We specialise in Wedding Photography in Suffolk

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Friday 26 September 2008

Angus and Jenny's Wedding photographed at Sweetheart Abbey, Dumfries

The first Wedding we photographed in Scotland at Sweetheart Abbey was of Angus and Jenny and it took place at the beginning of August. This was the furthest we have travelled so far for a wedding although after the success of this one I'm sure we'd travel again in a heartbeat to cover weddings further afield. For all of you who would like to know how this wedding came about, I photographed Jenny's friends, Becca and Pete's Wedding that we photographed at Dove Barn last year and met Jenny at this who was so impressed by the photos she wanted us to travel to Scotland for her wedding which was a great compliment.

Their ceremony took place in an old abbey owned by historic Scotland called Sweetheart Abbey just outside of Dumfries. It is a gorgeous old ruin which has stunning red brick. Being an old ruin there was no roof so the guests had been told to be aware that if it rains you will get wet. I think everyone's fingers and toes were crossed hoping that it wouldn't rain.

As we had only met Jenny briefly (although we'd stayed in touch over e-mail and phone calls) we hadn't met Angus at all so we travelled up a day early so we could meet them at their rehearsal to go over plans for the Saturday. When we first saw the Abbey it was raining and very windy. However, all of those who came to the rehearsal were still smiling and jolly despite the weather which was very encouraging. We had heard that the forecast for the Saturday was not good at all and I think we all feared we may be under umbrellas.

The next day we arrived at the Abbey an hour and a half before the ceremony started and we were greeted predictably by rain. Here's a photo of Jenny's brother arriving.

What happened next was completely unexpected and a blessing. Half an hour before the ceremony was to start the rain just stopped. The skies remained dark (as you'll see in the photos) but Jenny arriving in the dry was in everyone's minds. As she arrived the rain was still holding back, we held our breath and it held off during the ceremony. Then when they signed the register blue skies and bright sunshine shone above us. This wasn't the forecast but the fantastic weather stayed with us for the rest of the day. Seeing the Abbey's red stone basking in the warm light was lovely and a total transformation from the day before.

Here's some photos of Jenny arriving with her dad and one at the end of the service.


After the ceremony we did our group shots here and I took Jenny and Angus for some photos of just the two of them. Here's a very small selection.

We then went on to the reception in a nearby hotel. We did the confetti outside and Jenny decided to throw her bouquet. This made for a great sequence of photos as Jenny's brothers girlfriend caught the bouquet effortlessly which lead to a lot of laughter along with a slightly worried look from her brother. The speeches were after the meal and were great - Angus had bought Jenny's dad a ginger Scottish Wig which you can see in the photo below.


The dancing later on in the evening was also great fun. Following tradition to some extent the first dance started off slow (as photo below shows) - then half way through the band changed it to an upbeat song by the proclaimers (you know the one that goes ... and I would walk 10,000 miles .... not sure what it's called exactly so I'll look it up - if anyone knows please comment on here and put me out of my misery!) - I don't think anyone can hear this song without
wanting to join in as it's really catchy and uplifting .... needless to say loads of people got on the dance floor with them.

Despite the long trip up to Scotland it was well worth it - we had such a wonderful time and all their friends and family were very welcoming and friendly to us. We love the photos from this wedding as they look so different to our normal East Anglian (mainly flat) landscapes. We're so pleased that Jenny and Angus were as pleased with their images as us. Before they'd seen their images Jenny sent me a lovely e-mail which read as follows:

'Hello Hayley,We're so excited about seeing our photos - the day was absolutely perfect, we enjoyed every single second of it! There are many things we would like to thank you for, and are in the process of writing all our little thank you cards at the moment! Thank you so much for yours and David's work on the day - you are two of the loveliest people I've ever met and were so professional on the day, so thank you. I have absolutely no doubt that the pictures are
going to be amazing and I know we'll be thanking you lots for them too!
Warmest Regards
Jenny'


then after they'd seen them they sent a further e-mail and a thank you card which read as follows:

'Dear Hayley and David,I know we've been in e-mail contact with you Hayley but we wanted to drop you a card to say thank you once again. Now we've had a chance to look over the photos, we really feel so appreciative for the magic you captured on the day! Loads of people have said how nice the photos are and how they 'bring the day back to life'! Lots of people have also told us how nice and lovely they thought you were and we can echo that. Thank you so much for providing such a professional service and for the wonderful photos. Oh and thanks also for the wonderful card you left us!
Warmest Regards
Jenny and Angus Mackay'


As always we would like to thank Jenny and Angus for taking time out of their hectic lives to tell us that they were happy with what we've done. It means a lot to us and I know that a lot of my brides and grooms for the next few years ahead have also said they enjoy reading all the positive feedback on here. What a lovely couple the two of you are and we wish you every success and happiness in your future together.

