I have an engagement ring handed to me and it is suggested that I might wish to photograph it.

I ask the ring,

where would you wish to pose.

 

it points excitedly at the flowers,

ok my friend - pose on the bouquet then.

Owner of the ring above appears in the doorway,
sporting a nifty crown shaped headpiece.

Caroline, smiling.

 

as she should !

- it's her wedding day !

Time travel allows us to whizz forward to the church,

the bride has just walked up the aisle, followed by her bridesmaids,

and a little usher - overwhelmed by it all,

glances back towards us.

Our Bride and groom emerge to find it's raining,

but they're still smiling !

fine weather would be nice - but in this country we're rather used to rain

 

at least it wasn't hail snow sleet or a hundred other things

(cats n dogs ?)

The shower eases off enough to allow bride and groom
to make a dash for the car.

 

Where the helpful driver suggests putting the roof down for a photograph.

brave move - considering the weather !

so we fill the car up with confetti !

Raindrops on the window - sunshine in the smile !

Caroline and Graham arrive at Headlam,

cars draw up to the front entrance

(a pair of old iron gates magically open to allow this)

 

hang on - wasn't the photographer still at the church, photographing the departure ?

 

 

shortly after - we find our groom rehearsing his speech.

he isn't posing - just captured by a maniac with a camera.

A young man,
dressed very much as an adult,
shows his true age
with a childs gentle and curious gaze.

Graham really liked this shot.

a flower, part of a table decoration,
with all the magic of a wedding reception behind it.

Graham socialises with family and friends,

showing the table decoration mentioned above
(in the foreground).

A quiet walk in the garden
produces one or two pictures.

The register is signed in the smallest Vestry in the world.

why are they called Vestries ?

do vicars keep their vests in them or something ?

 

anyhow - as the helpful vicar pointed out - there's not much room to take photographs in here.

 

So I stand on a chair

oh god - be careful Alan - it's a 17th century antique,

but the vicar said I could do it . . . .

 

Ooh it's cold outside - the rain has stopped but it's very shivery.

 

OK then - how many people can we cram into this room for a quick family picture or two ?

And

 

in case the bride wishes
to examine the speech notes afterwards.

 

a quick detail picture showing the speech . .

(only joking - I'm sure that she wouldn't do that !)

The dance floor at Headlam is a bit exposed
(as far as photography is concerned)

so I locate a trellis thingy (technical term)

the trellis thingy is located in the corner of the dance floor and conceals a loudspeaker,
the trellis thingy is about 2metres high and has plants growing up it.

Oddly enough, the trellis thingy also had a photographer hiding behind it -
poking his lens through a gap in order to take a picture of our couple dancing - without being too obtrusive.

taking pictures whilst crouching next to a flippng big loudspeaker gave my ears an interesting ringing sensation, which persisted almost all the way home . . .

never mind . .
got the picture !.

 

I'm not sure how old Headlam is.

I've seen this type of water feature
in gardens dating back to Tudor times,
would this make it a Renaissance feature ?

I'm in danger of using big words that I don't understand here . ..

Anyway, I liked the reflections in the long water feature
they have the regular solid appearance of the architecture of a man called Lutyens.

(just take my word for it. it's true).

an image which is mainly mood,

very little of the picture consists of the subjects (the couple).

tall dark brooding topiary closes in
protecting a couple in love.

 

oh heck. words aren't very good at describing this picture.

I think that it's a picture to dream by.

it speaks for itself.

It's essential to get a picture of the back of a wedding dress.

 

why ?

because the lady won't see it herself and it's often a really decorative feature.

 

so why not make a picture of it !