Nicola is the first bride to contact me comparatively late in the day as a result of a negative experience with another wedding photographer. It is always so sad to hear when this happens but having been fortunate enough to be chosen as replacement I can honestly say the photographer was undoubtedly the one that lost out on this occasion – big time. There is a magic formula for wedding photography and it goes a bit like this: Beautiful bride (both inside and out!) + fantastic style x photographer’s aesthetic = visual delight. This was one of those weddings, it reminded me of visiting a new country for the first time and you just can’t stop taking pictures because everywhere you look there is something beautiful.
Arriving at Channels in time for Nicola and her bridesmaids preparations I caught a glimpse of fresh spring flowers spilling over teacups and out of teapot spouts and knew there and then that I was going to love the style of this wedding. Climbing an old wooden staircase I quickly found myself surrounded by the paraphernalia of preparation and made a beeline for Nicola’s stunning ivory, ankle length 50’s style belted wedding dress and bright red shoes. Her bridesmaids wore matching 50’s lace prom dresses in a range of what I could only think of as ice-cream colours. Daniel and his groomsmen wore navy single breasted jackets with straight leg trousers and, one of my favourite details, silver tie clips with each man’s initial’s engraved.
Flowers were provided by Arcade Flower Boutique and were a huge part of this bright, fun, visually exciting wedding. Tulips were everywhere in the same ice-cream style colours as the bridesmaids dresses and Nicola’s bouquet and flower crown were delicious splashes of colour against her choice of pastels for clothes and table decorations. Pink, orange, red all bundled up into a truly gorgeous bouquet not to mention all the additions to table decorations, buttonholes, flower crown and bridesmaid bouquets!
The ceremony itself took place outside with a small gathering of close friends and family, after which Nicola and Daniel grooved their way back up the aisle to Queen’s legendary ‘Another one bite’s the dust’ in a shower of confetti (I love a bride with a sense of humour). After some fun photo’s with ushers and bridesmaids (during which Biscuit the cat made a very popular appearance!) I finally got the couple to myself and we headed to the white London taxi cab Nicola had hired from Taxi Wedding Company as a surprise to collect Dan and his groomsman that morning. If you have spent as much time searching wedding blogs as I have you will be familiar with the difference between styled shoots and real weddings. As a photographer styled shoots obviously allow a lot more creative control where real weddings challenge us (in a good way) to work with whatever the couple have arranged. Well this was one of those rare occasions that LOOKS like a styled shoot but was in fact a real wedding and I don’t mind saying that these are some of my own personal favourite pictures that I have taken thanks to Nicola’s amazing styling skills.
I left the wedding as guests were heading into the sumptuously decorated barn where bunting and fairy lights dripped from every rafter, the table decoctions reminded me of a vintage style mad hatters tea party with old suitcases, crockery, mason jars and mini chalkboards. I can only imagine how long it took to put together and have said more than once that this bride would make a damned fine a wedding stylist should she wish. The immense effort and creative skill that went in to Nicola and Dan’s wedding blew me away and I hope these pictures are a testament to that.
If you were a guest at this wedding and wish to see all 247 images please contact the bride and groom for password to the full gallery.
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