spring weddings

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Gina & Jonny: Joyful Springtime Wedding at Bedford School

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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.

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Alex & Dean: Multicultural Springtime Wedding at Woburn Sculpture Gallery

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Living in Bedfordshire I feel so privileged to live close to so many beautiful venues, and the Woburn Sculpture Gallery is no exception. Photographers dream of light, airy spaces with big windows and I remember being so excited the first time I visited this venue!

The girls got ready at the nearby Woburn Hotel, where they have cute little cottage suites that you can stay in. I always recommend these to anybody getting married at Woburn as they are a lovely and comfortable to get ready in and you get the opportunity to all get ready in the same space which is always better for photographs.

Alex is a true girl after my own heart, opting for an Eliza Jane Howell dress with the subtle sparkle of white sequins and a funky pair of platform heels. She carried a big bouquet of juliet roses, anemones and ranunculus by my favourite florist, The Basement Florist, too!

Light poured in as Alex & Dean said their vows in front of the temple in the Sculpture Gallery, and they left to a joyful storm of confetti from their guests! We were so lucky that shortly after the ceremony the sun came out for family photos in the gardens, and of course I couldn’t resist heading to the spectacular Camellia House for their couple portraits, and for the first time I got to shoot with the camellias in full bloom!

Ever since I attended a friend’s wedding which featured a Chinese ceremony I’ve always wanted to shoot one, so I was thrilled when Alex & Dean told me they were going to have one. As Alex returned having changed into a red dress, everybody congregated around the dance floor for the tea ceremony and it was lovely to witness the exchange of tea-giving, red envelopes and of course lots of hugs.

After dinner and wonderful speeches, the couple visited each table of guests for a traditional Chinese toast which got sillier, funnier and louder with each table they visited!

Thank you Alex & Dean for having us along to photograph your incredible day.

featured suppliers

Venue: Woburn Sculpture Gallery
Dress: Eliza Jane Howell via Bridal Rogue Gallery
Florist: Basement Florist
Entertainment: Matt D Sax

A wide angle view of the 12th century Woburn Abbey with its vast gravel drive and perfectly manicured lawns
Alex and her bridesmaids laughing with glasses of champagne in hand, wearing matching floral robes.
Alex and Dean smiling as they exchange vows, registrar stood between columns in the Woburn Sculpture Gallery ceremony room.
Guests toss confetti over smiling Alex and Dean, with Alex raising bouquet in front of historic columns at Woburn Sculpture Gallery.
Woburn Sculpture Gallery reception room, featuring white tablecloths, chiavari chairs, and cream and ivory rose centrepieces.
Alex smiles with her three bridesmaids in pale blue lace dresses with cap sleeves, holding ivory and cream bouquets.
Alex and Dean in black and white sharing a laugh with Woburn Sculpture Gallery in the background.
Tea is poured from a white tea pot into red ceramic cups for Alex and Dean’s Chinese tea ceremony
A group of guests laughing and smiling, raising their champagne glasses around the table after the speeches.
Alex and Dean share their first dance, in black and white, with their guests smiling and taking photographs in the background

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

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Piers & Katie: Sunny Springtime Wedding at Ripley Castle, Yorkshire

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As a wedding photographer there isn’t much higher an honour than being asked to capture another photographer’s wedding day, and this was exactly the case with Piers & Katie’s day at Ripley Castle in North Yorkshire. I was so excited on the run up and their fantastic day lived up to everything I hoped for!

Katie channelled major Audrey Hepburn vibes, looking so elegant with her vibrant red hair styled in a chic updo. Her dress was beautiful: a lace bodice cinched with a sparkling waist that flowed into a soft tulle skirt.

Their joyful ceremony took place within the castle's ancient walls and was full of emotion from the biggest of smiles to many happy tears. One of the things I love most about weddings is how they’re not only bringing a couple together, but their families and friends too, and it was lovely to capture Katie & Piers marry in front of their nearest and dearest.

Post-ceremony, the celebrations spilled into the castle gardens after one of the longest and best confetti tunnels ever! Their guests enjoyed drinks and canapés alongside garden games and exploring the castle grounds.

The highlight for me was nipping off with Katie & Piers to the walled garden to take couple portraits. The sun came out just in time and we took photos amongst both soft pink and vibrant purple wisteria - my absolute favourite!

After a receiving line to ensure they could say hello to everyone, the celebrations continued indoors with dinner and heartfelt speeches. The dining room looked gorgeous decorated in purple flowers and fresh greenery with tables named after mountain peaks they’d climbed together.

I’ll always look back fondly on this day - a real honour to capture a fellow photographer’s wedding, and we felt so welcome and a part of the celebrations. Congratulations you guys!

“Thank you so much for the truly incredible photographs that you have created for us. From first getting in touch with you enquiring about your services to meeting you for our engagement shoot, we have always been comfortable and confident in our decision to choose you as our photographer.

Our friends and family have all been singing your praises about you on our wedding day. Your personality really shone through to us and our guests and we really want to do it all over again. So, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for capturing our wedding day. Will we cherish these photographs forever.”
— Piers & Katie

featured suppliers

Venue: Ripley Castle
Dress: Ava Rose Hamilton
Suit: Eric Spencer
Hair & Make Up: Anna Stephenson
Band: The Wilde Ones

Katie and Piers embracing in a wooded area of Ripley Castle, bathed in warm spring sunlight filtering through trees.
A candid moment of Katie in her lace wedding dress, having her lipstick touched up as light cascades in at Ripley Castle.
Front row guests hold up their cameras and phones to take photographs during Katie and Pier’s wedding ceremony.
A view from above of wedding guests mingling in the grounds of Ripley Castle.
Katie and Piers smiling and laughing, embraced with Piers' arm around Katie's waist amidst vibrant wisteria.
Katie and Pier's first dance at Ripley Castle, captured in colour and black & white.

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

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