The weeks are flying by at the minute! Summer is well and truly here, business is booming and we're having the time of our lives being there to capture so many fantastic weddings all over the country!
And that leads us perfectly into the wedding of Andy and Sam who tied the knot just over 2 weeks ago now at the Village hotel in Maidstone.
Even though the sun seems to have taken a week or so off this week, let me be the first to tell you, it was definitely out for Andy and Sam.
Although bridal prep wasn't on the cards for Sam, she'd mentioned ahead of time that she'd like me to pop over to her parents house for a couple of last minute photos with her family outside their house before heading off to the wedding venue to meet Andy.
As soon as those few quick photos were done and dusted, as always, I raced ahead to meet with the registrars, Andy and the rest of the wedding guests at the Village hotel just a short drive away from Sam's parents.
The village hotel is a little different to my usual haunts, rather than the period country Manor House's and pubs, it was nice to head into a more modern venue to capture a wedding at a building with decent air conditioning, which was without a doubt a welcome relief!
I always check in with the groom as soon as I arrive, but I think we'd just managed to miss each other at various points between the bar and his meeting with the registrars prior to Sam's arrival. Nevertheless, I managed to pin him down to check in on how he was feeling ahead of the ceremony through the corridor as all the guests filed into the function room.
Andy is a genuinely a lovely bloke. He's your proper no nonsense geezer, with a cracking sense of humour and is generous to a tee. The first words he said to me as soon as he saw me was that the day came with an open bar, and to help myself to anything I wanted throughout the day. I'm not one to take liberties, but after a healthy amount of persuasion towards the end of the day, he did eventually manage to talk me into a beer, which was well appreciated!
Then we've got Sam. Sam is just as lovely and you can tell just by looking at both her an Andy for just a split second that they worship the ground each other walk on. She definitely has her hands full with Andy, but she's the perfect person to rein him, and looks at Andy with nothing but admiration.
Having run through the ceremony, celebrating with few air fist bumps the newlyweds made their way back down the aisle hand in hand for us to do a few quick group shots and of course, a couple of more intimate shots of the couple together without their guests.
By the time we'd finished up the formal shots, the venue staff had managed to turn the function room around ready for the guests to file back in to enjoy their food.
As a photographer I generally tuck myself out of the way, while the guests are eating. Believe me, no one wants wedding photos in their album of their aunty sue mid mouthful chewing on her roast beef, so I popped into an adjacent room, grabbed a quick drink and had a good natter with the venue staff as they filed in and out with each course.
From then, it was time for speeches. Nothing too drawn out for Andy and Sam, but nevertheless perfectly short and full of emotion.
Up until Sam and Andy's wedding, I can honestly say I've never encountered a wedding crasher, but as a group of teens tried their luck getting in to enjoy the open bar, andy swiftly stepped in and had the lads turned around and back outside with their tails between their legs within 30 seconds of them stepping through the door. I couldn't help but be impressed.
No sooner was the drama over, the couple were called to the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife surrounded by all their family and friends as my time with them both drew to a close... but not before I finally gave in and let Andy buy me a drink!
That's it for this week!
Peace. Love. And Photos.
Jono x
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