Paul and Liz's Wedding

Added Friday 31st October 2008

Paul and Liz celebrated their wedding over two glorious days, with the ceremony on the 17th at Wellingborough registry office, followed the next day by a super-swanky evening do at Highgate House in Creaton.

As I mentioned in their previous blog post, Paul and Liz are running things their way! They've customised their day to suit their own inimitable style, beginning with their 'first look' at the end of the beautiful Swanspool gardens. Here's Paul, keeping his cool, while his bride pulls up in the back of a convertible mini, decorated with Tiffany's-blue ribbons!



Their meeting was a lovely moment, and Paul's expression here seems to say "you mean I get to marry her?!"







During the ceremony, Liz's friend Kate sang "What am I to you?" by Norah Jones. She's been a friend to Liz for many years, and let slip one or two little stories about their childhood together! Kate is an English teacher, by the way, and she likes my polemic. I'm reasonably certain that's a good thing.



The kids read a lovely non-traditional passage from The Veleveteen Rabbit. Liz emailed me some of it yesterday:

"Real isn't how you're made" said the skin horse, "it's a thing that happens to you when someone loves you for a very long time, not just to play with but really loves you, then you become real"..."Generally by the time you are real most of your hair has been loved off and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But those things don't matter at all because, once you are real you can never be ugly."



We had some gorgeous light in the gardens after the ceremony. And this Happy Couple just seemed to know where to stand for maximum effect, under this tree with the low sun behind them.









Of course, we had to return to the love tree. Here are Paul and Liz, sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g.



And on to Highgate the next day. As I pottered around the Baronial Hall, shooting table details, this bombshell in a red dress taps on the window and waves at me. I mouth the word "wow", which makes her laugh and I scurry outside with my flash and brolly to get some creative pictures before she gets cold and goes inside!



During our shoot, one lucky husband sticks his head out of the window and whistles suggestively at the "beautiful Spanish girl" he sees on the lawn below. Liz just loves the attention, and we get some fantastic shots. She says we brought out the "inner minx" in her!



Cute little Tiffany's box cakes.



All the times I'd been to Highgate House, I never stopped to shoot in this doorway before. But in the evening light (or lack of), it looks totally different.



After some formal posing with the guests, we went back out to another 'love tree', and Paul and Liz took the chance to practise their steps for their first dance later.



Paul and Liz, your wedding meant a lot to me. I think it was out in the gardens you said you'd do this every day if you could. And if you did, I'd be there! Your love is genuine and real, like you. Years from now, when your fur is loved off, your eyes fallen out (!) and your joints all loose, you'll still be beautiful, like the horse says.

Thank you both for having me, for making me look really, really good at what I do, and for saying such nice things after the fact. Half of which are even publishable! We'll talk again soon!

By the way, who won the champagne bet on "sob-fest 2008"??

Sywell Reservoir

Added Tuesday 21st October 2008

Where do you go when you want to think? Do you even have a place? For me, Sywell is great. I have to give my legs something to do, if my brain is to get my full attention! Last week, I made a personal-best lap time of 22 minutes. Tell me if you've beaten that! Here are some pics from my mobile:



(these swans took an interest, until they realised I didn't have any bread)

I might be thinking about life, business ideas, praying, or just 'not-thinking'. I once read something that I always remember:

"We all have times when we think more effectively, and times when we should not be thinking at all" - Daniel Cohen



I have a box of index cards in my office, full of wise things I've read (and just occasionally written!) Another of my favourites is this:

"Beauty is not only a terrible thing, it is also a mysterious thing. There, God and the devil strive for mastery, and the battleground is the heart of men" - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

First of all, check me out - wheeling out the Dostoyevsky to make myself sound clever. Second of all, how true? You don't have to believe in God to 'get' that beauty is some kind of incredible fundamental property of creation or nature. You can't miss it when you see it, and I see a lot of it in the couples I am priviliged to meet. I think about these things when I'm walking round Sywell. (When I'm running, my thoughts are rather less profound!)