I can't wait to hear from the two of you soon and to begin our remote album designing which should be fun. I'm sure that Jenny and Angus will have given all those who attended the password to view their wedding photos which are now online. If not, just let them know and I'm sure they'll give you it.

Monday 22 September 2008

Uh Oh ... Another month gone ... Have I really not written in that long?

How can a whole month have passed me by without writing on here?

August, September and October are always my busiest months by far (I know that I shouldn't be making excuses!) ... I am not only still in full wedding season with at least one wedding a week but I am now working on and preparing large amounts of albums, photobooks, print packages, parents books and albums, CD's, DVD's and reprints. As well as all that most of my evenings are taken up either seeing couples to design their albums and books or seeing potential couples for weddings on future dates. Actually, I think it helps writing all this down as it makes me realise why I seem to have no time and an ever growing 'to-do' list.

I think I should also mention a quick thank you list here as without the help and support of my family I couldn't get all this work done (60+ hour weeks since April)! Special thanks to David (my husband) ... not only does he help me most weekends by photographing with me at weddings but without his sterling job making my dinner most nights I'm not sure I'd have time to eat! I feel like an absent wife at this time of year ... promise I'll make it up to you when it's quieter over winter! Also, thanks to my parents who look after our cranky collie most weekends when we're working allowing us to not worry about whether she's wrecking the house and lastly thanks to my sister who lets me upload all the photobooks at hers (I am still stuck on a stupid dial-up connection as I'm in the middle of nowhere and apparently only two people in our village can get broadband ... needless to say I'm not one of them!) which have been new this year and a huge success. Ok, enough of the thank you's for now as I'm sure it's starting to sound like an Oscar speech (although no tears)!

All of those who I have photographed in August and September please don't think that my lack of writing has been because we haven't enjoyed those weddings .... we have had some amazing times and can't wait to write up your weddings.

To give you all a small taster .... we have been up to Scotland for Angus and Jenny's wedding which was fab, we've been to Elms Barn a couple of times, both completely different weddings despite being at the same venue - magicians, bouncy castles, power cuts - I think we've seen it all! We've been to Cley Windmill (superb reed beds), Holkham Beach (beautiful beach where we could barely see the sea it's so far out) and Sussex Barns. We've also been back to Ickworth (third time for us this year ... funny how things go in cycles like that) and we've been out in the deepest, darkest fens this weekend (we had superb light and vast expanses of flat fields and water) as well as up to Sandringham the following day where we had the most beautiful gardens, church and surroundings ... although we didn't see the queen!

So, lots to come .... I'm sure you can't wait to read about them now. Hopefully, by the end of the week I'll have written up at least one wedding for you to look at. Oh and one final thanks that I forgot earlier, to all of you who give me positive feedback about both the blog and our work thank you .... it really does help keep us motivated and enthusiastic and makes all our effort worthwhile .

I WILL WRITE AGAIN SOON!

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Suffolk Wedding Photography

We are Suffolk Wedding Photographers who cover Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex to photograph couples weddings. We are very happy to travel though to share in your day with you. The furthest we've been to so far when photographing a wedding is New York!

We love photographing weddings in a natural, relaxed and informal way to allow you to enjoy your day to the full whilst we capture it for you.

We pride ourselves on our customisation of packages so that hopefully we can give you the kind of photography package that suits you perfectly.

Please give us a call or send us an e-mail to see if we can help you. We only photograph a maximum of 25 weddings a year though and do book up well in advance so please get in touch as soon as you can with your date to check our availability.

We look forward to hearing from you soon and hopefully photographing your wedding day for you