MELANIE & NEIL'S INGATESTONE HALL WEDDING

Here we go, a little sample of Melanie & Neil’s super chilled vibrant wedding at Ingatestone Hall which is nestled in the Essex countryside. Ingatestone Hall is full of historical charm and set in the most stunning landscape. I loved it. Enough talking from me, see for yourself. Especially check out the party photos, that dance floor was on fire!

The rain held off to enable Melanie and Neil to have an outdoor wedding ceremony nestled in the woodlands of Ingatestone Hall, and their drinks reception within the scenic walled gardens.

Dinner and dancing took place in the marquee under the vibrant decor installed by Bubblegum Balloons.

Melanie & Neil’s Awesome Supplier List
Photography - Anesta Broad Photography
Videography - Chris Turner Films
Venue - Ingatestone Hall
Caterers - Bouquet Garni and The Pizza Post
Florist - Bev
Cake - Kristy Kreme
Groom’s suit - Hawes & Curtis
Bridal dress - Charlie Brear
Bridesmaid dresses - Closet London
Makeup artist - Justine Warwick
Hairdresser - Kayleigh Veale
Live Band - Republic
Venue decorator - Bubblegum Balloons

Here’s another one for you. Check out Natacha and Noel’s black tie wedding at That Amazing Place in Harlow Essex.

RHIANNON & ANDREW'S EAST MERSEA HALL WEDDING

Here we go, a colourful autumn wedding at East Mersea Hall. Fabulous example of how not to let the rain spoil your day.

Rhiannon & Andrew’s Awesome Supplier List
Venue - East Mersea Hall
Florist - Miss Fleur Floral Design
Groom’s suit - Slaters
Bridal Dress - Lovely Bride
Bridesmaids Dresses - Duntery
Makeup Artist and Hairdresser - Holly Carter
Caterer - East Mersea Hall
Cake - M&S
Band - The Cassettes
Photography - Anesta Broad Photography

Check out Natacha & Noel’s autumn wedding at That Amazing Place

BEN & KATIE'S BRAXTED PARK WEDDING

My first visit to Braxted Park was for Ben and Katie’s summer wedding. Here are some of my favourite shots from the day.

After the church ceremony, everyone returned to Braxted Park for the drinks reception in the gardens.

Dinner and speeches took place in the marquee.

The evening kick off with Katie throwing her bouquet. The dancefloor was opened first with Ben and Katie’s first dance, followed by Katie inviting her Dad for a dance too.

Katie & Ben’s Awesome Supplier List
Venue - Braxted Park
Church - St Luke’s Church Upminster Cranham
Celebrant - Michael Vickers
Florist - The Florist on the Green, Great Totham
Groom’s suit - Anthony’s Formal Wear
Bridal Dress - Romford Bridal
Bridesmaids Dresses - Silk Fred
Makeup Artist - Jo Riley
Hairdresser - Kirsty Alger
Car - Platinum Cars
Singer - Serena Grant (Serenity via Entertainment Nation)
Photography - Anesta Broad Photography

Check out Jack & Laura’s autumn wedding at Mulberry House.

NOEL & NATACHA'S THAT AMAZING PLACE WEDDING

On the blog today is Natacha and Noel’s autumn wedding at That Amazing Place in Harlow Essex. Full of smiles, laughter and the occasional emotional tear. It was a glamorous black tie affair for the groomsmen and the bridemaids. The occasional shower of rain didn’t spoil the day. Check it out, it’s a beauty.

Here’s another one for you. Check out Dilys and Phil’s summer wedding at That Amazing Place.

FIFTY WEDDING MOMENTS of 2022

Here we are, fifty of my favourite moments from 2022! Wholesome, heartfelt and personal. These fifty shots are the reason why I don’t interrupt anything about your day. These are why I stay in the wings, observing and waiting for these moments to unfold, which sometimes happen in just a split second. These are the photographs that make you say “Damn girl! I didn’t know you got that!”

For me, these moments are absolute gold and a joy to look back on. Check them out, you will see what I mean!

I often get asked if I take the traditional type group shots. The answer is yes, but they don’t have to be as formal as you think. Check out my blog post showing how Group Shots Don’t Have To Be Boring.

