Jan was upstairs getting ready with some of her girlfriends, who were all wearing tiaras from her hen do! The getting ready time before a wedding is always so special and particularly nice to share it with some girly friends and of course a glass of Champagne or two! Janet’s dress was a really stunning asymatrical gown with a gorgeous bow and she looked amazing in it. Her little flower girl Darcey also looked very cute in her little dress and she looked like she was enjoying playing with her fairy wand!

Downstairs, guests were enjoying a drink next to the crackling fire – very welcome at this time of year! Steve was checking the rings, getting sorted with his button hole and chatting to his sons Joe and Ru.

Everyone took their seats for the ceremony and little Darcey made her entrance followed by Jan. Both Jan and Steve looked very happy throughout the ceremony – particularly during one of Steve’s best mate Rick’s reading, which he said was his first forray into public speaking and had everyone laughing!

Afterwards, as it was getting dark quite quickly, we did some pictures outside – despite it being December there was a beautiful red rose in flower which looked lovely against the snow. We then came back in to enjoy the fire and the lovely atmosphere with the Christmas tree and all the decorations.

Here are a few of my favourite images:

It was a crisp bright morning and looked almost like a Monet painting as I drove over to Lindors Country House, set up on the hill above Llandogo village and a really stunning setting for a wedding. I thought the house itself looked a bit like it was made out of gingerbread with the white edges to the roof!

Rani and bridesmaids Claudia and Amber were getting ready with Rani’s friend Kate. It was all go with hairdrying and make up and we were soon joined by Rani’s mum Elaine who decided to get back into bed after a while!

I then headed down to Llandogo to meet James and the boys. The light in the valley was just lovely and I was admiring the views when the bright red London bus Rani and James had organised for guests turned up to drop everyone off.

The vicar was great and pretty much let me shoot what I wanted to during the service which was so nice and made for some great shots. Afterwards everyone completely covered Rani and James in confetti and they headed off in a sports car to Lindors for some couple shots while their guests had a scenie bus trip. As the light faded we came inside and everyone enjoyed mulled wine and canapes before sitting down to dinner. Part way through the meal in a break between courses, I took Rani and James outside for some night time shots which I love doing as they are so atmospheric!

Here are some favourite images from their day:

Jo had chosen a short 1950′s inspired dress which looked amazing – I have not seen a dress quite like that before and it made me think that more brides ought to try shorter dresses – particularly in the Winter if you are going to be spending most of the day inside or are having a black tie dress code – very chic and much easier to move around and dance in!

Downstairs, David and Best Man Guy were chatting to guests in the ceremony room – which they had decorated really well with lot of candles and trailing plants. The ceremony was really intimate with such a nice number of guests and Jo’s friends Steph and Katy both did readings – including the one by Pam Ayers which I love.

Afterwards, as it was about to go dark, I took Jo and David off briefly for some couple shots just along from the hotel and we then headed back to their guests who were getting stuck in to the wine and canapes in the library.

Jo and David had their speeches before the meal and at one point Jo got really emotional after receiving a present from her beloved horse Manny who had ‘sent’ her a good luck shoe painted silver!

Here are some favourite images from their day:

Here are a few of my favourite shots:

Upstairs, Sam was having her hair done with daughter Katherine – who decided to get back into bed after she had had her hair and make up done! The girls then shared that classic pre-wedding snack – chips and spicey potato wedges (well there’s nothing like carbs to calm a nervous stomach!).
Luckily for Sam, a close friend of hers is none other than silk wedding dress specialist Catherine Miller (http://www.silkspecialistcatherinemiller.co.uk/) so she arrived to help Sam into her dress.

Meanwhile, downstairs, Les was chatting to guests in the bar and looking quite relaxed. Everyone then sat down for the ceremony during which Isla, another of Sam’s close friends, did a lovely reading and Sam and Les seemd to really enjoy themselves!

Afterwards, guests enjoyed Champagne and we even managed to take their family photos and some shots of Sam and Les outside in the grounds – not bad for mid November!

Here are some pictures from their day:

When I arrived at Bibury Court, Beckie was chilling out with her bridesmaid Jo and having her hair and make up done. Soon on the scene were her sister Sarah and her other bridesmaid Jo to do last minute nails and get dressed. Just along the corridor were flowergirls Isabella and Olivia who loved getting into their dresses and playing at being princesses!

A great thing about Bibury is that the Church is just through a little wooden door in the grounds of the house so it’s so easy to pop next door! I caught up with Jon and his best men Nev and Duncan and ushers Simon and Jeremy. Duncan and his wife Joanne are portrait clients and I have got to know them photographing their lovely daughters so it was really nice to see both of them.

