LAURA & TIM

venue: guildhall

When Laura and Tim reached out to me with the news that their original photographer had to cancel due to family issues, I knew they were facing a tough situation. It’s never easy when plans change last minute, especially for something as important as your wedding photos. But I was honored they trusted me to step in and capture their special memories.

The day began in a charming traditional Bath building near the Royal Crescent, where Laura and her bridal party prepared for the big day. The setting was perfect, with the historic backdrop adding an extra layer of beauty to the morning. From there, we headed to St. Bart’s Church for the ceremony.

Now, I have to mention this - Laura and Tim’s families can sing! The church was filled with some of the most heartfelt and joyful singing I’ve ever heard at a wedding. It truly set the tone for what was one of the best church weddings I've attended. After the ceremony, everyone stayed for some tea and cake (which was delicious, by the way.)

Then, we took a short trip to the Botanical Gardens for some couple photos. As a photographer, I couldn’t have asked for a better location. The surroundings were a dream and Laura and Tim were so natural in front of the camera. My creativity was on overdrive and the final photographs are some of my favourites to date.

Our next stop was the Parade Gardens, where the guests were eagerly waiting for Laura and Tim’s arrival. We captured some group shots there, along with plenty of candid and fun moments. The atmosphere was incredibly relaxed and even the Guildhall staff were pleased with how smoothly everything was going! (Due to my amazing time keeping skills perhaps?) After an hour or so at the Parade Gardens, everyone then made their way to the Guildhall for the evening reception. The reception was filled with heartfelt speeches, a fantastic jazz band during the wedding breakfast and even a game of wedding bingo before the cake cutting.

Just as I was setting up for the first dance, we encountered a slight hiccup - the Guildhall staff discovered a broken bulb in one of the chandeliers. This meant the entire chandelier couldn’t be dimmed, which disrupted the romantic ambiance we were aiming for. Following my gut, I asked for them to be switched completely off. As an empathetic photographer you learn to listen to your gut. Now the second issue appeared. I now needed to control where the first dance would take place in such a large room. For those perfect photographs, my flashes need to be in the perfect position with the perfect output. Something us photographers can do within minutes at smaller wedding venues.

Just as I was pondering how to direct Laura and Tim, I spotted some strings of lights being placed around the room. I had a rush of inspiration and asked if I could arrange them in a circle on the dance floor. Thankfully, everyone agreed it was a great idea! When Laura and Tim entered the room, they immediately knew where to stand and the photos turned out exactly as we’d hoped. Phew!

All-in-all, the entire day was absolutely fabulous. Thank you Laura and Tim, for allowing me to capture your wedding day memories - it was truly a pleasure.