As you'll notice from reading back previous blogs, it's been pretty chocca recently, and it's not showing any signs of letting up any time soon! I wouldn't have it any other way, as being there first-hand to witness all these amazing couples tie the knot, is nothing short of a privilege. Oh, and the wedding food isn't bad either 😉.
This week, I had an awesome time attending the wedding of Amii and Kev, who got married on Friday at the stunning Dovecliff Hall, just outside of Burton-On-Trent.
As always, I turned up a little early to get a feel for the venue and have a bit of a look round to scope out where will make the perfect backdrop for some incredible shots. Dovecliff really is a beautiful place to tie the knot, and there's absolutely no shortage of perfectly manicured lawns, fountains and pathways which can make for spectacular wedding photos.
Once I'd finished being nosey, I headed in to introduce myself to Ruth, the venue's wedding planner, to just confirm the timeline for the day, and so that if I had any immediate questions, I knew exactly who to speak to. Ruth had it all planned out with military precision and had drawn up a timetable packed with information, so I knew exactly where I needed to be and at what time.
After I'd had a natter with Ruth, it was up to the bridal suite to capture Amii and the bridal party getting ready! Everyone was in high spirits, the prosecco was flowing, and even little Kaleb (Amii and Kev's Son) had a good go at reaching in for his grandma's full glass of fizz, before swiftly knocking it over. Once the bridal prep was all done and dusted, I made my way down to the venue's library to have a quick chat with the registrars and Kev prior to the ceremony going ahead.
Meeting with the registrars is always high up on the priority list for me. Generally, most of them tend to be really chilled out in terms of what you can and can't photograph during the ceremony, but it's always a good idea to just grab them for 5 minutes, make yourself known, and let them know where you intend to stand whilst they're doing their job, but as luck would have it, Amii and Kevs registrar was on exactly the same page to myself and basically gave me free rein to capture what I wanted, as long as I didn't move around too much!
Kev definitely wins the award for one of the most chilled out grooms I've worked with this year. He seemed completely relaxed and at ease as he stood at the top of the Dovecliff's conservatory which had been decked out amazingly for the ceremony. There wasn't even the slightest hint of nerves, and as Amii made her way up the aisle, you could tell any chance of any pre-wedding jitters were just completely overcome by happiness as he set his eyes on his bride for the first time.
Then it was onto everyone's favourite, the confetti shot! The venue had done an amazing job of getting all the guests ready, on either side of a little pathway ready for the newlyweds, so getting the shot I needed was an absolute breeze! Wedding planners take note, kudos to Ruth for getting this sorted beforehand!
The weather throughout the whole day was a real roller coaster. One minute it was glorious sunshine, the next it was raining, and then after that, we even had some decently sized gusts of wind to throw into the mix too, so I was really conscious of getting the group shots done as quick as possible. As luck would have it, the rain held out for a good half an hour or so, which was just enough time to get the shots I needed before the heavens opened just as the wedding party headed in for their wedding breakfast.
After a nice little break for me, some incredible food (Laid on kindly by Amii and Kev), and an opportunity to charge my batteries, I headed back into the function room to capture speeches, from Kev, the best man, and Amii's dad just before we had a little intermission between the day and the evening reception.
Where possible, I always suggest taking 20mins or so out with just the bride and groom to get a handful of photos. The whole day always flies by, and that small break away from the wedding party, in between the day and evening receptions just lets them both unwind a little together before heading back into a fresh round of guests who are all competing for their attention. During the summer months, it's just an amazing time to take photos! It's not too bright, not too dark, and everything is just bathed in a really natural light that makes for really flattering pictures.
So we did just that. Myself, Amii and Kev just went for a wander around the grounds. We had a good old chat, took some gorgeous photos and found some wicked little spots tucked nicely away within the grounds for the perfect backdrop. As always, when I do these kinds of shots, it's just the happy couple having a laugh, and me snapping away in the background. They're truly some of my favourite photos to capture.
Then it was onto the evening reception, to get the cake cutting, father-daughter dance, and the couple's very first dance as husband and wife. Again, all amazing shots, that I genuinely can't wait to show them both!
I had an incredible time at Amii and Kev's wedding. Amii is full of personality, and even though we loosely know each other through a mutual friend, she's definitely someone I'd love to stay in contact with more. She looked amazing, took any little problem in her stride and had a smile on her face the whole day.
Kev is awesome, and every time I spoke to him, he spoke to me like I was one of his oldest mates. He's got an insane sense of humour, an infectious smile and is one of these people that's just so easy to get along with. Anyone who approaches you and offers you a drink the first moment they set eyes on you is a good egg in my book. What a top bloke.
I managed to build up an incredible rapport with them both and their guests throughout the whole day, and when that happens, it's so so easy to get just the best photo's that you know will complement their day perfectly.
I just want to say a HUGE thank you to them both for having me! I expect there were some incredibly sore heads yesterday, but even though I wasn't one of those people, I had the best time. I hope they have many many happy years together!
Annnnddddd, that's it for this week! Been another busy one, with Abbie and Danny's engagement shoot today, which I had a blast capturing! Next week will be just the same with the wedding of Alan and Wendy just around the corner, which I can't wait to capture too!
Peace, Love and Photos.
Jono x