Beckie arrived fashionably late (just enough to keep Jon on his toes!) and the ceremony got underway with readings by Luby and Sarah. Afterwards, everyone congratulated the (very!) happy looking couple before drowning them in confetti and heading next door for drinks and canapes. It was such a beautiful afternoon that most of the guests stayed outside to enjoy the sunshine and we didn’t really even need the patio heaters! I took Jon and Beckie off for a wander along the river for their couple shots and then everyone sat for dinner.

Here are a few of my favourite images from their day:

I then drove over to Olveston church which is only about 10 minutes from the castle to meet up with James and his best woman Siobhan and ushers Barry and Robert. It was quite a bright morning so guests were chatting outside and before long it was time for James to take his seat at the front of the church.

Abi arrived looking sensational in her beautiful 1940′s classic style 3/4 length gown – take note any brides to be who are thinking of a shorter dress – they do look amazing and are much easier to dance in!

During the ceremony Abi’s sister Helen did a reading and during the signing of the register the choir sang a lovely piece I didn’t recognise – it was really beautiful.

Outside, we took a few family pictures and then Abi and James got well and truely covered with confetti before they were waved off to the castle.

October is such a nice month to get married as the colours are so rich at this time of year. Thornbury as stunning plants over some of the walls of the castle and they were such a nice red that I decided to use them as a background to some of Abi and James’ couple photographs.

They then enjoyed Champagne and canapes in the drawing room with their guests while a harpist played, before sitting down to dinner in the Tudor Hall – which looked lovely dressed with berries and Autumn foliage. During the meal they had a mind reader come around to the tables. A fan of Derren Brown et all myself, I thought he was really fun and a great way to keep guests entertained.

Here are a few favourite images from their day:

Emily was having a wander around when I arrived, having just got back from the hairdressers so it was great timing to say hello and then head upstairs to have her make up done and get dressed. I love the lighting at Ston Easton, because the lovely big windows give just gorgeous soft light which is really nice for people pictures. Emily had her make up done in her parents’ room, meanwhile, bridesmaids Hayley and Becky were just along the corridor getting ready as well. Emily’s mum Theresa came very well prepared with a picnic and Becky cracked open the Bucks Fizz – so the celebrations were off to a great start!

Emily and Rob had booked a horse drawn carriage to take her down to the church and them both back up to the house afterwards. I caught a glimpse of it outside waiting as I drove off to the church and thought what huge horses they were! Over at the church, the weather had turned but fortunately the shower turned out to be brief and it cleared soon enough leaving Rob and best man Phil free to chat to guests as they arrived.

I have been blessed all season with fantastic vicars who have been really helpful and have appreciated that it’s my job to get the best set of pictures possible for the couple, without disturbing the ceremony in any way or being obtrusive at all of course. Anyway, on Saturday, this wasn’t the case and I was basically banned from taking anything in the church after the first hymm, which I knew wasn’t what Emily and Rob wanted at all and would leave a huge gap in their coverage. I decided to go with the flow, not say anything and stayed well back in the church – very quietly taking what I could during the service. I don’t think anyone, including the vicar, noticed at all, so I felt I had done the best job possible given the circumstances!

After the ceremony, the heavens opened again so we retreated inside the church for a few minutes until luckily it stopped and Emily and Rob were able to get in the carriage and make their way back down to the house. We then managed to duck the showers to get Emily and Rob’s family pictures done outside and some lovely ones of the two of them before the rain closed in and everyone headed inside. Ston Easton is such a comfortable venue – guests just made themselves at home in the lounges and enjoyed the Champagne and canapes.

The meal was a jolly affair with the children (and some adults!) loving the bubbles on the tables and everyone enjoying the food. Afterwards it was time for the speeches and cake, followed by a very well choreographed first dance!

Here are some favourites from their day:

flowers by www.thewildebunch.co.uk
car by www.degournaymotorcars.co.uk

Emily and Rob’s wedding coming up next!

I then headed over to the mill to meet up with Andy who was chatting to guests and looking nervous! He didn’t have too long to wait though until Rachel arrived and the ceremony was underway. Rachel had gone to a lot of effort to decorate the ceremony room – even making strings of purple fabric hearts, which looked fantastic.

Afterwards, everyone had drinks on the lawn and delicious homemade welshcakes which were served warm (I only had one I promise!). I took Rachel and Andy off briefly for some couple shots using the lovely country backgrounds and then it was time for the wedding breakfast. As I drove away after the speeches, the earlier fine weather had disappeared and it had started to rain – perfect timing!

Here are some of my favourite images from the first part of their day: