Picture the scene if you will. A large Edwardian house overlooking an English bay. A bride prepares for her marriage. Out to sea a yacht is moored. Her intrepid groom sets course for shore, his boat cutting through still morning water.
If only the mind’s eye could render photographic images directly. The pattern of English August weather precluded an easy eve-of-wedding sleep out to sea, sad to say. In fact the sea was so choppy the night before Meleza & James married, sleeping out there was nigh on inadvisable, if not for safety’s sake then at least for the sake of making it to the church in a reasonably refreshed state.
It drizzled and rained throughout the big day itself (except, serendipitously, when Meleza arrived at the church, when she and James exited to a shower of confetti, and for a brief spell when everyone was able to gather overlooking the sea for a few group photographs) and nobody was bothered in the slightest. It’s the way things happen when the weather does this on wedding days. If anything it focusses people’s minds on what it’s all really about and on this occasion it was all about a fantastically spirited, joyful and caring couple and their happy, hearty family and friends.
That’s all a wedding day needs really.
It was barely over a month earlier that I first met Meleza & James; a pre-booking consultation, planning meeting and engagement shoot all rolled into one. Everything happened so quickly, as they say! I truly enjoyed their day immensely and I’ve truly enjoyed reliving that day in piecing together the photographic record.
I arrived at Studland Bay House to find Meleza’s Dad, Manie, sweeping away a premature Autumn. I found James gathering himself in the galley. With his grooms-men he then proceeded to rustle up a fortifying English breakfast and saw to it that I was fed too; a theme that continued throughout the day, both James & Meleza always had an instinctive mind to ensure everyone was well taken care of.
Full-English and steaming tea below. Fresh fruit and chilled champagne above. That's in terms of the layout of the house by the way, not the order of images surrounding this caption.
I was so consumed by the fine breakfast downstairs that by the time I made it to the bridal suite Meleza's make-up was done. Oh, hang on...
STATEMENT BUNS!
Always handy to keep a Mr & Mrs Gray in the attic.
Hide & Seek with Panther Bow Peep by Schuh.
Whilst on shoe safari I encountered James, on his way to engage in the eternal ritual struggle between grooms-men and their wedding day accoutrements.
Meleza & James married at the rather unique St. Nicholas Church in Studland. I must express my gratitude to the Reverend Wood for his marvellously accommodating approach to photography. I view a wedding day as being comprised of five significant acts: preparation, ceremony, cocktail reception, breakfast & speeches and the celebratory party that ensues. I’m a story-teller at heart and I love nothing more than to relate the whole story; there are aspects of each of those five acts that I always enjoy exploring. If however in some hypothetical wedding universe I were only allowed access to one of those acts, it would have to be the ceremony. In great part it’s because that is where it really happens but also it’s because the ceremony invariably gets inside me, emotionally, when it comes to editing the day’s images. More deeply than any other aspect of the day.
If in years to come future generations can look at a set of images and say, “That’s when they actually got married,” how more profound a gift could there be?
Rev. Wood even went so far as to offer me use of the pulpit to photograph the processional as Meleza arrived up the aisle. A quick test of the viewpoint led me to realise I’d prefer a more interactive eye-level position from the church floor but I’m incredibly grateful none-the-less for the offer (and secretly I was quite tickled by the audible gasp from a member of the congregation as I appeared above the pulpit top).
Jenny Packham. Meleza. A winning combination.
A fitting viewpoint.
Back to the gardens of Studland Bay House for the cocktail reception.
The most alluring posed group shot I've ever taken.
Floral arrangements by Meleza's friend, Hannah.
Had it not been for that dress, had it not been for that suit indeed (it tends to take a great deal more for a groom’s attire to impress in comparison but impress it did in this case), had it not been for the people wearing them and the church they married in, if Meleza & James had married in a Portacabin wearing bin-liners (not that I’d wish to put ideas into anyone’s head but I’m sure that would make for a fascinating wedding too) there would still have been… the wheelbarrow!
Meleza & James picked it up via an online gardening store (they’ll place it in their garden as a keepsake) and the bridal party spent the morning gathering the natural ingredients for Meleza’s friend and bridesmaid Chantelle to create the most enchanting table plan I’ve yet encountered.
I was in Seventh Heaven. Thanks Meleza & James!
Cupcakes by Butterfly Bakery, Bournemouth. Meleza & James, my little one says thanks for the gift :~) She especially liked the pink one.
James's brother and Best Man, Nicholas. Such an accomplished orator he can even deliver a hilarious speech in his sleep.
Yes, seventh heaven.
James's speech went down that well.
Meleza & James love the sea. It had been our intention to head to the beach for some portraits during the golden hour, as sunset approached. The weather was dire so we were forced to stay indoors.
Ah well.
There was magic in the air that night. Okay, that one fell into my lap.
Cheers!
If you were a guest at Meleza & James’s wedding (was there a corner of the World that you didn’t represent?) and you’d like to receive notification when the full gallery of photographs from the day is available do drop me a line via email or feel free to leave a comment below, or indeed no need to be shy of doing both :~)
Fantastic wedding vendors I recommend without reservation:
- Hair & Make-up: Gill Stora & Caroline Onslow-Bartlett. I’ve worked alongside some talented hair and make-up artists but Caroline & Gill are in a league of their own. They’ll make you look a million dollars.
- Suit hire: Posh Togs of Winton, Bournemouth (01202 548997) – Distributors for Young’s Hire. They really know their customers.
- Cupcakes: Butterfly Bakery – They look beautiful. They taste delicious.
- Catering: Top Table Caterers
Contact Dorset wedding photographer Phillip Allen : phill@misterphill.com : 07870 696248
by Phillip Allen
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