The one thing that really stood out when talking to Matt and Hannah in the run-up to their wedding was how passionate they were their guests should have the best time ever. They went to great lengths to put on lots of different surprises for everyone, including a group jolly on the Bournemouth Land Trains and popcorn treats for guests post-ceremony.

The wedding had a Hollywood theme, inspired by the reception venue – The Chine Hotel. Back in the day this was the favoured lodging of many a star from Stage and Screen. Everyone was given their own Movie Ticket place setting for a special, Hollywood blockbuster. And if you looked very carefully, Matt and Hannah had been plucked for stardom as leading lad and lady in all of them. We tip our hat to those excellent, illustrative Photoshop skills!

Here are some of our favourites from their day…

Posted with thanks and congratulations to Matt and Hannah for their Oscar-worthy wedding day.

That’s what I like to see when I enter a hotel room to shoot bridal preps – the dress hanging prominently in the centre of the room like a show-stopping centrepiece. It was hung from the lampshades to make sure all the creases were out for the ceremony but I rather like how it was allowed to be part of the morning.

Katie got ready upstairs at Christchurch Harbour Hotel with her entourage of bridesmaids. They did a brilliant job at helping the bride get ready and got everyone in the mood for a good party.

We were even treated to an impromptu Tea Ceremony!

But boy, was it hot in that room! So hot the only bubbly the girls could face were of the Soda variety.

It was so obvious these girls are great friends to each other and were all very excited and emotional to be a part of Katie and Tom’s day.

The ceremony took place in the hotel where there were a few more tears of joy!

The tables were so pretty and very elegant, with lots of pearls and a very beautiful table plan.

After the meal we jumped in the car and headed over to Mudeford Quay for a few photos away from the crowds. We’d been spoilt a little bit, tucked away at the hotel and hadn’t quite appreciated just how windy it had got. This was the day before all the stormy weather really kicked off.

And then we headed back to the hotel for some dusky portraits of the bridesmaids before the evening reception began downstairs in the hotel.

Posted with thanks and congratulations to Katie and Tom x

Beckie and Mike are getting married in just over a month with a church ceremony in Bournemouth followed by a reception and party at the Sandbanks Hotel in Poole. We met up last weekend for our wedding prep to talk through their times and to meet Mike for the first time.

With a handy couple of steps down to the beach from their hotel we took a few tester photos to show them it’s not very scary having portraits taken. Despite telling us how nervous they were they got into the swing of it after about….ooh.. ten seconds!

Here’s what we came up with …