Oxfordshire Wedding : Kirsty & Ben

Stately Shoes

Fallowfields manages its own organic garden alongside a small farm. It was a pleasure on arrival to see the chef carrying a basket of freshly picked vegetables into the kitchen (then taste the fine results later). It was much as I could do to resist the urge to dig in with a fork, a garden fork, myself.

The ultimate build a bride kit, fully constructed in just three hours.

A certain theme didn't become apparent to me until it came to the image editing stage, post-wedding.

Maybe someone else spotted it before me though.

There's another, and Kirsty's mother, Jennifer.

Mirror, mirror on the... make that mirror, mirror, mirror.

Kirsty's hair artist, Priti, attracts wedding commissions not just across the UK but into Europe and a recent booking will see her being flown out to Australia to do the hair at a wedding. All of it, one might imagine. She'll be quite good then :~)

Ben and his men arrived, checking first to ensure the coast was clear on the upper landing so they could get to their rooms without danger of infringing tradition.

Introducing the fantastic bundle of organisational energy that is bridesmaid extraordinaire Danielle. Danielle and her Excel spreadsheet. There were a good many people present that did a great deal to make Kirsty & Ben's day run marvellously well but I bow to Danielle in particular for her exceptional work as group photo wrangler later that day. She was also group photo wrangler at Alison & Neville's wedding last year. Between us we broke the group photograph land speed record by a league and a half this time 'round. On a side note, the open door in the background leads to the room Kirsty & Ben kindly provided me with the night before the wedding. I've never had anything near as short a journey from bed to work on a wedding day (not that work is the right word at all; okay it's physically and mentally demanding but something this enjoyable cannot be called work!)

Wedding traffic control.

Ben's Mum, Jomara, led the New Zealand contingent across the World to share in her son's wedding day. It goes without saying how happy Ben was to have her there.

More. Mirrors. Useful things.

If I'm to be honest I've never before encountered such a potent display of ritual sharing of preparation between groomsmen. Maybe a display of antipodean egalitarianism at work. Ben felt it important that his Best Man James completed the ritual by placing his suit jacket.

K i r s t y

Kirsty's Mum along with her make up artist Kala prepare the bouquets. I come to terms with my guilt at simply photographing everyone else chipping in. I suppose it wouldn't be so good if I stopped photographing though :~)

Time.

Jomara. Proud Mum. A picture need only paint three words.

Kirsty was given away by her brother, Jamie. She cried coming up the aisle and it was beautiful. She cried during the ceremony and that, also, was beautiful. Mums and bridesmaids and guests cried too. Beautiful. Ben also shed a tear or two. No less beautiful. I cried as well. That was a bit of a liability photographically speaking. It all hit me again when editing the images, several times over.

I think I need to replace this keyboard. The keys have all gone fuzzy.

I always prefer photographing the photographing of the mock-signing of the register over photographing the mock-signing itself. Notice the blank pages frame left. It's a data protection thing. Notice also the mascot which I'm curious to know the story behind if any of those involved care to share via the comments section below. He kept cropping up in all manner of places.

If you could see under the hemline of Kirsty's dress you'd know that her feet were several inches above the floor.

The weather was just perfect all day long. Okay so it looks somewhat ominous here and forgive the creative license. I mean the clouds really were there and I wanted a better look at them myself but the temperature was just lovely, the clouds ensured nobody ended up sweltering and Manna from photographic heaven for me, a giant soft-box!

Ooh there's Alison, background left, with whose wedding this particular journey all started for me. Susannah to the right is getting married next year. I'm keeping an eye on my email inbox.

I've discovered a new hyper-economical approach to group photographs. I reckon I could do every single guest, so to speak, at a wedding of typical size within the space of ooh, let's say 10 minutes? Just line them all up, stick me in a trolley and have someone push me down the line at speed; preferably someone burly and not meant to be in any of the shots. It's like a photobooth, I suppose, without the props and possibly more bemusement than amusement at times.

This was the point in proceedings where I suggested everyone make like a dodecahedron. Truth. They may not be great geometricians but they rule my group photograph world.

"Can you do that again just so I'm sure I've got it in the can?" "No!" A man of few words, and little breath.

Photos are thirsty work - I need the bar - Make mine a Te-qui-la - Extra salt please (with apologies for my apparent lack of cultural sensitivity).

I sat opposite him at the wedding breakfast. He didn't bite.

A choice of conversational partners, the left one or the right one.

LOST

Do I detect a family resemblance?

I loved the cake-topper on Kirsty & Ben's cake (loved the cake too; particularly loved the matted photograph serving as a backdrop! ;~) Customised by friends, they own two Pugs.

Ben has a little trouble locating his seat, though not in finding his new wife.

I laboured over a befitting caption and settled simply on the following. Thanks Kirsty & Ben! :~)

Kirsty's step-Dad John served as Master of Ceremonies. Brilliant speeches that spoke of the true joining of two families.

Best Man James was nervous about delivering his speech. That's very much the norm really. The photographic record suggests he spent the duration clinging to the back of his chair. I mention all this to counterpoint the following images so when he happens this way he'll see concrete proof that he did a great job of it indeed.

Ben's sister, Shannon delivered an impromptu speech. A short number but straight to the heart of matters. She made Kirsty feel irrevocably welcome to the heart of the family.

I can hear refrains of "Och no!" in my head as Shannon sums up the qualities her family love in Kirsty.

With a tip of the lens cap to Mister Fazackarley whom got me hooked on jousting with the light when he joined me to shoot on my last Oxfordshire wedding.

I found the wedding breakfast filling myself but Ben's a tall lad and all.

I could learn a thing or two yet about staging the group photos.

Below the belt Jedi party tricks.

The Ventriloquist Strikes Back

It usually takes a while to sink in yes ;~)

I don't think my choice of a low angle was instilling any confidence.

Highland Fling v. Irish Reel, though really a collaborative affair.

Everyone wave back now. Kirsty & Ben, your wedding day rocked. You both did too and every last one of your guests.