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!”

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.

JAMES & NATASHA'S WEDDING AT JIMMY'S FARM

The first wedding of my 2020 season was the rustic themed Spring wedding of James and Natasha at Jimmy’s Farm set in the Suffolk countryside. As a recommended supplier of Jimmy’s Farm, it was a great wedding to kickstart my year. Jimmy’s Farm is a fantastic alternative wedding venue set in an old working farm and thriving woodlands. The first part of James and Natasha’s wedding took place in the celebration tent which is nestled amongst a landscaped herb garden.

After the civil ceremony, James and Natasha took a short stroll to the eco Roundhouse accompanied by their wedding party to say their wedding vows and sign the official marriage register. After which they returned to the celebration tent for a blessing.

Reception drinks and canapes were served in the celebration tent. James and Natasha took a brief stroll through the grounds for some intimate relaxed photos before rejoining the guests for drinks.

Before heading to the barn for dinner, James and Natasha cut their wedding cake in the celebration tent and the guests were given an hour to roam around the farm to spend time with the animals.

Dinner took place in the 18th century barn and the food was amazing!

After dinner, the guests played a pretty funny game of Mr and Mrs, before hitting the dancefloor and taking part in a sparkler exit for James and Natasha. It was such a great wedding to kick off my season. Congrats again to James and Natasha, thank you to Jimmy’s Farm for being such awesome hosts!

James and Natasha’s Awesome Suppliers
Venue - Jimmy’s Farm
Photography - Anesta Broad Photography
Wedding planner - Natalie Solanke
Caterer - Jimmy’s Farm
Florist - Triangle Nursery
Makeup artist - Dayna Leigh
Bridal gown - Aire Barcelona
Groom’s suit - Ted Baker
Cake baker - Tessa Eaton

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

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.

KATH & JIM'S WEDDING AT THE IN & OUT CLUB

This is Kath and Jim. And this is their winter wedding at The In and Out, Naval & Military Club in the heart of London’s St. James’s Square. Kath and Jim’s wedding was my last of the year. Another whopping 38 awesome weddings photographed in 2019! Kath and Jim were guests at Mel and Phil’s wedding last December. Ten months later, it was their turn to get wed and make some cracking memories in the process.

We didn’t let the rain deter the day. Confetti was thrown indoors during the drinks reception, and the images were absolutely perfect capturing the fun and joy of the moment.

Dinner was held in the ornate Coffee Room after dark.

After dinner, the party moved to the ground floor for drinks and dancing.

Kath and Jim’s Awesome Suppliers
Ceremony and reception location - The In and Out, Naval & Military Club London
Wedding planner - Mark Daly
Makeup - Philippa Louise
Hairdresser - Sarah Howard
Florist - Ginger Lily
Bridal dress - Jesus Peiro
Groom’s Suit - Reiss
Photography - Anesta Broad Photography
Caterer - The In and Out Club
Cake baker - M&S
Photobooth - Haven Events
Entertainment - DJ Julian

For more winter wedding inspiration, check out Mel & Phil’s wedding at Clissold House in London

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.

SARAH + STEVEN'S CRONDON PARK WEDDING

My last winter wedding just a few days before last Christmas was Sarah and Steven’s Crondon Park Wedding in Essex. Sarah and Steven incorporated plenty of rich wintry colours and nods to Christmas into their wedding day. The Baronial Barn was seasonally dressed with plenty of golden fairy lights and a huge beautifully dressed Christmas tree, plus the couples love for North London football team Tottenham Hotspurs was incorporated into the day too. Enough talking, check it out for yourselves.

Sarah & Steven’s Awesome Suppliers

Venue - Crondon Park
Florist - Stock Florist
Makeup Artist - Le Charlemagne
Hairdresser - Katie Petrie
Cake Baker - Linda Tattoo
Bridal Gown - Grace and Lace
Bridesmaids Dresses - David’s Bridal
Groom’s Suit - Next
Live Band - The Somebodys
Magician - Tony Steward
Guitarist - Glen Parish
Caterer - Crondon Park

TONY & KRISTINA'S MOROCCO WEDDING

Last month, I travelled to Marrakech to photograph Tony and Kristina's wedding in Morocco. We have known each other a long time, so it was an honour to be asked to capture their wedding. Plus Morocco is on my bucket list of places to visit so I didn't need to be asked twice! Their venue, Le Palais Paysan, is a beautiful stylish boutique hotel in the South of Marrakech. Wedding planners Boutique Souk helped Tony and Kristina organise their dream wedding. The hotel looks out towards the Atlas Mountains. It's like an oasis in the Moroccan desert. Kristina's wedding dress, made by Tarik Ediz, was jaw dropping. Their wedding was full of decadent decor with hints of Moroccan detail. Their candlelight dinner by the pool at night was unique and personal. They partied well into the night...or should I say the next morning. And it didn't stop there. The weekend was rounded off with a pool party and BBQ the following day. Their handsome son was a superstar all weekend, chuffed to receive his own wedding ring during the ceremony. Thank you to Jay Anderson for being an awesome camera wingman as always! Congratulations once again Tony and Kristina from the whole Broad family. 

ZOE & ADAM'S NORTH HILL FARM WEDDING

There was so much to love about Zoe and Adam's wedding.  The atmosphere was completely relaxed and I do rather love a tippee wedding. I had been looking forward to visiting Hertfordshire to photograph this North Hill Farm Wedding. The farmlands are beautiful, gorgeous views in every direction. They chose to have an outdoor ceremony and the weather was absolutely perfect. Sunshine and not a single drop of rain!  From body painting to the street food, dream catchers to cacti, and bow ties to the gold styling, I loved it all! Congratulations again Zoe and Adam. Thanks for choosing me to be a part of your day.

NATASHA & STEPHEN'S GOSFIELD HALL WEDDING

As Essex country house wedding venues go, Gosfield Hall is quite spectacular. It was once a Royal residence and much of it's unique history has been retained throughout the grounds. Natasha and Stephen's Gosfield Hall wedding was a day to remember although their cute daughters stole the show as it was very much their day too! Here's a preview of their beautiful day. Congratulations again to Natasha and Stephen!