Sitting here and formulating this wedding advice blog about having an outdoor ceremony, rain is lashing against my office window. As a Surrey wedding photographer I am under no illusion that in the UK it has the tendency to have unpredictable weather. When I offer outdoor wedding photography to clients as an option when they are discussing plans, it is either met with excitement or apprehension. It may not be your thing and that is okay. But after reading this piece you may consider something that you had never thought of.

So this is going to be the blog for you if you are sitting on the fence with having an outdoor ceremony.

MY TOP THREE REASONS TO HAVE AN OUTDOOR CEREMONY

REASON ONE 

The Light

Thats right, you heard correctly. My first reason and it is a wonderfully important one is – THE LIGHT. Couples think of their weddings and they imagine lovely bright and light photographs. However, the reality is that many churches and registry offices are not blessed with the most natural light. They can be very dark, small and your images as a consequence with be on the darker side. This is not a problem, I LOVE the atmosphere that shadows can create. However, if soft, bright natural light is your game then look no further.  An outdoor ceremony is perfect for allowing natural light to be a participant in your wedding day.

Top Tip no.1 – Remember…

When planning your outdoor ceremony to pick a place where the sun (if it makes an appearance) is behind you so that you are not blinded. If it is a bright but overcast day – even better! If the sun is out perhaps choose a location with some foliage or ask your florist to make something to create some shade.

REASON TWO

The FREEDOM

Say it LOUD and say it again. Choosing an outdoor wedding ceremony allows you the freedom to design your day!  It is very rare when organising your outdoor wedding that there will be much opposition to suggestions. Venues that offer outdoor ceremonies will have some guidelines in place but these are less strict than an inclosed space. What this means from a photographers point of view is that you will get an unrestricted view of your outdoor wedding. With more space, means more movement without distraction and noise so photographers are able to move around freely. Being outside is also a great example of how to stay COVID safe during your wedding planning. Having an open ceremony helps with air circulation and I have a blog all about postponed COVID weddings.

The freedom of an outdoor wedding is that you can choose your location, seating arrangements, your celebrant (whether it be a trusted professional or a friend). Take for example Amy and Ruth who had their best friend conduct their wedding ceremony. Or Ellen and Tom, who had their closest two friends lead their ceremony together under a 100 year old oak tree! It is important to note that apart from Scotland where you can get married anywhere, in the UK if you wish to have an outdoor ceremony you must already had had a legal ceremony elsewhere. There are some wedding venues that are licensed for outdoor wedding ceremonies, however these venues have to have a fixed structure for the legal part of your vows.  Once you have taken care of the legal part, the wedding world is your oyster when it comes to planning.

REASON THREE

The ADVENTURE

Think about it – your wedding day is an adventure in itself. You are setting off on a journey with your favourite person. So why not add some spontaneity in to the mix? The reason why adventure is the third instalment as to why you should risk an outdoor wedding ceremony is because it’s the biggest hurdle to overcome. There is a lot of planning that goes into a wedding day, and to have there be an added level of anxiety is not everyones cup of tea.   Take my couple Thea and Henrik for example, they planned an outdoor wedding in Sweden in a very precarious month of weather. They had prepped for lots of rain and were met with glorious sunshine. It just goes to show that you never can predict the weather! The fact is that if you have a wedding in the UK it may rain. There is no denying this. However, you can plan a wedding inside and things can go wrong too. That is life.

It is about learning to embrace the possibility that your day may not be ‘perfect’ 

Top Tip no.2 – if the forecast predicts rain…

If the weather forecast predicts even the smallest chance of rain, always be prepared. It is better to be over prepared than under with an outdoor ceremony. Grab some fun wellies and some umbrellas. Always opt for clear or white umbrellas for your wedding day. They are great at allowing light through so that your guests faces are not too dark. If you would like more tips and tricks at navigating rain on your wedding day then visit my blog. Embracing the adventure is all about having fun on your wedding.

CONVINCED THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE AN OUTDOOR CEREMONY?

Then my work here is done! But if you still need a little convincing then here are a list of three reasons why we should work together.  Talking about why I am the photographer for you is also present in my blog about looking for an LGBTQ friendly wedding photographer. If you have been trawling the internet searching for ‘Outdoor Wedding Photography Surrey’ and ended up here then hello! I am so glad that you found the right place. I have been involved in so many gorgeous outdoor wedding ceremonies and would adore to me part of more in 2022 and 2023. The last couple of years have seen me photograph outdoor weddings in French vineyards, Norfolk Barns, at Surrey lakesides and woodland weddings and many more.

It is disappointing for many couples having to rethink their destination wedding plans, derailing their search for the perfect Copenhagen wedding photographer or beachside ceremony location perhaps. There is a sense of time standing still when planning for a wedding abroad at a time like this. As with many postponed Covid weddings, couples are left feeling a little stranded with choices to make. Whilst your wedding day plans might seem put on hold, there is light at the end of the tunnel for many couples planning a destination wedding.

There are many unknown factors when planning a wedding in another country, especially during a pandemic. My blog post all about hiring a destination wedding photographer gives a general outline of what it is like to choose destination wedding photography. But if you would like some more information and potential tips then keep on reading. Here are some important factors to consider when planning your wedding.

Remember Travel is Restricted

During the pandemic many countries closed their borders during the lockdowns. This obviously halted international travel and put couples in a bind when planning their weddings in places other than their own. But it is important to realise that these restrictions are there for a reason. So when checking your dream destination wedding location, be mindful of that countries policies. Some countries like the UK are already vaccinating their population which is a really positive step for international weddings. However, this is a privilege and many countries have not had the same opportunity.  With travel restrictions in mind, it may be more responsible to plan for a 2022 or a 2023 destination wedding?

Hire or Seek Help When Planning Your Destination Wedding

If you are looking into getting hitched abroad, first check out places of information. For example the website Getting Married In Denmark Copenhagen is such a wonderful tool to utilise. With online assistants to chat through your concerns and plans, it really is invaluable. They give helpful first hand advice about getting married in Denmark. With online chat agents, frequently asked questions, popular locations to visit and a history of the City Hall on their website – there is so much useful information.

Not only is there extensive information about getting married in Copenhagen, but there is lots of detailed insight into getting married in other parts of Denmark too on the website. From choosing your location to picking a Copenhagen wedding photographer, this website has all you need to start planning. There are many other websites and planners like this one, that can help minimise your stress of planning a wedding in a country other than your own. Just by searching destination wedding planners and on day co-ordinators can eliminate your daily worry when planning your big day.

Consider Choices Carefully When Planning a Destination Wedding

We know that restrictions can change overnight in the ever changing landscape of this pandemic. This is why when you are choosing a destination wedding photographer or a venue abroad that you choose carefully. Check contracts and stipulations with wedding vendors. Be prepared that to alter your plans along with the guidelines of the current state of the laws. Be on the look out to regularly check other countries COVID protocol and rules to keep in line with your destination wedding plans.

Most of all Remain Kind, Calm and Collected

Keep in the front of your mind that we are all going through this together. A destination wedding photographer or a destination wedding planner will have had all their plans and future weddings postpone. This is a huge amount of stress and worry, so remain calm when talking to suppliers. Take their advice and listen to their points. The world is opening up and slowly life will return to some semblance of ‘normal’. There are positive steps with vaccinations that in the future will allow destination weddings to go ahead. In the mean time when planning your destination wedding consider these points.

Aim To Possibly Plan For a 2022/2023 Wedding Abroad To Avoid Travel Restriction Worry

Seek Help From Overseas Wedding Planners or Organisations

Be Mindful of Other Countries COVID Rules and Protocol 

Remain Calm and Remember That There is Light at The End of The Tunnel!

If you are looking for a Copenhagen wedding photographer or a destination wedding photographer then please do look no further. I am desperate to visit my families homeland of Denmark when travel is more frequent and what better way than to fly over for a destination wedding photography job and to see family? See here the reasons why I believe we should work together.

If you would like a little more inspiration here is a destination French vineyard wedding that I was privilege to be a part of. Or perhaps a Scandinavian theme has found you on this website with a Destination wedding photographer Sweden search.

With Real Couple Jay and Sam’s First Hand Advice on Postponed Covid Weddings

In a year like no other, so many couples have had to start planning a small wedding when the pandemic changed their celebration ambitions. With postponed Covid weddings being the norm over the last year, many couples have had to re-think their day and start planning a small intimate wedding instead of their original ideas.  It goes without saying that many engaged couples intend on planning a small wedding from the very start.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN PLANNING A SMALL WEDDING

However, this year with micro weddings becoming more prominent, accommodating pandemic weddings have had to take priority. Recently I wrote about What Schitt’s Creek Can Teach Us About Postponed Covid Weddings in the hopes of inspiring couples to make the most out of their ever changing situation.  If you find yourself in the circumstance where you have not initially intended on planning a micro wedding, then the prospect can be daunting.

SOME QUICK TIPS FOR PLANNING A SMALL INTIMATE WEDDING

Think About a Weekday Wedding.

Venues can be very accommodating and most have reduced rates for mid-week celebrations. This can be helpful with reducing cost, but also helping with the smaller guest list.

Maximise The Experience You Have

Just because you are planning a smaller celebration, this does not mean that certain elements are exempt from the festivities. If you are having to plan a micro wedding this does not mean that you don’t deserve the outfit that you had planned for your ‘big wedding’. Have the flower arch, book the photographer and amend the wedding cake. Just because your celebration is smaller this dose not mean it is less important.

Look at Non-Traditional Wedding Venues

Smaller venues or ‘non-traditional’ places for getting hitched are usually a little more equipped for intimate wedding numbers. This can open up a huge possibility for your reception and ceremony that you may had never considered.

Jay, Sam andTheir Advice on Postponed Covid Weddings

I met Jay and Sam at a wedding workshop and we got on really well.  When speaking to them they discussed how their wedding had changed form so many times due to Covid-19. The images in this blog are not of their own wonderful micro wedding, but from the workshop day. However the advice they are divulging is all down to personal experience. Some couples, like Jay and Sam have had to re-plan their wedding day aspirations. From a guest list of 150, down to 15, to a wedding without dancing or singing. They have been kind enough to answer some questions surrounding how they managed to planning a small intimate wedding from a grand affair. This blog is here to help you with some decisions that you might have to be choosing between.

Tell Us a Little About The ideas You Had For Your Wedding – Theme, Colours, Aesthetic?

Jay and Sam: “Our wedding was always planned to be on Halloween. This is because every Halloween before our wedding, (that’s nine including the wedding now) we have always played host to a fancy dress party and people expect it from us now every year. We love being social and as we both work in the arts; we have some incredibly fun and creative friends who all love the chance to dress up. Jay’s nan and grandad also got married on Halloween and Jay’s great grandparents got married on bonfire night, so we really did want to follow tradition.

Our colour palette was always an autumnal one: burnt oranges, dark greens and lavender. We always wanted to have a pumpkin centre piece. One that was not obviously representing Halloween but white and with a very beautiful flower arrangement. White and purple hessian and purple lavender was what we went for and followed this theme into our bouquets too. Our bridesmaids were always meant to be split – Sam’s wearing burnt orange and Jay’s dark green, but when the numbers were reduced from 150 to 15 because of Covid -19, we ended up reducing the bridal party too. We felt because of this that it would be better if they all had the same colours. We ended up choosing a beautiful shade of green and incorporated the burnt orange into the bouquet ribbons and Covid face masks, which worked out perfectly.”

How Much Did Planning Your Wedding Change Due to The Current Pandemic Situation?

Then Covid happened and everything had to be cancelled. We started again.

When Searching For a Photographer, Was it Important to You That They Were a LGBTQ+ Friendly Wedding Photographer?

