We spent a couple of hours over the weekend with Francesca and Jonathan, who booked us to capture their wedding after seeing their friends Tim & Nicky’s photographs. When you have a home and gardens as beautiful as they do, it’s the obvious location for a pre-wedding photoshoot. And of course their dogs wanted to pose for the camera too, which they did beautifully. After a grey and dark start to the day we ventured outside to admire their favourite Acer tree in all its Autumn glory, then we took in the breathtaking view looking out onto rolling countryside, and then, rather joyfully the sunshine came out. Their wedding day is in Cambridgeshire at the end of the month.

Jemma and Damon were married on Thursday 20th September at the impressive Southwell Minster with reception at nearby Norwood Park, which as wedding venues go is a favourite combination of Mirror Imaging’s. I think it is probably the wettest wedding in our 11 years of photographing weddings, but we fully embraced the weather! I have to thank the verger at The Minster for kindly lending me a towel to dry off. I love the rich, warm tones of their images that defy the grey day, enhanced by a regal colour scheme of rich purples and pinks.

Bouquets, buttonholes and reception flowers by Zinc Floral Design. Jemma’s makeup was by the lovely Adele Coxon. Her elegant wedding dress was by Sophia Tolli (with fitting and alterations by Frances Day). The 3-tier buttercream cake was by Southwell Cakery with showstopping floral details by Zinc.

Matlock is a pretty town in the Peak District with stone buildings and winding streets curving up steep hills. Its Town Hall faces onto the road so you’d never guess the scale of the building beyond, and one of its ornate wooden panelled rooms played host to Georgina and Chris’s wedding ceremony. Our day started with a hubbub of animated guests in the micropub Stanley’s, before the vintage bus arrived with the bridal squad. It was raining heavily as they departed from the bus, lifting the grey day dressed in bright colours with even brighter spirits, singing the chorus to Frankie Valli’s ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ at the top of their voices as we took some photographs in the Town Hall doorway!

After Georgina and Chris exchanged vows and said “I do”, we captured a few more photos in the gardens behind the Town Hall then departed on the bus for nearby Tansley Village Hall. Built in 1843 as a school house, it has been sensitively maintained by the villagers, providing a light and lovely blank canvas for Georgina to work her creative magic! They chose a subtly retro ‘Kate Spade’ inspired theme, with black and white polka dots and lots of pink, masses of hanging lanterns across the ceiling and miniature cyclamen on the tables.

We left the party as guests were tucking into their buffet. Here are some highlights from their happy day.

In a feat of impressive partying stamina, Ro, Greg and 140 of their guests were up and in Nottingham ready to celebrate again the day after their Hindu celebration. Ro and Greg's wedding finale was held at The Savoy Cinema, an art deco style building and still a working cinema (if you click on the link you'll see a great black and white image in their gallery taken in the 1940's!). Their white Audi R8 drew some admiring glances parked outside. Ro and Greg's second day was a relaxed gathering with their wedding vows taking place in Screen 1, popcorn and Prosecco to follow, and of course Boris the dog.

Last night we met up with Georgina and Chris, ahead of their Matlock wedding in early September. I was keeping my fingers crossed for a golden hour, hazy-sunset kinda evening, but it wasn't to be; with the exception of a little light peaking through the trees we got a dark and overcast evening, darker than it's been in a while. No matter, there was plenty of laughter and some lush, green countryside backdrops, so it all turned out beautifully. And I loved Georgina's one-of-a-kind, vintage engagement ring; so different and striking.

It was lovely to spend a relaxed couple of hours re-connecting with Georgina and Chris before the big day, as they booked a while ago. I'm really looking forward to their creative, colourful, subtly-retro wedding with plenty of personal touches. 

Tim and Nicky hosted a spectacular party on the last day of June, bringing together family and friends, following their official marriage in London earlier in the month. They held a 'hallowing' ceremony and party at their home to bless their nuptials in the company of their loved ones. This isn't the first time we've had the privilege to capture the family's celebrations, having photographed Tim's son's Harry's 21st a few years back. On this occasion, it proved to be one of the hottest days I've ever photographed in; positively Mediterranean. The sunshine didn't stop shining all day and there wasn't a cloud in the blue sky.

