Cat Lane

3 July 2024

Sophie & Alan: Chic Spring Wedding at Bedford School

Cat Lane

3 July 2024

On a beautiful May day I had the privilege of capturing Sophie and Alan tie the knot, a wedding which I knew would always hold a special place in my heart! Sophie was one of the first people I ever photographed, so being asked to capture her wedding was a full circle moment that meant a great deal to me.

Alan and his groomsmen set the style bar high looking sharp in their tuxedos as they arrived at St Owens Church in Bromham to set up for the ceremony. Sophie wowed us all in a stunning strapless gown by Justin Alexander, accompanied by her bridesmaids looking chic in black floor length dresses. They made for one stylish group!

The sun continued to shine as the ceremony started and it was joyful from start to finish - I don’t think anyone stopped smiling for a second! Confetti thrown by cheering friends and family was the perfect way to kick off their married life before we headed off for the reception.

Bedford School was the setting for the rest of the day’s celebrations. I love shooting there and it’s just around the corner from where I live too! The Great Hall looked fanatstic transformed with festoon lights and flowers for the wedding breakfast.

My favourite spot for photos at Bedford School has to be the huge staircase leading up to the chapel and I loved shooting there with Alan and Sophie, giving them a few minutes to enjoy each others’ company in the middle of the wedding madness.

Their day was such a whirlwind and before we knew it, it was time to party! The room came alive and we loved capturing the shapes everyone pulled as they danced the night away celebrating this exciting new chapter in Sophie & Alan’s life together.

Congratulations you two and thank you for the privilege of capturing your incredible day!

“I knew Cat from when she was first starting out, and said to myself “she’ll photograph my wedding one day”, and lo and behold she did! She was the most professional, wonderful and talented photographer. Our photos are so beautiful, I can’t even believe they’re us! She captured our day to a T, and made us feel so comfortable and we were just us. Thank you, Cat for helping us relive our day all over again.”

— Sophie & Alan

featured suppliers

Venue: St Owen’s Church, Bromham & Bedford School
Dress: Justin Alexander via George James Bridal
Makeup: Lorella Marella Makeup Artist
Suit: Moss Bros
Videographer: Spatz Film

Sophie and Alan join hands as they exchange vows during their wedding ceremony at St Owens Church in Bromham.

Sophie places a platinum wedding ring on Alan's finger during their wedding ceremony at St Owens Church in Bedfordshire.

The Old Hall at Bedford School laid out with festoon lighting and elegant flowers for Sophie and Alan's wedding reception.

Alan and his groomsmen, in tuxedos, rock out with their air guitars outside Bedford School.

The newlyweds, Alan and Sophie, share a kiss on the steps of Bedford School.

Bestman in tuxedo gives speech with microphone in hand in the Old Hall at Bedford School.

Sophie cosies up to Alan with Bedford School in background.

Sophie and Alan share a kiss during their first dance as the black star cloth shimmers behind.

The groom struts his stuff on the dance floor with a pint in each hand.

Guests chat enthusiastically during the wedding reception at Bedford School.

Are you getting married at Bedford School and looking for your wedding photographer? I’d love to capture your day in my relaxed, unobtrusive style.

WEDDING GALLERIES

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PRICING & PACKAGES

Cat Lane

20 February 2024

spring weddings, weddings

Gina & Jonny: Joyful Springtime Wedding at Bedford School

Cat Lane

20 February 2024

spring weddings, weddings

Every wedding is special, but this one in particular will always hold a place in my heart as I’ve known groom Jonny for a long time, so it was really special to not only witness him marrying the girl of his dreams but also shoot it too!

Gina and her lovely bridesmaids chose to get ready at her mum’s house, with the fabulous Sarah Dunn working her vintage twist on hair and makeup. She chose a Justin Alexander dress from George James Bridal, with a flowing tulle skirt and a bodice whose beaded embellishments reminded me of Swan Lake. I love that she added another little twist with the cutest gold dance shoes! Jonny and his groomsmen looked dapper in my suits by my favourite people The Vintage Suit Hire Company.

I’ve lived and worked as a photographer in Bedford my whole life, but I’d never even been in St Paul’s Church in the centre of town before, let alone shot a wedding in it! Gina walked arm in arm down the aisle next to her proud mum, and I love the way Jonny looked at her as he saw her at the end of the aisle for the first time.

After a beautiful, heartfelt ceremony with light pouring in through the stained glass windows, the guests took a leisurely walk to their reception whilst we left in the wedding car for a little detour along Bedford’s Embankment. We took the chance to get some portraits there in their just-married excitement and most importantly to grab an ice cream!

Bedford School was the setting for their reception and a venue I am proud and grateful to be a recommended supplier at. They filled the Great Hall with tables decorated with vintage crockery and crates of white tulips, and a show-stopping 5 tier cake featuring delicate sugar anemones and bluebirds.

After family photos in front of the architectural arches of the hall we snuck off for some couple portraits in the grounds of the school. One of my favourite photos all year is the photo we took on the steps of the School’s chapel - a backdrop really unique to their venue!

With lots of light pouring into the hall and fantastic speeches, the guests reactions were a real joy to shoot. And to top it all off each table had a pub quiz, and we caught a lovely little moment where Gina & Jonny watched their guests from the balcony that overlooks the hall whilst the quiz was underway. They started their evening off with their first dance to Tiny Dancer by Elton John, and I’m SO glad stayed long enough to see Jonny get up on stage and sing with the band!

Thank you both so much for the privilege of shooting your incredible day.

featured suppliers

Venue: Bedford School
Hair & Makeup: Sarah’s Doo Wop Dos
Dress: Justin Alexander
Suit: The Vintage Suit Hire Company
Florist: Howbury Flowers
Cake: Restoration Cake

Gina sits on the steps of Bedford School with Jonny sat beside holding her close.

Gina stands facing French doors, light pouring in, as her mum carefully buttons up her wedding dress.

Jonny smiles as he waits at the church with his groomsmen sat in a row beside him wearing vintage blue suits.

Four bridesmaids, in blue dresses, hold white and green bouquets, as they sing from their hymn sheets during the wedding ceremony.

Jonny and Gina take a selfie while riding in their open top wedding car on the way to Bedford School

A wide view of guests congregating outside Bedford School as fluffy clouds pass by overhead.

Bedford School's Great Hall set up ready for a wedding breakfast, with homemade bunting hanging, chiavari chairs and tulips on the tables.

Jonny sings on stage whilst the guests cheer and hold up their phones to capture photos.

A dramatically lit Gina and Jonny share a kiss in front of Bedford School.

Are you getting married at Bedford School and looking for your wedding photographer? I’d love to capture your day in my relaxed, unobtrusive style.

WEDDING GALLERIES

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PRICING & PACKAGES

Cat Lane

22 September 2016

weddings

Clare & Khaled: Multicoloured Vibrant Wedding at Bedford School

Cat Lane

22 September 2016

weddings

Clare & Khaled’s wedding day was a vibrant, colourful and fun celebration, held at the unique venue of Bedford School. With colourful bouquets by Elworthy Flowers, bright jewel-coloured bridesmaid dresses and leaving their ceremony under clouds of rainbow confetti, it was a day filled with colour and joy from start to finish.

Their day mixed the traditional and the contemporary, with a traditional civil ceremony followed by the Great Hall being turned around into most colourful wedding reception I’ve ever seen, with lanterns in every colour draped from the ceilings, and colourful wedding favours, wild flowers and framed tickets from their favourite gigs decorating the tables - it was amazing!

Congratulations Clare & Khaled, it was such a joy to photograph your day! <3 As featured in Whimsical Wonderland Weddings!

"Thank you so much for capturing our day in such beautiful and spectacular style. We can’t begin to tell you how much we love the photographs – I’ve had so many people comment on how beautiful they are. Thank you so much for giving us photographs as wonderful as the day itself." - Clare & Khaled

colourful-bedford-school-wedding-bedfordshire

Cat Lane

18 May 2016

weddings

Gill & Elliott: Bedford School & Stagsden Village Hall Wedding

Cat Lane

18 May 2016

weddings

One of the best bits about being a wedding photographer is getting to know and work with couples that you instantly "click" with.. and fast become friends with! Gill & Elliott were one such couple, and our first consultation turned into a few hours simply chatting about anything and everything.

Gill & Elliott were giddy with excitement as they exchanged their handwritten vows in front of family and friends in the stunning setting of Bedford School's Great Hall. With its huge windows, beautiful symmetry and balcony to shoot from and of course a lovely couple to boot, it's a photographer's dream.

One of the things I love most about their day was how much they supported local businesses in the wedding planning, most notably beautiful jewellery from Epanoui, hair styling and makeup at the Bluebird Salon, flowers from Blossom & Bramble and a gelato stand from the Spaghetti John restaurant. Wonderful!

After the ceremony, their guests hopped on a bus to head to Stagsden village hall for the reception. It had a real focus on fun, with table tennis, Jenga, gelato and an amazing cocktail bar. And there is nothing better than food stands at a wedding reception!

Just before the first dance, we snuck out for some silly sparkler fun with Elliott, Gill and her bridesmaids. Lots of fun.. including some rude words of course!

Thank you ever so much for choosing us to photograph your day Gill & Elliott, we love you to bits and are so grateful to have been there capturing it for you. Wishing you every happiness!

"Just had our amazing photos back from Cat! She really is the best, we love them all! Anyone thinking of hiring her for a wedding, do it! You will not regret it and you will gain gorgeous pictures of your day. And she is the loveliest person too which always helps when you are having wedding morning stresses!" - Gill & Elliott

bedford-school-wedding-stagsden-village-hall

Gill & Elliott: Bedford School and Stagsden Village Hall Wedding - www.catlaneweddings.com

About me

I'm Cat and I'm a wedding & portrait photographer. During every single wedding I photograph, I get this resounding, comforting feeling in my soul that this is exactly where I am supposed to be, and this is what I am supposed to do with my life.

Weddings feel like home.

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