Beauty, like it's masculine counterpart: strength, can be used for good or for evil. And as the quote says, the battleground is our own hearts. What do you choose to do with your beauty, or your strength?

If you're at all interested in the above, or you are a) male, or b) female, I can recommend two books by John and Stasi Eldredge: a) "Wild at heart", and b) "Captivating". Read the one if you're into self-improvement, or the other if you want to understand your partner, possibly even better than they understand themselves. If not, my apologies for this philosophical interlude. Normal service will resume shortly!

The Happy Mondays

Added Monday 20th October 2008

Sometimes I think this job is a little topsy turvey. I work hardest at the weekends, meet customers at home in the evenings, and talk to brides on the phone on a Sunday afternoon like they were old friends. Lots of regular people don't understand what it's like to be self-employed. They can't see why I'd want to work so hard! But when you run your own business, your success is directly tied to your work. What's more, I love my work! It's great to meet and become friends with some cool couples, and witness their happiest day from a front row seat. Like Paul and Liz this weekend, for example (more later!)

One consequence of working hard at the weekend, is that I really love Mondays. It's good to finally get back into the office and ease into the paperwork, catch up, and maybe go for a run (or something fun) later.

If you're already fed up with the week, then my commiserations. But otherwise, Happy Monday, everyone!

Right in the midst of our mad preparations for the national wedding show, I got the chance to meet and book a very attractive couple, Matt and Laura-Anne. Their wedding is at Rushton Hall. Laura-Anne, apart from being gorgeous, is a keen photographer herself, so it's a particular honor to be chosen by her and her handsome fiancé to document their wedding in July next year. Oh, and did I mention that they were good-looking?!

I've just got some amazing new sample albums to show you! We made a couple more storybooks, featuring two wonderful couples: Chris and Naomi, and Stephen and Helena. Chris and Naomi's album displays the new "desire" album cover. Also Ted and Alison lent their images to the large photoplate "contemporary" album, and Nick and Mariza's photographs appear in the new "traditional" album, with full hand book-binding, leather covers, and deluxe pages. If you haven't yet seen any of these designs, and particularly if you're lurking here and haven't yet called me up about your wedding, you must get in touch to arrange to see these (and me!)

Of course, there was the small matter of the National Wedding Show to deal with the other week! We were sooo busy that I didn't really have time to take many photos. Here's my glamourous assitant, Sue, shaking a Christmas present:



Here's yours truly, shortly before the close of the event. It was actually a funny moment. The models from the catwalk show were aimlessly wandering around (none of them were getting married, by the way) and just randomly stood in between me and Sue, who was taking this picture. And we both simultaneously did that little head shake and tut, and said "models, huh"



Here's how secure I am about having my picture taken: You know what I think when I see this? "I need a cooler watch".

Must give a shout out though to our neighbours, Margot Raybould who had some gorgeous dresses on display. The lovely Kathryn at Fleur de Lis in Solihull provided us with a stylish vase for the stand. You must go and see her if you haven't already got your flowers sorted.

If you didn't make it to the show this October, and you're looking for your photographer, whatever you do, don't wait until March! Phone me up and we'll talk!!

Finally, here's a sneak peak at Paul & Liz's pictures from this weekend. They had a wonderful wedding split over two days in Wellingborough and Highgate House. More soon!

Holiday Inn Wedding Fayre

Added Sunday 5th October 2008

Last week I attended the wedding fayre at the Holiday Inn in Solihull. I do like the smaller, hotel-based fayres, as I get a good chance to meet and chat with lots of brides and the occasional groom, particularly when they are considering the venue itself for their wedding.





Wedding fayres are also, for me, a great chance to meet up with other wedding vendors, and talk about the wedding business. I firmly believe in the power of networking and sharing the knowledge.

Here are some delicious looking creations from Cake Couture.





