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English Wedding Blog features Alex & James

Beautiful Life — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:27:23 +0000

It was exciting to see the first part of Alex and James’s wedding at Harlaxton Manor featured yesterday on English Wedding Blog. When I found out the wedding was going to be on the blog Alex kindly agreed to write a few words for the post. Shaun forwarded alex’s email straight to Claire at English Wedding so when I looked at the post yesterday I really enjoyed reading it with all the personal details from the brides perspective. Alex and James were such a lovely, fun couple and it was a real privilege to photograph their day. The wedding was very busy but amazingly relaxed, definitely down to great planning. I was so impressed with all the little personal touches on the day, Alex’s Dad wrote a lot of the music used in the ceremony and her mum arranged most of the flowers many of which came from their garden. James’s mum made the wedding cake. Alex and James made the table plan and the table name cards. Alex and James had chosen countries they had traveled to for their table names, they had even photocopied the correct stamp for each country from their parents stamp collections! The top table’s name was kept a secret from Alex until they entered the dining room as the table name was the destination for the honeymoon! Alex’s dress was stunning, the venue was incredible and all the details were finished beautifully but the thing that really stood out was the love that these two shared, not just with each other although that was awesome and James’s speech moved the whole room to tears! but the love from their families and friends also. Part of the reason James and Alex chose me for their wedding photography was because they wanted someone to capture the day as it naturally unfolded as their priority was to have a great time with friends and family. Claire has posted the 2nd part of the wedding this morning so head over to English Wedding Blog and take a look especially if you are in the middle of planning your big day. There are lots of inspirational articles and tips to help you be creative and wedding savvy. Big thanks Claire for featuring our work, it is a privilege as I know you get lots of lovely weddings to choose from.

You can view them here: (English Wedding Blog Part One) and (English Wedding Blog Part Two)

Christmas Wedding | Mary and Ed

Beautiful Life — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:28:17 +0000

A flying visit back to Harlaxton Manor in Lincolnshire to capture some images of Ed and Mary’s Christmas Wedding. I was only there for the ceremony and photographs afterwards (I did sneak up to get a few pictures of the bride getting ready!) so a short day for me but just as lovely all the same. The great Hall looked awesome with the fire lit and a huge christmas tree centre stage. The christmassy theme was continued later as the guests were served mulled wine and hot mince pies, the smell was fantastic! Ed was hoping for a sprinkling of snow but it wasn’t to be. Mary and Ed left the guests gathered around the fire and braved the cold for a few shots of them outside, Ed carrying Mary over the mud!, so romantic!

Ed’s ring was a little reluctant to go on!

Natasha and Kaz | Lincoln Cathedral Wedding

Beautiful Life — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:00:20 +0000

This day was a dream come true for Natasha who grew up in Lincoln in a house overlooking the Cathedral, and from a small child dreamed of one day getting married there. Lincoln Cathedral perform only a small number of wedding ceremonies each year and there are strict rules over who can get married there. It was a great privilege be able to photograph a wedding in such an amazing building. The day started at Branston Hall Hotel where both Natasha and Kaz got ready in the morning. When we arrived Kaz was going for his morning run around the lake in the gorgeous sunshine and the girls were busy with hair and makeup. The morning flew by and before I knew it I was waiting outside the Cathedral for Natasha to arrive. It was really strange to photograph the brides entrance watched by a large crowd of tourists standing at the cordon with their cameras all flashing away, though kind of nice to have the company in such a vast space! Once the bridal procession entered the stunning St Hugh’s Choir the wedding ceremony was hidden from onlookers and it felt very special to be able to witness such a beautiful and intimate event. Afterwards we made our way outside for some formal shots and some more relaxed bride and groom portraits with the backdrop of the Cathedral and the very quaint castle hill all to the amusement of visitors and shoppers (I’m sure there is a game in Lincoln called ‘who can gate crash the most wedding photographs‘!) There was one guy who I swear purposefully planted himself in his luminous orange T shirt and bermuda shorts in the background of several shots and wasn’t moving for anyone!! Later we headed back to Branson Hall for the Reception. When we arrived at Branston I waited at the entrance for the bride and grooms car to arrive, we waited and waited then came Natasha and Kaz hand in hand happily sauntering down the drive, their car had a puncture!! A big congratulations to Natasha and Kaz who are now back in Singapore and eagerly awaiting this blog post and also a huge thank you to Gary who helped me out photographing as second shooter, I especially loved the wedding photos of Kaz having his hair done by his sister and his mum!!

Here are a few thoughts from Natasha & Kaz

Q1) What was the favourite part of your Wedding day?

So hard to choose! Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved Lincoln Cathedral, and it was the only place I could imagine myself getting married. It was a truly amazing feeling walking down the aisle, surrounded by friendly faces in the Cathedral’s great beauty and peace. Despite the grandeur, the priest managed to make the service so warm and intimate too. The music throughout the day was a big highlight. I put a lot of thought into the choice of pieces for the Cathedral service, and it was wonderful to hear the choir sing my favourites. My cousin Simon’s playing of the organ was breathtaking, and my little sister’s rendition of Songbird brought tears to my eyes. Our band for the evening reception was fantastic and gauged the mood really well, while the choice of music for our first dance (Hayley Westenra’s ‘Dark Waltz’) is one of the few things I let myself dream about before we got engaged! I also loved our journey from the Cathedral to the reception in the Bentley (such a beautiful car) — one of the few quiet moments that the two of us shared as a couple during the day.

Q2) What do you love about being married?

The big benefit right now seems to be the lack of the need for any planning. It’s so nice to have free time again. (The last five months did also include an international move and a job change.) I didn’t expect our relationship to feel different after getting married, but it does. It’s hard to put into words, but I love the added sense of certainty and of tranquillity. I really feel that our love for one another has been magnified.

Q3) Any advice for future brides or grooms?

It sounds obvious, but focus on the parts of the day that *really* matter to you. It’s so easy to get caught up with the innumerable tasks that have to be completed that you forget about the important stuff (for us, the music was a good example). Also, don’t assume that anything will happen unless it is planned into the schedule. Everything will take much longer than you expect!

Wedding companies you used.

Wedding dress by Sassi Holford
Makeup by me!
Hair by Hairange
Shoes by International Dance Shoes
Cake by my Mum!
Flowers by The Arbour

Performers
Simon Dunbavand (Organist)
Lincoln Cathedral Choir
Charlie Brereton (Solo Singer)
The Jazz Canons (evening band)

Ruth and Josh | Wedding Photography

Beautiful Life — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:30:27 +0000

You may remember Josh and Ruth from their engagement shoot a few weeks ago. They got married at the end of March at Brooksby Hall in Leicestershire. It was the week of beautiful sunshine and although the weather man said it was going to be cold and windy on Saturday when it was still like summer on Friday evening I just couldn’t believe it but he was right, saturday morning came and the clouds rolled in and it was freezing! It was a crazy day, three hundred guests half french, half english, lots of singing, dancing and the funniest speeches I’ve ever heard (and I’ve heard plenty as you can imagine!)

With 300 people to photograph it was great to have Megan with me for part of the day. She took some great shots including this one of Josh transporting Ruth around the gardens in style!

As part of the celebrations Josh and Ruth’s friends sang, danced and set challenges for the bride and groom, loads of fun! Josh had to sing the french national anthem and Ruth had to say “Tally Ho! thats a spiffing pair of dungerees”! in her best english accent. The meal was followed by Josh’s little brother giving a belter of a speech that had Josh hiding under the table with shame!

© 2011 Beautiful Life Wedding Photography
Professional creative Storytelling. Wedding Films and Photography with full UK coverage.

David and Clair – Prestwold Hall

Beautiful Life — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 08:34:33 +0000

I was back at Prestwold Hall in August for Clair and Davids wedding, luckily this time no flash floods or thunder and lightening!! It was very windy though, we had a few flying hats!

I love the moment the bride arrives and you get to see the dress and the bouquet and the little hints of colour you’ve seen on the tables and the cake all come together and you have your theme for the day. Clair’s bouquet was absolutely gorgeous, I’ve always loved sunflowers and teamed with the orange roses they were stunning.

I love this picture, it a shame I can’t show it really big on here, this would be my choice for the wall!

© 2010 Beautiful Life Wedding Photography
Prestwold Hall Wedding Photography, Wedding Photography in Leicestershire, Joy Foulds Wedding Photographer

Bridal Preparations

Beautiful Life — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:41:16 +0000

Bridal preparations are one of my favourite events to photograph. The calm before the storm, a chance to capture all the details as the picture builds. The flowers arrive, the jewellery is carefully unwrapped and close friends and family gather to help the bride dress and prepare for her big day. There’s a whole spectrum of emotions and special moments. If you’re getting married I’d urge you to have preparations as part of you’re photography package, after all no story is complete without the introduction.

Image of the month

Beautiful Life — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:44:04 +0000

Here’s my chosen image of the month for December. When I opened this image I just loved Amy’s thoughtful expression, captured at her Bridal Mehndi Ceremony got underway. I just had to work on this picture straight away, and here it is.

© 2010 Beautiful Life Wedding Photography
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