Planning even the most modest of weddings, as every bride knows, is a real challenge but Nick and Andrea pulled off one of the most elaborate weddings we've ever seen, and the did it almost entirely themselves.
Their transport was this gorgeous blue VW Camper van which had a very busy day. It started at their venue, which was the fabulous Newbury Manor Hotel where the boys were setting up for the day. Then took the boys off to get ready, then over to pick up the girls.
...and this is the girls arriving back at Newbury Manor Hotel for the ceremony.
Nick and Andrea had an outside ceremony with perfect weather and beautiful live acoustic guitar playing to set the mood.
After the ceremony we had a few moments to shoot some portraits around Newbury Manor Hotel before the day really gathered momentum.
It was lovely to the two of them together...
...and how perfect the weather had turned out for them.
The details throughout the day were immense. They had a "Just Married" sticker on the back of their camper van...
...and even the inside of the camper van was beautifully decorated with flowers...
...and bunting.
Nick is a drummer in his rock band and on the back of his fob watch is inscribed, "Keep in time, never miss a beat."
Nick and Andrea made a Bride and Groom Hoopla stall....
...and a Bride and Groom Coconut Shy...
...which did seem to bring out the competitive side in some of the guests...
...as well as the groom.
But Nick really got into his stride when it came to some of the inflatable games...
...including a bouncy castle.
...but when it came to sparing, Andrea was not going to be left out, so with the help of some of her guests...
She rose to the challenge in her bid to knock Nick of his perch.
Some of her other guests got really into the sparing game...
...and I have to say it was fantastic to watch.
When it was time for ice-cream, Nick's first attempt was lacking a little finesse...
...and Andrea's looked a little unstable...
...but in no time at all they were serving ice-creams like pros.
Then there was just time for this portrait of them poking their heads through a seaside comedy board actually painted by Nick.
Here's a lovely shot of Andrea enjoying seeing her guests having so much fun...just before she called up the teams for tug-of-war.
Two teams...and best of three...
Nick's team hauled for all they were worth...
...but it didn't stop Andrea helping the other side.
Their table plan naming convention was based around board games and there was just as much detail here as with the rest of their wedding. This table, for example, was Guess Who, and each of the name tabs had photographs of the guests.
...and this table was Hungry Hippos. Nick even made their own wedding cake.
Whilst all their guests were together for the balloon release, we organised them into a heart shape for this "everybody" shot. You can just see inside the top of the heart a bottle on the grass that one of the guests put there and spun it...I think he thought we were playing a different sort of game.
When it came to Nick and Andrea's First Dance as a married couple, their dance routine was amazing...
...and they certainly wow'ed their guests.
After their First Dance, Nick's band played a live set with him on drums...it was fantastic music and it really energised the evening.
At the end of their one hour set, was yet another surprise...Nick had taught Andrea to play the drums...specifically for the wedding...and she played the band's final number....
...under Nick's watchful eye.
As the band played the last chord, Andrea stood in triumph and brought the house down with applause and cheers.
Then it was all outside to see a fabulous firework display...
....to perfectly round of the evening...
...with bangs...and explosions...and oohs and ahhhs from their guests.
What a fantastic way to finish a fantastic day.
Nick and Andrea are a gorgeous, creative and talented couple...who turned their talents and energies to making sure their guests were both welcomed and entertained with hardly a pause in the schedule. Their wedding day was not only fun, and novel, and entertaining but immersed in details and full of surprises. What a day!
Congratulations Nick and Andrea, it was fantastic.
by Steve Dunster
