Sian and Chris got married in Sea Palling and had their reception in a marquee at Elderton Lodge, Gunton Park.

I began their wedding coverage by dropping by Elderton Lodge to take some photos of Sian getting ready.

The dresses and Sian’s pettycoat looked very pretty backlit:

Her engagement ring:

Chris gave Sian this necklace as a bridal gift:

Getting ready:

Two cute little bridesmais who assumed a pose every time I pointed the camera towards them:

I met Chris at the church in Sea Palling:

This church is important in his family history. His nan and grandad were burried there:

They would have loved to see him getting married there. I photographed the rings on their tombstone:

You can see that it started raining just before the ceremony and everyone rushed into the church.

Chris and his brother who was best man waiting for Sian:

The vicar barred me from photographing the ceremony but I sneaked in this shot during signing:

It was still pouring down with rain when the wedding party was supposed to come out after the ceremony so we stayed in the doorway:

Confetti:

Departing for Elderton Lodge:

(I seem to be in the mood for black and white today….)

When we arrived to Elderton Lodge it stopped raining and we went for bride and groom location shoot. I offered them a safe option of a stroll on a paved area next to the hotel or a hike on the grounds of Gunton Park where the deer grazed:

I was glad their chose Gunton Park although the grass was soaking wet and getting there in high heels was a bit tricky.

The sky was still heavy with rain clouds which made flat Norfolk fields look more dramatic:

The deer immediately ran away to a safe distance. Sian’s bouquet was put aside for a while:

She looked absolutely stunning! I loved the contrast of her dress and weathered wooden planks protecting the tree bark against deer.

Kiss:

If you were puzzled by my comment about how tricky it was to get to the grounds here is a photo of getting back:

Inside the marquee at Elderton Lodge:

Drinks reception:

The toastmaster Bob Westercott announcing guests during the receiving line:

Chris’s mum made the cake. Here is our happy couple cutting it:

Catching up with post-processing - I had a wedding in Hampshire this weekend. Two nights, three days away - and a nightmare car journey when the traffic on M25 came to standstill due to various tributary diversions from roads closed due to flooding. Ah, well… Where was I?

Jessica and Dennis got married in Bylaugh Hall in Norfolk in a typical English weather. There was drizzle rain and sunshine, thunder and lightning, and sunshine again…

It was an international wedding, as Jess is American and Chris is British. Bylaugh Hall has plenty of accommodation on site to allow everyone to re-unite and get rid of jet lag.

Jess having her hair done:

Final result:

Getting dressed:

Chris and his best man:

The wedding accent colour was apple green and Jess carefully co-ordinated ceremony room decorations and table settings:

After the ceremony:

One of the bridesmaids having a foot rub:

Jess:

My competition:

The ballroom set for wedding breakfast:

Best man sneaks out to rehearse the speech:

Due to the thunderstorm bride and groom photos were taken upstairs in a honeymoon suite:

First dance:

Live band performing:

Jess dancing with her dad:

The party!

Charlotte’s PFT session took place in a sheltered car park in the middle of Norwich. The idea was to practice an off-camera flash lighting set-up with a silver brolly in an urban derelict setting. The silver brolly was used to give Charlotte’s skin this cream silky look, which I then enhanced in Lightrooom processing by concocting a custom cross-processing mix (don’t ask - I just moved the sliders until I liked the result).

When I first met Charlotte she was blond with shoulder-length hair, so it was a surprise to see long flowing raven tresses when we met for the session!

She’s got the longest eyelashes I’ve ever seen:

and was not afraid to lie on the concrete:

or scale the walls in high heels (her idea!):

Her boyfriend joined us to give Charlotte some moral support. Little did he know that 10 minutes into the shoot he’d be talked into doing some work!

Just as we were wrapping up working with the flash flash, the sun started setting down casting long shadows on the car park walls - I love these structured lines:

I hear that congratulations are on order and these two are engaged to be married now! All the best - and thank you for your patience.

Last week was plentiful for thank you cards! I received a custom made one with pink vellum butterflies and a photo taken by Emma’s brother from Emma and Andy saying “Thank you for sharing our special day!”

I am in the process of editing the photos from Jess and Chris’s wedding. Last week I have received a delightful etched hand-written thank you card from this couple from Oxford:

“Dear Galina and John,

Thank you both for your wonderful photographic work both prior to and during our wedding. After so much time spent discussing the day I feel like we are friends now and that was a major help, allowing Chris and I to relax during our wedding shoot… Thank you so much for all your work for us in the last year and for making our wedding all the more special for your being there.

Yours,

Jessica Dennis”

Thank you, darling - and your piccies are coming up soon!

I received this thank you note from Lucy via email:

“Family and friends have commented on how lovely our photos are. I especially love the one of me and my nan where we are both laughing. Having that photo taken means so much to me.

Thanks

Lucy”

Thank you, Lucy - little notes like this keep reminding me why I decided to become a photographer.

Emailed Rosey and Ian their album design draft. This is for a Jorgensen matted 12″x12″ album with white textured mats:

Catching up with album design and assembly this week. Caroline and Rob’s album draft for their 12×8 magazine-style album is out for approval. Here are some pages from this book:

You’ve already seen some photos from this wedding that have been published in the Evening News. Here are some more images I finished processing last night:

Lucy’s flowers:

Lucy’s dad getting dressed:

Lucy’s mum helping her with the dress:

The Norwich City themed garter:

Lee on the pitch (sort of):

We were allowed to take some photos in the locker rooms. Lee had a T-shirt with his surname made:

Guests arriving at the Jarrold stand:

Lucy:

while Lee greets some of the guests - John took this photo:

Bride modelling the garter after the ceremony:

Lucy’s granma throwing confetti:

Chatting to guests:

and kiddies:

who were many and lively:

Chocolate fountain was popular with older guests as well:

Evening guests:

First dance:

And then John and I went home….