Enough of such frivolity.

Norman indeed . . . . .

 

Here we see proceedings begin to proceed.

the vicar (well - Canon actually)

herds our bridal party toward the main body of the Cathedral, where a gentleman called Mark waits nervously at the altar.

The building being rather massive

the walk to the church door can include a trip through the cloisters.

(o.k. if you pick me up on the use of the word church for a Cathedral,
you're being picky - anyway I think it's still a Church - sort of . . .)

I'm sticking to my guns on that one - I'm sure that the Canon would support me.

 

 

Wow . what an entrance

what a ceiling.

what a long walk to the altar !

 

hordes of tourists are at this moment being held back by the church officials.

 

(using tasers and electric prods)

well - maybe.

whatever they did worked.

no one bothered us.

though we were vaguely aware that we seemed to be a bit of a tourist attraction.

dozens of pairs of eyes glinted through the gloom at us from the other end of the cathedral

The cathedral has rules about photography.

so we're allowed to take - well . . shall we say

some . . .

photographs.

the register is signed in an aisle and the Canon
has thoughtfully placed the table in a delightful shaft of sunlight
which beams through a stained glass window.

at first I thought - devilish difficult to photograph . . ..

 

then I thought - HEY that's beautiful.

it isn't the standard 'signing the register' picture.

 

but then again. I'm not really keen on standard pictures anyway.

we're allowed to take pictures as Samantha and Mark emerge.

this is called the recessional if you're into terminology.

if not - it's called walking down the aisle . .

 

anyway - the place is so darned vast - they look like a dot in the distance.

Yes - the helpful Cathedral staff told me where to stand with my camera.
(they have various rules that they need to operate within - such is life).

.

actually - they were VERY helpful -

so if any of 'em read this,

thank you guys and gals - I really appreciated your help on the day.

after a marathon hike down the aisle with refreshment breaks at intervals.

(someone ought to have laid on a coach - the aisle was so long !)
Sam and Mark appear - bridesmaids close on their heels.

Th

We take some formal family pictures

this is one of the series

then we take lots of reportage photographs
as family and friends relax and socialise - fuelled by bubbly !

A platoon of uniformed chaps appeared around a corner
we instantly nobbled them for a picture.

and in true Harry Potter fashion -

their hats levitated.

strange . . . . .

Marks mum Linda is somehow involved here . . . . .
(she's the lovely lady in the hat behind Sam & Mark)

Since I enjoy taking photographs,
we use the opportunity to take one or two.

 

Even the gentle walk,
returning to the Cathedral area

looks lovely in this light.

or does it simply look lovely through my camera.

 

dunno.

but it definitely looked beautiful to me.

Wending their way back up to Chorister school,
Mark and Samantha have a little time to themselves.

Ah - stop there I yell -

I take a quick picture,
then Samantha walks through the doorway.

 

I love this old building.
everything on different levels
even the old drainpipes give a kind of wireframe structure to the image.

our brides mum and bridesmaids make last minute adustments to the dress

the Canon is parked in the doorway

bridesmaids are poised to . . .

 

(well . . . . . . . to do whatever bridesmaids do).

The summer day being hot and long,
we stroll down to a bridge over the river,
where Samantha and Mark peer over the parapet.

The Cathedral in which they married only an hour ago is peeking over the trees.

do cathedrals peek ?

I'm not sure about that one.

perhaps they just . . err . .. . . well . .. sort of . . loom.

 

 

We get to play with pictures again,
I don't take too long - but it is rather good fun - Samantha is smiling !

 

I like this picture not only for it's depth and perspective - but because it has atmosphere.
something you can't always simply 'add'.

(the camera doesn't have an 'add atmosphere button'
so, oddly enough, the photographer has to go looking fo it !).

Last picture of the day

 

what are they all laughing at ?

 

umm . . . . . . . . count the girls legs . . .

 

Thank you Sam and Mark for allowing me to be part of it all.
your guests were incredibly sociable and very good company,

and thank you also for the food !

Two hats address one another

observed by a smiling Samantha.

The smile I mentioned above is visible here.

 

you can also see that wonderful thing

 

atmosphere.

you can't always put your finger on it -
but you know it when you see it.

our beautiful girl heads for the Cathedral door

 

 

Ah - nobbled by the cloisters.