Spring Cotswold wedding at Lapstone Barn

This time last year, spring was well and truly underway. The sun shone, the birds sang and the lambs were leaping in the fields. And Lowri & Jamie celebrated their marriage in the perfect Cotswolds setting of Lapstone Barn near Chipping Campden. One year on and life is looking so different. But it’s at these times that it’s good to remember how things were and will be again and this lovely wedding really sticks in my memory.

Lowri had spent her childhood in the Middle East and so wanted to bring a flavour of that to her wedding day by covering the entire floor of the lofty Cotswold barn with a collection of stunning kilim rugs. What a great idea!

After photographing Lowri and the girls excitedly getting ready at Lapstone, I made the short journey down the hill to the little village of Weston Sub Edge to photograph Jamie and the guys enjoying drinks and lunch. It was then back up to Lapstone to capture the very special moment when Lowri was fitted into her beautiful crystal encrusted wedding dress with help from lovely Mum Amanda. There was just enough time for the girls to practice some all important dance moves for later, before Lowri, Dad Geoff and the bridesmaids made their way downstairs to be greeted by guests and Jamie in the ceremony barn.

Leaving to rapturous applause, the happy couple made their way outside. Now, this was a first me because while most couples have confetti in the form of paper petals, real flowers or potpourri, aviation mad Jamie along with his beautiful new bride were bombarded with scores of paper aeroplanes! Great fun for everyone! We then spent a short while strolling around the grounds and I caught some lovely shots of the two of them with the spectacular backdrop of the surrounding fields. They were so natural in front of the lens, it made my job so easy.

Back inside, everyone tucked into a delicious meal, followed by some hilarious speeches and then it was time to hit the dancefloor - with Lowri sporting some fab glittery platform pumps to keep her dancing feet pain free well into the night.

Autumnal wedding at Blackwell Grange

With its picturesque combination of traditional thatched and modern barns, Blackwell Grange in Warwickshire is a really lovely venue to photograph and I was delighted to be there one crisp October Saturday last year to capture the wedding of Emma & Matthew. Guests arrived with groom Matthew on a vintage bus while Emma and the girls got ready in the venue’s Potting Shed rooms. Emma then made the chilly walk through the grounds to the lovely ceremony barn and I have to say she looks so excited on the photographs! The sun shone all day in that lovely way it does in Autumn - warm and low - and we made full use of it, along with the interesting stables and outbuildings for photographs while guests enjoyed pre dinner drinks.

The best photographs come when couples are at ease in front of the lens and Emma & Matthew were so chilled on the day, I think the results speak for themselves. It’s my objective to get to know my clients well in the lead up to the wedding and I remain calm and supportive during what, for many, can seem a really daunting experience. I always say to my clients that it’s best not to perform but to be totally focused on each other - it’s about me capturing a moment between two people, not two people performing to the camera.

Mickleton Hills Farm summer wedding

September last year was a beautifully sunny month. Such a blessing for Jo Jo & Liam who basked in the warmth of the late summer sun at their lovely Cotswolds’ wedding. The day got off to a flying start with Jo Jo’s closest friends preparing for the day ahead, with makeup by Arrianarosebeauty and hair by Mode. The ceremony took place in the impressive surroundings of St James’s Church, Chipping Campden and then guests made their way just over the hill to the lovely Mickleton Hills Farm. This venue is very special and is almost cathedral like in its structure. The summer sun flooded into the reception barn with it’s picture window overlooking the beautiful Cotswolds’ countryside. There was plenty of time for me to photograph the happy couple before their wedding breakfast but as the sun began to set, I persuaded them to come outside again and make the most of the fabulous golden evening light. Such a dream to photograph - and Jo Jo looked amazing in her Suzanne Neville dress.