Bethany Stanley 31/07/2019 Bethany Stanley 31/07/2019

8 Tips for couples on their wedding day - Shropshire, Uk & Destination Wedding Photographer

Most of my working life, I live and breathe weddings. We are in constant contact with brides and suppliers - there is so much more involved in being Photographers & Filmmakers than being present on the day. We have been known to wear so many hats on a wedding day, from chauffeuring family members and flowers, fixing windswept hair, mini morning therapy sessions when the nerves get a little to much, to catching escaped dogs and putting them safely in the house. We love all these aspects of our job - we want to be your friends and make your day as easy as possible. In addition to that, we are married - so we know first hand all the planning that goes into a wedding day. Having said that, throughout our years of being so heavily involved in weddings, we have learned SO much - we have realised that there are so many things that we would do differently with the hindsight we have now, so we have collated our best wedding tips.

1. Go unplugged

‘We ask all guests to put their phones and camera’s away during the ceremony’ - words that make any photographer’s heart skip a beat. Why? Because phones are UGLY - I have lost count of how many beautiful bridal processions have been spoilt by a whole host of extended arms with phones bang in the middle of the isle. Picture the scene - the moment is here, after all of your planning and preparation you are finally at the end of the isle, hand in hand you turn to take a look at all of your guests, you glance around and see a sea of happy, smiling faces... all blocked by iphones and the occasional ipad. Now imagine that scene again, but everyone is present in the moment, you make eye contact with your best friend, your favourite auntie sheds a tear. Trust us on this one! There will be plenty of time for people to grab their photos later in the day, but the ceremony should be left to the professionals so that all of the guests can focus on the important thing - your wedding!

2. prioritise your budget

This one may seem a little obvious, but make sure to prioritise your budget! When planning your day, there are SO many different options for suppliers and the budget can very quickly be filtered away on bits and pieces that really don’t amount to much. It is so important to remember the things that are of lasting importance. Your photographs and wedding film are one of the only permanent take aways from the day - the vast majority of things are either packed up and sold or are only yours for the day, so finding the perfect photographer and videographer for the day is of upmost importance. Having said that, different things have different value to different people. If you have always dreamt of having the most decadent wedding cake of all time, make that a priority. Work out the things that mean the most to you and prioritise those, stick to your guns and don’t bow to the pressures of the wedding industry to keep adding things on and watering down your budget. The day is yours and you know what is important! Don’t let other people make that decision for you.

3. Get a Good Florist

This is something that is often overlooked but is definitely incredibly important. When you have never planned a wedding before, you may be a little confused and overwhelmed as to why one florist is more expensive than the next. Trust us - no florist is better than a bad florist! You may have allocated a big portion of the budget to the dream wedding dress, but if you do not have flowers that compliment it then they become more of a distraction and can take away from the overall look. Good flowers though? Good flowers MAKE your look! They make your photographs 100x more beautiful and your guests will always notice an array of beautiful florals. We have worked with some amazing florists in the past (Ivy Pip & Rose, Sarah Harper Flowers & Alexandra Rose Weddings are some of our favourites just to name a few!) and we can guarantee that those that opt for an experienced, creative florist will notice a huge difference to how their photos and film look!

4. fill your time

One thing we have noticed at weddings is that somewhere between dinner and the evening celebrations, there is often a major lull. Why not think about hiring some acoustic entertainment? Or taking the opportunity to do something unashamedly you? At our own wedding, we had a whole bunch of our friends preform music and it was incredibly special, the guests absolutely lovely it and everyone got involved. There wasn’t a moment of our day unaccounted for and I think our guests appreciated that. I once saw an instagram post from one of our supplier friends who attended a wedding where the couple had ballerinas perform! Your wedding is so short and fleeting, take every opportunity to make it memorable.

5. COme up with a bad weather plan

We need to talk about the weather. Specifically, the english weather. The sad but true fact that during June we had consistent rain fall for the majority of the month. This is not by any means me saying that you shouldn’t plan an outdoor wedding - we have shot many beautiful outdoor weddings where the weather has treated us kindly and everything has gone to plan. All we recommend is that when you are looking at venues you ensure there is space either indoors or under cover that will allow you space for photos away from the rain if the worst happens. I used to say that you would have to be really unlucky to have it rain for the entire day but this year I shot my first wash out wedding with another photographer - it didn’t stop raining until it went dark! If you think you’ll be happy to embrace the weather and brave the rain then great! We love shooting no matter what the weather conditions are! If you’re not sure you will, just bare it in mind when finding your venue! Even if you don’t mind getting wet, some of your guests might so its always a good thing to think about.

6. feed the children

This may sound oddly specific but its definitely worth a mention if you are planning on having small children on the wedding party. On your wedding day, you may find that with all of the preparations and excitement you may not end up eating until you sit down for your wedding breakfast (although we don’t recommend this either). Adrenaline will push you through and you will probably be fine! Kids, however will not. Make sure that when you are planning your day, you have someone on hand with snacks and food to keep the littles happy. We once had a very sad little bridesmaid who’s world fell apart because there were only melted chocolate buttons (granted, it was 35 degrees but she was pretty hungry by this point!). It may seem like a really obvious thing to mention, but we have seen countless occasions where the kids have been forgotten in all of the hubbub and excitement. Fed kids are happy kids and it will definitely save you a lot of hassle!

7. allow extra time

This may be a tip you’ve heard before, but make sure to allow a little extra time for each part of the day than you think might be necessary. Things can seemingly be going to schedule and then suddenly the time has disappeared and you’re running around in a blind panic trying to find where you put your bouquet down. Work out the timings, then add fifteen minutes for safety. If you need any advice on how to schedule your day let us know! We have done enough to know what timings work best!

8. you do you

Our final tip is probably the one that everyone will pass on to you. Trust us though, it is really important. Make sure that you have a really clear idea about what you want and why you want it. We have heard so many couples saying they wanted a small wedding but were worried about hurting peoples feelings. The fact is, people don’t mind not being invited. They may mind for a moment, but if they really care for you they will prioritise you and your happiness. If they don’t then you probably don’t want to be sharing the most important day of your life with them and they will get over it anyway. This doesn’t just apply to your guest list. Don’t want a cake? Don’t have one. Want to get married at 5pm? Go for it. Want to elope to the mountains just the two of you? Do it. Your day is not just a day. It is the beginning of a marriage and you are planning a life with a person - you have the right to start that life however you want! It can be hard and people can try and make your vision difficult to appear but don’t give in. When you have the day you dreamed of and you created together, we promise it will be worth it.

Clearly, this isn’t a fully comprehensive list but it is a good starting point. Please don’t hesitate to pick our brains on all things weddings! We like to think we’re pretty much experts these days and we would absolutely love to help you in whatever way that we can. There is a lot of confusing information out there and sometimes it is good to just chat to a couple of normal humans who have planned their own wedding and are involved in lots of others! Get in touch - we’d love to get to know you!

Bethany Stanley 12/07/2019 Bethany Stanley 12/07/2019

Adventure Session - Barcelona Anniversary Photography & Filmmaking

Sometimes, people tell us that they wish they’d have known about us when they got married. These comments always touch us, knowing that someone would choose us to capture one of the most important days of their lives is always an honour that we never take lightly. However, we always tell people that there is no reason to feel like the time to invest in a photographer has to be limited to their wedding day. In fact, we heartily disagree with the idea that the only momentous occasion worth documenting is your wedding. There are momentous moments all throughout our lives - whether that be something as big as a marriage or a new member of the family or something as seemingly small, such as the first day of school, a wedding anniversary or even just a trip to somewhere you have always wanted to travel. We live in a digital age, an age where everyone is always capturing everything, seeing life through a phone screen - but what if we were more intentional about these important and fleeting moments? What if you could just be present in the moment, but still know that you were keeping a record? Whatever moment or occasion you think is important, we agree. We want to help celebrate the small victories, the big moments & the milestones. Having a beautiful, artful representation should not be reserved for one single day, one single moment. There are so many moments worth archiving, so many stories worth telling.

This is the reason why we absolutely love shooting anniversary sessions, whether that be for past clients or new friends. We think that capturing a marriage that is standing the test of time, that has developed and changed beyond the fresh and precious first moments is just as beautiful as capturing a marriage on the day it begins. We had the absolute pleasure of exploring the Catalonian mountains surrounding Barcelona in order to find the perfect spot to capture Abbie & Jake’s five year wedding anniversary. We chased the golden light through forests and mountains until we discovered a snow capped peak falling behind a rolling pasture and were able to create something new for this beautiful couple to hang beside their wedding photos, another moment passed but made permanent through a series of images and a cinematic film.

