The last week has been so busy with shoots and weddings so I will do my best to catch up with my blog over the next few days!

On Friday I headed into town to meet up with Bhavani and James whose wedding is in a few weeks’ time. They had rushed over from London to meet up with me for a couple of hours before heading back to Bhavani’s parents’ house for a slap up meal for her birthday – so it was a real priviledge to spend a bit of Bhavani’s special day with them.

It was a pretty hot afternoon so we had a drink inside the Arnolfini Gallery (a favourite haunt of mine!) and then had a wander around the waterfront area to do their pre-wedding shoot. Bristol is such a vibrant place to shoot – particularly the old dock area along from the SS Great Britain with all the old buildings and preserved railway lines (unlike Bhavani, James didn’t know the city so I had to reassure him there wouldn’t be any trains coming along!).  

We stopped at several places around the floating harbour and took some really lovely photographs of them. I think, like most people, they had had a few reservations about having their photographs taken, but then really relaxed into it and enjoyed themselves!

Here are a few of my favourite images:

I think Saturday has to have been one of the most perfect days ever for a wedding!  It was already pretty hot by the time I arrived at Laura’s parents’ house in their village in Wiltshire to take some shots of the final preparations and Laura and her bridesmaids Louise and Steph. Finishing touches were being made to the marquee and it looked lovely – set right beside a fabulous lawn with all the early summer plants out in full bloom.

From there I headed over to the church (which was blissfully cool!) to meet up with James, his best man and ushers. Guests arrived by bus and there was a general air of excitement in the churchyard with lots of well wishers waiting to see the bride arrive.  I photographed Laura’s cousin Jo’s wedding last summer so it was lovely to see some of the family again!

Photographs were not permitted in church so I sat back and enjoyed the service and when Laura and James came out of church caught some lovely images of guests congratulating them.  We then headed back to Laura’s parents’ house and I took some shots of them in the grounds before their guests arrived for drinks and canapes.  

Here are some of my favourite images from their day:

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of photographing Andy and Chris’ civil partnership at Priston Mill near Bath. When I arrived at the mill, their wedding planner Jane was hard at work putting the finishing touches to the room which already looked fantastic and had lots of really personal touches including local ciders and ales as favors for guests and sticks of rock decorated in their theme colours.

Andy and Chris had decided to arrive in real style so there were a few guests keeping their eyes peeled outside for them despite the cold weather.  Chris arrived first in a Rolls Royce shortly followed by Andy in a Bentley – both having enjoyed champagne en route and looking forward to the day ahead.

Chris’ little niece Georgia looked a delight in her flower girl dress as did Andy and Chris’ sisters Rachel and Siobhan, Emma and Kate who were all wearing gorgeous prom style blue dresses.  We also had probably the youngest wedding guest I have ever seen – little 2 day old Mason with mum Emma.  She must have been the envy of a lot of the female guests looking so good 2 days after giving birth!  

Kate and Emma both read during the ceremony and there weren’t a lot of dry eyes as Andy and Chris said their vows. Looking quite emotional themselves during the ceremony, I think Andy and Chris were pleased to be handed a drink as soon as the ceremony ended and they headed out to the garden with their guests as the sun put in an appearance.

Andy and Chris had arranged for Luisa, a fantastic caricaturist to wander around and sketch guests during the drinks reception, so there were some amusing moments as guests were given their cartoon selves!  It was soon time for the meal and guests made their way inside for the wedding breakfast and speeches.  

After the meal, there was plenty of time for fun in the playground behind the mill which seemed to appeal to some of the older guests as well as the children!

Suppliers:

Wedding planning:  http://sites.google.com/site/individualitybyjane

Videography:   www.videorecording.co.uk

Flowers:  The Gallery Wrington (01934 863564)

Caricaturist: www.wickedcaricatures.com

Toast Master: www.davidreadtoastmaster.co.uk

Stationary: www.exclusively-for-you.com

Here are some of my favourite images:  

I have just got back after a blissful long weekend in Cornwall.  I think a walk along the coast followed by fish and chips by the sea has to be one of life’s pleasures and this weekend certainly didn’t disappoint on that front! 

Before I left I had the lovely experience of photographing Emma with her 8 month bump and her husband Ian. With only a few weeks to go it is a very exciting time for them and so nice to share a bit of that excitement with them and capture some lovely images.  Here are a few of my favourites: