Living on the borders of Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire means that I can easily photograph weddings in all three counties. If you drive North out of Reading and keep going for a few miles down the winding country lanes, you come to the tiny but beautifully-formed St Leonard’s church in Woodcote, in the middle of the Berkshire countryside. It was here that I met up with the Groom, Dan, on a mild Spring morning. He looked very dapper in his grey morning suit, flanked by his matching groomsmen. Dan’s mum got the men sorted with their buttonholes (rosemary, white rose and muscari) and we had a few minutes for photos before the guests started to gather at the church. I was second shooting for Annabel Farley and she had been with Bride, Heather, photographing the bridal preparation. Heather arrived on time and in style, in a beautiful old Rolls Royce with her mum and the bridesmaids. After the church service, there were group photos in the churchyard and then we were off to the reception, a short car drive away, at the Sandford Springs Hotel in Kingsclere. As usual whilst the guests enjoyed some fizz and nibbles we were able to take Dan & Heather off for their couple shots. The Sandford Springs Hotel has a golf course and we were driven round in golf buggies, which enabled us to get a good variety of shots in different locations. Our couple had given Annabel a list of shots that they were keen to have and we got loads of their wishlist done but in the end the chilly wind got the better of us and we retired indoors for the wedding breakfast and speeches. I love catching all of the interaction that goes on during the speeches, it’s an emotional rollercoaster from laughter to heckling to tears and we have to keep scanning the room to see all of the different reactions in the audience as well as those of the top table. Everyone seemed to enjoy Dan and Heather’s big day – many congratulations to them both!
