We Got Mail
Just arrived into the studio after 3 days in London for a wedding followed by two days at Focus On Imaging at the Birmingham NEC.
In amongst the post was a card from the parents of a recent bride. Things like this make our job all the better 
Shelley & Daniel – Married at Packington Moor Farm
Ok, let’s get it out of the way…. Shelley & Daniel are fab!
One of our fave wedding venues. Check.
Bring the dog to the wedding. Check.
Family & friends up for a laugh and making us feel totally welcome. Check.
Totally cool, easy-going, friendly couple. Check!
Bride’s dad singing The Backstreet Boys… see below…
They got married at a church in Hammerwich and we were told “NO PHOTOGRAPHS DURING THE SERVICE” by the vicar. Grrrrrr!!
We like to break the rules (with the help of long lenses) 
Great cake. Check.
An entourage of groomsmen. Check.
Ian Stuart dress. Check.
Shelley’s dad gave a great speech..
…and scored pretty well!
The evening reception was great fun. The band were rockin’ and both the bride and groom got on the mic..
But the crowning glory came when, at 11pm, the bride’s Dad insisted the DJ play “Backstreet’s Back” by the Backstreet Boys, to which he knew every word and even a few choice dance moves!
“Everybody…. yeah yeah”
We even convinced them to brave freezing temperatures so that we could get this one…
As you can tell, this was the kind of wedding we love being involved with. Just great fun
We’ll be posting their Fun Booth photos here soon too so watch this space….
Thanks to the lovely Anna for helping me out on the day again and thanks and big congrats to Shelley & Daniel for having us along to such a great day.
Lauren & Ashley – A Wedding At Hogarths
Remember Lauren & Ashley’s engagement session? I knew then that their wedding was gonna be a great day and I was quite right. On top of that they chose Hogarths in Solihull as their venue and, as you can see above, brought sparklers for us to use for one of their portrait shots. They also had their own fun booth and we’ll have those pictures on the blog soon. They rock!
Here are some of my fave images from their wedding..
Who’d have thought that a wool theme could work so well?!
Watch out photographers! The next generation are coming…
I was assisted on the day again by the lovely Anna. Here’s one of her shots…
Biggest gifts ever!
Big congrats to Lauren & Ashley. We loved being a part of their day and look forward to putting together an amazing album for them. And thanks for the sparklers
Joy & Richard – A Real White Wedding
Occasionally we get clients who remind us why we love out job so much. Joy & Richard are definitely one of those couples!
We did their engagement session in the snow and their wedding day, also Joy’s birthday, was just as white, just as cold and just as much fun.
I was helped out again by the lovely Miss Emma Case who got these great shots of the boys…
Meanwhile, I was back at Malmaison keeping the girls company…
The service took places at St Paul’s in central Birmingham
Married!
Then it was on to Moxhull Hall…
Time for some speeches
FAVOURITE. SPEECHES. PHOTO. EVER!
Tune in again to see the amazing Fun Booth pictures
Congrats to Joy & Richard. Superstar couple!
This wasn’t just a fantastic wedding. I think we may have bagged ourselves a couple of good mates in the process. I love my job!
Hannah & Ali – Married at The Daffodil, Cheltenham
Many of you will remember Hannah & Ali’s engagement session at their home. It also made it onto the amazingly cool Rock N Roll Bride website.
Their wedding took place just before Christmas at The Daffodil in Cheltenham, a fantastic converted 1920’s Art Deco picture house. The vintage theme continued throughout the wedding and I have to say I wish more couples would go down this route. I think it’s so cool and stylish.
Hannah and Ali both looked amazing, but their guests also made a huge effort and win the award for best dressed guests ever!
Here are a few pictures from the day. I was ably assisted by Mr Tim Herbert on the day. Thanks Tim.
We loved these Order Of Service cards which told the story of Hannah & Ali’s relationship so far.
Coolest. Bridesmaids. Ever. With the ladies’ favourite, Mr Hudson aka Ben.
Roger Moore eat ya heart out!
Some great speeches..
Ali is a talented musician. His band, Envy & Other Sins won Channel 4’s “Mobile Act Unsigned” but he’s now doing his own thing.
He serenaded Hannah and had everyone’s undivided attention.
Who needs Strictly Come Dancing when you have Hannah & Ali!?
The Upbeat Beatles played a blinding set that had the dancefloor rockin for the entire night. Highly recommended covers band.
Definitely one of my fave weddings yet!
Hannah & Ali make a great couple and we had a blast sharing their day with them. Their album is going to be something special
Emma & Wayne – A Wedding at New Hall, Sutton Coldfield
Emma & Wayne were married on January 2nd, making theirs our first wedding of 2010.
It was a great way to begin what is going to be our busiest year ever (we already have 33 weddings booked!) and the reception was held at the beautiful New Hall Hotel. It was also the first wedding I’ve shot with my new friend and “awesome” photographer Emma Case.
We came home with some of my fave wedding images ever…
Note how their colour scheme matches our logo
The snow on the ground just added to the magic..
The ceremony took place at Four Oaks Methodist Church
And it all got a little emotional…
Not everyone was interested in the service though!
New Hall in winter.
