Well what can I say about Debi and Chris, except what an amazing couple!

Like so many other couples this past year, just getting to a point where they could actually get married has been a crazy, crazy journey!
They’ve had to postpone, then they were tricked by an inaccurate government press release only to have their hearts broken the day after when the rules were amended and like everyone else, they had the fun and excitement sucked out of wedding planning. 

In the end they decided to postpone their big celebration until 2023 but to go ahead with a small ceremony this year as soon as they were allowed.

Yesterday was the day - these two wonderful humans finally got to marry one another!

They got married at the beautiful Brookfield Barn in Horsham. It was my first time working at Brookfield Barn and I loved every minute of it. It’s a lovely venue to photograph. Because of the current rules the main barn area was closed, so there is still plenty more for me to explore next time I’m there - can’t wait!

Being a small ceremony (a prelude to a big celebration still to come), Debi and Chris decided to do things their own way and so they actually arrived together - and in some style! 

They also decided to walk each other down the aisle - which I thought was just wonderful.

Luckily the weather was really good and so a socially distanced ceremony could be done outside without the need for masks. It may have only been in front of a small number of people but it was no less lovely for it. 

Over this last year I have had the pleasure of photographing a handful of weddings restricted to a small number of guests and one thing that they all have in common is that when the couple have their first kiss as a married couple, the guests whoop and cheer loud enough for twice their number. 

Yesterday was no exception and their guests did Debi and Chris proud!

A fun little fact that some of you may not know is that due to data protection rules, I’m not allowed to photograph the couple signing the wedding register. The way we get around this is that after the official signing is done, the couple have a dummy register placed in front of them and they kind of ‘fake’ sign it.

Of all the many weddings I have photographed, and all the many couples that I’ve seen do this, Chris was by far the most excited person I’ve known to do a pretend signing. I really love this picture - what a grin!

It wasn’t just the signing though, these two were excited and happy all afternoon and honestly, it was a joy to capture the day for such a fun, happy couple.

Soon enough - and to more whooping and cheering from their guests - it was time to walk back up the aisle, this time as husband and wife and to sneak off for a cheeky glass of bubbly!

One of the many things that any photographer at Brookfield Barn will surely always spot is this pretty amazing rope swing!

Debi and Chris were well up for cuddling up and having a little go on the swing, and it was great fun and made for some gorgeous pictures. 

Everything was good until….

We realised we got dust all over the bum of Chris’s new trousers! 😬😬😬

Thankfully they weren’t ruined.

We continued our nice little stroll around the grounds of the barn and anyone who knows me won’t be remotely surprised to learn that I was super keen to make use of the lake (loooove those reflection shots!)

It was a beautiful afternoon for a beautiful couple and it was so lovely to finally get to capture these two getting married. 

I’m already looking forward to 2023 when Debi and Chris will be back at Brookfield Barn with significantly more guests for a big ol’ party!

Debi and Chris booked a highlight video with their package too

That’s all for this little sneak peek, folks. I’ll add one or two more pictures from this wedding to the Facebook and Instagram pages as I edit them, so feel free to follow along over there. 

Massive thanks to Sophie and the team at Brookfield Barn for taking such good care of me - you guys are great!

And a huge thank you to Debi and Chris for choosing me to capture your big day and for being so much fun yesterday!

David 

We all know weddings at  the moment aren’t quite what we’d like. You need to be willing to change your plans, cut your guest list and make compromise after compromise to get married in 2020. 
I can tell you though, each of the weddings I have had the pleasure to capture in this year of uncertainty, have been absolutely magical and full of love.

Yesterday was the turn of Shannon and Sam and it was another incredibly special day. They were married in front of just a handful of their very closest friends and family at the Tudor Barn in Eltham and it was beautiful. 

All these two cared about was getting married to each other and nothing was going to stop them.

Below are just a few pictures from their big day.

Shannon was walked down the aisle by her very proud Dad…

Where Sam was eagerly (nervously?) awaiting her.

I loved this. The second they were together they grabbed each others hands immediately.

Folks, find someone that looks at you the way Shannon looks at Sam.

The first kiss as a married couple. Neither one of them could stop smiling.

And the smiles continued all afternoon. How happy do these two look?

When you have some strapping lads from the army at the wedding, why not use them!?

I took the happy couple away from their guests and out into the chilly December air for just a few minutes - so worth it.

I mean… [insert heart emoji here]

One last picture before we headed back into the warmth.

The look of a couple that know they are about to be pelted with confetti!

And pelted they were. Nan got well involved, as you can see!

Shannon and Sam chose to add a highlight video to their package too. Feel free to contact me if you want to know more information about highlight videos. 

That’s it for this little sneak peek, folks. However I will post one or two more over on the Instagram and Facebook pages as I edit them, so feel free to follow along over there.

Shannon and Sam will have all of their pictures and their video in a few weeks though, so they’ll have plenty more to share with you soon!

Big thanks to Shannon and Sam for having me at their big day and to all at the Tudor Barn for taking good care of me and for working so hard to make sure this day could ahead.

A special mention for Tammy too, for being a great organiser and the best dress floofer in all the land!

Despite all of the difficulties presented by the current situation, Sandy and Pete actually did it! They got married! 
They were married at Horsham Registry Office on Saturday and even though they had to change their plans and cancel their reception, they still had a super-romantic first dance on the lawn at Gatewick Farm Garden Room. 

I can’t tell you how great these two are and how fun and unique their day was.
There is something so special about the couples that are going ahead with their weddings at the moment. Despite all of the plan changes and compromises, some people just won’t be stopped - and I think that is just wonderful. 

Here are a handful of pictures from their special day and the stories behind them.

Sandy’s dress - ready and waiting in the Garden Room at Gatewick Farm

I briefly stopped Sandy and her sister Jan on their gusty walk to the wedding car. Luckily the wind died down a little later on in the day!

I’ve certainly seen worse wedding cars

A socially distanced ceremony at Horsham Registry Office

Look how happy these two are

Some new additions to those ring fingers

Quite often, the first thing I do when we get to the couple’s portraits, is to simply have them hold hands and take a stroll together. It tends to make for lovely, relaxed and natural pictures and eases those initial nerves about being in front of a camera

Horsham Registry is a lovely place for wedding photographs. Sandy and Pete looked great in front of the impressive building. Also, I didn’t notice until I was editing this one, but I’m fond of the little bird on the right side chimney!

Once again - what a couple these two make. So much love

A really beautiful moment. The two of them had their first dance all alone on the lawn at Gatewick Farm

Sandy and Pete chose to add a highlight video to their package too. Feel free to contact me if you want to know more about highlight videos. 

Sandy and Pete were not going to let anything stop them getting married. They had a beautiful day and I loved capturing if for them. There are so many great pictures and a highlight video still to come, and Sandy and Pete will have everything in a few weeks.

In the meantime I’ll post a few more over on the Instagram and Facebook pages as I edit them, so feel free to follow along over there.

Once more, massive congratulations to Sandy and Pete - you guys were so much fun and it was a beautiful day.

Venue: Horsham Registry Office
Before and After Venue: Gatewick Farm Garden Room
Dress: The Bridal Gallery
Car: Amazing Grace Wedding Cars