I haven’t yet written a blog post about events or weddings I’ve shot, but this one couldn’t just go by without a full gush-sesh. It was wonderful and I am still bursting with love for these two incredible human beings. They bring love and energy to all situations and their kind souls and passion for life make them two of the warmest people I have ever met.
A couple of years ago, I walked into a little bridal boutique in Penarth. I hadn’t had good experiences of bridal shops, but had a feeling this one might be different.
Fast forward to - 2 years later, this wonderful woman (owner of that bridal boutique! ), one morning over lunch at our fave local cafe, Wild Thing, asking me to photograph their intimate ceremony in Aberystwyth. Oh, and it was all a surprise!
Rachel and Jon held their surprise wedding under the guise of an anniversary party. With 130 of their friends and family, they announced that, in fact, we were all there to celebrate their wedding day! It was the most wonderfully happy, emotional and beautiful evening.
A couple of days later, I met Rachel and Jon at the National Library of Wales for their official signing on the dotted line. The weather had been promising thunderstorms, and the beautiful library was in the middle of full renovation - inside and out! Did they care? No!
If you’ve ever visited the National Library of Wales, you’ll know that its walls hold so much history, culture and beauty, that some scaffolding outside isn’t the end of the world. There are so many beautiful alcoves, stairways and ceiling-height windows to choose from, we were truly spoilt for choice.
More than just the meaningful location, was how amazing the happy couple looked. I mean - thanks guys, you really nailed the whole vintage vibe, and made my job easy. Some of these images look like they could have been taken on D-Day! Rachel’s vintage suit paired with her trademark winged eye was iconic, and Jon’s dusky pink suit with the grandad shirt? Effortlessly cool!
I also have to mention the flowers - which, when I first saw them from afar, I thought had to be faux - they were too beautiful to be real, surely?! But no, no, they were 100% genuine. That combo of the flowers - the gold Daffodils with the blue forget-me-nots, with Rachel’s delicate wedding band? I JUST CAN’T! Stunning.
Having worked with Rachel on styled shoots, it was pretty easy (and fun!) to find the right settings for our relaxed portrait session too. I think by now, Rachel understands the crazy excitement I get from finding a window with natural light pouring in, and trusts that the excitement will pay off.
There was one final thing that we all wanted to achieve, but the weather had been threatening us all morning. We had managed to get the confetti shots (and Rach ate a fair amount of rose petals during!), but we wanted to try and get some shots down at Aberystwyth harbour. Dark clouds were rolling in, and rain had started spitting onto the front steps of the Library. Should we try?
DAMN RIGHT WE’RE GONNA TRY!
As we arrived at the empty car park, the wind and rain were truly testing us. Now, for myself and Josh (husband and camera assistant/floor manager extraordinaire) it didn’t matter if we got battered by the weather - but for these two dapper beauties, you’d think they’d be worried about ruining clothes/makeup/shoes?! Then I remembered who they are. Badass creatives.
You won’t find one image here where either Rachel or Jon aren’t holding onto Rachel’s fascinator!
These rockstars prove that not a drop of rain could dampen their precious day. And looking at these now, I think you’ll agree that the weather only adds to the already romantic imagery told by the expressions of these two rays of sunshine.
Llongyfarchiadau RB a Jonboy. To thunderstorms and surprise weddings! xxx
