I am stood in the kitchen of Alice’s house. More accurately, the house of Alice’s childhood. Decades of breakfasts, Christmas mornings, birthdays and the everyday hum of family life have been served by the back drop of this beautiful family home. Two days after the wedding, Alice will go to live in Australia with her new husband. Her dad turns to me and says “I am going to miss her so much.” It’s within these tiny moments that I look around with wonder and curiosity and be so very thankful for being welcomed into somebody’s home on a wedding day.

Alice and Richard were set up on a date by their mutual friend, and later on their best man, Arunan. Whilst Richard was working in Sierra Leone, Alice went over to visit him and whilst visiting Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, after dinner on the first night Rich got down on one knee and proposed.

Their wedding day was simply stunning. A ceremony at Minsterley church near the bride’s hometown in the Shropshire countryside followed by a fairy light laden extravaganza at Pimhill Barn on the outskirts of Shrewsbury – a rustic barn venue very much suiting anyone who wants a DIY wedding. They chose Tolkien themed tables, pretty pink flowers, two cakes (one made of cake, one made of cheese) and gorgeous delicate details, plus more fairy lights than you can shake a stick at. They hired a super cool American car, a camper van and two vintage buses to transport everyone too. The January weather was dry and so we headed around the grounds of Pimhill to take some informal portraits of the couple before heading in for speeches and dancing – a beautiful father/daughter dance and the couple’s fun first dance to Bruno Mars.

Massive thanks to the awesome wedding ninja, Helen Howard, for second shooting with me.

Suppliers:

Florist: Anne Whysall from Pontesbury

Make Up Artist: The Beauty Box, Laura

Hairdresser: Beautiful Brides by Kim

Dress shop/dress designer: Wedding World Shrewsbury dress designed by Alan Hannah

Suit Hire: Attire

Videographer: Nick Boy

DJ: Funkmania

Second Shooter: Helen Howard