Thank you Jay and Sam for your wonderful insight

Here are some images from the workshop where we met – also did I mention that there was a HORSE?

If you have found this interview beneficial for accommodating your new plans then check out Your Micro Wedding Guide with even more information on planning a small intimate wedding day. If like Jay and Sam you are an LGBTQ+ couple embarking on planning a wedding together check out my blog all about being an LGBTQ friendly wedding photographer . If perhaps you are a photographer and have stumbled upon this blog and are looking to learn and be a more inclusive LGBTQ+ photographer then find more information on LGBTQ+ wedding photography here.

Wedding Workshop Supplier Instagram Handles

Planning, Styling, furniture and props: @locatetocreate

Workshop: @rebeccacarpenterphotography

Videography: @rixweddings

Venue: @ourbeautifulglasshouse

Dresses: @Shikobabride

Florist: @beverley_wilson_london

Cake: @malarkeycakes

Stationery: @wonderland_invites

Hair and Makeup: @beyouweddings

Tableware Plates: @hmhome

Tableware Cutlery & Glasses: @atouchofvintageuk

Jewellery: @ashleywildbridal

Models: @her.heart.his.soul @pulse.is.racing

With the potential go ahead for celebrations this summer, wedding food trends will be hot on every couples mind. Why you ask? Because summer wedding food ideas will potentially be on the rise, due to postponed covid weddings.  With outdoor wedding ceremonies allowed in Scotland and also some venues in the UK, it is only right that some couples may start to think outside the box of traditional wedding breakfasts.

Outdoor Wedding Catering

Wedding food trends have changed a lot over the years. It is very common for couples to opt for the less traditional way of catering for their guests. I for one am passionate about this, after all who does not love a mobile pizza van? If you are looking for summer wedding food ideas and you are veering down the less traditional 3 course sit down dinner for your wedding, then look no further. Luckily as a Surrey wedding photographer, specialising in relaxed and natural wedding photography – I have been present at many less conventional celebrations. Which in turn attract a less than regular wedding dining experience.

Wedding Food Trends Explored!

Being able to choose your wedding catering is a joyous thing. If you do not want to partake in the traditional three course sit down meal, then you have something to discuss. As a couple together find out what your ideal food experience would be. If you are designing your wedding day then you had best have your favourite meal planned. I always loved that I saw blogger Liv Purvis on her wedding day had spaghetti bolognese as the wedding breakfast main; it was her favourite and thats what they went with!

Before the virus turned most celebrations into postponed covid weddings. I was able to offer destination wedding photography. I have been lucky enough to destination wedding photographer in Sweden as well as offering destination wedding photography in France so far in my career. Most destination weddings I have photographed have had an outdoor wedding ceremony, which in turn lends the day to outdoor wedding catering. Which first comes the first wedding food trend of the blog…

FOOD TRUCKS!

Food trucks have to be one of my all time favourite summer wedding food ideas. You can choose exactly what cuisine to have. It could be anything from Japanese to Pizza, Mexican to Mac and Cheese. The possibilities are endless! There is no need to have meat, potatoes gratin and green beans. The wold is your oyster and your taste is the pallet. The magic of food trucks is that they are on wheels, so can come to you. Where ever your wedding is and they do the same catering per head as a venue would.

SHARING  PLATTERS AND BYOP   (bring your own pudding)

Grazing tables, sharing platters and bringing your own dessert are all wonderful ideas. They are all about the communal effect of a wedding. People coming together to share the love of the couple – but to also share the food. Indulging in sharing platters starts a conversation on the table. You may be partaking with guests you do not know yet, and what a wonderful conversation starter! Having guests bring dessert for pudding is a lovely way of also making your friends and family feel included in the wedding. Sometimes no ones brownies can compare to your grandma’s so why not have her bring a batch for the grazing dessert table? Win win.

FAVOURITE DISHES SERVED at OUTDOOR WEDDING

Deciding on your wedding food can be as easy as choosing your favourite food and finding outside catering to accommodate you. Whether it is a decided five course meal from your favourite restaurant, or the hog roast you always get on a Saturday at the farmers market. Lots of businesses who provide your beloved dishes also cater to weddings and parties.  Take Siobhan and Amy’s wedding day – after their wedding breakfast they had their favourite burger van provide the evening snack. They even got a personalised burger named after them!

HERE ARE SOME OF THE WEDDINGS THAT FEATURED THIS GLORIOUS SMORGASBORD OF WEDDING FOOD INSPIRATION

Frekerikke and Thomas’s Outdoor Wedding in Surrey With Sharing Platters Galore

Ellen and Tom’s Marquee Wedding With Their DELICIOUS Paella Wedding Breakfast Meal

Grace and Craig’s Devine Outdoor Vineyard Destination Wedding in France with TWO Food Trucks

Jason and Ellie’s Yorkshire Barn Wedding With Collaborative Dessert Table

Henrik and Thea’s Swedish Woodland Wedding Complete With Food Trucks and Grazing Tables

If after looking though all of this yummy wedding food trends inspiration…

You find yourself wanting an outdoor wedding ceremony or a destination wedding photographer then please do get in contact with me. We can bond over our love of non traditional wedding food and travel! If you are at all concerned about planning a destination wedding in a pandemic, then check out my latest blog.

If you have postponed a wedding (perhaps multiple times) this year and need a little direction then this is your micro wedding guide. Many couples this year have opted for a elopement wedding or micro celebration in order to comply with the pandemic restrictions. Writing this blog has been harder than you would have thought. No one could have ever anticipated the amount of postponed covid weddings in 2020 at the beginning of the year. Last week I had penned a couple of points down on the limit of a 30 attendee wedding which has since reduced to 15. Then there was a ‘tier system’ and finally with the cherry on top came lock down mark II. As of this month with the UK in lockdown, weddings are not allowed, unless under extreme circumstances.