The day began with the 'usher's lunch', a perfectly relaxed gathering of Tim's sons and close friends with cold beer, buffet food and the sunlight dancing off the adjacent swimming pool. We then joined the girls getting ready, in time to see Nicky step into her Wedgwood blue embellished Stewart Parvin couture gown. From a photographic perspective, Tim and Nicky wanted me to approach the day almost entirely candidly, with the exception of some cherished family group photographs. I think you can see how much laughter there was, and feel the joy and happiness in the resulting images. My brief not only placed a strong emphasis on photographs of their guests enjoying themselves but also the exquisite decor. Pop Nicholson's team at Vincent & Stubbs decorated the first marquee with a glorious floral arch, leading through to the ceremony area. Hanging circles of foliage and flowers, huge urns packed with oak leaves, roses, peonies, stocks and lilies smelt as amazing as you'd imagine.

After plentiful canapés and champagne to the chilled-out sounds of Intermezzo string quartet, the cake cutting and speeches took place. There was lots of laughter and tears, as words of thanks and gratitude were shared, giving poignancy and meaning to the day. The second marquee then greeted all 250+ guests with an abundance of soft pinks and purple flowers and a backdrop of gold mirrors to bounce light around. Guests tucked into sirloin steak and chips by T R Catering and a rather special red wine Tim had sourced for his guests. The sound of stunning opera vocals took everyone by surprise, as the waiters who'd been serving canapés all afternoon suddenly burst into a majestic rendition of several opera classics. It was the Three Waiters, who left the room with a rousing finale of napkin waving. 

Dancing began almost straight after the meal, with the dance floor being flooded very quickly to the band's upbeat covers of rock and pop classics of everyone from Prince to Whitney Houston. After 10 years photographing weddings, I can honestly say Tim & Nicky's friends rock the dance floor better than anyone.

A big thank you to Julian for ably assisting as my 'second shooter' including the gorgeous drone shots that allowed us to get a completely different perspective (and the drone lives to fly another day!), and of course to Susan for unfailingly supporting us both and being my second pair of arms and eyes. And sincere thanks to Tim and Nicky for having me capture their celebration. I have pleasure in presenting my favourite images from the day; it's time to grab a drink, settle in and view on a big screen. As the volume of images is so high, please be patient as it loads! I hope you enjoy them. 

Last night we met up with Kate and David, who are marrying at local venue Hazelgap Barn in a couple of weeks. We were able to have a relaxing photowalk before the sun went down, with a rather majestic visitor who seated himself in the background of the photographs. We then headed off to a nearby pub to make wedding day plans. Not long to go now till their big day - we just need this glorious weather to hold! 

Natalie and Luke were married on 17th March, having travelled all the way over from Australia to spend their day with family, friends and loved ones at Kelham House. I think this particular day will go down in history, not only amongst their family as a day of celebration, but also for having the most varied weather conditions, as The Beast From The East struck the UK for the second time! We had bright sun, then snow, sun again, high winds (forecast up to 70mph that day), glacial temperatures, some more sun, twice a snow blizzard, before the evening arrived and everywhere froze. It was truly bizarre and a challenge as the light was changing constantly and it was too cold for outdoor photography. Natalie and Luke braved it for a couple of minutes though resulting in my favourite photograph of the day! We left everyone in the evening, partying the night away in the warm.

Sarah and Dave first got engaged several years ago, while living in Australia, and they always planned on holding their wedding day in Nottingham. We took their engagement photographs near Nottingham castle and at World Service Restaurant, which was originally to be their wedding reception venue. Unfortunately, life sometimes throws us some curveballs and they unexpectedly had to delay their wedding plans and return to the UK. Then over Christmas, two and a half years after their engagement shoot, Sarah messaged me with a wedding date in the new year. They'd decided on The Lace Market Hotel, which could accommodate the ceremony, reception and allow for all their guests to stay over in one stylish city centre location. 

Amongst the first week of dull, rainy days in January, Sunday 7th came around as a bright, light day. In a certain direction, the sky was even a brilliant blue. We couldn't have been more blessed. We started the day in the studio suite with the girls, who ate sushi and drank fizzy to toast the day ahead. There was such a happy atmosphere and I absolutely love the series of images we did with the girls, you can clearly see the bond of years of friendship that's closer to sisterhood. Sarah posed in her garter by Extra Special Touch, and with her classical rose and ranunculus Floraldeco bouquet.

Next we met the boys in the Cock & Hoop, the hotel's pub located right next door. I've known Dave and best man Ross for 18 years, and we had a laugh and captured some great camaraderie between them. Sarah's dad had flown from America to give his daughter away, and there were some happy tears as Dave caught sight of his bride walking toward him (sorry, Dave!).

For the reception, Floraldeco provided a display of different white blooms, including lilac and scented english roses, mixed with plenty of candlelight, which looked magical and very elegant. Here are their highlights: