Laura & John's Wedding photographed @ Bedford Lodge Hotel, Newmarket, Suffolk

The next wedding I photographed in June was Laura and John’s Wedding which we photographed at Bedford Lodge Hotel, Newmarket, Suffolk.

The forecast for this wedding had been terrible rain and thunderstorms so we had all our fingers and toes crossed that the weather forecast may be wrong. Thankfully, although we got a couple of showers and very black skies we had very little rain which meant that we could enjoy being outside.

I started off with Laura during the getting ready whilst David was photographing the groom down the pub with his friends. The men seem to relax more with David than they ever do with me at the pub – here’s them messing about – when asked to do a group shot in a line-up they did a football style pose for him!

Meanwhile, I was back at the hotel and just before they were about to leave the room to go down for the ceremony they all had champagne. Laura drank her bubbly through a straw so that she didn’t ruin her lipstick which the make-up artist had just finished.

Here’s Laura and her dad before they came in for the ceremony.

The afternoon was spent in the gardens playing garden games, drinking and eating canapés. We did our group shots during this time. Just before they came in for their meal David took a photo of Laura coming up the stairs into the reception which I adore – it looks like she’s in some kind of time warp (all done in the camera – no photoshoping on this image!).

The speeches at this wedding were very funny. During the father-of-the-bride speech John and his bestman mirrored each other almost perfectly and completely unintentionally which was great to watch.

After dinner I took Laura and John for a short wander to do some photographs of just the two of them. It was just the right time of year for the roses and it looked almost as though Laura had planned them to fit in perfectly with her colour scheme.

Laura’s flowers were very beautiful with lots of elaborate table decorations. Here’s a couple of photos. One of her bouquet and the other of the table centre pieces (this one was taken during the dancing hence the disco light colours!).

Tiffany (of Tiffany’s Flowers in Cambridge) did all the floristry for them. I did promise Tiffany I would send her a CD of the images with the flowers in - I haven’t forgotten about you honest I just haven’t managed to get round to putting these on a CD to you yet. I will get one sent in the next week or so!

In the evening as a surprise Laura and John had arranged for some sumo suits to be put out so that the guests could wrestle in them. The next couple of photos are of John and his bestman wrestling.

This was great fun to watch and really helped pass the time when guests often get bored after dinner waiting for the evening entertainment and was a great plan – I hope to see more of this kind of thing at future weddings. Laura was also brave enough to have a go even in her wedding dress. Here’s her looking ready to go and then just her toes poking out after she was wrestled to the ground (by one of the bridesmaids rather than John!).

When the time came for the first dance we were not disappointed. Laura and John had learnt a dance routine which seemed to go perfectly. It even had a lift involved in it!

This really was an interesting and fun wedding to work at. It helped that Laura, John, their families and friends were all fab to work with as well as being really lovely people. We wish you both all the best for a long and happy marriage. I am looking forward to seeing you both in a few weeks time to design your album with you.

If you attended Laura and John’s Wedding and would like to view their wedding photos they are online now. They have the password which I’m sure they’ll give to you.

Jackie and Mark's Wedding - Kings Lynn Town Hall and Briarfields, Titchwell

The first wet wedding of many that I shot in June was Jackie and Mark'sWedding which we photographed at Kings Lynn Town Hall which is a grand building with a beautiful window.

During the ceremony the couple had already prepared me that their little West Highland Terrier was going to be the ring bearer. When it came to the ring exchange part Oscar (the dog) came rushing up the aisle with his walker trying to hold him back. He was so excited to see them both and very well behaved considering how many people were there. He sat patiently and quietly through the rest of the service. What an adorable dog Oscar is!

I love this one of the two of them as they've just finished walking down the aisle together.

The staff at Kings Lynn Town Hall were brilliant about the wet weather and let us use one of their grand adjoining rooms so that we could do the group shots indoors. Whilst we did the group shots the guests went on to their reception which was at wedding reception at Briarfields Hotel, Titchwell. Just as I was about to leave with Jackie and Mark I noticed that the chairs from the ceremony had been cleared and we had a huge window to use. Here are a couple of photos taken here. David took the close up whilst I took the full length one.

When we reached the reception it was still raining so all the guests were indoors which in my opinion does have its advantages as everyone mingles with each other far better in confined spaces!

During a couple of breaks in the rain (drizzle rather than heavy rain) we did venture outside to do the confetti and a couple of group shots (I am so pleased that the guests and the couple were still willing to go out in the rain as it's made for some lovely vibrant photos).

I also took Jackie and Mark outside for a couple of photos of the two of them on their own. They certainly didn't let the rain ruin their day and we are always willing to go out in the rain to get fab photos.