ELIZABETH & RAYMOND'S GOSFIELD HALL WEDDING

2022 started with the elegant Gosfield Hall winter wedding of Elizabeth and Raymond. Navy, gold and white were the overarching colour theme of the day. We had a brilliant day, plenty of smiles and laughter.

Raymond and the groomsmen got ready in an adjacent suite to Elizabeth. This made it easier to capture both of them getting ready.

The ceremony took place in the Long Gallery.

After the ceremony, Raymond and Elizabeth led the guests outside into the courtyard to throw confetti before joining them inside for drinks.

Being winter, it was pretty cold so we weren’t planning to venture outside, but there was a rather unexpected heavy hailstone shower to made the grounds look as though it had snowed. We nipped outside briefly to take a few photos, and then the sun started to break through the clouds giving us both a snowy and golden look. It was a perfect Disney fairytale moment!

Before the guests were seated for dinner, we spent 10 minutes taking a few photos inside of Gosfield Hall, incorporating the stunning decor into portraits of Raymond and Elizabeth.

The reception room styling was stunning, brought together by florist Elegance of Essex, providing a warm setting for dinner and speeches.

Elizabeth & Raymond’s Awesome Supplier List
Photography - Anesta Broad Photography
Venue - Gosfield Hall
Caterer - Gosfield Hall
Florist - Elegance of Essex
Cakes by Jazlins - Jazlins Cakes
Groom’s suit - Hawes & Curtis
Bridal dress - Wed2Be
Bridesmaid dresses - Little Mistress
Makeup artist - Faye Neill
Hairdresser - Carly Williams
DJ - Intryst
Musician - Saxman Justyn

GEORGIA & MARK'S MOOR HALL WEDDING

Moor Hall has been one of my favourite alternative venues to work at, so it was bittersweet shooting one of their last weddings before they permanently closed their doors in the summer of 2021. Georgia and Mark did them justice with a their wedding. Full of laughter, style and colour. The weather was hot and sunny and we were blessed with some beautiful light towards the end of the day which we took advantage of. Here are a few of my favourite moments from their day.

After the ceremony, drinks and group photos took place in the gardens.

We took at brief stroll in the gardens before heading into dinner.

Georgia and Mark choose an elegant simple white and green theme for their wedding decor which complemented the venue beautifully. After a warm welcome into dinner, speeches began and had guests laughing and crying in equal measure. It was wonderful to see so much love and admiration for Georgia and Mark in the room.

After dinner, we took a walk around the gardens at Moor Hall to talk advantage of the golden hour we had been blessed with.

Kicking off the party with cutting their cake made by Georgia’s sister, the guests took to the dance floor which was kept busy by Funkbox Productions. We couldn’t believe our luck when the sunset brought us the most beautiful rich colours, so we managed to get a few last shots before downing the cameras for the evening.

Georgia and Mark’s Awesome Suppliers
Venue - Moor Hall
Photography - Anesta Broad Photography
Makeup artist and hair - The Dotty Bride
Florist - Love Lavish
Caterer - Relish
Groom’s suit - Cookham Suit Hire
Bridal gown - David’s Bridal
Bridesmaid dresses - La Closet De Chanel
DJ - Funkbox Productions
White taxi - London Car Hire
Violinist - Colette Haze
Cake - Bride’s sister

WEDDING CEREMONY - QUESTIONS TO ASK

Whether you have already chosen the date and location for your wedding ceremony or still deciding, there are plenty of questions that you need to ask the person conducting your ceremony including a few about wedding photography. I asked friends, family and my past couples what questions they asked when planning their own wedding ceremonies.  Everyone was very generous in sharing questions and experiences, so much so that I had a tough time narrowing down a top ten. Instead I settled on the top twenty questions to ask whoever is presiding over your service!

1. Can you talk me through what to expect before and during the ceremony?

2. What do we need to provide before the wedding (for example, birth certificate)?

3. Are we required to take any premarital or religious classes prior to the ceremony?

4. How much does the ceremony cost?

5. How long does the service take? The average length of a church wedding ceremony is 45 minutes, however, ceremonies in a registry office can be just 20 minutes long.

