Highcliffe Castle Wedding in Dorset, Claire and Golam

Claire and Golam's wedding at Highcliffe Castle proved to be a lot of fun! Highcliffe is one of our favourite Dorset wedding venues and we love photographing wedding ceremonies there. The light is fantastic, large double height windows line two sides of the ceremony room and give a real sense of space and openness.

The refurbished Christchurch Harbour Hotel is where both Claire and Golam and their families stayed the night before and where they all got ready. The normal precautions applied during the morning where scheduling ensured they did not inadvertently see each other before the ceremony.

Reception was just a short journey back to the Christchurch Harbour Hotel but not before stopping at Highcliffe for the Romantic shots of Claire and Golam. Being the last wedding of the day meant there was no rush for time and we were able to use the castle as well as the beach at Highcliffe for their photography. We don't always get to use the beach but we were able to make use of the amazing castle doors, no matter the weather there are plenty of options both inside and outside the castle to create beautiful wedding photos.

We wish Claire and Golam a wonderful future together, many congratulations!

Teri and I will be returning to Highcliffe Castle for two more weddings this year, if we get chance through the summer to update the blog we will, otherwise check back toward Christmas when we start the big updates :)

Sweet Home Alabama, Part 2, The Barefoot Bride! Mandi and Brandon's Wedding!

It was a glorious day for a wedding. Sun was bright in the sky, gentle breezes coming down from the mountain, and the excitement in the air was electric.

Mandi and Brandon's choice of the Foundation Ranch near Oxford Alabama is an idyllic location for a wedding. Stunning views behind the mansion, with a lake and mountain that the sun would set behind, tall trees looming over the ceremony space in an almost cathredral like manner. Simply stunning.

Mandi chose a classic black and white theme, with alot of crafty touches that her creative mom Syndi fashioned for the reception. One of my favorite touches was a little black and white cameo brooch that Mandi was going to use in her bouquet. Unfortunatly, the brooch went missing weeks before the wedding. Teri spent the day before the wedding helping Syndi with center pieces for the tables, when Syndi struck gold, and discovered the errant brooch! Deciding to keep that a secret surprise for Mandi on the wedding day, Teri enlisted David's help from 5000 miles away to do a couple of images to go inside the brooch of Mandi's grandparents and her parents. This had been something Mandi had wanted to do, but with the brooch missing,, well, this was a last minute surprise for her! The photos of Syndi giving the bouquet to Mandi and Mandi's emotional reaction was really something.

The boys stayed in the gameroom playing pool and chilling out before the ceremony. It was such a relaxed and fun atmosphere.

The ceremony was at sunset, which gave the girls plenty of time to get ready. Their dresses were gorgeous black grecian style, and they all carried a single white rose. Bride and bridesmaids were barefoot, it was just so elegant.

Mandi chose a vintage lace fishtail style gown and birdcage veil, with her hair swept up to one side. Shoes were by 'mother nature', as she was a barefoot bride.

The sunset created an almost mystical look thru the steamy mist that was coming off the lake behind the ceremony. It was just beautiful, emotional and joyeous.

Best wishes to Mandi and Brandon, much love from Teri and David.

Sweet Home Alabama, Mandi and Brandon Engaged!

It's not a well known fact that Teri was born in Alabama, USA (yes, she's a true southern belle!). So going there for the wedding of Mandi and Brandon was a really special treat, both artistically and on a personal level; Mandi is family!

With the wedding day the very next day, we got to use the beautiful Foundation Ranch near Oxford Alabama for the session. This being the venue for the wedding, Teri hung around and got to help with the finishing touches on the wedding day decor using her mad hot glue gun skills.

Amazing location, a beautiful sweet bride, handsome groom, a mountain backdrop and best of all, warm gorgeous light. More of their engagement images on facebook Mandi and Brandon Engaged! :)

**Update Mandi and Brandon's wedding images are now on the blog Mandi and Brandon Married! :)

Pre Wedding Session at Whitley Ridge in the New Forest with Anna and Ian

Anna and Ian choose Whitley Ridge Manor House Hotel in the New Forest for their wedding, it is such a beautiful location we decided to use the hotel and it's grounds for their pre wedding engagement session.

Recently we have been scheduling engagement and portrait sessions toward the late afternoon and early evening, being predominately natural light photographers we can catch the warm sunlight shortly before sunset. The engagement session could not have been timed more perfectly, the light 1/2 hour before sunset was beautifully soft and warm and worked amazingly well for the type of dreamy sunset images we'd planned to create.

Totally looking forward to the wedding, Anna and Ian on seeing the engagement images are so excited about their wedding photography they've suggested an hour for the romantic shots just before sunset. Fingers crossed for the weather but Whitley Ridge has so many cool areas inside and out I know we're going to have a blast, can't wait!


**Update** Anna and Ian's wedding pictures now online! New Forest Wedding at Whitley Ridge :)