just a stone's throw away from the venue, for some more intimate photos of Adam and Charlotte on their own away from the guests. Between myself and Steve doing the videography, we had the newlyweds in some fantastic poses, which I know from looking back at my pictures have come out amazingly! They'd both asked for some pictures with smoke bombs too, which without a doubt produced the THICKEST and DENSE smoke I've ever seen from a smoke bomb, EVER! Between the coughing fits, I definitely managed some cracking photos of those too!
As we headed back to the venue, it was time for the guests to be seated for food. No rest for me though, as between the first course and the main, we'd pencilled in a timed run around each table. Aptly named the "Photo dash" what ensued was the couple, (and me) running around the room, to get one serious, and one silly photo with each table of guests, set this time to Joel Coreys - Head and heart, which with good authority I can tell you is exactly 2:46 seconds in length. For anyone in doubt of my stamina, I'm pleased to inform you, we completed the dash around every single table with just a mere 12 seconds to spare! For any future couples reading this, looking to do the same, I wholeheartedly recommend Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, as it clocks in at healthy 5:54 seconds and won't require me to be washed down with buckets of water like a racehorse afterwards. 😉
Jokes aside, it's a popular addition to most weddings now, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Following our lively dash, I finally had a chance to put down my equipment and savour the lunch that Adam and Charlotte had thoughtfully arranged. It was a well-deserved respite after the energetic sprint around the room. With appetites satisfied, the focus shifted to the speeches. This segment proved to be a truly heartwarming experience as the top table delivered poignant moments that I was privileged to capture. Between all the fun and laughter the speeches added a layer of genuine emotion to the day, making it a truly memorable occasion for everyone present.
As we wrapped up the speeches, it was time for a bit of a lull between the day and the evening reception and an opportunity for the guests to check themselves into the hotel and enjoy some downtime in the sunshine, before we kicked things back up a notch for the evening festivities!
Remember our villainous MC Niel? Well, he had one final trick up his sleeve (Pun intended 😜) in the form of a game show-style rendition of the popular game; Mr and Mrs. Sat back to back on chairs in the middle of the room, with a pink paddle and a blue paddle each, the aim of the game was to see how well the newlyweds know each other and how many of Neils questions would they both give the same answer to. There were a couple of mismatched answers, but nevertheless, it was a nice way to get the guests warmed up and in the mood for the evening reception.
Whenever the evening reception starts, it's always a bitter pill to swallow, as I know there's only a handful of key moments left for me to capture before it's time for me to leave. Just before I did though, there was the cake cutting, first dance and father-daughter dance left on my shot list, which in true Adam and Charlotte style were an absolute joy to photograph.
And just like that, it was my time to depart.
Where do I begin with Adam and Charlotte? They're both such a fantastic couple, who I've absolutely adored getting to know! Be it, their love of all things, Harry Potter and Doctor Who, or Charlotte's incredible talent with a Cricut machine, they're both my kind of people. After looking over my photos from the day, you can't help but smile as they're just so effortlessly happy, smiley and two of the most hospitable people you could ever wish to meet.
I can't wait to get to work on their edit!
Peace, Love and Photos.
Jono x