In the meantime, if you want to check out my progress, you can follow my other non-wedding photography blog here:
Http://www.alexanderbeckett.com/adventures

More soon!
Alex

Update: I’ve been banned from taking my big camera but here’s the view from the upper deck courtesy of my little X100.

Right well I best get back to it, madly trying to finish all the photos before I disappear on honeymoon!

More soon,
Alex

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!

Survivors: Tom, Ben, Zoe and Me!

So what do you think? Do they make a great couple or what?
More adventures soon,
Alex

Last wedding of the year tomorrow, should be a good one!

I’d been looking forward to this shoot for quite a while. For those of you who don’t know, Out of the Blue are an amazing a cappella group made up entirely of Oxford students and specialising in some rather unusual renditions. If you haven’t heard them, stop reading this right now and go check them out or youtube their Britain’s Got Talent semi-final performance.

Unfortunately as is often the way on this sort of thing, we ended up getting a little pushed for time and losing one of our locations. Nevertheless we made the most of what we had and started in Exeter College chapel before heading down to Holly’s old college, Oriel, for this one on the steps.

I had a great time and it was really awesome to hear the guys put on some impromptu little jam sessions while I set up all the lights. Beats my normal model shoots!

More soon,
Alex

Edit: I also shot some pretty cool individual shots…

Anyway here’s one to keep you going until I can get the rest up.

Let me know what you think in the comments!

More soon,
Alex

Love the Autumn colours in the one, why can’t we have them all year around?

More after the jump…

Thanks to Caroline Alexander from Caroline Alexander photography for helping me out on the day!

More adventures soon,
Alex

UPDATE: More added, hit this link to see them!

More soon,
Alex

Normally I’d have run a mile at photographing a wedding so soon after my own (I should have been on a sunny beach!) but after meeting Sarah and Simon, hearing all their crazy plans and just getting on so well, I couldn’t say no.

The morning started with me photographing Sarah in her suite at the Dorchester (she even had her own butler) while Tom (my trusty second photographer) covered Simon at their house in Westminster. Before I get to that though, here’s one from later in the day on the balcony of the Penthouse and Pavilion at the Dorchester.

More after the jump…

So as I mentioned, I started in one of the Dorchester’s famous suites with Sarah, her Mum and her Grandmother. After a quick hello Sarah got back to doing her wedding makeup.

Sarah’s dress (a Joyce Young number) was absolutely stunning. I still remember her Mum’s reaction when she saw it!

When I first met Sarah and Simon they were keen on meeting before the wedding and heading out for a photo wander around London. I’ve not done this much before but it actually worked out really well. It meant that all the great couple portraits were out of the way before the ceremony and Sarah and Simon could simply enjoy time with their guests. Sarah and I hitched a taxi and headed out towards the bridge, nerves growing…

When we got to the bridge I called Tom. He and Simon had made it to the South side of the bridge and were all ready. Sarah lined up on the North (St Paul’s side) and started walking…

Meeting in the middle really was magical. So fun to see the look on Sarah and Simon’s faces as they got closer and closer to each other. If you’re not going to meet at the altar, the Millenium Bridge is certainly a good place to do it instead! Afterwards we caught a cab and headed to Parliament to continue the adventure…

Yep, we were filmed, wolf whistled and honked by tourists and Londoners everywhere. This guy even broke out his Galaxy Tab (iPad imitation) while sitting in traffic!

Shot by Tom.

We got really lucky with the weather and I love this shot I caught of Sarah in some autumn leaves.

More tourists, then back to the Dorchester…

Sarah met the registrars and Bampi her (very Welsh!) Grandfather before heading to the Penthouse and Pavilion for the ceremony.

We did take a few minutes to get a few quick group shots on the roof terrace of the pavilion. It really is a perfect setting with a stunning view overlooking the London Eye and Big Ben.

After the group photos (and a quick pic of Sarah’s latest cake creation – yes she is rather talented, if you’re looking for a cake designer book her!) we headed in for a 7 course wedding banquet meal. Not quite sure how else to describe it other than divine. It’s been torture editing the photos, just because they always make my mouth water again!

Yes I have to confess I might have planted the thought in people’s heads that it would be good to cool off in the fountain. I’m a bad man but it did make for some great photos!

Congrats again guys, I only hope the Australian version of the wedding was as fun as the British one. Wouldn’t have missed this for the world!

More adventures soon,
Alex

ps. if you’ve got this far, hit me up in the comments and let me know what you think!

Suppliers:
Venue: The Dorchester Hotel – Penthouse and Pavilion
Dress: Joyce Young
Flowers: The Covent Garden Flower Academy
Cake: Sarah Mortimer
Photography: Me – Alex Beckett Photography assisted by Tom Archer.

pps. I just wanted to say a big thank you to the staff at the Dorchester. Never in my career as a wedding photographer have I come across such helpful and accommodating stuff. Thanks guys, without you a lot of these photos simply wouldn’t have been possible.

Holly and Phil tied the knot a few weeks back in Swaffham Prior,Cambridge. Phil had contacted me last year having seen this very blog and decided I was the one for their wedding. I have to say I was honoured when they booked without even meeting me! Fast forward 9months and we all finally got the chance to meet for a drink at TheSnug while I was passing through Cambridge. I’m always a touch nervous meeting a couple for the first time, especially when they’ve already booked, but with Holly and Phil I really lucked out. We all got on like a house on fire and Phil filled me in on some of his cunning and devious plans for the day.

The day started with me photographing Holly getting ready at the Mead village (Phil’s Dad really has built an entire village in theCambridge countryside) and Tom (my trusty second photographer) covering Phil. I love covering the girls getting ready; there’s always so much going on and you can feel the excitement in the air. I was a bit sad last week when I wasn’t allowed to be with my own Holly getting ready for our wedding!

The venue itself was a real treat: Phil had really gone to town on the marquee. I haven’t seen quite so much work put into a marquee in a long time and it really paid off. From the amazing cupcake table through to the trees covered in candles it really was a beautiful wedding for a beautiful couple.

I guess it’s time for me to get on with the photos so I’ll start with this one.

More after the jump!

Love this one of the bridesmaids seeing Holly’s sister (and flowergirl) made up for the first time. Holly’s actually a primary school teacher and there were plenty of adorable kids around!

Royal wedding T-Mobile spoof youtube moment.

Thanks for making me feel like part of the family guys. I had a really fun day and it was great to see so much love flowing and creativity surrounding!

More adventures soon,
Alex