6. How many guests can the church/venue accommodate during the service?

7. Where will everyone stand/sit during the ceremony…bridal party, readers, etc?

8. What are the legalities? A friend explained how her ceremony took place in a 700 year old chapel which was bound by ancient rules and customs.  Written permission was required from all members of the choir/organist in order to have a videographer. Fortunately, this didn’t cause a problem. Always check about copyright of any music needed, ask if venues have legal permission and relevant licenses to play the songs that you would like.

9. Can guests park at the ceremony location? “It may sound a bit practical but it’s handy to know about parking as the church we used had people to direct parking and they kept areas clear for us to arrive and leave.”

10. How can we personalise the ceremony? There are often opportunities for you to make your service personal to you from customising your order of service to writing your own wedding vows. Remember to ask for ideas and examples.

11. Is there another ceremony booked immediately before or after ours?

12. For an outdoor ceremony, what is the backup plan in case it rains?

13. Are there musical instruments available for use such as a piano or organ? Are there any bylaws or restrictions on when the church bells can be rung?

14. Can we have a rehearsal and who should attend?

15. Are there any photography or videography restrictions? Do you allow the use of flash photography? Some registrars or vicars object to the use of flash photography and have strict rules about when photos cannot be taken such as during the vows or at the signing of the register. Always check beforehand so that you and others can be prepared.

16. Where and when can photos be taken?

17. What is the cancellation policy?

18. What time before the ceremony can we have access to decorate?

19. Can we take our flowers from the ceremony venue to the reception venue?

20. Are we allowed to throw confetti?

21. And one more for luck and my personal favourite, which came up more than once…can you have tissues at the ready? “We had someone leave a bottle of water and some tissues in the front pew of the bride’s side of the church as bridemaids don’t have pockets or handbags!”

NICOLA & JASON'S OLD BROOK BARN WEDDING

Sunshine, chilled out and a whole lot of smiles was the general vibe of the day. Back in the autumn I photographed Nicola and Jason’s wedding at Old Brook Barn in Navestock Essex. When Nicola and Jason first contacted me about their wedding, they explained that they wanted a very relaxed style of photography and they didn’t want lots of formal stage photos. It was more about capturing everyone having a good time in a candid way.

Nicola literally smiled from ear to ear the entire time, and in her gorgeous alternative glittery dress she was glowing. I spent just three hours with Nicola and Jason that day but I left buzzing. Their happiness was infectious.

After the drinks reception, all the guests went inside the barn for a BBQ catered by Limeberry Catering whilst Simone played the saxophone on the barn’s veranda.

For more barn wedding inspiration, check out Katy and Tim’s wedding at Old Brook Barn.

See more wedding inspiration on my Instagram feed and feel free to pin your favourites on to your Pinterest Board. If you are looking for a wedding photographer who is more about capturing your day in a natural, fun and unobtrusive way, then you are in the right place. Get in touch and tell me about your plans.

CHERYL & STUART'S LEEZ PRIORY WEDDING

Last year, Cheryl and Stuart asked me to photograph their winter wedding at Leez Priory in Chelmsford Essex. We were blessed with sunshine and blue skies for their November wedding. Nestled in the Essex countryside, Leez Priory was previously a monastery but now functions as a wedding venue with a beautiful historical charm.

Here are a few of my favourite photographs from Cheryl and Stuart’s Leez Priory wedding.

Stuart being a big Tottenham Hotspurs football fan incorporated the classic blue and white colours into the wedding decor. Tables were named after famous Spurs players.

The grounds at Leez Priory are beautiful and with the weather on our side, Cheryl and Stuart were able to enjoy a walk around to some of the iconic spots at the venue. The guests joined us outside to throw confetti before heading in for dinner.

After dark, Cheryl and Stuart had organised a surprise fireworks display for the guests. Then everyone headed inside for the first dance.

Thank you Cheryl and Stuart for choosing me to capture your wedding day.

Cheryl & Stuart’s Awesome Supplier List
Ceremony and reception venue - Leez Priory, Essex
Makeup artist - Justine Warwick
Hairdresser - Bethany Alden
Bridal Gown - Serena Bridal
Groom’s Suit - Moss Bros
Caterers - Leez Priory
DJ - Leez Priory
Photography - Anesta Broad Photography

For more wedding inspiration, check out Karl and Kayleigh’s Gosfield Hall wedding.

See more wedding inspiration on my Instagram feed and feel free to pin your favourites on to your Pinterest Board. If you are looking for a wedding photographer who is more about capturing your day in a natural, fun and unobtrusive way, then you are in the right place. Get in touch and tell me about your plans.

LUCY & BRADLEY'S HUTTON HALL WEDDING

Let’s take a look back to the Autumn when we photographed Lucy and Bradley’s wedding at Hutton Hall.

Lucy and Bradley got married at All Saints C of E Church in Hutton which is a short walk away from Hutton Hall.

The church bells rang for Lucy and Bradley which is quite an honour to hear. After a cheerful confetti greeting, the guests walked back to Hutton Hall for the drinks reception. Whilst Lucy and Bradley went for a short drive in the Rolls Royce, we photographed the wedding decor in the marquee.

Fortunately the rain held off in order for us to photograph Lucy and Bradley with their friends and family in the gardens.

The guests welcomed Lucy and Bradley into dinner, which was served by Premier Crew. Speeches took place after dinner and had the room belly laughing and teary in equal measure.

The evening party was opened by Lucy and Bradley’s first dance.

Thank you Lucy and Bradley for choosing me to capture your wedding day.

Lucy & Bradley’s Awesome Supplier List
Ceremony venue - All Saints C of E Church Hutton
Reception venue - Hutton Hall, Essex
Florists - Jade Flower Design & Fancy Faux
Makeup artist - Jaimie Attfield
Hairdresser - Sarah Wade
Bridal Gown - Abigail’s Collection
Groom’s Suit - Jack Bunneys
Bridesmaids Gowns - Lá Closet Dé Chánel
Cake baker - Belladory Cakes
Caterers - Premier Crew
Musicians - The Modern Classics
DJ - Sweet Vibes Events DJ
Car - Rolls Royce
Photography - Anesta Broad Photography
Videographer - Ding Dong Weddings

For more Autumn wedding inspiration, check out Jack and Laura’s Mulberry House wedding.

See more wedding inspiration on my Instagram feed and feel free to pin your favourites on to your Pinterest Board. If you are looking for a wedding photographer who is more about capturing your day in a natural, fun and unobtrusive way, then you are in the right place. Get in touch and tell me about your plans.

CONFETTI SHOTS THAT ROCK

Confetti shots are awesome. They remain one of the most iconic and requested wedding photographs. I love a confetti shot, especially the ones that are vibrant and full of laughter. Here are my top tips for getting the best wedding confetti photographs.

Plan ahead

To get that perfect confetti shot, it is worth planning ahead and nailing a couple of my top tips. I promise, when you see your confetti photos, they will rock and you will be glad that you did!

CONFETTI SHOT DURING THE DRINKS RECEPTION OUTSIDE OF OLD BROOK BARN IN ESSEX

Bring lots of your own confetti

Go large or go home! Provide the confetti for your guests and tons of it!. Guests rarely bring confetti to weddings any more, so provide plenty and put it in containers that people can easily use. Big baskets will do, so that people can grab large handfuls and there will be less wastage of packaging too. Two handfuls per person is the minimum amount to aim for.

OUTDOOR CONFETTI SHOT AT THE REID ROOMS ESSEX

Talk to your venue to find out their rules

Check with your venue(s) if and where confetti is allowed. Some venues will have restrictions on where confetti can be thrown especially if they are venues accessible to the general public or if they have wildlife on the grounds to protect.

CONFETTI thrown AFTER an elegant OUTDOOR WEDDING CEREMONY IN SANTORINI GREECE

natural dried flower petal confetti outside the wedding celebration tent at jimmy’s farm in suffolk

Plan for indoors and outdoors

Confetti shots don’t have to be outside. Check with your venue. Some are happy to help orchestrate confetti shots indoors before your reception dinner, or allow confetti cannons for your first dance which look pretty awesome by the way. Think creatively of how to make it fun and get others involved.

white heart shaped CONFETTI INDOORS AFTER THE CEREMONY AT PARKLANDS QUENDON HALL ESSEX

gold CONFETTI CANNONS DURING THE FIRST DANCE AT HOUCHINS ESSEX

Throw like you mean it

It’s confetti. What can possibly go wrong?! I always give the guests a few tips on how to throw confetti to get the best effect….including check the wind direction! We want your photos to have the wow factor. It helps massively if people don’t have drinking glasses and handbags on them, or at the very least not in their throwing hand! Basically we are trying to avoid handbags, beer and wine being thrown instead of confetti (trust me, it’s happened). No guest wants to be that person who threw red wine at the bride by accident!

