An anniversary and a rebirth…
Well that sounds a little dramatic I suppose but in reality, it sort of crept up on me that in December 2014 I finally went full time in this career, having spent 2.5 years working 100 hour weeks on average across both jobs. Most people would have given up their ‘day job’ much sooner, but I worked for my father’s company and actually quite enjoyed it, it taught me everything I know about running a business, and also gave me accounts knowledge since that was a major role of mine at the time. It was a tearful goodbye after our Christmas Party knowing that in January 2015 I was all on my own! What ensued was possibly the best year of my life, in so many ways, and one my business expanded in by some measure. Having the time to really market myself was very freeing, and I worked incredibly hard for five years straight after that.
Then we know Covid hit, and my promised ‘best ever year’ of 2020 quickly came tumbling apart like 10 day old rose petals hanging on to the sepal. It broke me, truly. I was due to start IVF and that was postponed, I lost something in the region of 15 months salary and I essentially dragged my way through the mess. Things were looking brighter in the summer of 2021, I’d managed to shoot 17 weddings, my son was born and business was picking up. However, navigating motherhood, a husband with a new full time role (who’d previously been freelance) and a dog and a toddler, it was obvious something had to give. Thus 2023 was when I started considering what I wanted my business to look like. Fast forward to the end of 2024, after 2 years of sometimes unmanageable stress I decided to strip it all back and make a new plan. So my rebirth for 2025 looks a little like this – 15-20 weddings max, 30 family shoots, and more commercial work in the Garden Design world. (Where somehow I’d also managed to spend two years studying under Kew Gardens, as a Garden Designer, but have since turned photographer for RHS show gardens and many talented award-winning designers). I took the whole of December off, something I never do, I got back into my much neglected hobby/necessity of indoor climbing and I had time to reflect on the work I did.
<Insert wondrous couples who saved my sanity below> Seriously though, I have NEVER felt so blessed to have met these people. They were ALL truly amazing to be around, work alongside, and soak up the joy with. It restored me more than I ever realised was necessary, and now I am simply itching to begin 2025’s season. It starts in March, on my husband’s birthday in fact, oops, and at a venue I have been so desperate to work at, Goodwood!
I have sectioned this year’s post as I thought it was fun to view the day as it unfolds, and I decided that the build up is all the more pleasing to view this way. As ever if you’d like to sit back and watch the video with tear-jerking music, please click below, or scroll at your leisure. I’ve also written the words/key phrases that sprung to mind when looking back over these weddings, and it made me chuckle, so if you spot your wedding, I hope it makes you smile!
If you’re looking at this and think we’d be a good match, do get in touch! I’d love to hear from you!
Vicky & Toby – Millbridge Court Oh my gosh, where to start. Phenomenal Spring sunshine, THAT scalloped dress, incredibly kind and beautiful couple. So many tears, 90% happy ones. Beautiful friends, stunning flowers, the best people.
Sadie & Rasmus – Farnham Castle. A sense of peace, quiet smiles, two incredibly loving and funny people. Stunning dress, absolute hoots on the dance floor, holes in socks!
Elle & Lee – Millbridge Court. A couple made for one another so much that it actually screams. The biggest grins, the best dapper suit, happy tears, gorgeous blooms. Great bridesmaids, beautiful dress. Many hugs. Proud Dads. Sunglasses on the dance-floor.
Rachael & Spencer – Millbridge Court. Only Fools. Dinosaur heads, 60s outfits, brilliant backcombing, daisies for days! Incredible cocktails, the Reliant Robin, silly masks, plastic phones, Midwife on call. So many laughs, and not a care in the world. Amazing sunshine and pure, deep love.
Laura & James – Burloes Hall. Stunning church ceremony, three Vicars! Emotions running high. Matching smiles with Laura & her Dad. Fabulous Mums, amazing supportive families. That fantastic lawn adorned with upbeat guests. That sunshine, meadows and lavender, pretty pink. An heirloom cake shoe, ruddy amazing first dance. Bishop Emeritus on the dance floor!
Anna & Colin – Farnham Castle. Birds of Prey, hand-sewn doll’s kilt-wearing Colin the Caterpillar. A stunning dress with a stuck zip…three hands to the pump and finally it was fixed! The most beautiful orange sapphire, lip colour, flowers, confetti! Autumn colours, sweet smiles, great friends and two perfect souls in the centre. Adored it all.
