Terry and Lauren 24/06/2023
Lauren first got in touch through my website in the August before their wedding after I had been recommended to her. The first thing that made me so excited for their wedding was their choice of wedding cars... a pair of vintage fiats! As someone who had recently "upgraded" their Fiat 500 for a Land Rover, I was sorely missing my sweet little car and so I was instantly thinking of ways to incorporate them into the photos.
I booked in a phone call with both of them to discuss their plans in more detail and hear all about their ideas and what they wanted from me. During this call they told me about their venue, Bolton School and at first all I could picture was my high school. I furiously googled so that I could understand the vision and I was pleasantly surprised, and in person, it was absolutely breath taking.
I met Lauren, her mum and her bridesmaids at her hotel, Last Drop Village Hotel and Spa on the morning of the big day and I was greeted with such warmth and excitement. Everyone was buzzing round getting hair and make up done whilst popping champagne and giggling together. Lauren and her bridesmaids wore matching dressing gowns that I think always look adorable! I took photos of Laurens shoes, jewellery and all the other little touches before it was time for Lauren to put it all on with her gawjus, classically chic wedding dress. Laurens dress was a stunning form fitting vintage look and she wore pearl hair clips that complimented the style beautifully. Her bridesmaids wore a dusky pink that reminded me so much of one of my favourite films, Bridesmaids. Then it was time to meet her Dad, make him cry with pride, and make our way out to the Fiats (lets just brush over the panic moment where I left my camera bag, including my car keys, in the locked room and the key had already left with Laurens mum to the wedding! lots of running and panicked begging of the reception staff to give me a spare and then we were on our way!)
I pulled up at All Saints Church in Bolton and was taken aback by the sheer height of the building, I have always been brought up to appreciate the architecture of churches, they are absolutely fantastic to look at and this one was one of the best I've seen. I met with the vicar and the people who would be running the wedding, they were all so sweet and helpful, letting me know I can stand anywhere I want or walk around anywhere I need to. Then I met Terry at the front, doing his best impression of someone who wasn't nervous whilst we waited for Lauren to arrive (only a little vintage Fiat car trouble on the way).
The ceremony was conducted by a fabulous vicar who made everyone laugh throughout with her little jokes, stories and general warmth. Terry and Lauren lit a ceremonial candle, exchanged rings and vows and of course Terry kissed the bride before they made their way back up the aisle for a confetti walk.
Terry and Lauren arrived at Bolton School house in their cute Fiats to the cheers of their guests who had gathered around the huge courtyard to greet them. We took some group shots with the Fiats before waving them off. Whilst photographing Lauren with her Bridesmaids I just couldn't help singing Wilson Philips and thankfully, they all got my reference and joined in, dance moves and all!
It was then time to take the newlyweds off just the three of us (and one bridesmaid to floof a train) for some portraits. I've said it before and I will say it again, I absolutely love this portion of the day! It gives them a chance to be (mostly) alone together after they have just promised to be together forever and it gives me a chance to be creative and take artistic control a little bit. I still love to keep it natural, I will give them little prompts to guide them into poses but really I am looking for that point when one of them feels silly and lets out a real laugh, then they are both laughing and just being themselves together.
Their wedding reception room was filled with little bits of their personalities popping out with each table being based on a different musical, from Heathers to Phantom of the Opera. I absolutely loved seeing a tiny replica of the Fiats made out of Lego on their Guest book table too! Which was also sitting next to a Tardis. Of course.
The little sprays of dried flowers dotted around the room were such a sweet little addition and the piece de resistance ... a towering pile of Donuts!
I was treated to a delicious and warming meal of Veggie sausages and all the roast dinner trimmings whilst Terry and Lauren ate with their guests. I got a chance to look through my photos and I decided I absolutely had to get them back out into the courtyard for some more portraits as we had been cut a little short earlier on and they had desperately wanted to have photographs in front of an impressive stair case and stained glass windows.
We re-joined their guests, who were staring to dance and mingle and generally have a lovely time in the evening sun outside. One of the coolest things about the reception room at Bolton School is that they have huge double doors that open up the whole wall onto a garden which opens up the space so nicely. The DJ arrived and started a game of Mr & Mrs involving shoes and good dollop of embarrassment! Then the music started and the dancing began! Before we knew it, it was time for the first dance, the adorable Dad and Daughter dance (everyone tearing up) and the pulling apart of a Donut before Terry and Lauren broke in to a choreographed dance routine that had me and their guests laughing and cheering. Then I said my goodbyes and I made my exit under the most epic toy story clouds you could imagine!
Thank you for having me!!