Think about the different styles of confetti

Most venues prefer natural confetti, such as dried rose petals, which are kinder to the environment. We recommend choosing a medium sized biodegradable confetti. Too small and it won’t photograph well. Too big (such as fresh rose petals) and if falls like bricks. We want volume and for it to flutter!

Don’t lose heart if your venue(s) doesn’t permit confetti. There are other creative options. Guests could blow bubbles, throw dried leaves, or wave streamers or pompoms. There is plenty of fun to be had and there is more than one way to do it!

BUBBLES AND CONFETTI AT ST GERMAIN CHURCH NEAR BLAKE HALL ESSEX

Choose your confetti colours wisely

Think about the colour of your confetti. General rule of thumb is choose dark or bright vibrant colours if you are throwing confetti in an area that is light/airy and open. Choose light colours if your background or environment is dark.

real rose petal wedding CONFETTI on the grand staircase at LAYER MARNEY TOWER IN colchester ESSEX

Don’t run. Walk slowly.

Walk slower than normal. You’re not trying to race to the end to get it over and done with. You want to enjoy it, let your guests embrace the moment too, giving your photographer plenty of time to capture the actions and expressions.

colourful Wedding Confetti Photographed after the outdoor ceremony at North Hill Farm in hertfordshire

Smile and keep your head up

The temptation is to lower your head when confetti is being launched. It’s a perfectly natural defensive reaction. We want you to do the complete opposite. Keep your head up, belly laugh until your stomach hurts, and most of all, enjoy the moment!

CONFETTI OUTSIDE OF CLISSOLD HOUSE IN STOKE NEWINGTON LONDON

LARGE GROUP SHOT INCORPORATING CONFETTI IN THE GARDENS AT MOOR HALL IN ESSEX

So if you are looking for a wedding photographer who can creatively organise and capture confetti photos, then get in touch to tell me more about your wedding plans.

CHRIS & SARAH'S FENNES WEDDING

Today’s feature is all about Chris and Sarah’s outdoor wedding at Fennes in Bocking Essex. This lovely couple booked one of my half day packages which focused on capturing Sarah getting ready at Fennes, the ceremony and the drinks reception out on the lawns. We were treated to glorious sunshine which helped to keep everyone in good spirits.

The wedding party headed out of the manor house on to the lawns for the wedding ceremony beside the lake.

After the ceremony, drinks were served in the gardens whilst the guests enjoyed the good weather.

For more outdoor wedding inspiration, check out Dilys and Phil’s wedding at That Amazing Place.

See more wedding inspiration on my Instagram feed and feel free to pin your favourites on to your Pinterest Board. If you are looking for a wedding photographer who is more about capturing your day in a natural, fun and unobtrusive way, then you are in the right place. Get in touch and tell me about your plans.

AMY & MIKE'S MAIDENS BARN WEDDING

Today’s feature is the pretty autumn Maidens Barn wedding of Amy and Mike which I second shot for my wing lady Teresa. Maidens Barn is nestled in the Essex countryside and it’s a venue that I always enjoy returning to. As always we had a lot of fun capturing the day in our usual documentary style and also had the added pleasure of catching up with one of our Santorini wedding couples, Hannah & Elliott who were attending as guests.

After the ceremony, everyone headed into the gardens for confetti, drinks and group shots.

After drinks in the garden, everyone headed into the barn for dinner and speeches.

After dinner we took advantage of the good light and did more confetti shots with the bridal and groom’s party.

As the sun came down, it was time to throw the bouquet and cut the cake in the barn, followed by a whole lot of dancing!

For more barn venue wedding inspiration, check out Katy and Tim’s Essex wedding at the Old Brook Barn.

See more wedding inspiration on my Instagram feed and feel free to pin your favourites on to your Pinterest Board. If you are looking for a wedding photographer who is more about capturing your day in a natural, fun and unobtrusive way, then you are in the right place. Get in touch and tell me about your plans.

POSTPONING A WEDDING: LIZ & LUKE SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE

The topic of wedding postponement remains high on the agenda at the moment. The majority of my scheduled weddings for 2020 have been forced or have made the choice to postpone to late 2020 or 2021. The decision for many was complex and not easy.

There is currently no certainty on when weddings will be permitted in the UK. However, when the government does announce the guidelines specifically on weddings, myself and others across the wedding industry are preparing for the real likelihood that weddings will slowly return but with restrictions in place on both ceremonies and receptions. This is likely to include restrictions on guest numbers, social distancing measures and even the possibility of the need for wearing masks. For now, we can only wait.

In May, Jessica and Pete kindly shared their experience of rescheduling their wedding to 2021 which was originally due to take place in mid-April. Today Liz and Luke are sharing their experiences too and I extend a great thanks for taking the time to help other couples who are also grappling with wedding postponements at the moment.

Big cheery hello to Liz and Luke

1. TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR SITUATION

Planning for 6 months, we had a pretty short turnaround between engagement (Sept 2019) and the wedding (planned for 1st May). Roughly 100 people all at one venue.

2. WHEN DID YOU FIRST START TO THINK THAT YOU MAY POSTPONE?

Initially we were keen to have it regardless. We underestimated the severity of the situation. When the decision was made to limit numbers at social gatherings it became clear that it was going to be taken out of our hands. Our Hen and Stag dos were cancelled pretty much within the same couple of days. 

3. WHAT MADE THE DECISION CERTAIN FOR YOU IN THE END?

We felt there would have been worry in the air for everyone there and we would have hated for our wedding to be the cause of any of our loved ones getting ill. 

4. WHO DID YOU CONTACT FIRST TO TALK THROUGH POSTPONING YOUR WEDDING?

We contacted our venue about a week before the decision was made to postpone in mid March. At that time they assured us things were not likely to be moved/cancelled! 

5. HOW DID YOUR SUPPLIERS REACT?

All the suppliers were excellent, very understanding and we've been able to have everyone originally booked for our new wedding date.

6. WHAT WAS THE REACTION FROM YOUR GUESTS?

Similar to the suppliers, very positive and we think a lot of people recognised it was inevitable. One of the best things to come out of the postponement was that Luke's sister (and one of the bridesmaids) arranged for our guests to send video messages which she collated into one video. We were able to watch this on the day our wedding was due and it was incredible - such happy messages to receive which made us feel excited for the new date rather than sad we weren't getting married.

7. AS A COUPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE OTHER COUPLES THINKING OF POSTPONING THEIR WEDDING?

Try and focus on how short a few month's delay it is in the context of spending the rest of your lives together. 

8. HAVE YOU SET ANOTHER DATE?

Yes later in the year (Dec 2020)

9. HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW THAT YOU HAVE POSTPONED?

The season of our wedding has changed a lot but we've been so lucky in that nearly everything we had planned will still be relevant for December. We are, like everyone, excited for lockdown to be over and for some semblance of normality to resume. We know that there are people who have been affected a lot more by Coronavirus than we have and we are just feeling grateful that we will still be able to get married.

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Get inspired. Check out Ruth and Juan’s outdoor wedding.

See more wedding inspiration on my Instagram feed and feel free to pin your favourites on to your Pinterest Board. If you are looking for a wedding photographer who is more about capturing your day in a natural, fun and unobtrusive way, then you are in the right place. Get in touch and tell me about your plans.

RUTH & JUAN'S OUTDOOR LANGTONS HOUSE WEDDING

What a cracker of a wedding! It was the hottest day of the year with the most gorgeous fresh summer styling. Ruth and Juan had an intimate outdoor ceremony in The Orangery at Langtons House in Hornchurch Essex. Check out the yellow and white floral decor at their reception, they are beautiful and perfect for the setting.

The Orangery is a beautiful location for an outdoor wedding and I feel fortunate to have photographed a wealth of weddings at Langtons during all seasons of the year. Anyway another from me, check out some of my favourite photographs from Ruth and Juan’s summer wedding.

