It's always special to photograph the wedding of a friend or loved one, so I was delighted when my old friend Jo asked me to capture her and fiancé Martin's beautiful day. Their ceremony was in their local church, St Mary's at Chidham, West Sussex, with the reception at home in their gorgeous garden, where they celebrated their union in the beautiful August sunlight.
Laura and James chose rural Hampshire’s Clock Barn to be the charming venue at which to celebrate their marriage and the timing couldn't have been better. It was a hot and breezy day in June and as every wedding couple would wish for, the skies were blue and the sun glorious. Judging by their engagement shoot a few months previous, I knew this easy-going bride and groom would be open to being photographed in a mix of styles. They embraced the elegant portraiture in naturally beautiful settings whilst also seizing a more contemporary approach, involving gritty industrial backdrops to juxtapose the traditional classic wedding look. The venue offered such diversity with its rustic barn features and neighbouring grassy meadows, but its hidden gem was what looked like an old abandoned aircraft hangar which turned out to serve as a strikingly cool backdrop. Having initially scoured the site and with my creative juices bubbling, I couldn't wait to get started on photographing the couple and capturing some of these amazing scenes painted with their unique memories.
The perfect March day saved itself for Danielle and Rob who married at the breathtaking Sussex location of Upwaltham Barns. Fitting to the serene and tranquil setting was this easy-going, very relaxed pair who seemed to take the momentous day of marriage in their stride. Seeing to small essential tasks without stress and enjoying each moment as it fell upon them, the couple appeared to revel in its magic and mindfully absorb the details in real-time. It is rare to notice and acknowledge the little treasures of people’s words and actions with so much to think about for the day ahead, but charmingly, I witnessed this to be true of Danielle and Rob.
