It’s normal for me to meet prospective wedding couples together, but Zoe and Ben started out as they meant to go on – with a bit of originality. I met Ben in Bristol while he was on a quick work trip, but Zoe evaded me until a few days before the wedding, when I managed to get hold of her on the phone. She may have been lying partially comatose in bed after a distinctly vicious Christmas party, but that didn’t stop us from chatting for hours.
Fast forward two days and I arrived at Brownsover Hall, bright and early before Zoe and Ben’s 11:30am ceremony. I’m not convinced that I was actually awake as I walked through the door, but I was greeted with a big hug and the welcome sound of a boiling kettle. I settled in getting shots and getting to know all the girls while my stellar second photographer Tom Archer headed to check out the boys.
It turns out that while Zoe had been avoiding me in person she’d actually been stalking this very blog, and had spotted another of my brides in the same make and style of dress that she was going to be wearing. Not a drama though, Zoe managed to completely own the dress (a fab Maggie Sottero number) and judging by the look on Ben’s face as she walked down the aisle it was everything he’d ever pictured her to be.
After a packed car ride (Zoe and her bridesmaids managed to make it to the church in one trip rather than the scheduled two) we arrived at possibly one of the most stunning churches I have seen. It was over 1000 years old and oozed history. The ceremony was equally atmospheric – a ray of light hit Zoe and Ben just as they were exchanging ‘I do’s.
The reception was a truly Christmas-y affair, with plenty of mulled wine to keep everyone warm while we took some quick formal photos (just enough to keep the family happy and a few fun ones with the bridesmaids and groomsmen). After a few more mulled wines we quickly seized the opportunity for some shots of Ben and Zoe together in some seriously amazing light. One of my wedding moments of the year was when Kim, Zoe’s sister’s other half, (picture the meanest guy from a gangster movie complete with facial tats and golden teeth) was a complete gem and held Zoe’s dress out of the mud.
Soon it was time for the wedding breakfast, which continued the Yule-time theme by offering up turkey and crackers. There were also some amazing wedding decorations made from underwater LEDs (seriously, if I was still planning my own wedding I would have been stealing this idea right about now!). Ben managed the impressive feat of giving a long speech that was funny from start to end, including rating his own wedding ‘Four Weddings’ style (although with no rating me of yet!).
In the evening we set up a casting couch crazy booth. One of the joys of my newest camera is that it links wirelessly to my iPad (yes, I’m an Apple man, what can I say), so everyone can see the latest shots. I also got the chance to try out my new ring flash, which I quickly learned leads to an awful lot of leg in some pictures.
Meanwhile, the band had started and the partying was in full swing. This was one of the best cover bands I’ve heard, and they had come all the way from Essex to play. The lead singer in particular combined great vocals with the skills of an impressionist: this is one of the few cover bands I’ve come across where the covers actually sounded like the original songs.
Despite having started so early we just couldn’t bring ourselves to leave, and instead ended up partying the night away with the guests. I managed to grab a few more shots of Zoe and Ben – this photo shows off Ben’s piano-playing skills particularly well I think. The bridesmaids and groomsmen then headed outside for some sparkler fun – a must for winter weddings. It was only when the clock struck midnight and everything started to wind down that Tom and I realised we’d better begin the long drive back to Bristol, exhausted but thoroughly happy.
Right, on with the photos. I’ll start with that piano one, hit it to see more!
(Click here to see more…)