For more Langtons House outdoor wedding inspiration, check out Millie & Bill’s wedding.

See more wedding inspiration on my Instagram feed and feel free to pin your favourites on to your Pinterest Board. If you are looking for a wedding photographer who is more about capturing your day in a natural, fun and unobtrusive way, then you are in the right place. Get in touch and tell me about your plans.

POSTPONING A WEDDING: JESSICA & PETER SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE

I had no immediate plans to talk about Coronavirus Covid-19 on here, because frankly, I can’t imagine that I want to be reminded of this unsettling time when I am scrolling through my website reviewing the past year. Rather unexpectedly, I had a change of heart. The last seven weeks have bought a strange blend of realism and optimism with a heavy splash of confusion thrown in for good measure.

I could never have foreseen just how 2020 was going to play out. The year started with the painful loss of my Dad. Just as I started to breath a little easier, visualising a different family norm, Covid-19 came and wiped out the plans that I had thoughtfully curated for the year in a bid to bring some positively and security into our household.

It’s been a whirlwind but strangely also feels like the longest 7 weeks of our lives! I refuse to use the term “new normal” as it suggests our current status is permanent and I remain hopeful that this is not the end of life as we know it. Life adjustment, yes. New normal, no.

The event and wedding industries, like many others, have been hit hard. For so many couples, who were due to get married during this pandemic, they are having to postpone or cancel their weddings. I completely understand that whilst we are in the same storm, we are not in the same boat. Every persons situation, priorities and concerns are different. I am invested in every single one of my couples and I endeavour to be as supportive as I can. As it stands, working closely with my couples, I have rescheduled 23 weddings so far!

What I really came here to talk about wasn’t my experiences, but actually provide some insight into how one of my couples have coped with postponing their wedding. Let me hand over to Jessica and Peter to share their experience of postponing their wedding. Their honest words are both inspiring and reassuring.

Big cheery hello to Jessica and Peter

1. TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR SITUATION

We had our wedding booked for April 18th, it was a short engagement as we've already been together for 5 years and neither of us wanted to wait any longer to get married! We planned a town hall wedding close to where we spent a lot of our early dates in Islington, with about 80 guests invited. Planning had mostly been stress free and we had everything sorted within about 6 weeks.

2. WHEN DID YOU FIRST START TO THINK THAT YOU MAY POSTPONE?

Probably around late February, but we were still naïvely hopeful that all of this would blow over by April. It wasn't until mid March, with only 4 weeks until the big day, that we informed all of our guests that we were postponing.

3. WHAT MADE THE DECISION CERTAIN FOR YOU IN THE END?

Aside from confirmation from the Town Hall that they would be closed until at least the end of May, we thought about how it was not worth risking anyone's health for our wedding. It's really important to both of us to have our grandparents there, and they would not be able to attend with any social distancing in place.

4. WHO DID YOU CONTACT FIRST TO TALK THROUGH POSTPONING YOUR WEDDING?

We sent emails to all our suppliers on the same day, the key ones being the town hall, reception venue and of course our photographer! We also contacted our wedding insurance to discuss what needed to be done and what conditions had to be met.

5. HOW DID YOUR SUPPLIERS REACT?

I think we've been exceptionally lucky, we had lovely responses from our suppliers and their flexibility and understanding has really taken a weight off our shoulders.

6. WHAT WAS THE REACTION FROM YOUR GUESTS?

We have had really kind responses from our guests, pretty much all of them had already guessed that we would have to postpone, and both of our families have been supportive of our decision. 

7. AS A COUPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE OTHER COUPLES THINKING OF POSTPONING THEIR WEDDING?

Don't be afraid to reach out to friends and family to support you, and make plans to do something fun together on the date that you originally planned to get married. We got dressed up and had a stay-at-home dinner date.

8. HAVE YOU SET ANOTHER DATE?

We have a date set for June 2021.

9. HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW THAT YOU HAVE POSTPONED?

Now that the original date has come and gone we're feeling a bit more relaxed and pragmatic about it. We would rather be staying safe and healthy. We were both fine on the day itself, which came as a surprise to both of us. We're pleased we didn't feel sad all day or spend it crying. We already have our outfits ready, now it's just a matter of staying safe (and in shape!) until the new big day!

