I always harp on about how no two weddings are the same. Whenever I arrive to shoot a wedding, it's not about just shooting random pictures, it's about being ready to tell a story. For me personally, thats what photographing a wedding is all about.
Beth and Carl broke the mould though, and had it been published in print, I can only imagine it being a real page-turner that sold out in minutes. Their day came with a ton of laughter, smiles and even the odd surprise appearance.
So whilst I'm no author, I'm going to do my best to give you a rundown of their day and talk about why even though things didn't strictly go as planned in places, it was still every bit as perfect as any wedding day should be, and how it was honestly one of my highlights from the year so far.
Let me start off by saying Beth and Carl are my kind of people. They're both just two of the most lovely, genuine and happy-go-lucky couples I've ever met and what makes that even better is that all their family and friends were just the same. I think it's down to them both living in Coalville. Whilst the town does get a bad rap, it's where I grew up, and full of some of the most decent people you can ever wish to meet, so needless to say I felt like part of the furniture throughout the whole day with them and their guests. I had the best time. Even from the day before the wedding, I had the pleasure of speaking with Beth's mum, and it was an absolute delight. There was a little surprise in store (but I'll save that for later, keeping you curious!), and our conversation instantly felt like we had known each other for years, from the very first moment we spoke on the phone until the end of the day. It's moments like these that remind me of how wonderful and welcoming families can be. They are truly the salt of the earth, with hearts filled with warmth and genuine kindness.
When we arrived for Bridal prep at Beth and Carls's home, there was no stress, no panicking, just smiles and laughter from the very beginning. If you didn't know any better, and if it wasn't for the wedding dress, hair and make up artists, I could have just as easily told you she was getting ready for a normal day at work as she was just unbelievably chilled and relaxed. No nerves, no rushing around, she took absolutely everything in her stride and just concentrated on having a laugh with her mum, and bridesmaids.
Just as much as the bridal prep is important, ahead of time, we'd also agreed for me to spend half an hour with Carl and their kids to get a few pictures of the groomsmen getting ready too. Now, let me be the first to tell you Carl was not quite as laid back as Beth, but nevertheless, he dealt with the nerves like a champ and I managed to get some awesome photos of him and his side of the family putting on their ties, attaching their buttonholes, and of course their kids Owen and Cody naturally getting up to no good.
Groom prep completed, I flew back to join Rachel with Beth to wrap up the final few bridal prep shots. One of my favourite shots during bridal prep is capturing the moment when the Dad sees their daughter for the first time, witnessing her transformed and ready for the wedding. It's honestly a priceless shot, as there's always so much raw emotion in that photo, and her Dad completely delivered with just a smattering of tears.
One thing that certainly wasn't on our side last weekend was the weather. It didn't just rain, it poured on and off for the entire day, so once Beth's car arrived, and there was a brief break in the showers, so we ushered them straight into the car, ready to make the trip over to Glenfield registry office to meet Carl and the rest of the guests.
I always like to get to the ceremony a few mins ahead of the bride, just so we can capture them arriving at the venue, get a chat in with the registrars and a few shots of the guests being seated just before the main event kicks off. I always check in with the groom to see how they're holding up, and how they're coping, to which Carl delivered what has to be one of my favourite answers of all time: "At this point, I'm less worried about the vows, and more worried about the bowels", which naturally had the whole room in fits of laughter.
The staff at Glenfield registry office are always pretty chilled out, so it was a nice light-hearted ceremony full of laughs before heading out into the grounds for what was set to be a few soggy confetti shots, a smattering of quick group photos with friends and family, and something I've never done at a wedding, a dove release!
We had planned to take a short trip over to Kirby Muxloe castle for a few shots of the newlyweds, but after a quick discussion, we decided the rain was a little too heavy, so we threw together a few very quick photos of the couple under the shelter of some trees at Glenfield. It was a shame, but nevertheless, we still got some wicked shots despite the downpour, and as a bonus, we managed to keep Beth and Carl nice and dry.
As the guests all departed, it was back to Coalville to the Charnwood arms, for the final venue of the day. I do so many weddings at Charnwood Arms, so it's always nice to turn up to a venue where I know all the best spots and places I can tuck myself away in to get those really nice candid photos that every couple wants.
Once we'd arrived and the guests had all been suitably armed with drinks, it was straight into speeches. I always think doing the speeches prior to food is a fantastic idea. Yes, it's against tradition, but it means those making speeches aren't struggling with nerves whilst eating, and it just makes for a more relaxed experience for everyone.
Suffice it to say, in typical Carl and Beth fashion, the speeches from the father of the bride, the groom and the best man were also packed full of laughs and emotional stories. They were a pleasure to capture. They'd all struck the balance perfectly, and gave me some fantastic moments to capture.
As the couple sat down to tuck into their wedding breakfast, as always, myself and Rachel took ourselves away from the action to sort through memory cards and change our batteries for the evening ahead. There were 120 guest total expected for the evening, so making sure we're prepared is always a top priority even while we grabbed a bite to eat which Beth and Carl had kindly laid on for us. We even managed to squeeze in editing a couple of sneak preview shots for them both to put out on social the same day.
And right at that moment, Beth's mum's little surprise sprang to life in the form of none other than Dan Budd. Now, for those who aren't familiar, Dan is not just any ordinary chap—he's a fabulous Robbie Williams tribute act and lookalike, and let me tell you, he's an absolute gem of a guy. But here's the twist: the cat was out of the bag a tad earlier than planned, all thanks to a chance encounter between Carl and Dan in the gents. Can you imagine the conversation that must have taken place? I can only imagine the hilarity that ensued because let me tell you, Dan is one heck of a convincing lookalike! It may not have been the expected reveal, but it definitely added an extra layer of laughter and surprise to the festivities.
When the clock struck 7:30 pm, the evening guests began to flood in, ready to kick off what was bound to be an epic and unforgettable night! We had some exciting events lined up, including the highly anticipated cake-cutting ceremony, the first dance of the newlyweds, and the heartwarming father-daughter dance. But the icing on the cake (no pun intended) was undoubtedly Dan's performance as Robbie Williams.
Once our final few shots were completed, it was time to wrap up our time with Beth and Carl. However, after some persuasion and considering what an amazing time we had with them, we agreed to stick around for a couple more minutes to watch Dan's first couple of songs. We put down our tools and took a moment to enjoy some downtime with Beth and Carl before preparing to make our exit, on what was an utterly fantastic day.
Where do I even begin to express my gratitude to Beth and Carl for choosing us to be part of their extraordinary day? Seriously, hand on heart, we had an absolute blast with them and their bunch of guests! It's crystal clear that Beth and Carl are a match made in heaven, destined for a lifetime of happiness, love, and endless laughter together! I genuinely can't wait to get stuck into editing their photos so I can relive the day all over again!
Beth and Carl, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for giving us the chance to capture your incredible day. We had an absolute blast, and we're so excited for the adventures that lie ahead for both of you. May your life together be a never-ending journey of love, happiness, and hilarious moments that will keep your hearts smiling forever! Cheers to an amazing couple!
Peace, Love and Photo's.
Jono x
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