wedding photographer bovey castle — Sarah Cameron Photography Blog

Janet and Steve’s Christmas wedding at Clearwell Castle

January 13, 2012 By sarahc View Comments

Just before Christmas and on a lovely crisp morning, I drove over the bridge and up to the Forest of Dean for the lovely Jan and Steve’s wedding. By the time I arrived, the air was heavy with snow and, in contrast to Bristol, it looked like there had been some already – very Christmassy!

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:

Rani and James’ wedding in the Wye Valley

December 16, 2011 By sarahc View Comments

I haven’t been over the bridge for a wedding since earlier in the summer so I was looking forward to Rani and James’ wedding last weekend in the beautiful setting of Llandogo – just up the river from Tintern Abbey.

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 and David’s wedding at Hotel du Vin in Bristol

November 30, 2011 By sarahc View Comments

A couple of weeks ago I photographed Jo and David’s wedding at Hotel du Vin in Bristol (a great setting for a Winter wedding as it’s just so cosy!). When I arrived, Jo and her Mum Penny and Aunty Jo were getting ready in the Veuve Clicquot suite upstairs and there was, appropriately enough, a bottle of Champagne chilling ready for a pre-wedding drink to calm everyone’s nerves! Jo’s make up was done by a friend of mine – Clare from Pure Pampering (www.purepampering.co.uk) – so Jo was able to sit with her glass of bubbly and just relax!

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:

Bristol wedding photographer – Emily and Rob’s wedding at Ston Easton

September 23, 2011 By sarahc View Comments

On Saturday, I drove down the road to Ston Easton, a little village not far from me and home to a favourite venue of mine, Ston Easton Park.

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:

Rachel and Andy’s wedding in Priston, Bath – part 1

September 22, 2011 By sarahc View Comments

A couple of weeks ago I photographed Rachel and Andy’s wedding just up the road from me at Priston Mill near Bath. The morning started off fine as I drove into Bishopston to catch up with Rachel who was getting ready with her family, friend Hannah and flowergirls Tia and Cerys. The girls were enthralled with Rachel and Andy’s chickens – but were even more excited about getting into their dresses. We were all upstairs when the car pulled up outside – it’s not every day you get a beautiful shiny car outside your house to chauffeur you around!

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:

Penny and Steve’s wedding in Somerset – Part 1

September 16, 2011 By sarahc View Comments

Two weeks ago I had another double wedding weekend – on Saturday a drive down to the Quantocks and Sunday, a bit closer to home at Priston. The weather stayed dry on both days which was great – as Penny and Steve on Saturday had their hearts set on an open air ceremony, so it was a good job it was dry!

I arrived at their venue; Coombe Manor Hotel, a wedding venue I haven’t shot at before, and met up with Steve who was having a pint to steady his nerves with Best Man Stuart and looking after little Ellis – who looked very cute in his wedding outfit. Little boys don’t stay pristine for very long though and in no time he was sitting in and playing with the gravel unaware he was in his smart outfit! I left the boys having a drink and a chat on the lawn and went to catch up with Penny.

The hotel has a little beauty/spa area in the grounds which was a great place for Penny to get ready with bridesmaids Hayley, Vicky, Cat and Natalie. The hotel’s own make up people had just started doing Penny’s make up so I spent some time with her and the rest of the girls before heading back outside as guests were arriving.

The ceremony was in a little gazebo off the garden and looked really nice laid up with the chair covers and flowers – I definately think chair covers make even more of a difference to outdoor ceremonies as they just look really nice all white.

Penny and Steve looked really delighted all the way through the ceremony – I don’t think I took one shot of them when they weren’t smiling – particularly as Ellis decided half way through he wanted to be part of the action and toddled over to join in!

Afterwards guests enjoyed the lovely grounds and I took Penny and Steve off briefly for a few shots of them together. They had a relaxed BBQ wedding breakfast with some very nice Cumberland Sausage (a favourite of mine!) and then speeches before having a little break outside and then into the evening dancing.

Here are a few favourite images from the first part of their day: