I first met Marie and Allan at a wedding fair about 18 months ago and we got chatting and they were telling me all of their wedding day plans. There was talk of a medieval banquet, crazy costumes, knights and swords and all sorts of weird and whacky stuff. I thought, wow, I really really need to be their wedding photographer and I was so chuffed that they picked me. We added each other on Facebook and I started building up a picture of these two love birds for myself. It was apparent that Marie and Allan had known each other for a long time but with one thing and another it had taken them until now to be as a couple. They are made for each other, with their same taste in music, festivals, medieval reenactment it was perfect.
The wedding plans were all under way but then a family tragedy struck and things were put on hold. Marie's Uncle Kevin whom she adored, had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Marie was so close to him and this was devastating news. He passed not long after and the wedding date was changed.
When Marie and Allan were ready though, we hooked up for their engagement shoot. Because of their love of castles and ruins, they chose Chester for their shoot. I had photographed here before and suggested Grosvenor Park and the ruins next to it. So much history here. We picked a gorgeous day for it and met up ... I had so many ideas for this shoot ... turns out they did too.
They brought along their dragon puppets and a medieval sword ... they both came in character and I brought my lens ball as I knew their love for the film, Labyrinth, and we had a brilliant few hours.
The Wedding Day
The wedding day was finally here. It was a themed wedding ... the theme or should I say themes was a mixture of Game of Thrones, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Labyrinth, and Lord of The Rings. Everyone was coming in costume and so I knew that I had to too. I'm sucker for a fancy dress anyway and there was only one person I wanted to be - Daenerys Targaryen. I donned my wig and my blue outfit, packed my camera's and lights and was ready for action.
I drove to Marie's dads house and was warmly greeted by King Richard ... of course I was !! All the girls were getting ready in the living room and I went about my business photographing the amazing dress that had found Marie on a visit to a charity shop, along with the GOT inspired cloak which she had lovingly covered in feathers. The bridesmaids were all in the prettiest of pastel dresses and the flowers, complete with pictures of loved ones who had passed, matched the theme beautifully. Marie looked stunning as she posed for her bridal photo on the stairs at her dads house ... and then off we went ....
Marie and Allan had chosen the Hartford Golf Club in Northwich for their hand fasting ceremony .... and what an amazing set up they had going on there. It was to be the golf clubs first wedding in their newly built rooms. As was Marie and Allan's vision, the room had been set up as a medieval banquet, with all the tables very long and each with amazing themes. The centre piece for the top table was a cows skull and of course a dragon skull. The room looked like nothing I have ever seen before !!! Amazing.
Marie arrived in her Uncle Kevin's camper van with her dad and Gracie. Another special moment. The hand fasting ceremony was held outside, watched by all sorts of characters including Harry Potter, John Snow, various Medieval ladies and dragons. Marie's dad walked her down the isle to Allan, both dressed handsomely in their kilts. The ceremony was fabulous and R2D2 brought the rings down the isle to the couple. After the register was signed, Marie and Allan exited through a sword arch of The Knights of Conwy.
The party started and the wedding photographs were in full flow ... people wanting pictures together, the bridal party, sitting upon the iron throne, Harry Potters gathering .. I didn't know where to turn to first - it was amazing ... so much to capture. We took the opportunity of a clear fairway on the golf course to have some photoshop fun and get some of the guests running away from one of the dragons from Game of Thrones ... just a bit of a giggle, but it turned out great and even the Northwich Guardian decided to put it in their newspaper.
The medieval banquet went down a storm and plenty of ale was supped throughout - just in time for the singing waiters and a good old knees up. A magician arrived to keep the banqueters happy and everyone was dancing around the tables. After food we managed to sneak off for some wedding portraits whilst the band were setting up ... We were able to incorporate the all important camper van in some of them (complete with a couple of the men having a snooze in it).
The day went so fast and before we knew it, we were rocking out the first dance and daddy daughter dance to tunes from The Bohemian Kings, before nipping out again to catch the sun setting over the golf course. What a brilliant end to an out of this world wedding ..... I stayed for a drink and a boogie but couldn't wait to get home to start working on these images ...
Today is Marie and Allan's first anniversary and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to write this blog so that I could re-live it all over again. Happy Anniversary and May the Fourth be with you ..... always !!!!
