First things first, right out of the gate, we all know I'm a fan of anything that's a little bit different to the norm when it comes to weddings.
Meet Michelle and Gary who tied the knot last Saturday, at Loughborough registry office.
Usually, I'd start off with any wedding blog I cover by talking about the bridal prep, but this one's a little different. See, this wedding actually started at a muddy playing field.
As a wedding photographer, I've seen my fair share of pre-wedding jitters and nervous energy. But when I arrived at Derby Road Playing Fields in Loughborough at 9 am sharp, I knew that Gary had a different kind of energy coursing through him. He was ready to run - and not just down the aisle!
With his wedding just a few hours away, Gary and his groomsmen had decided to kick off the day with a 5km fun run. There was certainly no mistaking the group, as they were all suitably dressed for a wedding day, all donning their shirts and ties on top of the usual running attire, ready to run a 5k route around the grounds of the playing fields.
Naturally, we had to kick off proceedings by capturing the group setting off on their 5k run. As much as I'd like to say we ran ahead to photograph them mid-way around the course, at various points, my fitness is nowhere near up to that level, so we took the shortcut back over the fields to the finish line ready to photograph the group's photo finish.
After that, it was over to Burleigh Court to get some photos of Michelle and her bridesmaids getting ready.
I had an awesome time photographing Michelle and her bridesmaids as they got ready at the Burleigh Court Hotel. These girls were so chilled and relaxed, it was infectious and made capturing those incredible candid shots, so easy, without feeling like I was intruding. They were all in high spirits and joking around, just the kind of tone you want when capturing bridal prep.
After capturing Michelle and her bridesmaids getting ready, we made our way over to Loughborough Registry Office to photograph the guests arriving and Gary waiting nervously for his bride-to-be. I have to admit, the atmosphere was tense, but in a good way. You could feel the anticipation building as we waited for Michelle's arrival.
And let me tell you, when she did arrive, it was magic. You could see the love in Gary's eyes as he watched her walk into the room. It was such a beautiful moment, and I was honoured to be there to capture it.
The registrar was also a total legend. He had such a great sense of humour and was cracking jokes left and right, which helped to ease the tension and make everyone feel more at ease. It was clear that he loved his job, and it made the ceremony that much more special.
Once the ceremony was over, it was time for the confetti shot - always a favourite of mine. It was so much fun watching the guests go crazy with the confetti, and I managed to get some great shots of the happy couple in the midst of it all.
But we weren't done yet! After the confetti had settled, in an unconventional fashion, we made our way over to Costa Coffee in Ashby de la Zouch - the spot where Michelle and Gary first met. It was amazing to see the place where their love story began, and I was able to capture some beautiful shots of them chatting away to other customers, and waiting inline for their drinks.
The coffee shop was bustling with activity, but we managed to find a table to get some shots of the happy couple enjoying a coffee as husband and wife. It was clear that this place held a special significance for them. Even though it was a little different to the norm, I can't say I'll get the opportunity to capture newlyweds in a coffee shop again for a while.
After our coffee shop adventure, we made our way over to The Beeches Pub for Michelle and Gary's wedding reception. The sun was out, so we set straight to with the group shots of the newlyweds with their family and friends, along with the normal candid moments throughout the rest of the day.
The speeches were also another highlight, and we all shared some really heartfelt moments from Michelle's dad, her daughter and of course the best man.
Just like that it was onto the evening reception. The dance floor was packed all night long, and it was amazing to see everyone having such a great time. But the real standout moment was when Michelle and Gary had their first dance as a married couple. It was quite an impromptu moment, which happened pretty much without warning! Nevertheless, both myself and Rachel rushed into position to grab those first magical moments of the newlyweds.
Peace. Love and Photos.
Jono x
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