Kenee, Soph, the Wooden Spoon and Pompom Politics

So it was the morning of Kenee and Soph’s wedding and there was nervous excitement brewing across the fields of Busses Farm and spreading into the yurts that dotted the land of East Grinstead. Everyone had got over Pomgate and the term 'Pom Pom Politics' was now brandished with jaunty laughter and knowing looks. 

The ushers emerged from the Yurts and started scrubbing up after what can only be described as an ill-advised (night before) get-together. Kenee on the other hand looked poised, polished, and excited. The resident doggy insisted on continual stick throwing… he, too, was clearly excited.

Soph and the girls were occupying the house and cracking open the champers. Operation ‘glam’ was in full swing.

It was time…

The weather was sketchy, but the forecast was promising. 

Kenee (Key – frantic hand gesticulation of a turning key and Knee – frantic pointing at knee) and Sophie (as in Soph) were getting married. And I couldn’t wait.

The day brought so many delights. Of course, the usual suspects were in tow, wellies were in abundance, the drink flowed (perhaps a little too freely in the case of a previous winner of the Wooden Spoon), the food was plentiful and utterly delicious (once again Raf from The Antelope in Tooting wowed me with his foodie delights), and then there were the cakes… oh the cakes! They were amazing and deserve a blog post all to themselves. There was a competition…lots entered, few disappointed (someone did bring a bag of £1.10p doughnuts which I thought was a stroke of genius in a ridiculously lazy ironic way) and one won; Bravo to Diane, Kenee’s mum.  She did produce a beautiful cake and was definitely the worthy winner.

Soph looked absolutely incredible thanks to some mighty fine genes and a little help from make-up artist and hair extraordinaire Sarah Green. And then there was that exquisite dress (from London Bride Couture) and the veil… oof, that veil was amazing in the wind, I loved it. Annoying as they can be for a bride, they do look amazing in photos! No pain no gain ladies. No pain no gain!

And in the case of the Wooden Spoon it is indeed, ‘No pain no gain’. The most shameful drunk wins…oh and it’s shameful and no doubt painful. Many have won, few have been ongoing champions (Jake) and at each wedding it gets handed down to the next loose canon. This year, congratulations go to Eloise for her antics and well done to all the runners up. You tried hard but alas, failed. There is always the next wedding and who knows, it might be me one day ;-) After all, there is a trophy at stake. 

So all in all, this was one super duper, mighty fine wedding. Kenee and Soph’s heart and soul went into every little detail and I think everyone present would agree, they did a spectacular job. Everyone had a wonderful time because it had everything, pretty things, pompoms, love, tears, a utterly hilarious best man speech (Kenee thought he was alien as a child…who knew?! Thanks for enlightening us Dave) and there was even a late night rave for good measure. It will be talked about for years to come, I guarantee. A nod of appreciation must also go to Mark Kingprawn for being a superb Master of Ceremonies!

Ooh I almost forgot… there was no first dance, just a very big massive loving circle of people singing with all the gusto of a merry rabble, ‘You give a little love and it all comes back to you…la la la laaa laa la la…’ Anyone who grew up with Bugsy Malone will know and understand… it was a big moment!

So to two of the loveliest, most gorgeous people I know… I am very honoured to call you both friends and I feel honoured to have been chosen to photograph your day. I wish you all the very best for future together and I hope the photos will be treasured and laughed at for many years to come. God knows, I’ve laughed a heck of a lot going through them.

Big love to you both…

Loukie xxx 

Anna, Ben, The Evil Pram and The Groovers

Knock me down with a flying bouquet that was one groom who could bust some shapes! Now normally I would start at the beginning... the getting ready part, but no, not this time. For Ben and Anna, we start at the end. Because we have to pay homage to twinkle toes Ben and his crazy as* moves. Yes my friends, we have a groover. But most importantly, we had lots of groovers and some very camera happy people so as you can imagine, I was in my element standin’ on m’chair and snapping away. Some people did come and use my legs as a dancing pole, but I guess it’s to be expected…all part of the service Guvner ;-) 

There were a few times at this wedding where I genuinely felt the tears welling up…the emotion was palpable at the absence of some very important people and it wasn’t lost on me. The heartfelt and humoured speeches lead proudly by Anna’s mum (love a good lady speech) had everyone in stitches, but through watery eyes.

The day was interspersed with an array of milky, grey cloudiness and bright, blue-sky sunshine, and not one drop of the wet stuff. Accept on the dance floor where clearly everyone (myself included) was getting soaked.  

This was Anna and Ben’s day and it was wonderful. Full of everything you expect from a damn fine wedding. Yum food by the team at Ghyll Manor (always thinking of my stomach first), a little bit of drama, some last minute U-turns which meant the ceremony could be in the Orangery. I got a mild telling off for calling it ‘The Hut.’  Apologies to The Orangery for demoting its status to a lowly hut... I can assure it, I meant no offence.  There was also Violinist, Sarah Milner working her magic and entertaining the crowd during the day, and come nightfall the entertainment fell to Murdoch’s Crazy Eyes (great name, great band!). The flowers were so romantic and beautifully crafted and all thanks to the handy work of Claire (Anna’s sister) who quite frankly should give up the day job and go into the flower business! Then there was the dress, oh the dress! Designed by Nicola Anne, it found it’s perfect match in Anna and she looked absolutely incredible and judging by her constant smile, I think she felt incredible wearing it. Make-up was by Paulina Szczepanska who did a fabulous job ensuring that smile was primed and those killer cheekbones rouged!  Bravo everyone!

I loved this wedding. I loved the prettiness. I loved the banter over the big group shot, I loved the jokes and the fact that I’m now known as ‘Loukie, the Baby Hater.’ FYI, I don’t hate babies. I love babies. I hate prams, prams in shot. I hate this. I love the fact that everyone was having such a wonderful time they laughed at my rubbish jokes and generally just laughed A LOT. I loved this lot. Super friendly and camera happy… what a wonderful bunch and a wonderful day!

I’ve said it a thousand times before, but an ace bunch comes from an ace couple. And they’re a gorgeous couple too. Anna and Ben, your day was perfect and you were such a pleasure to work with. I love the fact you’re both notoriously bad at making decisions, I think it’s funny, but hopefully you made the right decision in choosing me to capture your day and hopefully (hope, hope) I have done you proud.

I wish you all the happiness and love you both deserve, and here’s to many years of umming and ahhing together. I suggest flipping a coin ;-)

My love and best wishes to you both,

Loukie xx

 

 

The Giggling Bride and The G-Force Groom

Ok… so we had a couple of dogs (woof, woof ones); a forgotten bouquet; a couple of hero brothers; a Greek, but Russian orthodox priest doing a Russian Orthodox Liturgy (if you are Greek, the humour will not be lost on you!); a lot of Old Carthusians; wind, wind and more wind (in the air, not on the dance floor!); blue skies (a tiny amount, but still...); a downpour during the speeches; polo ponies; amazing food; the nicest DJ (Duncan from Splendid Sounds) and two of the loveliest people I could hope to work for.

Matt and Marianna's wedding was nothing short of perfect and filled with an insane amount of laughter; in most part from the bride I might add. Everyone was super lovely and even the guy who kept brandishing a mini dictator moustache made me chuckle. There was not one nasty bone in the house… it was just all love and humour and I even got a little thank you shout-out from the groom during his speech! I blushed; it was lovely. Thank you Matt!

Marianna's dress was from Le Spose Di Gio and was so beautiful. I don’t know who was drooling over it more, me or the dogs! It was so simple (amazingly complicated to get into though) and Marianna, I think you should wear it every day! I doubt the hub would mind because you looked absolutely amazing in it. A big pleasing nod to David Lawrence too at this point (Marianna's make-up artist) not only did he do a fabulous job with her make-up, he has a great surname (my boyfriend shares it). 

The service was held at St. Mary's in Barnes; a lovely church set in beautiful grounds and made even more lovely by the flower arrangements (courtesy of Sue, Marianna's mum, and her team of friends). Clever people!

After the ceremony I hitched a lift with Matt and Marianna in a rather sexy brown 1960's Citroen DS (called ERROL!!!) and we stopped in Richmond to take some pictures. The wind was cRaZy but the views were incredible and Matt & Marianna did an excellent job of keeping each other warm whilst still looking gorgeous despite the weather and generally being good sports about it all. N.B. Check out the G-force on Matt’s face (see pics). At least... I think its G-force. Sorry Matt ;-) 

Then onto Ham Polo club and the safe hands of Emma Ledamun & her team who did a fantastic job. So welcoming and friendly and the food by Hunt Kendall was excellent. Thank you all! I really enjoyed shooting at the venue and would thoroughly recommend it especially as it also looked super pretty thanks to some nifty table decs and some rather beaut flowers arrangements by Simon Lycett (he also did the bouquets and buttonholes I might add). I also loved shooting the group shots, especially the 'everyone' shot. I kept laughing, as everyone else did and it was chaos, but I loved it and I think once everyone could feel their fingers and toes again, they would say they enjoyed it too. 

The speeches were also very funny and certainly not without heartfelt poignancy for those that couldn’t be there. 

Matt and Marianna, I think you are so blessed to have the people in your life that you do. I always say a great wedding is indicative of a great couple, but it’s also indicative of your friends and families too. I felt instantly part of the crowd and allowed to do my job with nothing but smiles and warmth surrounding me and for that, I salute you and those that love you! ;-) 

You're a wonderful couple; it's been an absolute pleasure working with you both and I hope your life together is full of those smiles and lots of tender warmth…a little less wind and a lot of love.

My love and best wishes to you and your family,

Loukie xx