Claire & Oliver – Ironmongers Hall. My finale for 2024, what a way to end. Stormy but cosy. St John the Divine, divine it was indeed. The stillness, and emotion of that ceremony instilled a level of peace and calm I’d never quite felt before. Claire’s whole look, stunning hair, dressed to perfection, candle-light and a Lamington cake. A perfect match, and a class act.
Sian & Matt – Millbridge Court. The open top fiat 500! Brilliant photo-book made by the girls, the most exquisite dress, perfect hair and all round chic-ness of Sian. Lovely church ceremony and fabulous long confetti line. Fun typography and hand-written notes. Beautiful light and the perfect Summer flowers. Fun speeches and beautiful first dance. The lift, the moment.
Anna & Tommy – Stirrups Hotel. All the glam! Those blue eyes of Anna’s, emotional reveals. Cutest little people, fantastic jazz singer. Glorious sunshine all day with drinks flowing and guests laughter. Laughs in the group shots, happy ears on the dancefloor.
Charlotte & Ed – Somersbury Barn. Diptyque galore (who knew hair mist existed!) Exquisite dress, the most stunning flowers. Steep hill church, Schitts Creek’s Simply The Best, Neon lights, fabulous guests, lounging in the greenhouse, sword cutting of cute kitsch cakes. Perfect couple.
Hannah & Michael – Burford Bridge Hotel. A dozen ‘I don’t know where to starts’. Sausage dog. Flowers from friends, a special ribbon. An even more special bracelet, and tribute. The best of friends. The best sisters. The most perfect couple. ‘Always’. Beautiful light. A magical day, unforgettable.
Hollie & Chris – Northbrook Park. Three year postponement. Worth the wait! Gorgeous little ones, Mr & Mrs balloons, painful archery games! Bruised bums, insanely brilliant DJ, sunshine and peacocks. Emotional speeches, proud Dad. Mother of the groom drinking shots, wicked dance moves. Wonderful people.
Sarah & Rory – Ham Polo Club. Dreamy morning, exquisite styling, will it rain or won’t it? Outdoor ceremony – hurrah! Horses galore, drinks on the bandstand, walks through the fields. Beautiful golden hour, speeches with Twickenham boxer shorts held aloft. Long term love, finally married.
Kirsty & Tom – Dorking. Happiness, tears galore, huge family support. Gorgeous home venue, kilts and cracking groomsmen. Diving ducklings in the pond, stunning golden hour, twirling by the pond. Amazing speeches and the BEST ceilidh.
Nicola & Jonny – RAC Club. Golf supreme! Talented beyond anything, gorgeous little church, emotional Grandad reading, wanders around the course, the BEST first dance confetti ‘swing’ and home-made guest painting.
Beth & Chris – Millbridge Court. Long term love, gorgeous dress. Shy but so loving. Floral moon arch of dreams. Giggly speeches, heart-shaped glasses and Jenga. Loved it.
Becky & Mason – Banstead. Where to start! INCREDIBLE dress. The last min gorgeous ponytail, tears from just about everyone before much had started. Cutest doggo, impromptu pre-dinner dancing, Mr & Mrs cardboard cutout that kept blowing over in the wind, great atmosphere, cigars and hugs. Limoncello and just a great, brilliant day of dancing fun.
Annabelle & Josh – Morden Hall. The busiest day, crammed full of brilliance. Sunflowers. Paper parasols, bridesmaids in green, London buses, gorgeous surroundings. Two dresses! THAT drum solo by Annabelle, Oasis tribute song via Josh and Annabelle’s Dad. Jam-packed confetti cannon first dance. Legendary day.
Ness & Tom – Dorking. A day of rain that we didn’t want and hoped to dodge. In fact one of my favourite exits from a church ever, confetti & umbrellas, soaked guests, nobody cared. Onward to the marquee in field of dreams, at last the sun! Hay bales, smoking fire pits, photo-bombing golden retriever, gorgeous speeches, a broken foot dive across marshland. Absolute golden couple, gorgeous in and out.
Amelie & Ben – Kent. Rain, again. A delightful donkey. The quaintest pub turned insanely perfect venue. RIDICULOUSLY AMAZING floral displays. Emergency carpets for the outdoor ceremony, sheepskin rugs. Wanders into the mist and hills. Tears from the girls, hugs from the Dads. Donut wall. Vinyl guest book. The gentlest and kindest of souls. Perfection.