If you are feeling a little wedding fed up – I do not blame you. I recently wrote a piece to inspire couples about what Schitt’s Creek can teach us about postponed covid weddings.  Like many others, if you want to throw a great big F*CK you to corona and can’t wait to get married to your person (and then maybe party hard later) then keep reading. This piece is going to be all about the uplifting and positive aspects of having a micro or elopement wedding.

What is a MICRO wedding?

The idea of a micro wedding is not a new found idea. Couples have been planning smaller weddings in place of the classic ‘big white wedding’ for decades. Some of my favourite weddings have been smaller celebrations. Take Natalie and Dan who had an intimate wedding in Surrey or Richard and Yue-Zhen’s relaxed London Chelsea Town Hall wedding.  The only difference is that up until this year you had the choice of whether you wanted to go all out or keep it small.

A micro wedding, simply put, is a smaller wedding.

However, a few weeks ago, new government guidelines were set restricting a wedding to just 15 people. Although it is worth alerting couples out there planning that the two of you are counted, so you can invite 13 people as guests. Previously couples were allowed to plan a 30 person wedding (although counting any suppliers working the event.) It is all very tricky to navigate, and you may be reading this thinking about postponed covid weddings of your own. But this piece is here to help you and to be your micro wedding guide.

An elopement wedding on the Other Hand is a VERY SMALL wedding. 

An elopement in times gone by was usually done in secret. However, the term elopement wedding now a days normally just implies a super micro wedding setting. Reserved for couples who want to focus on each other or take an adventure. You can elope to the hills of Scotland together and pack a suitcase with you for the honeymoon all in one day! Like a micro wedding you can opt for wearing what ever you want! This goes without saying on a bigger wedding scale too. But as Sex And The City has shown us sometimes the dress ups the ante and outfits can snowball.

PRO’S of having a MICRO wedding…

Now, this blog piece is all about finding the silver linings within these restrictions. Of course many people LOVE the idea of a very big wedding with all their friends and family. This goes without saying. But this piece is your micro wedding guide to find the inspiration and positives about scaling down your celebrations. It is to help you find the joy in decorating a beautiful table space for an intimate dinner, or wandering the streets of London just you and your favourite person.  If you are ready to hear the positives and embrace the micro mentality then here goes.

THE  GUEST   LIST

It is no shocker that your guest list has had to be massively reduced.  To look on the positive side this means that you get to focus on the VIP’s. Those very important people that you cannot image getting married without. You now have a legitimate excuse as to why you no longer have to invite great-great-auntie-Margaret just because your Nana insisted that she come.

There is no doubt that the decision process is going to be extremely hard. Horrible even. But given this year has been such a curve ball, the likelihood is that most of your friends and family will totally understand.  However, with the magic of the internet you can stream your wedding for loved ones who cannot make it. This way everyone can be a part of your magical day. Just remember to plan ahead with this. I would hate there to be a last minute dash to help Nan with the zoom link.

THE   WEDDING   BUDGET

Let’s get real here. Less people means WAY less money. When you think about catering for 100+ people at £100 per head, the maths can get slightly mind boggling. You can see where the numbers can start to run away with you – I have not even mentioned the open bar yet!  This means that your budget can be allocated in a different way. You no longer have to have your wedding in a venue that houses 120 plus people.

You could choose your favourite restaurant, have catering to come to you or order lobster thermidor for everyone. You can personalise bougie favours, order the fancy champagne and get that decadent pair of shoes the previous budget didn’t allow for.  The point is that your budget priorities have been flipped. Make it special.

You can organise a mid-week wedding for 15 people – which is the beauty of a scaled down number. Whilst leaving a piece of the budget for a celebration or party when we are allowed to do so. Registry offices are a great resource for getting hitched as they are accommodating for smaller weddings, yet still allowing for beautiful scenery. Some of my favourite smaller registry office weddings have been:

Anna and Sam’s Relaxed Wedding at Marylebone Town Hall

Yue-Zhen and Richard’s Intimate Christmas Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding 

Natalie and Dan’s Surprise Surrey Registry Office Wedding 

All of these weddings were smaller in size. I must mention that they were not postponed covid weddings, but intimate celebrations through planning. However, more importantly the couples chose elements that were important to them as a team. Anna and Sam for example had their ceremony, but held an intimate dinner instead of a huge sit down meal. Natalie’s father organised me to photograph her wedding for her as a surprise! Her and her partner Dan were getting married in such a low key way that they had no idea that the father of the bride had organised the photographer!

THE   FOCUS

Planning an elopement wedding or a micro celebration enables the both of you to focus on the reason you were doing this in the first place. The two of you wanted to commit to each other. The focus is on you. Your love. No dramas, no interference. The focus can sometimes get lost with a big whirlwind wedding. You have time to focus on your selected guest and time to actually chat. Scaling down means that sometimes the focus seems clearer.

Many wedding suppliers and venues have had to change their outlook on a wedding day celebration. So everyones focus has shifted. Venues now have had to be accommodating to smaller wedding parties, menus and traditions. You are not alone in this (as Ross from Friends would say) PIVOT! Seek help in your suppliers to understand what your new focus should be and they will help you.

Here Are Some Of My Favourite Small Wedding Venues

THE NED

THE COUNTY ARMS

MARYLEBONE TOWN HALL

EAST QUAY VENUE

All That Being Said – It Is Okay To Wait 

What life has taught us is that there is no ‘perfect time’. But you will know when the right time is, and if you do not feel 100% about planning a smaller wedding, not having favourite people there or guests not being able to make it from over seas then of course it is okay to wait. The moral of the story is that this year has been one like no other. But what remains the same is that weddings are there for the purpose of celebrating LOVE. Love of your families, love of your friends and the love of each other. I hope that this blog for your micro wedding guide has given you some helpful pointers. How ever you celebrate your love, wether it be an elopement wedding in the highlands of Scotland or with a select few in a town hall I wish everyone all the good wishes in the world.

