Highlights of our 2013 Weddings

2013 was a fantastic year for us and in putting together some highlights we hardly know where to begin. But the first notable thing was the weather, 2013 was a spectacularly good Summer.

We didn't just have amazing weather we had romance...

...and intimate moments.

We had grooms in fast cars, this groom got to drive his friend's Mercedes SLS...

...and this groom got a Ferrari California.

We also had fabulous brides...

...fizzing in expectation before their ceremony...

...during Bridal Prep.

We've had brides on stairs...

...on grass...

...in amazing venues...

...and even on a vintage fire escape of an ageing cricket pavilion we found just round the corner from the venue.

We had a groom secretly bring the bride's horse to the wedding. It was a complete surprise to the bride and guests until after the ceremony.

We even had a blue rhino at a wedding...it was actually part of a series of rhino sculptures funded by Marwell Zoo for charity during the Autumn.

We even had a wedding on Red Nose Day.

We had a groom on a Buckeroo ride...

...and a bride at the cricket crease...

...and the "boys" against a cricket sight screen.

We've had glorious sun and fabulous venues.

We've had cosy Christmas weddings.

We've had drama...

...and fun...

...and elegance...

...and style...

...great groups...

...and fantastic confetti

...and private moments.

We've had reflections in mirrors....

...and reflections in water...

...and reflective moments...remembering loved ones.

We've had walks through Spring petals...

...and walks through the grounds of grand venues.

We've had fabulous cakes...

...and creative themes.

We had special moments in the last few minutes of daylight...

...and even just after the sun had gone down.

Even after dark and in the rain, we had some great times. Here the groom wanted a shot with himself and his groomsmen looking at the pocket watches he'd given them as presents.

Of all the special weddings we had in 2013, surely the most extraordinary was the hand-fasting ceremony at Stonehenge at sunset just after the Summer Solstice.

We had lovely weddings at lovely venues...but best of all we had lovely couples...

...whose love for each other was a privilege to witness.

Jacqui and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our couples, all their guests and all their wedding professionals for our time with them during 2013...it was indeed an exceptional year.

Thank you

by Steve Dunster

Vintage Wedding Detail & 1950s Photographic Style

Abbie and Dan planned their wedding right down to the last vintage detail...even this shot was planned in advance after our location visit with them. It was clear that the vintage look was very important to them so we thought it would be nice if our photographic style went back a few decades to match...at least for a few of the shots.

This cricket pavilion staircase was an ideal set and only across the road from their venue. In order to keep the vintage feel, we shot in black and white and used the Hollywood lighting so popular in the 1950s. Abbie was fantastic. Looking at this shot, she'd have been quite at home in a supporting role alongside Michael Redgrave or Kenneth More.

Dan and Abbie had a fantastic day and it was testament to the quality of their planning that their families and friends clearly had such a fun day from start to finish.

Their venue was The Talbot, at Ripley just north of Guildford in Surrey. It was a fabulous venue and the staff worked very hard all day to ensure everything was perfectly the way the bride and groom wanted them.

The day started with bridal prep at the Talbot with Abbie and her five bridesmaids. A recipe for potential mayhem perhaps but everything went calmly to plan, stayed on schedule and excitement and fun was the hallmark of the day.

Abbie went to a huge amount of effort in her vintage styling. It was everywhere and looked fantastic including this restored travel trunk used to hang good wishes written by their guests on travel tags...

...and this gorgeous sweetie cart was restored to working order by Dad.

...and every where you looked there were home made hearts.

When it came to the portrait session it was easy to capture their obvious love for each other. It was great to swap from different photographic styles from the 1950s Cinematic look...

...to Contemporary where we were able to shoot some dramatic flying-veil bride and groom shots against the last of the gloomy skies that were clearing fast.

...and within only a few minutes we were able to use the opposite part of the sky for some blue-sky shots.

...and then traditional portraiture in the gardens of the venue.

It was a fantastic day made possible in no small measure by the quality of the other wedding professionals selected by Abbie and Dan.

Their hairdresser, make up artist, videographer, DJ and of course the venue staff were all exceptional and we would be more than happy to work with any of them again and hope that we do.

We will write another blog post about these professionals once we've got all their details in case you want to use them yourself. In the meantime, drop us a line if you want to know more and we'd be delighted to forward you their contact information.

Dan and Abbie are a wonderful couple and we wish them the very best in their future together. If their wedding is anything to go by, they'll have a long and happy life full of fun and plenty of wonderful friends.