Back in the summer we met Trudy and Scott for the first time as they asked us to do an Engagement Shoot for them. The idea was to get some nice little piccies they could use for Invitations and Save The Date cards. They were truly great sports that day, hiking their way around Durdle Door and travelled all the way from Essex to see us.

It was only fair we shared the hellish Motorway travel experience. So, on a nippy and changeable Autumn weekend we made our way up to Epping for their wedding at Gaynes Park.

We arrived early so we could have a good scout around the venue before things kicked off. Gaynes Park has the cutest, tiny Gatekeeper’s Cottage which can be used for bridal preps and as a honeymoon suite. It was here I met up with Trudy. She wanted some time to chill in the morning and visit the hairdressers in peace and quiet, so we started things off once the flowers had arrived and it was time to dress.

The ceremony took place in the Orangery just a stone’s throw from the cottage. We absolutely loved the fact the guests were seated facing inwards, rather than in standard rows. This was mostly for the practical reason the room is really wide, but the aisle is short. It gave everyone a chance to see the happy couple clearly, making a large ceremony group feel a lot more intimate (and Ian got some nice side shots as opposed to being stuck at the back). More venues should do this if they can!

Trudy and Scott had made so much effort putting together their table decorations and we were absolutely honoured to see they’d put their Engagement Photos to good use and used them instead of table names.

Continues in Part Two

Continuing on from Part One

We cannot put into words what a thoughtful couple Trudy and Scott are. As we were a long way from home they’d not only seated us as guests and treated us to a slap-up meal but they’d made little place names for us too - like proper guests!

Scott even told everyone the backstory to the Engagement photos on each table during his speech and then we were presented with the biggest box of cupcakes! Amazing! We were so grateful for those on the way home and I’m ashamed to say (apart from one, which I gave to a friend who popped round for tea) we ate the entire box. Ooops!

It got dark really early, so after dinner we popped out for a bit of light-scribing with torches and to play with some sparklers. Then, it was time for the first dance and evening do at Gaynes Park’s Mill Barn.

Kudos to this wedding party for not only being the first group we’ve seen form a trailing Conga-line, but also for pulling this off with gusto as the second song of the night. The DJ said it couldn’t be done but they proved otherwise. I was also introduced to the strange, but ever-so-photogenic ways of the Cha Cha Slide. It’s a bit like Black Lace’s “Superman“, no?

A big shout out to Shoot Boutique too - without doubt the finest evening photo booth we’ve ever seen.

Thank you so much for all the fun, laughter, food and cakes, Trudy and Scott. And for letting us be part of your day x

Carly and Nick got married at the very distinctive and chic Cafe Shore in Sandbanks, Poole. It’s a restaurant and bar with beautiful views of Poole Harbour and Brownsea. I think it’s a pretty unbeatable vista to glance over when you’re actually standing there… getting married.

The day started with me making my way over to Carly’s parents house for the bridal preps. By all accounts things started off a little bit later in the morning for Nick, with a quick dressing and then drinks whilst catching up on “Helicopter Heroes”.

I love looking through the shots we end up with after a wedding. The clocks on mine and Ian’s cameras are always synced and it never fails to make me chuckle when I see Groom’s nervously pacing at the ceremony venue and the bride’s still got her jammies on.

On with the preps and ceremony…

Carly and Nick’s Wedding Reception continues in Part Two