If you have found your micro wedding guide useful and want to chat drop me a line below:

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WEDDING ADVICE

So now that you are here, you must be wondering how a television show will help with your postponed COVID weddings. Anyone who is remotely within my circle will know how much I adore the television show Schitt’s Creek.  With moments of hilarity and thought provoking scenes, Schitt’s Creek envelopes its viewers into a wonderful warming world.  For those of you who have not had the pleasure of watching this wonderful show, here is a little over view:

THE ROSE FAMILY

The series revolves around the once filthy rich family The Rose’s. There is soap star Moira Rose, TV rental store mogul Johnny Rose and their children Alexis and David.  When the family looses all their wealth they have to go and live in a town that they once bought for one another as a joke – Schitt’s Creek.  The creators (father and son team Dan and Eugene Levy – who also star in the show) described the premise of the series around the idea would The Kardashians still be The Kardashians without the money? So I know that now you are possibly wondering:

What could a TV show about a spoiled family possibly teach you about your postponed COVID weddings?

Apart from amazing comic acting from all characters and fantastically inclusive topics with David Rose explaining his sexuality by likening it to wine “I like the wine but not the label”, there is an important message from the last episode of Schitt’s Creek. David Rose finds the love of his life Patrick around series three. They are engaged and in the last episode of the entire series they get married. So here we go, my three lessons from Schitt’s Creek that we can use for your postponed COVID weddings.

DON’T   LET   IT   RAIN   ON   YOUR   PARADE

This first lesson is both literal and physical. On my wedding blog advice I have already written about how to successfully plan for rain on your wedding day. You may (much like David Rose) wake up on your wedding morning and make the horrifying discovery that it is raining.  With this reality your wedding will become different to how you had imagined. Some plans may have to change, umbrellas will have to be ordered and your portraits may not look as sunny as you had imagined. Embrace the change in plans and have your inner circle of wedding party on board with the organisation.  However, you can apply this mindset to your postponed COVID weddings as well.

THINK OF CORONA AS THE METAPHORICAL RAIN

and embrace the change…

If there is one thing you can learn from David Rose on his wedding day – that is to have a water tight wedding crew that will sort out your big day without a bead of sweat escaping your forehead. Which leads me to my next tip on postponed COVID weddings. Meaning, that if your wedding has been set back because of the pandemic make sure that you have support.

HAVE A STRONG WEDDING TEAM TO HELP

Doing all of the re-planning by yourself can and will be exhausting. You have already gone round this roundabout once and now it is time to get off the carousel and do it all again – in a much more stressful way. But now is the time to take lead from David Rose on his wedding morning. His maid of honour Stevie takes all of the unseen challenges (such as the celebrant not being able to make it, the storm cancelling their wedding venue setting to name a few) and along with Johnny Rose the town are able to re-plan the wedding and put together last minute changes. The take away from this is to let your closest people help you. Planning a wedding is hard enough and having to change it during the middle of a pandemic is not easy. Your wedding may not look how you imagined, but there are ways it will be just how you wanted it too. Which leads me on to my last nugget of Schitt’s Creek wisom:

YOUR DAY IS NOT ABOUT THE ‘STUFF’

Like David, you have probably been planning this day for years. When re-planning your wedding day you may encounter some set backs.  Some suppliers may not available on your new dates, your venue may have to change.  Although you have been planning and pinning inspiration on your Pinterest boards for years, your wedding is not about the stuff. Your wedding day is not about the perfect venue, the dream flowers or even the best videographer – the day is about getting married to your love.

There is no doubt that the ‘stuff’ makes it all aesthetically beautiful. But when it comes down to your wedding day we have to take lessons from David’s husband to be Patrick. He promises David that they will “make the absolute best” of the day and what matters is that they’re married at the end of it. Which is true of all weddings. Postponed or not.

YOUR WEDDING IS ABOUT THE TWO OF YOU

Even if your sister wears a dress that looks like a wedding dress, or you have to get married in your run down village hall, or even if your mother has to become your celebrant. These all happen in Schitt’s Creek by the way. The point that is being made is that your wedding will have the happy ending you have always dreamed about (if you’ve seen the last episode you will see why this is key) because you will have married your person.  The stuff is not the most important and the postponed COVID weddings that have happened this year – I can guarantee will be celebrated with the most amount of joy when they take place.

Thank you for indulging my Schitt’s Creek obsession 

Hopefully some of the lessons you found helpful and perhaps inspired you to watch it too.  If like me you love Schitt’s Creek here is a little blog about why we should work together. 

Image credits to Vulture and Rotten Tomatoes. 

There are so many beautiful Surrey wedding venues. It is almost hard to pick a few of my favourites. During my career I have predominantly worked as a Surrey wedding photographer. Surrey is my home and the more that I work in the surrounding areas the more I appreciate working with fellow suppliers. An element to planning a wedding is choosing the best venue for your day and during my photographic journey there are a couple of venues that have stolen my heart. So here goes (and in no particular order I might add).

DENBIES   WINE   ESTATE

Nestled in the Surrey Hills is the wonderful Denbies Wine Estate and Vineyards. As a child I have fond memories of visiting Denbies with my Grandmother and having lunch in their wonderful glass conservatory. Since my childhood the venue has taken a step and built on site accommodation for brides and grooms to stay and prepare for their weddings. This makes a massive difference to the timing of your wedding day and why it is one of my favourite Surrey wedding venues. As a couple you can get ready on site as well as having your ceremony and reception in the same place. There is no need to worry about accommodation or travel on the day of your wedding. This detail is wonderful but Denbies is also situated in glorious vineyards with beautiful scenery all around you. You can take your wedding party up into the vineyard hills together on a buggy ride as well as having a lovely secluded courtyard for your drinks reception.  This venue not only looks after its clients but also the suppliers. I was fed the most beautiful vegetarian mushroom risotto the last time I photographed here and it was divine. The glass conservatory is beautiful and gloriously bright which is always a welcome attribute to a photographer for speeches and detail shots.

PEMBROKE LODGE

As a Surrey wedding photographer, Pembroke Lodge is a dream location. Set in Richmond Park the venue is surrounded by the most gorgeous sprawling green scenery. On a clear day you can see the whole of the London skyline (which also allows a cracking sunset to be captured as well).  This venue allows you to have your ceremony and reception all in one place, which as I have said before is a wonderful attribute for a location. There is no stress or fuss about getting from one place to the next, everything you need is here. With wonderfully light rooms and lovely light decor, it is a photographers dream. Since photographing there this summer the venue have designed the most beautiful outdoor space for ceremonies. You can now have an indoor or an outdoor wedding ceremony and this I think is so appealing – especially with all these gloriously hot summers. Pembroke Lodge looks after you brilliantly. Their couples and their suppliers are their number one priority and the service that you experience here is sublime. This not only says a lot about the venue but also their value of client service too.

BUSBRIDGE   LAKES

If you are searching for a unique Surrey wedding venues then Busbridge Lakes may be your perfect match. The venue is a parkland made up of 40 acres and three lakes. It has the capability for outdoor ceremonies as well as marquee alternative spaces. As you enter the venue you travel through a cobbled courtyard to the enchanted lawn space surrounded by heritage trees and exotic birds. The wonderful attribute about Busbridge Lakes is that the space is a dry hire. You have the luxury as a couple to create your dream wedding with all the elements that you would like.  This service is unique in a Surrey wedding venues as many of the sites already have buildings and permanent structures. With Busbridge Lakes you are able to create, with the help of the lovely sites manager Bill, your dream wedding. With your dry hire site as an appealing attribute, the scenery will follow up as a close second. The landscape of the venue is breath takingly beautiful.

OATLANDS   PARK   HOTEL

An elegant hotel in the heart of Surrey overlooking Broadwater Lake sits the Oatlands Park Hotel.  The building is a Grade II listed house with a gorgeous ten acres of picturesque grounds and scenery. The wonderful thing about the hotel is that it caters to any celebration. Whether you are planning a big grand ceremony and reception or a quiet intimate setting with close family and friends. There are a selection of different rooms for you to choose from. The hotel interiors are beautiful. When searching for Surrey wedding venues it is important to think about the possibility of having rain on your wedding day. If this is so, Oatlands Park Hotel has the most gorgeous foyer which is excellent for group photographs and capturing some more intimate couples portraits too. Here is Fiona and John’s beautiful intimate wedding day for you to take some inspiration from.

GATE   STREET   BARN

When I photographed Alex and Hana’s Gate Street Barn wedding I was so impressed with everything about the venue. Nestled into the Surrey countryside Gate Street Barn is a beautiful barn venue with the beauty of the Surrey Hills surrounding it. Like some other venues you can stay in the onsite accommodation which is just a short walk away from the ceremony venue. With your reception just steps away, the move between ceremony and reception is seamless at this venue. With developments at Gate Street Barn the venue is expanding with a wonderful new orangery room and a space for a woodland wedding experience as well. There is also a cute tradition a the barn where if you are married on a date when one of their calfs are born they name the baby cow after you!

THE   BARN  AT      BOTLEY   HILL  

This venue is very beautiful and also very new. When I photographed at the venue last it was still being built. Botley Hill Barn is one of those Surrey wedding venues that is actually breath taking. The barn has floor to ceiling windows that showcase the stunning views of the Surrey Hills countryside. Which also lends handy if your weather is not playing ball, the tall windows call for some stunning couples portraits inside the venue. This venue is wonderfully experienced and houses the best suppliers in the industry. The main barn can fit 128 seated guests with room for more arrivals for your evening reception. There are adorable Shepards Huts on site for you to stay in if you choose to sleep on site.

BARNETT     HILL   HOTEL

The Barnett Hill Hotel is a wonderful gem situated in the Surrey countryside. The outside of the venue is so elegant and grand, with interiors inside to match.  The outside of the mansion is surrounded by 26 acres of beautifully designed gardens which are perfect for outdoor reception drinks and entertaining. Inside the mansion there are a number of rooms that you can get married in. All of these are such elegant entertaining spaces with a gorgeous hall and walk way between the rooms. Like other venues there is an option to get ready and stay on site to ease your wedding day plans. The day that I photographed at The Barnett Hill Hotel it rained torrentially all day which is where one of my favourite features came in handy. With their stunning gardens there is a lovely greenhouse that stores all of the young plants. This makes for a perfect rain cover for couples portraits!

THE   MILL   AT    ELSTEAD

Photographing Lisa and Nick’s Mill at Elstead wedding it was a truly wonderful experience. The Mill at Elstead is a lovely little venue in the Surrey countryside right on the site of a river that runs through it. Like other Surrey wedding venues I have showcased on here, The Mill at Elstead can house both your ceremony and your reception. This intimate venue allows you and your guests to have close knit feeling of togetherness. The dark wood interiors and brick walls add to the cozy ‘pub-like’ feeling. With the beautiful lake and lovely surroundings, there is no trouble finding a beautiful place to have couples portraits.  There is even a resident swan who is rather friendly who might greet you on the lake!

THANK YOU FOR READING ALL ABOUT MY FAVOURITE SURREY WEDDING VENUES

If you are looking at planning a Surrey wedding please do get in contact – however if you are thinking of something a little further afield why not check out this Beachside Cornwall Wedding. Since this piece I have gone on to express my love of my favourite London wedding venues for you to take a look at too.

When planning a wedding couples mostly ask me what the process with groom preparation photography is? Do you need to have it? Is it included within the package? Mostly couples want to know if boys really want to have their groom prep captured. My answer is always OF COURSE.  If it is important to you it is important. There is no reason why the girls should have all the fun in the morning. In my time as a Surrey wedding photographer I have photographed some weddings were I have only documented with groom preparation photography. Such as Hannah and Andy’s alternative theatre wedding at The Wilde Theatre where Andy was the one who wanted the coverage and Hannah didn’t.

