Louise and Steve - 1st September 2012 - Westbury-On-Trym Baptist Church & Clevedon Hall

As soon as I arrived at Louise's mums house in Nailsea on Saturday morning I knew that I was really going to enjoy Louise and Steve's Big Day. I was made to feel really welcome and was encouraged to make myself at home by this lovely bride and her attendants. As regular churchgoers Louise and Steve chose their church Westbury-On Trym Baptist Church for their nuptials with the ceremony performed by their friend Paul. Having someone who knows you take the service, makes a marriage ceremony so much more personal. Paul had a lovely story about the couple first meeting and he added humour to what is normally a very formal part of the day. After confetti the newlyweds headed off to Clevedon in Triggols' Sunbeam chauffered by Roger and I met them at the seafront for a few pictures on the jetty looking out to sea. We then spent some time in the grounds of the gorgeous Clevedon Hall for some couple portraits before Louise and Steve relaxed with some drinks and enjoyed their guests company. A beautiful day and a lovely couple, have a wonderful time in Rome Mr and Mrs Tidley!

Laura and Ben - 31st August 2012 - Priston Mill, Nr Bath

Laura and Ben's engagement shoot had to be both rescheduled, then on our second attempt, relocated due to the dreadful weather we have had this summer so I was delighted for them that it was a beautiful sunny day for their wedding on Friday. Such a sunny day that I got to photograph one of my only alfresco ceremonies this season. This couples attention to detail was incredible and their gorgeous turquoise colour scheme was dotted all around Priston Mill  in the form of hand made bunting and hydrangeas everywhere. A joint love of games and quizzes was very much present, with an after dinner quiz, game themed table names and travel sized versions of the game on the table and the guests finding their place settings even becoming a game. Since booking their wedding photography two years ago Laura has been really interested in the photography element of her Big Day (definitely my kind of bride!!). She was one of my first blog followers and when I asked for some example images of the style they liked I got lots of different lovely shots emailed over to me. Many of which were natural photos of romantic couples in fields. So when the usual field I would have used at Priston Mill was bogged down, this down to earth bride was quite happy to go under a fence, trek up a hill and hop very elegantly over a gate to get the pictures....much to Ben's dismay. I hope it was worth it and they like the images I took in the gorgeous wheatfield we found!

Jemma and Simon - 15th August 2012 - Folly Farm Centre, Pensford

Jemma and Simon chose Folly Farm Centre near Pensford for their three day wedding celebration. Folly Farm is a lovely eco-friendly venue in the middle of nowhere and yet still close to Bristol and Bath. I've had the pleasure of photographing a number of weddings here over the last few years. I joined the couple on the second day of their festivities for the wedding ceremony and reception. Although the weather had been lovely the day before their ceremony, the heavens opened quite dramatically for most of the morning before Jemma and Simon said their 'I do's'. Everyone was quite relived when 10 minutes after the cermony not only did the rain go away but the sun came out so the guests didn't have to dash through the rain to their drinks reception. Jemma went for a vintage themed day with lots of bunting and handtied bouquets and gorgeous flower filled birdcages as centre pieces. Images and website links that Jemma sent to me before the wedding very much relected the vintage look so all of their images have been given a soft golden glow to tie in with the Big Day theme.

Becky and Richard - 11th August 2012 - Walton Park Hotel, Clevedon

I was at the incredibly popular Walton Park Hotel in Clevedon on Saturday for the wedding of Becky and Richard. I photograph loads of weddings at this lovely little seafront venue and it is at its best in the summer. Lovely views out over the estuary always make for some great pictures and Saturday was no exception. After tying the knot in a ceremony with 60 friends and family I took the newlyweds with their 3 children and other attendants out to the lovely green space next door to the hotel to capture some fun photographs in the sunshine. Wide open spaces meant that I could get the children (and the grownups) running and jumping in the grass. We then headed back to the reception after Becky and Richard had their couple portraits with the gorgeous landscape as a backdrop. Becky's choice of a vibrant cerise colour scheme looked great on her bridesmaids and there were bright pink gerberas everywhere, adding a pop of colour all over Walton Park, A really beautiful day, Congratulations Mr and Mrs Harrison!

Katie and John - 10th August 2012 - St Francis' Church, Nailsea and Clifton Pavilion at Bristol Zoo

Katie and John had fantastic weather for their wedding day on Friday. I arrived at Number 38 the gorgeous boutique hotel in Clifton where Katie was getting ready; to find her being pampered by one of her friends while her bridesmaids relaxed with a glass of champagne, what a lovely way to start the morning! The couple chose to marry in St Francis Church right next door to John's mums house in Nailsea. The space was wonderfully lit making photographing the ceremony really comfortable and I got some great shots of the Happy Couple exchanging their vows and lighting the candles on the altar.We then popped over to the Suspension Bridge for some pictures while the guests made their way to the Clifton Pavilion at Bristol Zoo. After arriving at the reception and having a few group shots all the guests were encouraged to enjoy the attractions at the zoo while Katie and John relaxed with those who stayed behind to relax with some drinks. Katie and John are now on their honeymoon in the Maldives, I hope they have an incredible time!

Sarah and Bradley - 4th August 2012 - The Gables Hotel, Falfield and Henage Court

Sarah and Bradley's wedding was really enjoyable. I had the pleasure of photographing the wedding of Sarah's brother three years ago so there were lots of familiar faces and Tara and I were made to feel so welcome. We were even given a bouquet of flowers each and a Thank-You card which was a lovely touch and is the first time I have received a thank you gift before the clients have seen their pictures! Sarah got ready at her parents home in Thornbury and Tara and I were greeted by ten bridesmaids, two parents, various brothers, a hairdresser and two videographers (Mr and Mrs Productions)....the chaos made for some great pictures! Sarah was then whisked away in a beautiful horse and carriage to The Gables Hotel in Falfield while we dashed off ahead of her to capture some photos of Brad and his boys. The newlyweds took some time away from their guests after their ceremony to enjoy one anothers company in the horse and carriage and have a couples photo session at the gorgeous priavtely owned Henage Court tucked away just around the corner from their reception. We then headed back to The Gables for confetti and pictures before the wedding breakfast. Toastmaster Barbara opened the Top Table champagne with a sword which definitely added the wow factor to the speeches. The couple had their reception after their meal and relaxed with their guests before partying the evening away with DJ and a fabulous chocolate fountain that Sarah's mum Lorraine insisted that I try... What a tough job I have!

Emily and George - 3rd August 2012 - Wells Cathedral and Bishops Palace, Wells

Not anyone can get married in a Cathedral. You not only have to have a special relationship with the Cathedral in question you also need lots of different Bishops and other officials to grant permission. So this is why when Emily and George got engaged over two years ago they knew that it would be a while before they were allowed to marry in such an important building. The effort was certainly worth it though with the most incredible venues for both their ceremony and reception. Emily got ready in Number 14 Vicars Close right next to the Cathedral, Vicars Close is a beautiful cobbled street lined with gorgeous houses which is very popular with tourists to Wells and made for some excellent photos of the bridal party making their way to the Ceremony. George arrived at Wells Cathedral in a shiny red Jaguar which was hired by his parents as a surprise and was able to pull up on the green right infront of the Cathedral much to the tourists delight. Beautiful weather followed a very elegant ceremony and the Happy Couple enjoyed photos on the green outside before leading their wedding party onto a garden reception at the Bishops Palace Where a string quartet played and the guests explored the grounds while the newlyweds had some pictures in the stunning gardens. A lovely meal and traditional speeches was followed by dancing the night away to a brilliant live band.