When I met up with Dan & Rachael a few months before their wedding, they told me that they wanted their wedding to be laid back and completely on their own terms. It all sounded great to me, and they got their wish! It was a very laid back and fun afternoon, with the legal side of things done at the registry office in the morning, and a wonderful and personal ceremony in the afternoon at Shalfleet Village Hall, on the Isle of Wight. 

There was lots of input from their family and friends; Rachael's hair and make up was done by one of her friends Jessica, another close friend of theirs officiated the beautiful ceremony in which the couple wrote their own vows, and there was an "Open Mic" style set up for speeches which went down very well indeed.

Rachael and Dan did all the catering, which was Vegan and I have to say bloody delicious! Hats off to you both for doing your own catering in the first place (no easy task!) but also making it as tasty as it was. Thank you both for that, and more importantly thank you for asking me to capture your totally unique day, it was brilliant!

Thanks to a delayed train I along with a few other ladies rushed into Islington Metal Works, got signed in and went to find an available seat.

​Laura Babb had already started her talk on 'Presenting like a Boss' but I have to say what I caught was great. I've heard of Babbs before and heard a lot of praise about the SNAP Photography Festival, so there was a sence for me honestly of "Oh cool! It's that really great person I follow online, in real life, like, right over there!... sweet..." which sounds so silly to admit but I think we've all done that a couple of times haven't we? I felt that a few times that day anyway...

To be honest I haven't shot many weddings that have a proper theme really running all through the day. So to shoot that was great in itself, but because Cara and Dan's 1920's themed wedding was done so well, with all the guests getting into the spirit of things too, ahh man it was even better.

Firstly I want to highlight the fact that Cara made her and Dan's wedding cake and all of the cupcakes as well, because she's the very talented lady who runs Gladys May Cakery!

On the day unfortunately there was rain all day and so there wasn't really an opportunity to enjoy the grounds, until it did stop raining for I kid you not around 15 minutes before the sun set. So we madly ruched back outside after Cara swapped her heels for her flats and managed to get some lovely shots outside without having to use umbrellas that time - yay!

The band, The Southside Fizz, did not only add an extra gorgeous sprinkling of 20's fun and glamour to the evening, but I have to say are easily one of the best wedding bands I've ever seen. They beautifully set things off for Cara and Dan's first dance, and got everybody dancing at some point which also included a random and epic dance off with Dan and one of his brothers!

Thank you both for asking me to photograph your beautiful day.

Cara and Dan's Pre-wedding shoot with their two dogs (who are absolute sweethearts!) can be seen by clicking here.

1. Make a list.
Even if you're not a natural list maker. It can't hurt to be prepared and you and your photographer will be on the same page. Sit down with your other half, write out a fairly short and decisive list of group photos, give it a week or so and then have another look at it. As soon as you've decided, send it to your wedding photographer, and try and do this in plenty of time before the big day, it's such an easy thing to forget to do.

2. Give the list to your photographer, and at least one person from the wedding party.
I mean no disrespect but there are a lot of people at your wedding that I don't know, I've never met before, and so having names on a list becomes pretty meaningless to me in terms of organisation. I could be standing right next to your Aunt and not have a clue! So give your list to one or two other people, I would recommend people who are in your wedding party (because they'll be expecting to be on hand to help you out), and preferably people with a loud voice who aren't shy.

2018 went by so unbelievably quick for me. It was chock a block with great clients, working alongside talented wedding vendors, awesome weddings and fabulous moments. The amount of work I did on weddings, other photo shoots, throughout my business and for me on a personal level, is actually if I'm being honest an insane amount. It's only because it's now winter and things have calmed down from the madness of summer and autumn, that I'm only really just starting to realise all of it. 

This is purely a collection of my personal favourite 100 photos that I took at weddings this year. For weddings alone I gave my couples over 19,000 edited photos. Soooo I think it was wise of me to force myself to narrow it down to just 100 photos.

Thank you from the bottom of my nerdy heart to everyone who hired me this year to do photography for them, and to people who have supported me and cheered me on in lots of different ways.

​I hope you all had a truly wonderful Christmas, new year and 2018 overall. Here's a brand shiny new year for us all, let's give 2019 our best shot and have some fun along the way.

Between the mad busy-ness of September and the mad busy-ness of October this year, I had a week away with my parents, my sister, her husband and their daughter, along with my Husband and our dog. 

Firstly, I have to say that I've had such a busy year which has been ridiculously busy at times. It's been such a great year with my business but a week physically away from home was something I desperately needed.

Secondly, we stayed at the nicest possible place I could have hoped for in order for this well  needed break. If you are looking for a staycation in Dartmoor or Devon in general, somewhere that's just out of the way enough to feel in the middle of no where, but somewhere were you're still able to go to the shops for essentials, have a trip to a nice local pub or two, or just somewhere for a great long walk, I could not recommend West Nymph Holiday Cottages highly enough. 

The converted barn we stayed in "Holly Hock Cottage" (total coincidence with the matching name) could not have been more beautiful, cosy and clean. The main bathroom had a humungous shower that I enjoyed dancing like this in whenever I had a shower in it. Something that makes my heart happy as well is a curved free standing bath, so you better believe I was grinning like a fool when I was having a soak in that beast! ​

During Leanne and Sam's wedding day Alan Partridge was mentioned in one of the best men's speeches, an Einstein quote was featured in the ceremony along with a Tolkien reading, and the ceremony was kicked off with a beautiful cover of the Queen song You're My Best Friend, all things that made me so happy to hear!

I think it is the windiest wedding I have ever shot at and the ceremony had to stop a couple of times because the wind was so strong, but it all went very well, and it was a little bonus for me that a couple of times Leanne's very long veil got caught up in it which was great to photograph, there was even a little confetti tornado at reception! 

Hair & Makeup: Style Sisters.
Ceremony: Island Celebrants.
Wedding Rings: Serendipity Diamonds.
Flowers & Arrangements: Inspired Island Events.
Venue: Albert Cottage, Isle of Wight.
Band: The Rockafellas.
Cake: Boudewijns Bakery.

Thank you both so much, you were a dream to work with, and thank you for the lovely review you wrote for me.