By the evening it was still wet - after the speeches Jackie and Mark had organised for Mark's band to have a kind of jamming session in the bar area to keep the guests entertained whilst the disco set up and evening guests arrived. This worked really well and the time in between dinner and the disco flew by.

This is one of the first weddings we have worked at where we had the pleasure of working with a fab videographer team who I feel it is only right to mention. Andy and Linda of Any Occasions Videography were fab. They worked with us (rather than against us which believe it or not is quiet rare as often videographers want them same shots so just set up huge tripods in front of us!) which was a real treat. They are sending me a copy of Jackie and Mark's final DVD to have a look at so I'm looking forward to seeing the end results. We are certainly hoping that we will work with them again in the future - their details are on my website if you are looking for informal and relaxed videographers for your day. Please mention us if you do go on to contact them.

I took a sneaky one of Andy (the videographer) when he was filming the disco before the first dance. It reminds me of a scene in one of the Star Wars films and makes me smile.

Both Jackie and Mark love music and dancing. This one was taken during their first dance and the second photo was taken as the disco was well underway.



If you attended Jackie and Mark's Wedding and would like to view their wedding photos
they are now online (they have the password)

After I sent Jackie and Mark the details of how to view their images they sent me the following e-mail the next day:

'Hayley...OH WOW!

Have checked out the pictures - several times already - and they are absolutely amazing!! You have both done such a fantastic job. Mark and I had the most amazing day. It was packed with sentiment, crazy madness and awesome fun and every picture captures the atmosphere perfectly.

How on earth we will determine which ones go in the album is absolutely beyond me...they are all so great.

I can't wait to get together to finalise the album.

Thank you both so much.

Kindest regards

Jackie and Mark'


We really appreciate e-mails like this as it's nice to know that you are all happy with the end results we're producing. I am looking forward to seeing them both again soon to design their album with them. A great couple to work who we wish all the happiness for their future together. We hope that they stay in touch with their future news.

Catherine & Adrian's Wedding @ Yaxley Hall, Suffolk

Wow - two entries in two days this must be a record. In my bid to get up-to-date with these here's the first shoot I did in June which was Catherine and Adrian's Wedding which we photographed at Yaxley Hall in Suffolk.

This was a small and intimate wedding which all took place at Yaxley Hall. I really enjoy doing a mix of smaller and larger weddings throughout the year as they have completely different feels to them and keep us on our toes for coming up with new ideas.

I love this photograph in high contrast of Catherine taken before the ceremony and I love this one of her and her dad before they are about to come in for the service.



The ring exchange is always a special moment and if possible like to get a close up of this.


Yaxley Hall is a gorgeous location with ample opportunity for photographs both outside in the grounds and in the building itself - it is a venue which we love working at and Richard (the wedding butler) and all the staff always do as much as they can to make the day special as well as being wonderful for us to work with.

The weather was overcast but in many ways this is ideal for us as it doesn't create harsh shadows, squinty eyes (when shooting informally you can never guarantee where the sun will be in relation to the subject) and overheated guests. Here's one taken of Catherine and Adrian taken between organising the group shots.


I also tried a couple of more unusual shots of the two of them under Catherine's veil which I believe worked well.


Here's the two of them near Yaxley Hall's biggest pond which had a lot of water plants in flower in it.


I really enjoyed being part of such an intimate and special day and wish both Catherine and Adrian all the very best for their future happiness together. They were another lovely couple to work with (we have been blessed with many wonderful couples this year) and I am looking forward to designing their albums with them over the next few weeks.

If you attended Catherine and Adrian's Wedding and would like to view their wedding photos they are online now and I am sure they will give you the password to have a peek at them.

Wedding of Imogen & Dimitri @ Preston Priory Barn, Lavenham, Suffolk

Yet another month zooms past and I still haven't written about all my May Weddings (I wish I could find more time to do this as the feedback from many of you is that enjoy reading about others weddings and seeing some of the photos). Anyway, I digress, here goes for the last wedding I did in May.

It was hot and balmy day (one which I haven't seen since with a wet June!) when we photographed Imogen and Dimitri's Wedding at Preston Priory Barn, Lavenham, Suffolk. They had their entire day here and what a superb day it was. They had bales of straw instead of chairs for guests to sit on to complete their country wedding. I love this one of the boys taken before the guests arrived.


The sun shone all day which allowed the guests to mingle in the courtyard and me to do group shots in the garden with their immediate families. It also meant that I could take the couple off for a lovely wander capitalising on all that Preston Priory Barn has to offer. Here's a few of them taken around the grounds.




