Brocket Hall hosted the Wedding of Vikky and Ruairi,
close to Welwyn, Herts - or Hertfordshire if you're being formal . .
Brocket Hall is the centrepiece of a rather large estate which was inspired by Capability Brown.

enough of the introduction . . on to the wedding . .
our wedding took place at St Mary's church in Old Amersham, Bucks.

( I know I'm based in Northumberland - but I'll go anywhere for a lovely wedding . .
the UK isn't such a big place anyway - a few hours in the car and you can be anywhere you like . . . )

The day started early with some pictures at Vikkys parents house in Amersham.

Here we see Vikky, having gotten herself into 'the dress' and being admired by her bridesmaid.

I bumble around the place, homing in on shoes and smiles.

above - we have a smile !

In the porch of the Church in Old Amersham, we find the guys organising things.

It all happens so quickly doesn't it !

before we know where we are - cars arrive, Vikki and her father pop out,

and with bridesmaids - make a bee line for the church door !

that Dress simply sweeps through the doorway !

Yours truly finds himself a place at a discrete distance from proceedings.

(who wants to watch a photographer at a wedding ?)

I tend to lurk / wander about out of sight as much as possible.

However - telephoto lenses are a definite help in this situation . .

this picture was taken from the same spot as the one above it.

The vicar was a really nice guy.
I got the impression that he really wanted everyone to enjoy the wedding,
he didn't stand up and preach at everyone - he took a stool and made himself comfortable for a sort of chat.

whether it was a special approach for today, or whether it's his usual approach, I have no idea.

it did work. Everyone felt welcome.

The long lens popped into action again and found a really touching set of 3 hands (picture to the left).

set of 3 hands you ask . . . what sort of people were they ??

Flippin cheerful happy ones.

I can vouch for it.

Here's Vikky and Ruairi cruising out of the church.

(along with a complete set of 4 hands).

4 hands you ask . . .

oh . . . I give up . . don't go there. . .

The picture above looks really well posed.

the interesting thing is.

it wasn't.

it was real.

I was just lucky enough to be standing there at the time.

yes. you had to get a picture of Brocket Hall.

I'd raced from the church to the reception at some silly speed,
guided only by a mad satnav which kept on saying.

redirection . . . turn left . . .

oh well. maps in car were a good standby.

I got there first anyway - which was the general plan.

then found two extremely happy smiling people popping out of a car . .

We take a few family pictures, for the record . .

what you can't see very well in this picture . . . . is the weather.

in the distance, despite the sunshine beaming down on us, there was a thunderstorm rumbling away.

and it was approaching.

the problem was that we wanted a picture of everyone.

well . everyone was there, except for some unfortunate guests who got stuck in traffic or lost
or misdirected by a satnav which said REDIRECTION - TURN LEFT.

(Hah - I didn't fall for that one - I've heard it before !)

so . as the thunderstorm rumbled, lightning flickered,
we assembled everyone EXCEPT the missing guests, for a picture.

then . . like the cavalry arriving in a movie,

a mini appeared in a cloud of dust, bouncing down the road toward us.

I took on the role of parking attendant,

and waved the unfortunate guests, car and all, into the front of our picture.

You can't see it from here - but they're grinning from ear to ear - as is everyone else !

A quick mad crowd picture, as thindery clouds

heck - not thindery - thundery

clouds spitting lightning

(REALLY !)

roll towards us.

Sploosh.

rain falls like cats and dogs.

well . . . .. cats and dogs falling from the sky would probably go splat, not sploosh,
but never mind,
the general effect was an awful lot of water deluging from the heavens -
various mystic christian types were probably manning their arks at this point,
the guests simply manned the champagne glasses. much more sensible.

Hey . this place is lovely inside !

our friends pop into the dining room and check the wedding breakfast preparations.

I follow - being curious - and obtain a couple of pictures

we explore a bit and find that Brocket has a rather lovely landing at the top of the stairs

what do we say - Vikky and her chap go exploring . . .

meanwhile .

an absolutely lovely little bridesmaid
is watching us from the top of the stairs . .

through her little eyes - this must be like a fairytale .

ah . the dining room fills with guests, I take a picture to give a general overview,

then - I retire - to a rather lovely meal courtesy of Vikky and Ruairi.

thanks chaps.

sustenance really appreciated.

I was summoned by the butler as speeches began . . pictures below.

during the speeches we hear that Vikky and Ruairi - both Doctors,
met over a dissection table.

their eyes met over a lady called Dead Doris . . .

oh well - it must have been . . kind of . . . romantic . . . .

The lovely bridesmaid seen in the first picture also gave a speech.

she's caught here with a very very very long lens. (yes - that was 3 verys)

(picture to below was taken from the same position)

the huge benefit of using such a long lens is unobtrusiveness.

I'm sure that she wasn't aware of the photographer.

Enough of such lens talk.

who cares anyway - it's for the photographer chap to worry about . .

in the following pictures, we see that the deluge has stopped,
(witness the little puddles . . .wet ground . . . see it ! )

hah - you'll be a regular Sherlock by the time you've
checked the pictures - collected the evidence - deduced . .

You can deduce that this couple really have a passion for each other.

it's written all over them,
in the way they look at each other,

in the beaming smiles . .

I catch Vikky in a doorway -

I say - staythereaminnit,

pop - take a picture - then go wandering off looking for more pictures.

Its god knows what time in the evening and she's STILL SMILING !!!!

Aha . . . . much dancing ensues

I find that the band are playing in front of a Van Dyke

(Van Dyke being court painter to Charles II as I recall -
not that I was around then - I just look that old . . )

I mentioned this to the band.

they said - nah - don't think it's real.

I checked with the staff .

the painting IS real

oh well - as long as it's appreciated . .

I slip away into the night, very tired

but with a mind filled with lovely memories.

and in the entrance hall,

laid out, as if in a still life

are Vikky's veil and bouquet.

(p.s. check the size of the flower arrangements behind - they're huge).

I quickly take a picture

then stumble across the gravel to find my car.

thank you Vikky and Ruairi.

a lovely day, and one to remember.