wedding photography Gloucestershire — Sarah Cameron Photography Blog

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:

Sam and Les’ wedding in Bath

November 22, 2011 By sarahc View Comments

Last friday I photographed Sam and Les’ wedding at Bailbrook House in Bath. It is such a nice wedding venue up on the hill above Bath and has lovely views across the valley. I got there a bit early to wander around the grounds and find which trees still had some leaves on them for Sam and Les’ couple shots – luckily there were quite a few and it was a mild, dry day which was great.

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:

Bristol Wedding photographer – Beckie and Jon’s wedding in Bibury

October 28, 2011 By sarahc View Comments

What an amazing day Saturday was for an Autumn wedding – a clear blue sky, sunshine and all the Autumn colour. Even my drive up to Bibury for Jon and Beckie’s wedding was absolutely stunning!

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:

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Bristol Wedding Photographer – Abi and James’ wedding at Thornbury Castle

October 12, 2011 By sarahc View Comments

On Saturday I headed up to Thornbury Castle for Abi and James’ wedding. Abi was up in the King Henry VIII room (said to be where he used to stay with Anne Boleyn!) with bridesmaids Helen and Debbie all in matching white bathrooms and looking very zen! Hair and make up was well underway by friends of mine Chris (http://www.fhdmobile.co.uk) and Clare (http://www.purepampering.co.uk) and as I arrived Debbie even put the kettle on for a pot of tea – so a great start to the morning!

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:

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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:

Emma and Kris’ Wedding at Coombe Lodge in Bristol

September 6, 2011 By sarahc View Comments

Just before the August Bank holiday, I photographed Emma and kris’ wedding at Coombe Lodge in Blagdon, Bristol. Coombe Lodge is only a 10 minute drive up the road for me past Chew Valley lake so it was a very short commute! I had not been there for over a year and, in the meantime, it has had a fabulous refurbishment, courtesy of the owners of Priston Mill, which is another venue I really like and shoot at regularly. The difference was quite amazing – the house has always had a nice setting and gardens overlooking the lake – but the new decor is really lovely (particularly the amazing new guest ensuite wetrooms – I got proper bathroom envy!!!)

Emma was getting ready upstairs joined by some friends and her gorgeous flower girl – Prue. I stayed up there for a while and then headed down to catch up with Kris who was having a drink with guests and chatting to his Best Men Vic and Ram. We were wondering if the weather would hold as there were quite a few heavy showers and Emma and Kris were planning to have the ceremony outside if possible. In the end it was a bit wet for that so the new ceremony room was readied and guests assembled there. Emma looked amazing walking down the aisle and they both looked incredibly happy all the way through the ceremony.

Their luck was in and the weather cleared leaving a nice blue sky and some very welcome sunshine! It is really nice if you can get outside for some of the day – if not all of it so everyone seemed to enjoy drinks on the lawn and live violin music. I took Emma and kris off for a short while to take some photographs in the lovely grounds and then it was time for the wedding breakfast. Emma had chosen a really nice purple and green colour theme which worked really well and looked fresh and bright. They also had a fantastic purple flowery slanted cake!

Here are a few favourite images:

Bristol wedding photographer – Emily and Rob’s pre-wedding shoot in Bath

August 5, 2011 By sarahc View Comments

Last Friday I met up with Emily and Robert, who are getting married in a few weeks’ time, for their pre-wedding shoot. We had decided to take their photos in Bath around the Royal Crescent and Botanical Gardens area as the backgrounds are great – buildings and really nice plants. It had been a bit of a grey day but it stayed dry and the evening light was really soft.

Here are a few favourites:

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Devon Wedding Photographer – Katy and Steve’s wedding part 1

August 2, 2011 By sarahc View Comments

Just before I went away, I photographed Katy and Steve’s wedding down in Ilfracombe. I was really looking forward to it as I had been there a couple of years back for a weekend walking along the South West Coast path and remembered what a nice spot it was. The forecast for the day was not great so all the way down the M5 I had my fingers crossed it would be fine!

Katy, her sister and bridesmaid Alex, Mum Chesca and other bridesmaid Vicky were all getting ready in a lovely hilltop hotel in Ilfracombe looking out towards the bay and the sea. They had the whole ground floor to themselves including a pretty funky 1920′s style bar, which they made full use of! I spent some time with them while they were getting ready – and got major shoe envy when Katy showed me her bright scarlet LK Bennet heels – what a great colour for a wedding shoe!

I then headed down the road to Tunnels Beaches, which is a gorgeous old seaside resort which has just had a fabulous wedding venue open up above the beach. I love open glass buildings – and this was a really eye catching curved building with a big terrace outside overlooking the sea. Steve was having a calming coke and a chat with his best man Ian and some of the other guests when I arrived so I captured all the goings on and we all waited for Katy to arrive. Managing to time her arrival for a bit of a break in the weather, despit the ceremony starting with brolleys up, by the end, the skies had cleared and we all enjoyed a bit of respite from the rain.

When I had first met Katy and Steve, they told me they were going to do an Italian style aperitivo after the ceremony - which I thought was a great idea. For those not familiar with this – in several areas mainly in the north of Italy, for a couple of hours each evening, bars and cafes lay out a buffet of snacks which you can help yourself to with your drink (much more civilised than the usual British bag of crisps or nuts for munchies!). They had really gone to town on it so everyone tucked in to big platters of cheeses, cold meats, salad and warm focaccia - canapes eat your heart out!

I took Katy and Steve off down to the beach for a few shots by themselves, but as I have got so many nice images from their day here are a few just until the end of the ceremony. Part 2 coming soon: