It never seems to matter particularly when it rains on a wedding day. It certainly matters as the big day approaches and all the more so on the morning of the day itself as, quite naturally, everyone likes a bit of nice weather and who wouldn’t prefer to bask in sunshine on their most special of days rather than being stuck indoors? When it comes down to it though everyone enjoys themselves to the full regardless and often I sense that there is, if anything, an elevation in the celebratory tone when all are obliged to congregate in the same space rather than being dotted into clusters around the grounds of a venue. It’s an observation I share with my clients on those occasions when rain threatens or has indeed already settled in. I’m sure in part it’s something I share by way of reassurance but more so it’s a honest sharing of observational experience.
Having said all of that though, Eleanor & David love beaches. They chose to have their marquee situated on the cliff-top in the grounds of Studland Bay House where the most commanding view of the sea is to be found, with a vista stretching from Old Harry Rocks in the West through to Hengistbury Head and on to the Isle of Wight in the East. It was a decision that did in large part rely heavily upon good weather to achieve its maximum effect though I still believe that had it rained cats and dogs they’d have had a blast none-the-less. I can’t say I’ve come across a more enthusiastic group of guests; singing during the ceremony with a level of gusto I’d not have expected to hear outside of a US southern states Baptist church (maybe I’m erring on the hyperbolic there but I’ve never heard better participation in a British church wedding ceremony), elevating the speeches to the pitch of a stadium rally and forcing the shortest first dance I’ve ever seen at a wedding, for all the right reasons, and more on that in part two of this feature.
On the morning of their wedding day I set off down the Dorset Way, along the A35 with my windscreen wipers set to double speed. As I entered the Isle of Purbeck on the A351 I was able to step the wipers down a notch to single speed. As I reached Corfe Castle and turned off onto the B3351 I was able to set them to intermittent. If the weather forecasting properties of my windscreen wipers were anything to go by, things were looking up (and now you know how to get to Studland from Bournemouth). Fingers crossed!
Eleanor’s Mum, Lynne (whom I must thank for looking out for my welfare throughout the day, not that I was in any grave danger but the sandwiches in the morning were very much appreciated and checking that I’d been able to eat come the afternoon celebrations always wins big points in my estimation of character. She also provided a great deal of reassurance during the morning’s preparations to the most important subject in this part of the day’s story, and that certainly wasn’t my culinary needs!)..
And as if by magic, Eleanor…
I first met Gill Stora & Caroline Onslow-Bartlett in this same room, almost a year ago, on a day with similar weather and a marriage to take place in the same church, St. Nicholas in Studland village. Amongst the best hair and make-up artists I’ve come across and they have a great personal rapport with their clients to go with their creative skills.
Time to go for a little walk. I didn’t plant them there; it’s where I found them, the bridesmaids shoes and a tin of pink spray paint…
Eleanor’s Dad, Barry, brushing up on his speech. He seems completely unaware of my presence. I’d like to put this down to my skill at blending in with the fabric of a wedding day but in fact we were having a convivial conversation all along about what I do, how I do it and how Eleanor had instructed him to just carry on doing whatever he was doing, in a natural manner, whenever I was around. It feels good to be understood :~)…
Eleanor’s nephew made the door sign as a wedding gift for her and David. Maybe it was just that he added his painted hand prints to the back by way of a memento. Perhaps he did actually make the whole sign; who knows?..
No bath in a bedroom this week but the en-suite was bigger than most bedrooms I’ve slept in…
Eleanor’s bridesmaids Rebecca and Chloe fulfilled their roles perfectly; they knew exactly who the day was about and it was rewarding to see all the support they gave to Eleanor…
Meanwhile, at the other end of Studland beach my erstwhile colleague Greg Thurtle was probing the inner workings of the circle of groomsmen gathered at the Bankes Arms. Greg and I have now worked together on four weddings this year, is always great to have along for the roller-coaster ride and as ever I find it fascinating to see what the groom’s party are up to at exactly the same time that the bridal party is doing their thing elsewhere.
At least for now with a better cognition of vertical precision than the hill they’re stood on…
Fingers still crossed…
A ray of sunshine manifests itself in the guise of Eleanor’s godmother. Nice hat!..
And it’s time. Well one of the key times. Time for the dress…
Eleanor’s brother Simon did a fantastic job of shuttling key people about during the morning…
Simon was giving me a lift across to St. Nicholas church so I could spend the maximum amount of time covering Eleanor’s preparations without worrying about finding a car parking space myself at the other end as the ceremony approached. ”NICE car!” I exclaimed as we exited Studland Bay House. “Thanks!” Simon responded. “Oh, I meant the wedding car, but yours is nice too.” And it was, and very comfortable too (thanks for the lift Simon!) Perhaps I should have taken a photograph of his car as well but my focus was rather consumed…
Meanwhile, meanwhile…
The straight to camera portrait was proving a little tricky, though understandably so…
And it’s time, this time…
St. Nicholas is a beautiful church and a very intimate beautiful church at that. It has the shortest aisle I’ve come across; from my perspective three shots and the processional is done (it was great having Greg up on the balcony on this occasion). Much as I don’t like to interrupt the visual flow at this stage I’ll make a timely expression of my gratitude to the Reverend Fellingham for being so obliging in allowing me to document this key aspect of the day for the future. I did however land up in a position I’d not quite expected :~) The last time I was at St. Nicholas church I’d photographed the processional then slipped off to the back of the church whilst all eyes were still on bride and groom, then returned to the front during the singing of a hymn and tucked myself away behind a buttress to photograph the exchange of rings. Rev. Fellingham had agreed I could go about my business in the same manner that I had the last time around. On that previous occasion though the bride and groom had stood under a stone archway a few paces beyond the head of the aisle for the ceremony to be conducted. It was a brief rabbit in headlights moment for me then when Eleanor came to a standstill right at the head of the aisle and David joined her there. There was nowhere for me to go at this juncture so I wedged myself in between the pulpit and the frontmost pew and enjoyed what was for me a rather novel viewpoint on proceedings.
I wonder if it’s a Samsung or an Ericsson…
Something I can’t say I’ve seen before but a sight highly appreciated…
And it looks like they weren’t needed after all…
Celebrations ensue in Part Two. No umbrellas required >>>
Contact Dorset Wedding Photographer Phillip Allen : phill@misterphill.com : 07870 696248
by Phillip Allen
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Andy Brooks - lovely coverage as always. I was enjoying your story telling in words and pictures and then came across that final black and white of the lovely couple – my jaw dropped – simply gorgeous.
Phillip Allen - Thank you Andy :~)