Emotions ran high again during the speeches
Wayne and his boys
Emma & her girls
Some night portraits…
errr…
Towards the end of the evening a few of the boys took Emma & Wayne outside and performed a fantastic a capella of “Mr Sandman”
Emma & Wayne made our job so enjoyable for the day and we wish them all the luck in the world for the future. We found out after the wedding that they had recently found out Emma was PREGNANT when they got married Massive congrats!!!
Kate & Andy – Married at Packington Moor Farm
One of the last weddings we covered in 2009 was at the super-cool Packington Moor Farm near Lichfield. We’re actually back there this weekend and it’s such a great venue.
Kate & Andy were married at the beginning of December and their wedding was very laid-back, stylish and fun. The lovely Bianca Barrett assisted me on the day and found out that she knew quite a few of the guests. And the girl doing the service!
Here are a few images we got from the day…
Cute alert – part 1.
Cute alert – part 2.
Cute alert – part 3.
Nobody warned us that Jack Bauer was going to be at the wedding!
Cute alert – part 4!
Go Jack!
Not everyone was in party mood…
We had another great day hanging out with everyone at this wedding. Congrats to Kate & Andy. It was an absolute pleasure photographing their day for them
Victoria & James – A Wedding at Cowley Manor
Some wedding venues are better than others. Cowley Manor is probably my favourite venue I’ve ever worked at. Beautiful on the outside, contemporary and quirky on the inside but stylish throughout.
Victoria & James booked us after meeting us at the National Wedding Show in Birmingham. As soon as we met Vicki we knew this was going to be an amazing wedding. Her attention to detail never let us down.
I was assisted on the day by Mr Chris Barber who did a stirling job. Thanks Chris.
Here’s one reason we love this venue!
Great shot by Chris
Chris’ view from the roof..
Love the light in these..
Did I mention the attention to detail…?
Thanks for having us share such a great day guys. We wish you lots of luck in the future but also can’t wait to do your Rock The Frock/Shoot The Dress session
Chris, Victoria, James and moi.
Faye & Warrick – A Wedding at Kilworth House Hotel
Ok, confession time… Sometimes we’re so busy that the occasional wedding goes unblogged. This was one of them.
We shot Faye & Warrick’s wedding in May 2009. Since then they’ve had a beautiful album and, more importantly, a gorgeous baby girl called Lyra. We’re just waiting for the call to photograph the baby now
This was one of our favourite weddings of 2009 too. A great couple in a fantastic venue – Kilworth House. The weather was glorious and we had a really fun day with the couple and their guests.
So, let’s get some pictures up finally…!
So cool to see Faye’s parents still all loved-up
And her Grandad gave one of the sweetest and most emotional speeches we’ve heard, telling Faye how proud he is of her and presenting her with an album of photographs.
One of my fave groomsmen shots…
Things got a little more relaxed later
And Faye’s Dad looked like he was enjoying himself too….
So I have to say congrats on the wedding and congrats on the baby. And sorry I didn’t get this on the blog sooner! Cheers guys.
The Most Over-Used Best Man Jokes
A Best Man’s speech is certainly a nerve-wracking occasion. I don’t envy anyone who has to do it. I did it once, for my brother. I hated it! (sorry Paul)
We’ve seen many Best Man speeches. There have been fantastic ones. There have been painfully awful ones. And then there’s the one we dread most…. The Googled Best Man Speech!
Googling “Best Man speech” brings up plenty of sites with lists of jokes, some good, some completely unfunny. The problem is we hear the same jokes again and again. So, in the interests of wedding photographers’ sanity, I’ll list the Top 12 most over-used, and not even very good, Best Man jokes in the UK. If you’re going to be someone’s Best Man some time soon, we implore you to avoid them. Although some might have found this blog through Google and use all twelve in their speech!
1. “Fornication!” (Then make an awkward face, squint and look at the paper again) “Oh, I’m sorry… For an occasion such as this…”
2. I’ve known John a long time and am considered a bit of a father figure to him. I have watched him crawl around on his knees, drink from a bottle and I’ve cleaned up after him… but enough about the stag do…
3. I must admit to feeling a little nervous. In fact it’s not the first time today I’ve stood up from a warm seat with a piece of paper in my hand.
4. I did feel a little nervous at first but John’s assured me, if i do a good job, I can be best man at his next wedding.
5. It’s been an emotional day, even the cake is in tiers.
6. John, she’s a lovely girl and deserves a good husband. Thank God you married her before she found one.
7. Now it gives me great pleasure to ask you all to raise your glasses for some very important people, without whom today would not be the same. Would you please raise your glasses to toast.. The bar staff.
8. It’s my job to give the groom the most uncomfortable few minutes of his life. The bride’s most uncomfortable few minutes will come later tonight when they get back to their room.
9. Marriage is a 3 ring circus: The engagement ring, the wedding ring and finally the suffering.
10. A man said his credit card was stolen but he decided not to report it because the thief was spending less than his wife did.
11. I’ve been told to keep my speech to the same amount of time it takes for John to make love. (Pause for a moment, and sit down).
12. Being asked to be the Best Man is like being asked to sleep with the Queen. It’s a great honour but nobody really wants to do it.
Anybody want to add any more to the list??