Emma and Dave got married at the beginning of June at St Micheal’s and All Angels, Hughenden valley. Their wedding was pretty special to me as their wedding also took place at the church where I got married, and the reception venue was the same too. Emma and Dave are also lovely people and it was great to be a part of their day regardless of venue.
Hughenden church is on the more restrictive end of the scale when it comes to photos, but they do allow the photographer a little time with the bride and groom while the congregation wait outside., and means the bride and groom can leave the church to a warm welcome. We did a few formal photos outside of the church, but Emma and Dave rather wisely limited the number their guests would have to endure.
After the service it was a short drive to Notley Tythe Barn, near Long Crendon. The old barn is a lovely venue. After the formal photos are over, I try to be reasonably discrete for the rest of the day. Emma and Dave milled around with their guests while canapés were served, and I tried my best not to play with the croquet set that had been brought along to amuse the guests.
At the line up I endeavour to get shots of everyone, but that leaves me editing a whole bunch of fairly uninspiring shots that all look the same (with a variation is people). Not the most beautiful photography, but I hope that the bride and groom like it. Then to dinner. And speeches. Notley Tythe Barn left me with little flexibility for positioning myself for the speeches, but I managed to get some nice shots. Particularly, my sister-in-law with her head in her hands as the father-of-the-bride recalled her and the bride running away from school when they were 7.
I don’t drag the bride and groom away from their guests after for a more private photo shoot, unless they have specifically requested I do so. I don’t want to make their wedding day about my photography, it’s about their wedding and them spending time with their guests. However, at Emma and Dave’s wedding one of their friends was keen do so for some of his photos, so I took the opportunity to join him. Shortly after that was the cake cutting and first dance, and then home time for me.
Did I mention the horses? No, I thought not. Well, Notley is also a bit of a farm, and and outdoor activity centre. They have horses. In my experience women generally like horses. Regularly guests would wander off and find some of the horses to talk to. Even the bride and groom went to say hello.