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Wedding planning: Check out my top tips on how to get the best confetti photographs!

DILYS & PHIL'S WEDDING THAT AMAZING PLACE

Today I am taking you back to Dilys and Phil’s fusion summer wedding at That Amazing Place. I had the most brilliant day with the most smiley and giggly couple I think I have ever met. When they smiled, I smiled. It was deliciously infectious. Dilys and Phil got ready at The Amazing Place in the company of close friends and family. Their ceremony took place outdoors by the lake which made a perfect backdrop.

Dinner took place in the marquee on the lawns, but not before Dilys and Phil danced into the venue following the bridal and groom’s party who weren’t afraid to show us their dance moves. After the speeches, Dilys decided to throw her bouquet outside and the women didn’t disappoint when it came to racing for the bouquet. As the evening drew in, the guests moved into the main house and hit the dancefloor. Dilys and Phil changed into traditional African dress during the evening and rejoined the dancefloor looking absolutely superb.

Thank you Dilys and Phil for having Teri and I capture your day, we felt honoured and you have left us with lasting memories that we will cherish.

Dilys and Phil’s Awesome Supplier List
Venue - That Amazing Place
Florist - Browns Blooms & Balloons
Hair and Makeup Artist - Yalliz Beauty
Bridesmaids Gowns - Chi Chi
Caterer - Food Junkie/Premier Crew
Cake - Egg & Moos
Photography - Anesta Broad Photography
Videography - Third Reel Films

For more outdoor wedding inspiration, check out Ben & Amy’s wedding at Maiden’s Barn in Essex.

See more wedding inspiration on my Instagram feed and feel free to pin your favourites on to your Pinterest Board. If you are looking for a wedding photographer who is more about capturing your day in a natural, fun and unobtrusive way, then you are in the right place. Get in touch and tell me about your plans.

KATY & TIM'S OLD BROOK BARN WEDDING

The tranquil Old Brook Barn set in the Essex countryside is a beautiful setting for a wedding. Embracing a Autumnal rustic colour theme, Katy and Tim held their ceremony and reception at the barn. Katy got ready at the cottage next to the barn in the company of close family and bridesmaids.

After the ceremony, Katy and Tim made the most of the weather and headed out in the gardens for confetti and drinks.

Speeches took place after dinner, followed by cake cutting and the a whole lot of fun on the dancefloor.

For more barn wedding inspiration, check out Ben and Amy’s wedding at The Essex Barn.

See more wedding inspiration on my Instagram feed and feel free to pin your favourites on to your Pinterest Board. If you are looking for a wedding photographer who is more about capturing your day in a natural, fun and unobtrusive way, then you are in the right place. Get in touch and tell me about your plans.

LISA & RICK'S MOOR HALL WEDDING

Lisa and Ricky were so much fun to spend a day with, and their wedding guests were an absolute hoot too! Their wedding ceremony took place at St Andrew’s Church in Hornchurch Essex which is beautiful. My approach to photographing weddings focuses heavily on a documentary style, therefore capturing things as they happen coupled with photographing the details that make your day unique to you. This is very much the approach I took on Lisa and Ricky’s day and I loved every minute.

After the wedding ceremony, we headed to one of my favourite alternative Essex wedding venues, Moor Hall in Aveley for a lively wedding reception. We had an absolute blast especially when the party kicked off in the evening.

Awesome Wedding Suppliers
Wedding ceremony - St Andrew’s Church Hornchurch
Wedding reception - Moor Hall Aveley Essex
Bridal dress - Mori Lee
Bridesmaids dresses - Vive Grace
Florist - Daisy May Flowers
Makeup artist - Gemma Horner
Hairdresser - Jade Wells
Venue decorator - Love Lavish Weddings
Cake baker - Boutique Cake Studio
Catering - Relish Catering
Photobooth and DJ - Funkbox Productions

For more summer wedding inspiration, check out Chris and Lei’s wedding at Woodlands in Norfolk.

See more wedding inspiration on my Instagram feed and feel free to pin your favourites on to your Pinterest Board. If you are looking for a wedding photographer who is more about capturing your day in a natural, fun and unobtrusive way, then you are in the right place. Get in touch and tell me about your plans.