Archive for civil partnership
Alex and Simon’s Civil Partnership at Eltham Palace
Posted by: | CommentsI’m guessing some folks may be wondering where I’ve been. Could it be a slow June or has Rob just forgotten to post on the blog. Neither in fact. It all started with the Jubilee and half term and a family trip to Center Parcs and 4 weddings in 8 days. So I’ve been neither slow nor forgetful…just flat out, trying to stay above water.
So lets start with Simon and Alex. Civil Partnerships have always been a favourite of mine. So far, I’ve done 4 with an even split down the gender profile. There seems to be something a bit magical about them. Maybe its the fact that everyone there really wants to be there. There just a vibe that I get and this was no exception. I knew from the moment I met S&A that things were going be fantastic. The planning, the vision…all of it pointed to something exceptional. I wasn’t wrong. Wow. What a day. I was so pleased to be there. Every minute of it. From the 9 Bridemaids all in a rainbow, to the choreographed entrance (how could they not with Alex being a former cruise ship dancer), the elaborately lit main hall and the video messages.
There will be a few more on my Facebook Business page. In fact, there’s been some there for a few weeks now. But I’ve added to it as well the ones below. So have a gander at the images below and then at the end follow the link to Facebook for more.
(BTW, I was without Darren for this wedding, but I did have the image making talents of Yorkshire Wedding Photographer, James Stewart. Now…I think that all of the images below are mine. I know for sure that everything up to the speeches are. Once we get there its all a blur with both of us moving around often shooting similar people at different times. There, I lose it. So he may well get some credit as well).
Don’t adjust your sets…I spent the first hour shooting women!
Sweet sights in the rear view :)
Girls of all ages
Windy
Finally…they arrive!
2 horseman of the apocalypse and a country and western singer (my own take on old Jonny Carson joke)
Proving Alex really IS ‘down with the kids’
Rehearsal…the time now is 2:35pm and the ceremony should have started at 2:30…
Talk to the hand
SHE’s BEHIND YOU!
Alternate lane traffic in the round room
Gauntlet of colour
Your Song…the Moulin Rouge version! Oh yes
Joleen, Joleen, Joleen, Joooleeen
What happens in the hats, stays in the hats
Rainbow Pride
eyePhoneIphoneograhy
At least his name wasn’t Matthew
Contributing to easiest the best original one liner in speech history!
Its raining….really, I hadn’t noticed
Now all I want is chocolate
Disco fever
Wow…what a venue!
As promised, more images from Simon and Alex’s Civil Partership at Eltham Palace over on Facebook.
Alex and Simon – Civil Wedding Engagement Photos
Posted by: | CommentsA few weeks back I got the chance to meet up again with Alex and Simon. Their civil partnership is coming up in June at Eltham Palace. A wonderful venue I can’t wait to get back to. These guys have a real eye for detail so I can’t wait to see what they come up with in styling the wedding. I’m guessing there may be a few more ‘details’ than normal with this one.
There are some more on my Facebook Business Page.
Pete and Phil’s Big Gay Wedding at Cain Manor
Posted by: | CommentsIn keeping with the in joke I am here to present to you Pete and Phil’s Big Gay wedding. As a Cain Manor photographer I’m keen to try new and interesting situations. This wedding certainly didn’t let me down. Of course, technically its not a wedding. Its a civil partnership. But here is what I can tell you about Pete and Phil. I sat through many speeches and countless ceremonies and I have come across very few people who so clearly loved each other, with such conviction, caring and tenderness than I did at the WEDDING on Saturday at Cain Manor. No BS, no exaggeration, no tall tales. It was a wedding I was only too happy to say at the end “man…that was great”.
Of course, being a civil partnership there are some things which invariably will change. In this case we had two Father of the Groom speeches. We had two Groom speeches. Despite having two Best Women, we didn’t get to enjoy a single speech from the lovely ladies. What didn’t change? The biggest NON change was the time it took both Pete and Phil to get ready. Classically groomed and ready to go in under 15 minutes. Nice!
Above all, their strong connection and love for each other cascaded from the top down. Friends and family alike carried on with the warmth throughout the day. A day won’t soon forget and provided they don’t send their album choices through on a Saturday afternoon (they know what I mean) then its one album I’m totally looking forward to designing.
A couple of links for you.
The venue: Cain Manor part of the Bijou Venue Group
The florist: Emma Lappin
The amazing cupcakes: Crumbs and Doilies
The hottest saxophone quartet around: A Good Reed
As usual, there are more photos to view on Facebook. In order to tag yourself (and I whole heartedly encourage you to do so) you need to ‘Like’ my Facebook Business Page (Facebook’s rules, not mine). But what’s the worst that could happen except you get forced to look at outstanding, creative and emotional wedding photography every week. Hardly a hardship! A link to the Facebook page will appear at the end of this post…as well as a link to how you can get 20% off reprints for a limited time.
Finally…in the immortal words of Pete Bell. “Tolerance and equality” — oh and “Big Gay Wedding”
To add a bit of balance, the first of my bookend Cain Manor photos
Seriously…getting shoe shots of men’s black shoes is a PITA. OK…so I found something I didn’t like :)
Symmetry…apart from the fact Phil ties one shoe before putting the other on…same as me. Pete, on the hand…a rebel?
More symmetry…right down to the hangers
’twas the first time I heard it…they all shouted it…BIG GAY WEDDING!
I kept getting the De Niro “I’m watchin’ you” from Meet the Parents from that kid
There’s something very street photography about this…not your typical wedding shot but something that I really like about it
Oh man…I’m back in heaven. The ceremony room light at Cain Manor! Yeehah!
Why couldn’t you just wear these shoes…heck of lot easier to photograph!
Aww…bless.
DOPPLEGANGER….today its Simon Calder
KYLIE?
Kylie, Kylie, Kylie!
Next stop…prison for breaking an entering — or rather just entering an opening — either way I’m not entirely sure Cain wanted me to use this space
No Butch Cassidy, but two sunflower kids
“Look through me” — so they did
4 x 2
Best Wo-Men
This almost warrants an animated GIF!
Pete’s Mad Dad!
No need to shout!…ok, there was!
The bookend complete!
To be notified when all of the photos are available for viewing and to get a 20% discount on reprints, please get in touch.
If you would like to see more from Phil and Pete’s wedding, please visit my Facebook Business Page…don’t forget to tag yourself if you feel inclined.
Yorkshire Wedding Photographer – Vicki and Jo
Posted by: | CommentsThe New Year was only 2 days old but it didn’t mean I had to wait long for the first wedding of the year. This wedding, however, was going to be different. First, it was in Wetherby — and for those who are geographically challenged think Leeds and drive a little further on. The home of Geoffrey Boycott and those things called puddings (Yorkshire) that don’t taste sweet at all. It was different in that I went up accompanied by my wife and we were both guests. The reason being that Jo and Nicola went to school together (although I don’t know how long they’ve known each other)…so it was a working wedding (for me at least) and one I’ve been hoping to get the chance to shoot for years. Why? Well, you might want to re-read the title…notice that Jo has no ‘e’. This is because Jo is a Joanna and this was Joanna and Victoria’s civil commitment but I just call it a wedding (as did everyone else). Two brides, twice the fun — right?
I could bore you with loads of stories like how they met, my ‘connecting the dots’ at dinner a few years back, Jo’s fabulous sense of humour, Vicki’s Northern charm and rational thinking…but I won’t. My wife would kill me.
Window dressing
You need a bit of context. Jo’s sister took up flower arranging. She does it for charity and took on the task of all the flowers for a wedding some 220 miles from home. Brave…yes. I happened upon her room (or should I call it a studio) and found the table she spent countless hours finalizing everything. I thought it told a compelling story.
Jo’s mum does her favourite Trackers routine (only a few people will get that)
Meet Vicki (left) with her Best Woman and mini Bridesmaid
Makeup flash
Milo…Jo and Vicki’s dog
Jo finalises her speech – AGAIN!
Spot the Yorkshireman…surely the half consumed pint long before the Bride is dressed may be a clue!
Jo waits around the corner…she was keen to NOT see Vicki before she came down the aisle
Vicki comes close to losing her head
Here come (one of) the Bride(s)
That’s a sight you don’t see very often….SNOW!
…and that’s a sight you just don’t want to see very often! :)
A good Yorkshire lass (aka, Vicki’s mum)
The best thing was you got TWO best woman’s speeches
Le Fleur Extraordinare
Charlotte found it easy speaking about Jo in the first person with this cleverly designed Jo mask
Sherriff Creswell (x2)
Sadly Debbie’s tash just looks like she had too much milk — ah bless, my wife is so gorgeous (far left)
Well…they call her Bushy…and now I think i know why!
Dont mention ze whar!
Lou delights us with some groovy tunes…
..which you can see Nicola enjoyed a bit TOO much…
…whilst Jo learned just how much of push-over the DJ really was
..silver lining….