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Bethany Stanley 23/05/2019 Bethany Stanley 23/05/2019

Cripps Barn Wedding Photographer - Cotswolds Barn Winter Wedding - Charlotte & Adam

Winter weddings in the UK can be such a challenge to pull off - although as Brits we should all be used to catering to less than ideal weather conditions, the ‘Pinterest pressure’ to have light filled outdoor weddings can mean that the path to a perfect winter wedding can be incredibly confusing. Being able to achieve the ‘cosy’ vibe without having an array of shivering guests and surrendering to the dark nights in a shadow of gloom can be a very difficult balance to strike - but Charlotte & Adam’s wedding showcased EXACTLY how to get this balance right…

Charlotte got ready with her maids in the stunning Barnsley House in a room with huge windows in order to capitalise on what natural light was available regardless of any inclement weather while Adam opted for The Fleece in Cirencester, with its rich and colourful colour scheme and perfect moody and cosy atmosphere. Charlotte also chose to implement winter through her choice of rich green and deep red hues within her colour scheme which really spoke to the season. For the ceremony - a church wedding in the picturesque and quintessentially British Bibury with a ceremony filled with candlelight was the most perfect start to a beautiful day - we then stayed in and around Bibury for some portraits of the gorgeous couple - the weather held off for us and we were able to embrace the grey skies and icy air and create some beautiful and intimate moments.

Cripps barn is the perfect location to host your winter wedding as it optimises on natural light but also looks impeccable when decked in fairy lights and candles. Go Wild Flowers dressed the venue in reams of lush greenery and roses, bringing the outside in so that the cold weather didn’t mean the guests were completely removed from nature. Charlotte and Adam’s true secret was focusing on creating an atmosphere, with live music, warm lighting and laughter - it didn’t matter one bit that it was dark by 4pm.

There were so many highlights to this amazing day - working alongside industry leaders like the amazing Chris Fordham hair designs , the incredible and meticulous attention to detail, the venue of dreams (who treated us so kindly all day) and a joint best mans speech that had us in stitches. The best part for us, though, was working alongside Charlotte and Adam. These two treated us with such love throughout the whole process and were a complete and utter delight to be able to work with. It is people like Charlotte & Adam that make our career such a joy. Here are a few highlights of their day.

Suppliers :
Hair: Chris Fordham
MUA: Siobhan Aldred Makeup
Dress: Essense of Australia via Aurora Bride
Bridesmaids Dresses: Asos
Cake: Anns Designer Cakes
Flowers: Go Wild Flowers
Entertainment: Warble Entertainment - Soul Sessions

Bethany Stanley 21/02/2019 Bethany Stanley 21/02/2019

Autumn Sussex Tipi Wedding Photographer - Anna & Tom

On a beautiful Autumn morning, the golden light poured into the Sussex countryside as Tom and Anna prepared for their beautiful wedding to be held at Tom’s family home. Family was, in fact, a key part of the celebrations, with Anna’s nieces and nephews taking centre stage in the bridal party, all dressed in neutrals and looking positively angelic…

The ceremony took place in the quaint village church, just a two minute walk across a golden field from the reception location, where family and friends gathered to witness the marriage. Anna wore a beautiful and simple gown, with a lace back and draping fabric train, her chapel length veil looked so effortless beautiful as she glided down the isle towards Tom, dapper in tails and a sky blue waistcoat.

Anna and Tom had worked tirelessly to create a cosy and inviting atmosphere, cladding the garden area with rows of lights that warmly glowed as the day turned to dusk, with fire pits and hay bales and a gorgeous outdoor gin bar. Inside, their beautiful tipi marquee was filled with delicate details and flashes of greenery, with a couple of ten foot trees on each supporting pillar to boot!

What we really loved about Tom and Anna’s magical day, though, was the party spirit. As soon as the band took the stage, each and every guest was busting moves left, right and centre, dancing like nobody was watching and filling the night sky with laughter, music and conversation. We absolutely loved shooting this elegant garden tipi wedding - here are a few of our highlights.

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Bethany Stanley 08/02/2019 Bethany Stanley 08/02/2019

Bethany & Edward - Shropshire Engagement Photographer

Edward & Bethany headed to the beautiful hills of Carding Mill Valley outside Church Stretton in Shropshire to remind each other of exactly why they fell in love…

“When your first love is your true love, it is the only love you’ll ever need.”

Bethany & Edward headed to the stunning hills of Carding Mill Valley outside Church Stretton in Shropshire to remind each other of exactly why they fell in love. They took it in turns to read beautiful hand written poems to one another, laughed together, chased wild ponies through the fields and danced in the setting sun. It was a joy to listen whilst they shared with us all the heart warming details of their wonderful story so far and got excited for the next chapter to come. Congratulations on your engagement, we can’t wait for the wedding!

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Bethany Stanley 18/12/2018 Bethany Stanley 18/12/2018

Kevin & Michelle - The Mytton & Mermaid Hotel - Shrewsbury Wedding Photographer - Beautiful Family Wedding

Kevin contacted us only a few months before their wedding date - he and Michelle had gotten engaged and a date at their dream venue had become available and they just decided to ask the question - ‘Why wait!?’. We met up and heard all about their plans for the perfect family wedding - including eight flower girls and pageboys below the age of four (SO cute!) and a ceremony in the courtyard of The Mytton and Mermaid Hotel just outside Shrewsbury in our beautiful home county of Shropshire. It was what we felt every wedding should be - a day where you’re surrounded by your loved ones. We couldn’t wait to be a part of it.

“There were LOTS of happy tears, this is exactly why we chose you guys! We now have the perfect video and photo selection from our day to preserve the memories forever.”

The Mytton and Mermaid is a picture perfect countryside hotel nestled by the river just outside the grounds of the famous National Trust owned Attingham Park. The height of summer, not a cloud in the sky - everything was perfect. The wedding itself was filled with so much love and happiness. So many relaxed moments, laughter, amazing transport choices, intimate time spent in the beautiful riverside grounds of the hotel and the best donuts at a wedding this year! Capturing a wedding day like this means so much to us - it was such a joy to spend time getting to know this adorable family, there were tears in our eyes too as they all joined together in Kevin and Michelles first dance that evening.

We were honoured to capture both a photographic record and a film of their day which you can see below!

If you’re planning your wedding here in Shropshire - or further afield - then we’d love to be involved. Please get in touch so we can talk about your plans!

Suppliers:

Venue : The Mytton and Mermaid Hotel
Dress: Needle & Thread
Venue Dressing: Perfectly Unique Occasions
Donuts: Planet Donut

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Bethany Stanley 06/12/2018 Bethany Stanley 06/12/2018

Katie & Calum - The Plough at Eaton - Cheshire Wedding Photographer

It is often at this point in the year, when wedding season has almost completely come to an end, that we get the opportunity to go back through the weddings we have been privileged to shoot throughout the summer and share them with our future brides, friends and followers on our blog. Wedding season can be intense, especially when shooting through a summer of blistering heat whilst traveling the breadth and width of our island, but it is always rewarding. We have had the pleasure of shooting a number of stunning weddings this year with some amazing human beings who have truly left a mark on our hearts, so looking back on some of their wedding day highlights always makes us happy.

Katie and Calum’s wedding was one filled with so much love and laughter, Katie was the perfect princess bride in her Madison James gown, and Calum donned a Next tweed suit which was just the right fit for this gorgeous country wedding. The wild, rustic floral design by the amazing Moody Blooms was a true highlight, Katie’s bouquet bloomed with peonies and trailed sprigs of eucalyptus and wild flowers and complimented both her bridal look and the theme of the day perfectly. The venue, The Plough at Eaton, is a beautiful country pub located in the gorgeous cheshire countryside. The historic barn with it’s original beams made for an intimate and cosy atmosphere, with tables-capes filled with garlands of rich greenery and candlelight, toning beautifully with the gorgeous artwork that clads the barn walls. For our portrait session, we drove a little way up the road and found ourselves in a field with a backdrop of the stunning Bosley Cloud. Katie and Calum laughed their way through their portraits, soaking in the quiet as they took a moment away to take in their special day and focus on each other which led to some truly beautiful moments where we were able to capture their love in its truest form. This wedding was truly a highlight of our season, here are a few of our favourite images.