Engagement photography in Dorset

When I had the initial wedding enquiry from Lucy and Scott, there was something so warm and likeable about their words that I instantly had a good feeling about it. After a couple more emails, I was actually telling my husband about this lovely, lovely enquiry that I'd had. Finding out that they were planning their wedding celebrations at River Cottage, where I'd been hoping to book a wedding, really was the icing on the cake.  I was so happy to confirm their wedding photography and even more delighted when I finally met Lucy and Scott for their engagement shoot in Dorset.  They were just as lovely as they had sounded in writing and we had such an enjoyable wander around the sea front and harbour to carry out their pre-wedding session.

Lucy and Scott's River Cottage wedding featured recently on Rock My Wedding, so you can see some more of their beautiful day there if you fancy a peep.  Here are a few images from their pre-wedding session in Lyme Regis:

You might also be interested to have a look at:

A preview of Lucy and Scott's River Cottage wedding

Natalie and David's pre-wedding photography in Somerset

Sophie and Tom's pre-wedding photography on the Quantock Hills

What is an engagement/pre-wedding photo session and do I need one?

I hope that you enjoyed these photos.  If you use Facebook then please do pop over and like my page to help me connect with other people.  Your support is very much appreciated, thank you!

Thank you 2013, you have been extraordinary

2013 has been an utterly amazing year. I have spent some time this week just looking back through the different weddings, family photographs, engagement sessions and other shoots that I have carried out in the past twelve months, and I am left feeling more than a little humbled by all of it.  

I still find it an incredible thing, that people invite me into their lives, and hand me the responsibility of capturing these most special of times for them - moments that will never ever happen again, that could so easily pass by unnoticed. I get butterflies in my tummy when I know that I'm pressing the shutter on these fleeting moments- the look on a father's face as he watches his daughter prepare for her wedding ceremony, a new mother gazing with raw love at her newborn baby, the moment when a groom first sees his bride and tears of emotion well up in his eyes. To be given the opportunity to not only capture these interactions, but to create the most beautiful of images from them, that is what makes my tummy somersault and my heart sing. 

I cannot even begin to summarise this year, or to start mentioning the countless different and wonderful moments I have witnessed. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who has asked me to photograph their weddings, celebrate their love, capture their babies, their family - thank you for making this one of the most amazing years ever. Here are some, just some, of my favourite images.

Beach wedding: Tunnels Beaches, Devon

In October this year, Rhiannon and James got married at the beautiful seaside wedding venue, Tunnels Beaches at Ilfracombe.  It was a gorgeous day, with the soft, autumn sunshine making everything look particularly pretty and allowing us all to enjoy an outdoor ceremony!  I loved all the little touches that Rhiannon and James had organised for the day, from flip flops 'for tired feet' and heart sunglasses, to a seaside themed props basket, and a wonderful polka dot theme running through the day.

The bride and groom both got ready in the recently refurbished Bathhouse, although on separate floors to avoid accidentally running into each other before the ceremony!  I loved Rhiannon's walk from the Bathhouse, past the group of onlookers eagerly awaiting the bride, and down through the tunnels to where the ceremony was taking place.  It must feel incredible to walk through that dark tunnel, then emerge into the light and see your groom standing with all your wedding guests waiting for you, framed by the sea and sky behind…  just amazing!

It was a really relaxed and fun wedding and I loved so much about it, particularly the rather spectacular light that we enjoyed as the sun was setting.  But one of my strongest memories from the day is of a lovely moment during the ceremony, when I became aware of the sound of the waves crashing on the beach next to us while Rhiannon and James were exchanging rings.  What an incredible place to get married!

Exeter Guildhall wedding: a little preview of Andrea and Simon's day

Great big congratulations to the lovely Andrea and Simon, who got married at Exeter Guildhall last Saturday!  Theirs was my last wedding of 2013, and it was such a lovely one to finish on, with so much laughter and celebration throughout.  Their ceremony was at the Guildhall on Exeter High Street, which was just brilliant - I loved battling through the Christmas shoppers to capture Andrea's arrival and the Guildhall itself was a really beautiful venue for the wedding.  Then the reception took place at the brilliant Golden Pond Chinese Restaurant in Rockbeare - Andrea and Simon and their guests took over the venue for a long Chinese banquet and relaxed afternoon of eating, drinking, speeches and much more laughter.  As an enormous (and I mean ENORMOUS) Doctor Who fan, Simon chose to celebrate his wedding along with the 50th anniversary and there were more than a few nods to the sci-fi classic during the day.  I particularly loved best man Lee's photo of Doctor Who's new assistant - sneak preview below!  It was a real joy to photograph this wedding day and a great way for me to end the year.  It started with the most beautiful frosty morning and ended with an incredibly clear and starry night sky - I hope that you like these preview images!

Suppliers for this wedding:

Venues: The Guildhall, Exeter & Golden Pond Restaurant, Rockbeare 

Food by chef Kai Wong at The Golden Pond

Decor by Artisan Interiors

Hairdresser was Joe Currie, Olive Tree Therapies

Evening entertainment from Phonic FM DJ Pat Bensburg

If you enjoyed looking through these images then please do also visit me on Facebook and 'like' my page - your support is much appreciated!  Thank you.  

You might also like to have a look at some of my other recent blog posts:

A wedding at Muddifords Court Country House, Devon

A Cornish wedding by the sea, at Polhawn Fort

Newborn and family photography in Devon