Ian and I may not be as willing or able to gather up Nike Fuelpoints but we know how to Geocache. So that’s what we did for their wedding prep shoot.

They’re getting married next month with a reception at the marvellous New Forest Outdoor Centre on the Minstead Manor Estate. We’ve been to have a look round with them and it is jaw-droppingly ace and a good place for a party.

If you’re not familiar with Geocaching.. it’s basically a treasure hunt. There are boxes (known as Caches) dotted around the world. You have to use a GPS device or a smartphone to find them. Inside the box is a little logbook you sign and sometimes there are little trinkets inside as treasure.

We’d found the Cache at Sika Trail before so we let Sara and Mark do all the work and snapped them as they went along. Ian and I just observed them like Nick and Karen from The Apprentice.

This was all quite appropriate as Sara’s engagement ring was in a fake cache that’s now live. And as luck would have it there was a ring in the box of this one at Sika Trail too!

Once again, we were rained in, but inside the atmosphere was sunny and fun. I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for settees in wedding ceremonies. It makes things feel so snug and intimate.

A tongue-twisted Simon did actually make the vow to his “awful wedded wife” at one point (spot the grovelling mid-ceremony). However, all he had to do was flash his Transformers cuff links and all was forgiven.

A big shout out to Catherine who got through the day elegantly, despite having badly hurt her leg. And to Catherine’s mum who got the crowds warmed up with her rendition of “Wind The Bobbin Up”.

Here are some of our favourites from their day:

They’re going to be married in Burton, Dorset with a reception at Parley Manor. Dan grew up around the Burton area so he took us for a wander around some fields for some tester prep shots. Weather-wise it wasn’t the most pleasant of evenings but we still had fun.

Top tip: Before you limbo under a wire fence check whether there’s a public right of way access point six feet to your left. That always makes things easier.

Despite it raining for most of the day it even held off enough for us to venture down to Bournemouth Beach to catch the last glimmers of sunlight.

There were lots of lovely handmade details throughout the day. Sara’s sister – a very talented designer, did a sterling job with the table place settings. Sara added some characterful touches to her cake toppers and the flowers were designed in-family.

Here are some of our favourites from their day:

Posted with thanks and congratulations to Sara and Hadi x

We met up this weekend to talk through the times of their day and take some shots on the beach at Studland. We discovered some deckchairs along the way!

It was a bit of a drizzly day but that didn’t dampen any spirits at all. In the morning the boys kept themselves occupied and away from the hail and the rain by messing with guitars and presenting each other with ceramic elephants…as you do. Meanwhile, Caroline and her bridesmaids got ready in one of the bedrooms upstairs at the hotel along with both Mums.

It was so clear that both sides of the family were so happy to be sharing Caroline and Gary’s wedding day together, especially as Caroline’s close family had flown in all the way from India. There was a lovely party atmosphere right from the word go!

We were booked to stay until the start of the wedding breakfast so that meant we had some time to shoot a bit of the reception party too. Sadly, it was too wet to venture outside so the party enjoyed their drinks in the bar and were entertained by some brilliant sleight-of-hand magic tricks.

Meanwhile, we had a little time to find some nooks and crannies around the hotel to take some shots of Caroline and Gary before they sat down for their wedding Beef Wellington.

Here are some of our favourites from the day:

Posted with thanks and congratulations to Caroline and Gary x

• Venue
• Eastclose Country House Hotel

• Make-up and Hair
• Amazing Face
• Dress
• Maggie Sottero

• Magician
• Phil Wedgbrow
• Cake
• Miss Ingredient

• Flowers
• Arcade Flowers

After a bit of wedding prepping with Sara and Hadi at the Orchid Hotel in Bournemouth we all ventured over to Hengistbury Head for a little photo shoot in the late afternoon sun. These two were great sports, running down hills and standing in wet sand. I think I took half the beach home with me in my plimsolls.

The days will be getting longer come the time of their wedding so we hope to get in a bit more beach action on the day!