When you take the backroads from Bournemouth to the Larmer Tree, where Dorset ends and Wiltshire begins doesn’t have the same clarity as it does on the main roads. On the backroads the differentiation is meaningless. It’s a whole other world, a beautiful and really rather magical one, a place that Michelle & Phil chose to celebrate some magic of their own.
Michelle & Phil are made of happy, from their socks right up to the stratosphere. Michelle didn’t wear socks on their wedding day but this didn’t alter the equation one jot. Happy couples always seem to come packaged with happy friends and families too which in turn always makes me happy as I get to take lots of happy photographs.
Mating season has passed for the year so the Peacock’s aren’t fanning at present; they’ve nothing to prove really. On the plus side they’re significantly less feisty than normal too, particularly curious and…
…are rather helpful tour guides…
The day before, I’d received a call from Carol at the Larmer Tree. She had my contact details as part of a list of vendors for Michelle & Phil’s wedding day. Carol checked to see that I knew my way there, let me know that she’d not be on duty the following day but that her colleague Gail would be and provided me with a contact mobile ‘phone number just in case I required any assistance. I’ll shortly be photographing my fiftieth wedding and this was only the second time I’d received contact from a venue in advance of a wedding day. It makes a deep impression not because it’s me, the photographer, being attended to but because it’s abundantly clear just how well the venue is looking after their clients’ needs, in as much as is humanly possible making sure absolutely everything comes together perfectly for the couple. The promise implied in this approach was lived up to fully on the day; I’ve not come across a more friendly, helpful and effective venue wedding coordinator than Gail (certainly a few across the country that equal but none thus far that surpass).
I’m not sure why I mention all this at this stage in the photographic story but it needed mentioning somewhere. Ah, that was it; I was looking for Phil. Gail told me he was off getting suited and booted and pointed me in the right direction. He must have been getting dressed in the trees, I imagined, there being a number of unusual man made structures though no accommodation to speak of in the direction I was heading in. I found him quickly enough though, hidden away behind the temple that the peacock had shown me to earlier…
Michelle wasn’t due to arrive for some time yet but there was something about the way that car was loitering there; it had an “I’m not really meant to be here” look about it…
Phil was still busy proving his identity. I gave up on that process years ago…
Cat and mouse…
My colleague Greg had teamed up with me again for the fourth wedding we’ve photographed together this year. He joined me for a few hours on Michelle & Phil’s wedding day, for the ceremony (where we had heaps of space to frame things from multiple perspectives) and the cocktail reception…
Phil’s jacket wasn’t covered in lint by the way; those are rain drops clinging to the fabric (but it’s the expression on his face you’re meant to be focusing on so ignore me)…
I keep saying that rain on a wedding day never dampens the participants’ spirits. Let’s put my view to the test shall we?..
Service with a smile come rain or shine…
A group of guests at a rainy day wedding. Point proven I think…
Favourite quote of the day, overheard during an excitable conversation between two of the younger guests clearly enthralled by all the games and activities on offer: “Wow! They should have weddings every week, except where nobody gets married and there’s just games!”
Michelle & Phil had promised me a space-hopper for the posed group photographs. Result!..
Fun and games aplenty to come in Part Two >>>
Contact Wiltshire Wedding Photographer Phillip Allen : phill@misterphill.com : 07870 696248
