When I turn up for bridal preps early in the morning and first knock on the door I know it’s going to start off one of two ways - either complete mayhem, full of lots of people making last minute preparations, or I’ll be met with a bunch of cool, calm and collective people. Most of the time though, I normally find myself going from room to room as everyone tends to separate off to sort themselves out before it’s time to put the dress on. So what a lovely surprise it was to find, not only were the girls at Karen’s wedding prep extremely chilled out, but they were all set up on the same big table, helping each other out.

It was a really fun morning. Having already done some prep shots with Karen just before her wedding I knew she was a girl that’s comfortable being in front of the camera and happy for me to snap to my heart’s content (even when demonstrating her top “getting ready” tip of hairspraying her eyebrows).

As she looked this good in curlers I knew we were in for a treat…

Practising the First Dance whilst letting the curls set.

THE shoes.

A bit of a weird moment when, after checking her make-up was even, Karen’s mirror accidentally fell out of her hand a few floors to the garden below. Luckily, after her mum was sent down to retrieve we were all very pleased to see it hadn’t smashed as it fell into a flower bed (no seven years of bad luck for this girl).

On the phone to the Wedding Co-ordinator who was adamant the wedding should take place inside (despite the skies being cloudless so far).

Down to the front garden for a few outdoor shots before the bridesmaids headed off…

Oh yeah… Forgive me, I’ve got carried away with the preps. Here’s the Groom, James enjoying some time with his guests on the lawn of the Miramar Hotel, Bournemouth before the ceremony.

We all got our own way! The seats were out on the lawn despite the most inaccurate MET office weather predictions ever. Is it just me or is that cloud a rotated heart? Love is in the air!

James had a busy congregation on the Groom’s side, not afraid to pipe up and tease. All fun and games!

Karen pulled up in a car right down the end of the aisle.

The wedding took place just on the steps of the Miramar’s gazebo. It was nice being outside.

An emotional moment.

The reception took place soon after the ceremony inside the hotel.

There were four men keen to get their speeches out of the way. Karen’s Dad…

Her Pop.

Her Hubbie

And the Best Man.

Grub finished we whisked Karen and James off to Bournemouth beach for some shots on their own. The weather had turned a little and it was super windy. James tried to get some surfers in on the shoot but they didn’t want to play.

Time to get the party started back at the Miramar Hotel along the East Cliff.

And the First Dance…

It looked like it was going to be a long, lively and eventful night!

Congratulations and best wishes to Mr and Mrs Kemp x