Helen Lisk Photography

Saunton Sands pre-wedding family photography: Kelly and Brian

I am hugely excited about Kelly and Brian's wedding at the Saunton Sands Hotel this September! Having only driven past the hotel on the road before, I had no idea that it was going to be such an incredibly beautiful place to get married. So I had the best surprise ever, when I met up with Kelly and Brian, and their two gorgeous daughters, and had a look at the venue with them. Not only is the hotel pretty spectacular, with it's fabulous art deco design and views across the sands, but the beach is a really lovely spot for images as well. It was really lovely to spend some time there together, hear some more about Kelly and Brian's wedding plans and capture some photographs of all the family together on the beach. I am really looking forward to photographing Kelly and Brian there on their wedding day... roll on the autumn!

Maunsel House in Somerset is one of my absolute favourite wedding venues, with the quirkiest, most fabulous interior, and utterly beautiful grounds. Having photographed Lisa and Nick's wedding there last July, I was really excited about capturing Hannah-Marie and Matt's celebrations just before Christmas. It's always lovely to visit a venue at an alternative point in the year, as everything looks and feels so different. I loved seeing the frosty morning at Maunsel House, and the gorgeous Christmas lights decorating the table. It was amazing to have great big roaring fires for the guests to warm up by, giving such a cosy feel to the evening. And as for the winter light... oh, how I love it! When you get a dry day in winter, it can be absolutely amazing for photography. On this day we were so lucky, and the light was utterly beautiful all day, with a soft, winter glow making everything look so gorgeous.

Hannah-Marie and Matt met each other through the Pantomime Society at Bristol University, and the wedding theme was inspired by the Italian Commedia dell'Arte (masquerade), with Venetian masks on the tables and a distinctive gold, black and ivory colour scheme. The ceremony was in the incredible St Michael's Church, in Maunsel House's estate, a tiny little Saxon Chapel. As it was so close to Christmas, the guests sang carols in the church rather than hymns. I almost felt like I was in an old Christmas movie, with everyone belting out God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, and frost on the ground outside! I absolutely loved it, and it felt so seasonal and special. The guests then strolled back across the grounds to the main house, and enjoyed mince pies and mulled wine by the roaring fires.

I loved the quirky style of the day, with Hannah's amazing 1950s vintage wedding dress looking completely perfect for the setting. It was a relatively intimate wedding, with around 35 guests, which meant that everyone could be seated around one long table. After a long and enjoyable dinner provided by the fantastic Posh Nosh, all the guests relaxed in the various spaces around Maunsel House: chilling out in the library, playing traditional board games in the ballroom or posing with vintage guns in the bar... as you do! It was a stylish and personal wedding, where it felt like Hannah and Matt had totally put their own stamp on the day, and I'm really delighted to share it with you here on my blog. It might take a little while to load, but I promise it's worth the wait, just a gorgeous, gorgeous wedding! Enjoy...

Somerset engagement photography: Nat and David's pre-wedding shoot at Burnham-on-Sea

A couple of months ago, I met up with Nat and David to carry out their pre-wedding photography session in Burnham-on-Sea. We didn't move particularly far, which was really lovely - just had a little wander along the beach, and managed to find a few really different spots for their photographs. The lighthouse was fantastic, and I really loved the lines provided by its huge legs (this is possibly not the correct technical term!). It was also an amazing spot in terms of how open everything felt, so I enjoyed getting some really big, wide images, with lots of sky. And then we popped up to the sand dunes for a few more intimate images of Nat and Dave sitting together in the sand. Oh, and I mustn't forget the rather awesome 'levitating high five' images that Nat suggested! Nat and David were a lovely couple to photograph, and it really was a very enjoyable hour that I spent on the beach with them! They got married at Haldon Belvedere, Exeter, at the end of May and you can see a little preview of their wedding photos here if you like.

You might also like to have a look at:

What is an engagement shoot? Hannah and Marek at Woolacombe Beach

Muddifords Court wedding photographer: Helen and Rich's Devon wedding

The Oak Barn, Hittisleigh, wedding photography: Sarah and Ian's Dartmoor celebrations

North Devon wedding photographer: Tunnels Beaches wedding

Muddifords Court Devon wedding: Helen and Rich get married in the June sunshine

Helen and Rich had the loveliest of wedding celebrations at Muddifords Court Country House in Devon on Saturday. It was a really glorious summer's day, with the most perfect setting and a fabulous team of suppliers working behind the scenes. Helen looked wonderfully elegant, with a stunning dress that she had designed for her and the most fabulous hair and make up. I loved photographing the bridal preparations in the lovely master bedroom at Muddifords, which has been recently refurbished and was a wonderful place for all the girls to get ready. Meanwhile, the boys were staying out of the way at the opposite end of the house, or possibly in the on site bar! It all set the scene for what continued to be a fantastically relaxed and enjoyable wedding day - Helen and Rich have been so utterly lovely to work with and a real pleasure to get to know. It was wonderful to be a part of their day - here is a quick preview of a few of my immediate favourite images, a taster of the day: