March 2014
No, I have to admit it, this isn’t one I prepared earlier! Amanda & Gavin supplied this perfect image for their table cards (I leave them so their guests know where to see their online gallery). I just love the way the camels are mirroring the happy couple on their backs. A lovely picture, iconic and humourous at the same time.
Hilltop Country House is a really great venue and one new to me. What their website will not tell you is that this is a completely family-run venue and because of this the care and attention to detail is second to none. This is reflected in the fabulous food they serve and the friendly and personal service they offer. Martin, the owner, was discreetly on hand throughout the day ensuring everything was running on time according to plan. Very impressive! Because he’s a gardener as well as a keen photographer the gardens are thoughtfully laid out with pictures in mind, and with the daffodils in full bloom I knew that it would be a good day for pictures.
I arrived nice and early at the nearby Shrigley Hall Hotel where Amanda and her Bridesmaids were readying themselves in a lovely room replete with four poster bed. This is another one of my local venues and I’m looking forward to my wedding there in May. I did have videographer Tom Harrington from Silk Wedding Films to contend with, but because he’s a pro and the room was big, we never trod on each other’s toes. Amanda’s dress looked fab (Fatima by Enzoani) on its hanger but even better on, fitting beautifully in all the areas that count. Shame that her Jimmy Choos were hidden under the dress because these too were wonderfully chosen and really deserved to be on show.
I arrived at Hilltop just in time to catch a few shots of Gavin, the Best Man & Ushers, and have the essential few words with the Registrar before the ceremony. The sun shone and the Bride and Groom poured the love light through my lens, giving me fabulous ceremony pictures full of emotion. Afterwards everyone mixed and mingled on the patio while The Dotted Crotchets String Quartet played a very interesting mixture of music including the latest from Daft Punk!
It really was four seasons in one day, and not long after I had started the group photos than the skies darkened, temperature dropped, and the heavens opened, all with a biblical ferocity. And it was hail not rain, delivered with stinging force! But it was not to last, and in less than ten minutes we were out again finishing off the group pictures. Thank you Best Man John & Ushers Martin & Roger for being un-phased by it all and so organised.
I would have loved some of the sunlight from earlier in the day for the rest of the Bride & Groom pictures but it was not to be. At least the wind dropped and I had the daffodils to use as a colourful backdrop. Amanda & Gavin made a charming and photogenic couple and I had a lot of fun photographing their happy wedding. I was really pleased with my new number one camera body used in anger for the first time. It has amazing low light performance, allowing me to more easily capture the buzz in the really low light of the dance floor.
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