David and Sue

The final wedding of the year for me was Sue and David at Wentbridge House Hotel.

Set in a beautiful little village in South Yorkshire, the hotel allowed them the house and grounds to themselves in which to entertain their guests and celebrate their wedding in style.

I got there in time to catch Sue's preparations with her bridesmaids and family, and I was there to follow the ceremony right through to the start of their meal.

Elegance and smartness were the order of the day, but David is rarely one to be too serious for a long time, and there were giggles and roars of laughter throughout the ceremony. Following the golden rule of weddings, they made the day reflect them as a couple, welcoming everyone along for the celebration.


We devoted some time to getting family photos with Sue's father Bill, and I'm very glad to have been able to photograph him walking his daughter down the aisle, as sadly he passed away a few days after the wedding.

This has made me realise how important the apparently simple act of capturing memories with a camera can be. It's an honour to be able to do this for such lovely people.

The Subterranian Edinburgh Wedding

When Fiona asked me to photograph her wedding, she was in South Korea teaching English, and her husband-to-be had not even officially popped the question. She knew they were going to get married, but not when or where, and for a while, it could have been anywhere

I've known Fiona for about 10 years, and I've photographed her family a few times. I knew her wedding would be an amazing event, full of family and friends all as loud, chatty and funny as her. When she finally returned to the UK and I met the man she's chosen to spend the rest of her life with, I could see Steve was perfect for her, and that they are totally devoted to each other.

Our planning sessions were held in the pub round the corner, and Steve demonstrated his expert organisational skills, pulling out a thick folder of paperwork and spreadsheets. He's the most well organised groom I've ever met, and it was important, because they had chosen a place as interesting, and unique as themselves to get married in. It was in Edinburgh. And it was underground.

The Edinburgh Caves is a venue occupying 2 of the vaults underneath the bridge. The lighting is all LED, candles and stage spots, which might create a great intimate atmosphere for the guests, but it's a photographer's nightmare. Never one to let a challenge get the best of me, I set about covering the proceedings from all angles, and enjoyed myself almost as much as the bride and groom.

The ceremony was beautiful, reflecting the values of the two very different individuals coming together, and the following celebration ceilidh was as bouncy and joyous as it should've been. Another cracking wedding that reminded me why I love my job!

Thanks guys, here's to many years of happiness.

Debbie and Viv at Leeds Town Hall

When Debbie and Viv first asked me to photograph their wedding, all they knew was that they were going to get married at the Brodrick Suite at the Town Hall, and then move on to the Adelphi (the finest pub in Leeds, if you ask me). 

As we began planning the event, I gave them the advice I give to all of my couples, and recommended they look at the traditions and patterns of weddings, and take their guests on the same emotional adventure whilst discarding anything they didn't feel was relevant to them. Although civil partnerships are a brand new thing with no historical traditions, people expect certain things from a ceremony, and there are some symbols which are just too meaningful to pass over. Take what you want, lose what you don't, but make sure everyone knows you are married.

It was clear from the moment guests began arriving in 1920s outfits that something special was going to happen. What they created for themselves was a totally original, warm and fun celebration of their relationship with the full participation of friends and family.

Out of all the weddings I've experienced, this was only the second I've been at where the crowd spontaneously cheered when the couple entered the room, and again when they were declared married. Absolutely lovely, and although I feel this way about all of the ceremonies I attend, I have to say that it was a true honour to be there.

Andy and Hayley at the Sun Pavilion

Harrogate is like Leeds's posh maiden aunt. She sits up there at the foot of the Dales, over the border in North Yorkshire, and looks down into the valley to see what the noisy younger city is up to. She's all Victorian wrought iron splendour and landscaped genteel parks, Betty's Tea rooms and farmers markets to Leeds's red brick urban bustle, night clubs and shopping heaven.

  One of her loveliest treasures has to be the Sun Pavilion, on the edge of Valley Gardens, a light, open and welcoming little venue that collects sunshine through a stained glass roof, where Hayley and Andy got married in their own relaxed and uncomplicated style. 

Another lovely couple enjoying their big day with all of their family around them. I'm delighted to have been there to shoot it.