They had the most amazing cake which smelt fantastic - the combination of the white chocolate and the summer berries made for this heavenly sweet smell .... not something to stand next to when your tummy's rumbling!!!!!

Here's a photo of them with their ceremonial sword before the cake cutting and one of the cake itself.



Overall, another wonderful wedding and one which we very much enjoyed being a part of. If you attended Imogen and Dimitri's Wedding and would like to view their wedding photos they are online now and I am sure they will give you the password if you ask.

I am expecting their proof book back any day now and once I have this and send it to them I look forward to arranging a meeting to get together and design their album with them.

Fiona & David's Wedding - Layer Marney and Marks Tey Hotel

Towards the end of May we photographed Fiona and David's Wedding at Layer Marney followed by their reception at Marks Tey Hotel.

Fiona chose a gorgeous deep red colour which I'm sure you'll agree looked fab.


Fiona was 'given away' by her nephew - here's a photo of the two of them coming in.


This one was taken during the ceremony of the two of them (the registrars here were great and let me shoot at the front whilst David took all the photos from the back of the room - I love being able to get both views during the ceremony!)

and then the kiss at the end of the service.


We did all the group shots at Layer Marney and then the guests went on to the reception at Marks Tey whilst I took Fiona and David for a short wander around the grounds to do some photos of the two of them.




We wish Fiona and David all the best for their future together. I'm looking forward to them seeing their images in the next couple of days once they have been uploaded.

If you attended Fiona and David’s Wedding and would like to view their wedding photos they are online now and I am sure they will give you the password to look at them.

Apologies for not being in the office most of this week

Just a quick note to let you know why I haven't been around if you have e-mailed or been in touch this week. Unfortunately at the beginning of the week my dad was taken very poorly with breathing difficulties and taken into hospital. This has meant that I have been away from the office until today so there has been a bit of a delay to all current work which is loads at this time of year. Thankfully, my dad is now out of hospital and slowly recovering from what they believe to be a very nasty viral infection. I am now working my way through a large backlog of work and will do my best to be up-to-date again over the next couple of week's (fingers crossed and all being well).

Apologies to those of you whose meetings I have had to rearrange at short notice and thanks for your understanding.

Claire & Craig's Wedding - The West Wing, Ickworth, Horringer

Back in May I photographed several weddings that I haven't yet mentioned on here. The first one was Claire and Craig's Wedding which we photographed at The West Wing, Ickworth House which is owned by the National Trust. We had wonderful weather which gave us a great chance to use their fantastic grounds.

We had several group shots to do which we started off with straight after their ceremony. Spencer (the groom's son) had other ideas though and wanted to charge around the grounds instead which made for a lovely photo of the groom trying to catch him!


Shortly after the groups I took Craig and Claire for a wander around the grounds and we got some superb photos of just the two of them. Here are just a couple of them.



I love this one of Claire being given a piggyback by Craig. This came about when I asked them what would best capture their relationship and they suggested this.


They had a superb cake made up of lots of little cakes and a larger cake on the top layer. Here are some of the smaller ones (It makes me feel hungry just looking at them!).


For their favours they had made up these cute little boxes. They kindly made David and I a box up each so we got to take a peek inside them (and eat the contents!) which were a selection of funky retro sweets! I am sure that the thought that went into these as well as the sweets were appreciated by the guests - we certainly thought they were great!


The only thing we were a little disappointed with (and I don't think we have ever said a cross word about anyone before) was the resident toastmaster (who is linked with the venue) who made us cross and frustrated by his behaviour towards us, the couple and the guests (this is the first time we have met someone like this in all our time doing weddings so thankfully he is a rare exception to all the fantastic toastmasters we have worked with). This is a different story though and one which I will write a separate blog note on.

Before the dancing I caught this one of Claire posing for someone else with the two younger bridesmaids


Later in the evening they had a disco and I love this one of their first dance.


Overall, it was a great day and we very much enjoyed working with Claire and Craig to capture their day for them. If you attended Claire and Craig’s Wedding and would like to view their wedding photos they are online now and I am sure they will give you the password to look at them.

I look forward to meeting with Claire and Craig to design their album with them once their proof book is back.

Thanks Mark and Ros - Wedding at Otley Hall

I met up with Ros and Mark on Sunday evening to design their photobook with them following their Wedding we photographed at Otley Hall back in April.

We got talking about blogs (now these are two people who get thousands of people reading their entries) and they suggested adding a webcounter. I have now found one of these and added it to the site. Unfortunately it starts from now but at least I'll be able to gauge whether anyone reads this and if it is worthwhile doing.

Thanks for your advice on this one you two - I look forward to giving you your finished photobook soon