Stephie & Mark's Wedding: From Church to Nightclub
It's not often I start the day in church and end it in a nightclub (more just the latter) but this was the case for Bristol's Basement 45 owner Mark Davies and wife Stephie. When we met at Clifton Suspension Bridge for their engagement shoot and spent some time together I saw that they were a really fun, easy going couple and so relaxed with each other - perfect for a wedding photographer!
Engagement shoot - Clifton Suspension Bridge
The wedding day started with prep shots of Stephie at their home with friends and family before heading over to Easton in Gordano for prep shots with Mark and his Groomsmen. Mark's family home is right next to St George's Church where he grew up and where the reception would be after the wedding. The huge garden was being prepped for everyone's arrival and the hog roast was simmering away smelling delicious.
Stephie - Prep shots
Stephie - Prep shots
Mum adds the finishing touches
Best man has the wedding rings? Check!
Escorted to the church
The church was a minute walk from the house so I followed the guys over to meet the large wedding party that awaited inside. With Stephie's father in a wheelchair and unfortunately unable to walk her up the aisle her brother, Matt, did the honours. Mark & Stephie's baby, Daisy and her niece Orla, made their way up the aisle in a little cart which was super cute! The ceremony itself was a really happy affair with everyone smiling and singing joyfully through the songs.
Arriving in style
After some group shots outside in front of the beautiful old church the happy couple made their way back to the house saying hello to the neighbours as they went who wanted to say congratulations. The weather couldn't have been better for a garden banquet and the set up looked incredible with the marquees and band playing their tunes. Mark & Stephie got a rapturous applause from their guests as they entered and once everyone had a drink in their hand the speeches began. Fortunately they were doing them outside in front of the band stand so I was able to walk 360° around them and get all the different angles of them speaking to the crowd and each other (as Stephie did a speech also). Being able to do this really tells the story of the scene as you get the perspective of the speaker and the listener and their reactions.
Stephie's speech
Cheers!
The kids were entertained with games and lots of space and trees to run and play in and the grown ups enjoyed the sun, booze and food. Happy faces all round! I had earmarked a little spot in the garden with long grass and a pathway with an intersection that looked like it had been mowed for access and got Mark & Stephie over for some couple shots and with little Daisy too. Sometimes a little crowd gathers to watch and in this case it worked a treat as there was lots of banter going back and forth with had them both cracking up!
Treasure hunt in the garden
Mark in stitches
It was time for the evening do so we headed over to Basement 45 for the first dance, nibbles and cake cutting. Fairy lights had been put up on the ceiling by the bar which made for lovely backgrounds of candid shots of people chatting away. It still retained it's nightclub feel with a DJ in the booth spinning tunes on the decks and getting the crowd rocking, and face paints and props to keep everyone amused.
Face paints
Face paints
I felt very lucky to be part of this special day and loved spending time with Stephie & Mark - two of the friendliest people you could wish to meet and clearly very much in love with each other.
On the morning of the wedding I decided to give myself a challenge of taking my own photo of something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Here is my selection -
Something old
If I'm struggling to find an interesting background for shots of the rings then using the reflective surface of an iPad makes a great thing to have. In this case I've used the trees in the window to give that dappled light effect.
Something oldIf I'm struggling to find an interesting background for shots of the rings then using the reflective surface of an iPad makes a great thing to have. In this case I've used the trees in the window to give that dappled light effect.
Something new
I've seen people vaping and the amount of 'smoke' they blow out always fascinates me. I wanted to get a shot of someone doing it so kept an eye on this chap and waited for my moment!
Something newI've seen people vaping and the amount of 'smoke' they blow out always fascinates me. I wanted to get a shot of someone doing it so kept an eye on this chap and waited for my moment!
Something borrowed
I'd read that rather than saying 'cheese' to get people to smile to instead say 'whisky' (for an adult group shot) as it's more appealing and therefore creates a natural smile. It certainly worked as they said it unprompted for some other shots after this!
Something borrowedI'd read that rather than saying 'cheese' to get people to smile to instead say 'whisky' (for an adult group shot) as it's more appealing and therefore creates a natural smile. It certainly worked as they said it unprompted for some other shots after this!
Something blue
It had to be the gorgeous blue sky with weather like this!
Something blueIt had to be the gorgeous blue sky with weather like this!
More photos from the day -
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