I'm Really Missing Wedding Photography

This Covid 19 pandemic is affecting us all in so many ways. 

Something that's really surprised me is how much I miss photographing weddings. I've been doing it for about 11 years and shot well over 200 weddings. I generally work as second shooter, which means I spend the morning with the groom as he gets ready with his family or mates and it's that bit I probably miss most. 

It's usually a totally different experience to shooting the bride's preparations, although obviously every one is different. I've met so many wonderful people and, despite being a complete stranger,  been welcomed into their home or hotel room and, more often than not, laughed with them so much my sides ached. 

Here are just a few of these groom's faces and fantastic memories from the past 4 or 5 years.

Oakwood Hall Wedding: Terri & Luke

Ceremony & Reception: Oakwood Hall, Bingley, West Yorkshire

A truly memorable wedding, for many reasons but mainly because Terri & Luke and all their friends & family are such a great bunch of people. What a clash of cultures, though! Terri's family are all from the North of Scotland and Luke is half Sicilian, so there was hardly a word of English spoken all day!
I met Luke and the lads at Hollins Hall for a few prep shots. It was absolutely chucking it down when I got there and Luke was looking anxious. The forecast (once again) was pretty dire but I gave him the usual reassurances that it would clear up later!
It was still bucketting down when we got to Oakwood Hall but we managed to grab 10 mins outside when there was a small break in the clouds. By the time Terri arrived it was bouncing down again, then lo and behold, half way through the ceremony, the sun came out! How do we keep getting away with it every week?
Of course there was a piper on hand to lead Terri & her Dad down the aisle, which must have been an experience for the Sicilian guests. After the ceremony, there was a blessing conducted by two Scottish ministers, who threw in some very funny and surprisingly risquee jokes along the way and this was followed a rousing rendition of Nessun Dorma by one of the guests from Sicily.
After worrying all morning about the weather, the group photos were done outside on the lawn in the sunshine, including the obligatory kilt-lifting one which had everyone in stitches!
The speeches, particularly Terri's Dad's (which he did in 3 languages), were very entertaining, as was the piper getting entangled with the balloons and having to be rescued by a member of staff!
The evening highlight was, without doubt, the entire contingent of Sicilian guests dancing enthusiastically to YMCA.

Congratulations to Terri & Luke and thanks for a great day.





Kings Croft Wedding: Donna & Stephen

Ceremony: St Mary's Church, Garforth, Leeds
Reception: King's Croft, Pontefract

Stephen was, it has to be said, very, very nervous when I arrived at his parents' house in Garforth. After a few quick family group shots and the usual details, we were off to his local, The Podger (apparently, it's a type of large spanner - I had to look that up!), for a swift pint to settle his nerves before the short walk to the church.
Donna arrived in a white Rolls Royce with a huge grin on her face (it stayed there all day - the grin, not the Roller!). A fair number of her side of the family, including her Dad & several kids, had dug their kilts out for the occasion - always a bonus from the Photographer's point of view!
After the ceremony it was off to Kings Croft in Ponte for the wedding breakfast, loads of photos etc.
Immediately after the first dance, Donna & her parents launched into a mad dance 'routine' to Bat Out Of Hell, a family tradition, apparently!

Congratulations to Donna & Stephen and thanks for an enjoyable day!