Groom Preparation Photography Tips and ideas…

The bottom line is that your wedding day is yours to design. If you would like to include groom prep in your wedding schedules then so you should! There are just as many moments during groom preparation photography that warrant documenting just as much as the ladies. Why should the boys miss out on all the fun. If you are on the fence then I have a couple of handy advice tips for your groom preparation photography morning antics and why you should include it on your wedding day.

ALLOW TIME TO CAPTURE THE DETAILS

We are all accustomed to seeing the hanging dress shot and countless images of brides shoes, but please do not just hold this space for the girls. There are lots of lovely details to capture during your groom preparation photography.  On a wedding morning, if I am travelling to both the bridal preparation and capturing the groomsmen I leave about an hour for mingling with the boys. There are less aspects to capture than with the girls so usually splitting at the boys for an hour and the girls for an hour and a half to to hours is enough. This time is more than enough. It allows me to hang out with the groomsmen and capture moments that would normally go undocumented.  Hugs between friends, wedding rings placed carefully and half written speeches are amongst the wedding details that will be captured on a wedding morning. Along with other memorable moments and trinkets.

LEAVE TIME FOR THE BUTTON HOLES, POCKET SQUARES AND TIES

I have lost count the amount of times that I have had to rescue a groomsman and a pocket square. Almost at every wedding couples will say to me that I was so much more than a wedding photographer. I base this comment solely on the fact that not only do I have impeccable time keeping skills but I also am nifty with a sewing needle and can fasten a mean looking button hole. It pays to leave enough time so that you loved ones are not stressing about the button hole application.  The amount of wedding mornings I have turned up at to groomsmen huddled around a youtube video of someone fastening a bow tie is countless!

REMEMBER THE WHISKEY AND PRESENTS

Remember to save time to have a little dram before you head off to the ceremony. It is of course subject to if you like whiskey – I cannot stand the stuff. So if like me you prefer tequila, or if you like something softer make time for your boys. It is nice to have a moment to cheers together and celebrate not only your friendship but also to rejoice in the future.  Likewise, you do not need to get your groomsmen a present at all. But usually with all the rushing around that happens on a morning these can get forgotten. So remember to make time during your groom preparation photography to slow down and have a drink or dish out the pressies together.

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT

If you are interested in hiring a Surrey wedding photographer like myself to capture your special day, please do not hesitate to get in touch. I would love to hear about your wedding plans and if you would like to include groom preparation photography within your day! Alternatively, if you are not looking for Surrey wedding coverage check out this post all about hiring a destination wedding photographer. 

So, you have probably found this page as you are embarking on planning a destination wedding and are looking for a destination wedding photographer.  Well my friends you are in luck! I am just a natural, Surrey girl living in the UK, with a little Danish heritage who just so happens to LOVE to travel.  It is not just my love of travel that fuels my love for destination weddings. It is the joy that I experience by taking in new cultures and experiences. Exploring the world and being able to take photographs at the same time is a dream come true. Being able to deliver destination wedding photography for amazing couples is truly amazing.

I have been lucky enough to travel with my job and it would be amazing if more couples involved me with their destination wedding. So far I have photographed Thea and Henrik’s wedding abroad in Sweden at the beautiful woodland venue Kroksta Gard and shot a destination wedding in France at the gorgeous vineyard setting of Domaine De Lauzel. Take a look at Grace and Craig’s gorgeous vineyard wedding in France. These weddings were so gorgeous that I am hoping to expand my portfolio. During my favourite photographs of 2018 blog piece I named a few weddings that were on my wish list and Italy was one of them! So. You are planning a destination wedding so let’s get stuck in.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BOOKING A DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

THE   NITTY   GRITTY

As my home is in Surrey it is obvious that I would have to travel to get to your wedding ahead of time. When photographing a destination wedding you have to plan ahead. I do not like leaving things to chance or worry about missed flights. With this in mind I always get to the country at least a two days before the actual wedding day. This gives us time to meet up before the big day.

The day before the wedding I will go and visit the venue. Check out the best places for portraits and group photographs. Look at where the light hits at certain times of the day. It is also the perfect time to talk about the days schedule update me on any new developments. This meeting is the perfect time to air any concerns about wedding day timelines and logistics. I have given my couples advise on ceremony locations and running orders. It helps to have a photographers perspective on the day. If you are debating about wedding timelines here is a blog piece all about it. 

MY APPROACH as a DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Like photographing weddings in Surrey and around the UK my approach to being a destination wedding photographer is much of the same. I get stuck into photographing your day and capture all the moments in-between. The approach is still as it would be in the UK. The coverage starts when you would like it. This can be from bridal and groom prep until first dance or later if you would like. If you are getting married somewhere hot usually wedding ceremonies start a little later in the afternoon. This is to avoid the heat of the day so wedding coverage can carry on slightly later in to the evening. There is always a chance for a cracking sunset and you know how much I LOVE a sunset!

THE PACKAGE

My destination wedding photography packages are set at a fixed rate so there is no confusion. However, each wedding is unique and prices are bespoke based on location. A wedding in European country will have the fixed package but a destination wedding in Australia would be based on a bespoke price. No matter what country your wedding is in they all include:

Photography by me for up to 9 hours

Comprehensive planning and consultations with me

Travel and accommodation (approximately three nights)

500-1500 full resolution digital edited images edited in that Jessica Grace signature style presented on a USB

Selection of ten 6×4 printed photographs presented in a bespoke wooden box

Online password protected gallery first look for family and friends to view

I have a brochure with your name on it if you would like some more information about destination wedding photography. Please do get in touch if you would like to see it. I am desperate to photograph in some countries that I have never photographed in. So if you are having a destination wedding on my list please do get in touch and I will put together a personalised quote. Some new places I would love to shoot destination weddings in are Denmark, Italy, Norway, Greece, Thailand, Australia, Canada and Las Vegas to name a few!

If you need more convincing how about checking out my top reasons why we should work together.

It is no lie that alternative wedding photography has engulfed the wedding community, so here comes some wedding advice. Gone are the days where stuffy formals and tripods reigned supreme. You as a couple have the creative freedom to plan what ever wedding you want. And yet, in days like these, we can all get a little over whelmed when having to plan your own wedding.

CALM, CLEAR, and RELAXED WEDDING ADVICE

It seems like a massive task when you sit down to look at all of the elements you need to bring together. The cake, the flowers, the dress, the button holes, the table settings, the table plan, bridesmaids outfits, the favours and making sure the confetti is bio degradable to name a few.  Most people have never even really thought about their wedding having a schedule or a running order, let alone where to start to when planning the ‘perfect’ day.

ALTERNATIVE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY FOR THE WIN

Whether you are dreaming of a big traditional wedding in a stately home, a laid back tepee wedding in your garden, or a registry office ceremony no one wedding is better than the other. I will let you into the big secret – weddings can be what you make them. There is no right way to plan a wedding. No two people are alike, so why should your weddings be? The overall outline of a wedding is for two people to commit their lives to one another and everything else in-between is unique to you. I have compiled a few photographs to show how my couples have made their day to reflect their personalities and ultimately them as a couple.

CHERYL AND STUART

Cheryl and Stuart took three days off and rented a huge stately home for their friends and family to spend their wedding with them. It was completely fantastic and what they valued most was spending time with the people they loved. In fact the wedding was a lovely addition to the weekend. They hired wood fire pizza trucks to feed everyone one evening, had a casino night held in the basement, went zorb-ing in the grounds outside, played golf from the roof and swam in the venues amazing indoor pool. They got married late afternoon on the second day and had a communal evening meal with a big long continual table in the banquet hall followed by a good old fashioned knees up. If you find yourselves planning a small wedding then check out this blog piece with some helpful micro wedding advice.

EMMI AND OLI

Emmi and Oli chose to have a relaxed countryside wedding at Dodmoor House, with lovely personal touches. Their speeches were spoken outside over champagne and bathed in sunshine and their cake was made by the bride’s sister. For dinner they chose to have huge paella pans cooking in the courtyard outside and when evening came they opted out of the first dance and instead went for a lovely impromptu start to the evening when the band started to play.

HANNAH AND ANDY

The couple decided to throw the rule book out when organising their wedding and got married on a stage. Their alternative wedding photography brief fitted perfectly with their wild wedding. They said their vows in front of all their loved ones and took a standing ovation bow at the end. They both chose for less traditional wedding outfits which fit with both of their characters perfectly. You can check out their alternative wedding here.

AMY AND RUTH

Amy and Ruth’s wedding can be found on my blog. They are the perfect example of planning a wedding day just how you as a couple want it. They were married by their best friend at Inkersall Grange Farm, outside in front of all their closest people.  With Amy prior to this arriving in a helicopter the couple had no detail spared. Sourcing all of the bottles, glasses and props, creating meters of hand made bunting, hiring wood fired pizza ovens for evening guests and having camping on site. They really planned a wonderful wedding with alternative wedding photography to capture it all too!

FRANKIE AND OLLIE

Frankie and Ollie had the quintessential English summer wedding at Loseley House with plenty of personal touches thrown in. From the handmade bouquet and floral arrangements made by someone in their church, to Frankie hand writing all of the table settings with calligraphy. The wedding cake was hand made by Ollie’s mum and guests were encouraged to bring along a sweet dessert for the evening. Frankie also gave a speech, and instead of speaking aloud her words she had a friend accompany her on the guitar.

CHARLOTTE AND ANTHONY

Charlotte and Anthony’s full wedding is also up on my blog. They picked a place they both loved to get married and travelled to the Lake District at Park House Barn. Although it rained all day, it was clear to see the unique touches they had made on their venue. With hundreds of fairy lights, the couple sourced all of the spirit bottles in which their flowers sat on their tables. As well as personalising a map for their seating chart and rainbow umbrellas the couple had a five tiered cheese wheel to cut instead of a wedding cake!

BETHANY AND DAVID

Bethany and David had a traditional wedding in Essex, however the fabulous Stockbrook Manor has their ceremonies outside [weather permitting] so it almost felt like they were getting married in Australia! A horse and cart came to whisk them away for some couples photographs and Bethany’s maid of honour gave a speech along side the groom and father of the bride.

ELLEN AND TOM

Ellen and Tom were married under an ancient oak tree on land that belonged to a family friend. They had a paella wedding breakfast dinner and both gave gorgeous speeches. The couple even had hired a DJ duo that they had seen perform at Glastonbury Festival. It was by far one of the most active dance floors I have ever been present to. Their full wedding gallery is up on my blog if you would like to take a look. There are some more details in my latest Summer wedding food ideas blog piece which may off you some free wedding advice when it comes to catering.

As long as you have got all of the most special people in the world around you, then you cannot really go wrong with planning your day.  Times have changed since our grandparent’s and even parents have been married. How you organise your wedding can be completely different. But the trick is not to worry about what people have done before and if you want to take your vows scuba diving, have an entire wedding cake made out of cookies or use your pet cockatoo as a ring bearer then the fantastic thing is that was your decision.

You are designing your wedding to REFLECT  you as a couple

I hope that you have found this wedding advice useful. People are unique and so too should your wedding day. Now this does not mean you have to be completely wacky. What it means is that the personal touches you add to your big day are going to be what you remember most. If you are looking for some help places like Pinterest are fantastic for inspiration. That is, if you feel like getting a bit crafty with your place settings or room design.

Here is a link to my Pinterest for potential brides to have a look at. Most of all remember to enjoy the planning and on the day step back to take a look at what you have created. Alternatively, take a look at this intimate Marlow wedding where Janet and Steve planned their day exactly how they wanted it. However, if you require more tips take a look at my advice blog about the perils of Searching For Cheap Wedding Photography.