Wedding Photographers West Midlands | Creative Documentary Wedding Photographers
After sharing the highlights from the start of the year on the blog yesterday, I’m delighted to bring the stories from August through to the end of the year, from the stunning setting of Sorrento, Italy through the year to Iscoyd Park in Whitchurch…such a fabulous year.
After our wedding in the Lake District, captured by my very good friend Mister Phill, I was so excited to be heading to Italy with my wife Beki for a whirlwind honeymoon…and the photographing of Amy + Ave’s beautiful Sorrento wedding… And yes I do realise I’m a very lucky man Beki allowing me to work on our honeymoon!!
Oh and before we start…here is one of my favourite photographs from our wedding day:
The Cloister of San Francesco + Terrazza delle Sirene | Amy + Ave
After two days in Rome we flew down to Naples before enjoying the drive to Sorrento and joining up with Amy + Ave’s friends and family for a fabulous meal in the old town…and being pleasantly surprised to see a familiar face from one of my main corporate clients, Ave’s sister Ellie!
Come the day of the wedding the beautiful day started capturing Amy’s preparations with her Bridesmaids Sarah and Ellie, her beautiful daughter and her rather excited mom, before heading to the Cloisters in style on a horse drawn carriage.
The ceremony in The Cloisters surrounded by the traditional building of the monastery was beautiful. Following the ceremony it was a short walk to the Terrazza delle Sirene for the wedding reception with the most stunning backdrop of the Sea behind.
Such a wonderfully relaxed day, made all the more special with Beki being included as a guest enjoying the day with me, Amy + Ave’s destination wedding could not have been more perfect to capture.
St Marys Church, Colton + The Moat House | Gayle + Karl
After our break around Italy it was back to Staffordshire for Gayle and Karl’s wedding at Colton.
Starting in the morning capturing the preparations of Gayle and her bridesmaids at home before the ceremony at St Marys Church, Colton and the reception at The Moat House – a very popular venue for us this year!
Blessed with a beautiful summers day, Gayle + Karl couldn’t have been luckier and had a fabulous time from start to end.
The Mytton and Mermaid, Shrewsbury | Lyndsay + Kit
Following on from a wedding at a well known wedding venue, it was somewhere completely different for my next wedding with Lyndsay + Kit’s wedding at the fabulous Mytton and Mermaid on the banks of the Severn River in Shrewsbury.
With the couple wanting a completely documentary coverage I had such a fabulous time capturing their story from the preparations in the morning – including a trip to the Groom and Groomsmen who were only a few minutes away – through to the wonderful ceremony, which Lyndsay + Kit had written their own script for…something I have never before witnessed but was fantastic to see…bringing in their characters to the ceremony really was something special for everyone in attendance.
With beautiful weather again blessing the day, the wedding party relaxed on the banks of the River Severn before the wedding breakfast in the Mytton and Mermaid.
A day filled with emotion from start to end – especially Lyndsay’s dad – it was such a pleasure to capture their wedding story…
St Lukes Church, Cannock + The Belfry | Amy + Ave
Just over two weeks after we left everyone in Sorrento, it was fabulous to be back amongst friends photographing Part II of Amy + Ave’s wedding celebrations with their blessing at St Lukes Church and the reception at the beautiful Belfry – a venue I hadn’t visited for many years…
There was a really special feeling being with Amy + Ave and their friends and family, and it was so wonderful for myself and Beki to be included as part of everything with them…infact I think Beki ended up near the front of the church with the family!
The wedding itself was beautiful, with Amy + Ave’s daughter Ellie reading again the moving poem about the day. Being walked down the aisle by her Grandad in both Cannock and especially in Sorrento meant the absolute world to Amy, and it was really special to witness and document this for them to look back upon.
Being a late afternoon wedding when we arrived at The Belfry the lighting was absolutely gorgeous, so myself and Chris – the videographer – had a fabulous time with them both.
The reception was an absolute blast to be a part of and to capture, from the preview slideshow and video that myself and Chris shared with everyone, to the very entertaining speeches, but most definitely topped by the dance-off between the Girls and the Boys bringing the party to the absolute hilt!
Fantastic!!
Lichfield Registry Office + The Old School House, Weeford | Carol + Tony
I clearly remember the first time I say down with Carol + Tony and spoke about their plans for their wedding and I knew from the start it was going to be a wedding to remember…and also my smallest wedding of the year!
With only three guests, Carol’s two sons and one of their partners, it really was an intimate day.
My coverage started in the morning with the final preparations of Carol and Tony and their guests in the Premier Inn before heading to the Registry Office in a fleet of Original Italian Job minis…complete with me sharing the bridal mini with Carol and the driver!
A day that was about fun and celebrating in just the way they wanted, the wedding was truly special to capture…and certainly one of a kind!
After exploring the sights of Lichfield, it was back in the minis to head to The Old School House for afternoon tea. Bliss!
Oak Farm Hotel, Cannock | Deborah + Gareth
Deborah and Gareth booked me for their wedding back in 2013 after their friends wedding, Aimi + Ian at Alrewas Hayes, and after spending time with them both infront of camera exactly one year before their wedding, come the day of their wedding at Oak Farm everything felt very relaxed as the couple were looking forward to the most fabulous day with their friends and family.
From capturing the preparations of both Debbie + Gareth as they got ready at the hotel, it wasn’t until the entrance to the ceremony that the emotions came flooding out…with both Gareth, and especially Deborah’s daughter, not able to hide their emotions…
Thankfully the weather was kind to everyone with the rain holding off until the evening.
It was so nice again to see familiar faces, and especially to spend time with Ian’s parents who were close friends of Gareth after the pair had grown up together.
The Welcombe Hotel, Stratford | Lin + Baz
2015 must have been the year for special weddings, as in September I had the pleasure of photographing the wedding of Lin and Baz at The Welcombe Hotel in Stratford, a beautiful setting for an intimate wedding. What made everything feel more special however is the history I have with Barry, having known him and worked with him as one of my main corporate clients for the past ten years…and who said he wouldn’t have anyone else photograph his day! Pressure but nice at the same time…
Lin and Baz made a fantastic decision when planning their wedding, bringing the celebrations over two days with an intimate wedding with their closest friends and family with them on the Thursday, and a fabulous party with nearly 200 of their friends, colleagues and family joining on the Friday.
Being there to capture the complete story was really quite special, with so many fabulous points over the two days.
Packington Moor, Lichfield | Kate + Tim
Packington Moor was a very popular venue for us in 2015, with Julie + Bill’s wedding in March, Kate + Tim‘s wedding in September and concluding with Ida + Tom‘s celebration in October…it’s a good job I love the place!!
Kate + Tim’s wedding had a wonderfully relaxed feel to it, from arriving in the morning and capturing the preparations of hair and makeup, and Tim’s preparations in the cottage next door, to one of my highlights of the day – Kate’s dad’s amazing reaction when he saw her come down the stairs for the first time in her gown…a truly special moment to witness and capture.
The ceremony held in the Oat Barn was beautiful, and a little funny too…when the ring bearer (their very cute Son) decided to make a run-for-it with the ring cushion during the ceremony.
Beautiful late summer weather was on our side and the day could not have been more perfect for them.
With the live entertainment from the fabulous guitarist and band during the day adding to the atmosphere, it truly was a wonderful wedding.
St Peters Church, Filkins + Oxleaze Barn | Victoria + Tom
When brides and grooms come to me from a personal recommendation the wedding always has a little special feeling about it, only added to when you know you’re going to be seeing many familiar faces!
Victoria + Tom came to me after seeing Harriet + Joe‘s wedding coverage from their Sandon Hall wedding last December, and with a fabulous looking couple, the most amazing group of friends and a stunning setting, Victoria + Tom’s Gloucestershire wedding was set to be very special indeed!
We actually got to spend a little time on the lead up to the wedding enjoying the setting of Oxleaze Barn with Victoria and Tom and their fab four legged companion, Purdy, a meeting that opened up clear plans for the day, making sure we made the most of everything the venue had to offer.
Come the day of the wedding the October weather was fabulous, and it could not have been a more fabulous wedding to photograph.
With the Riflemen leading the honour guard for the guests church exit, and beautiful personal touches throughout – including the most precious poem written by Tom’s late grandmother – the wedding really was very special indeed.
It was fabulous to see familiar faces from Harriet + Joe’s wedding, none more so than the couple themselves.
Lake Street Methodist Church + Packington Moor | Ida + Tom
Each and every wedding is unique and special, not least because of the couple getting married, but when you bring in different cultures to a wedding it always adds another wonderful element.
Ida + Tom came to me about their wedding after being recommended from Packington Moor, and as soon as we started talking I knew I couldn’t wait for their wedding day.
Ida + Tom’s wedding was the bringing together of two cultures, with Ida’s Albanian background and Tom’s family from the West Midlands, with both families placing a considerable importance on the church, the whole wedding was very moving from start to end.
Through the language barriers the feelings were all clearly conveyed, and it really was remarkable to see how the strength of love and feelings can cut through any divide.
From photographing a nervous groom in the morning, through the most beautiful and uplifting ceremony I have witnessed, to the reception at the wonderful Packington Moor, it truly was a very special wedding indeed.
St John the Evangelist Church + Somerford Hall | Karen + Richard
My penultimate wedding of 2015 saw me back to Somerford Hall for Karen + Richard’s wedding.
A wedding that was all about family, from the couple and their beautiful daughter Evie, and their invited guests of their closest friends and family, the whole day had a wonderful warm feeling from start to end.
Fortunately the October weather was kind to us and we were blessed with a mild autumn day, perfect for the wedding party to relax on the lawns and enjoy the wonderful setting of the Hall…and plenty of space for Evie and the other children to relax and play!
Capturing the emotion and feeling of Karen + Richard’s wedding was an absolute treat, completed perfectly with a beautiful fireworks presentation over the front lawn of Somerford Hall.
St Marys Church, Whitewell + Iscoyd Park | Leah + Jason
My final wedding of 2015 saw me crossing the border, even if only briefly, into Wales for Leah + Jase’s wedding at the stunning Iscoyd Park near to Whitchurch, Shropshire.
Also another wedding with a military link, with Leah servicing in the Army and Jason a previous serviceman, and another couple whom found me from the lovely Harriet + Joe, I could not have asked for a nicer wedding to complete a monumental 2015!
Iscoyd Park was another new venue to me, and with the beautiful winter lighting – evening though the weather wasn’t quite as nice – from the relaxed morning around Iscoyd, to the beautiful ceremony conducted at St Marys Church in Whitewell, through to the fabulous reception back at Iscoyd, the day flowed perfectly.
Even the additional surprise guest – Leah’s stunning Malamute – being impeccably behaved, things could not have been better.
So that’s a wrap…2015 is done…
A year that saw me photograph over 30 weddings, taking approximately 150000 photographs, designing 22 albums, travelling throughout the West Midlands, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Oxfordshire and the beautiful town of Sorrento to photograph a beautiful collection of weddings, but most precious of all was my own wedding to Beki this summer…
What a fabulous year!
Thank you to all of the couples who have shared their most precious days with me, inviting me in to share their weddings and capture their memories.
Looking forward to an even more fabulous 2016!
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