And one or two sparkly, fluffy, and otherwise impressive decorations from Balloons 'n' Things!









My next-door neighbour was Italia, from r'vive beauty. She's based at the Holiday Inn, so you can go there for beauty treatments, and provides a great at-home wedding makeup service. She comes from a family of entrepreneurs, and I'm pleased to have made a friend of her. Italia is getting married herself next year, and I'm gutted that I'm not available for her date! She is absolutely lovely to talk to, and doesn't charge nearly enough for her excellent service. So phone her up quick on 07983 529672 and ask about make-up before I convince her to increase her prices!!

Matthew and Kirsty's wedding

Added Saturday 4th October 2008

A few short decades ago, a young Eddie Andrews worked hard in the construction business, dropping off rubble at a site in Bicester. He had no clue of course, that the very hardcore he laid down would become the foundations of the venue which, last month, hosted the wedding reception for his daughter, Kirsty, and her freshly minted husband, Matthew!

It was a pleasure to document this historic occasion, and to be made to feel like a part of the family. Matthew and Kirsty, after hiring me for their photography, wanted to 'invite' me to the wedding, and gave me a place at a table, with a name card and everything!!

Anyway, rewind the day a bit, back to the Andrew's house, the morning of the 20th of September, Kirsty's birthday, by the way! Her dress, and all the bridesmaids' were made by her talented Mum, Roz.



Their garden is pretty much an orchard, with apples hanging from the branches. It made me think of Eden, only slightly less naughty.



Here's Kirsty's maid of honour - fresh out of hair and makeup. Emma is beautiful, funny, and married (sorry gents). Makeup was courtesy of Carla, who was fantastic, looking out for the girls all day long. She came straight back from London fashion week (Carla send me a link if you have a website!), and between her and Emma, who has modelled before, there was a lot of posing going on!

Rebecca and Michael were the winners that morning - first ones ready. Woohoo, well done guys! So they got their picture tooken at the house!



(By the way, you have to be impressed at how many names I get right. But tell me quickly if I'm wrong!)

The super-confident Matthew waits in the sunshine for his lovely bride!



It was nice to be back in St. Mary's, Launton after Dan and Zoe's wedding earlier this year. I'm eternally grateful to them for recommending me. I hope Matthew and Kirsty are too!



I'm not usually much of a weeper! But this little moment made me catch my breath. It's as fascinating as it is wonderful to witness the birth of so many marriages, and to get to know couples at the early stage of their life together. You can't help but observe the different dynamics, and wonder about the future. But when I saw Matthew gently wipe the tear from his bride's face, I thought to myself "Oh you're gonna do just fine."



A 21 paddle salute. At ease, sailors!





Ashley is Matthew's brother, and best man. He is pictured here, the only one without a camera. We can only wonder what he is thinking about at this moment. Also note Zoe's brilliant 'shoot-from-the-hip' technique.



Read all about it: Feathers rain from sky as white dove shot down by lady (pictured left) with confetti bazooka!





Barelling down the driveway to the Bicester Golf and Country Club.



I make it Pimm's o clock!



The wedding co-ordinator, Carly, drove us down to the lake in her stretched golf-buggy. We got a few awesome photos of Matthew and Kirsty, and Emma and Ashley too. Carly happens to be a friend of Kirsty's, so after her main work was done in the evening, she got herself gussied up and effortlessly slipped into party mode, drifting past me and my laptop in the main reception to join in the evening celebration!







Stunning women, walking in the opposite direction. Welcome to my world. And here's Carla, who somehow found time to beautify herself too, after all the girls





Mr. and Mrs. Matthew, soaking up the gorgeous light in the golden hour, just after dinner.





I think (think), this was Kirsty's reaction to Ashley's joke about the honeymoon destination. I can't publish it, you have to ask him. Emma didn't stop laughing for about 20 minutes!



Finally, Dan shows up after attending a matter of life and death during the daytime. Happy 4 month anniversary to you two!