Jenny and Frank's Wedding at Enterkine House

 

Back in 2006 I had the nerve-racking experience of photographing the wedding of another excellent wedding photographer whose work I greatly admired (and still do), Gail McCarthy. Luckily the wedding was lovely and Gail wasn't too critical and, since then, I have done several weddings from their family. The fourth wedding in a row was Jenny and Franks, on the 30th March earlier this year, and it was no less nerve-racking for me than Gail's wedding, until I heard that she was photographing a wedding of her own and wouldn't be there to pester me until much later in the evening. Phew.

Jenny was a bridesmaid for her sister Claire in 2009, whose wedding I photographed, so turning up at the family home was very nice for me as I felt I knew everybody so well and, just as importantly, knew that they would be as friendly and welcoming as you could hope for.

I loved the bridesmaid's bouquets. Jenny herself had real flowers but she had furnished her bridesmaids with lovely hand-made flowers which she herself had adorned with an array of brooches and pins to great effect. Very nice I thought!

Only very recently I have come up against a couple of quite stern ministers who have decided to forbid photography in their churches, despite the bride and groom being very keen for some pictures. Fortunately for my clients it isn't a particularly common problem but it is one that does seem to be becoming more prevalent as time goes by. As I said in my last post, it is very frustrating and is usually the result of a bad photographer disturbing the ceremony in the past. It can happen - I've seen it myself as a guest at a wedding.

The thing is, I am not one of those bad photographers and I try my very hardest to be as discreet as possible. After almost every wedding I shoot the bride and groom will remark that they didn't even know I had taken any pictures during the ceremony which, for me, is perfect and I know I have done a good job that day.

Anyway, rant over. At Jenny and Frank's wedding I could not have felt more welcomed by Reverend Father Eoin Patten at the church of St John the Evangelist in Barrhead. A modern church but very beautiful inside and, most importantly for a photographer, very bright and spacious. I was given free-reign to take whatever shots I desired, as long as I was discreet, and managed to quietly scurry about in the shadows to make the most of the lovely settings.

After the ceremony we all drove down to very sunny Ayrshire to Enterkine House for the reception. The house has a nice garden out the front, along with a lovely Woodland Lodge and this formed the backdrop for much of the formal photography. (It seems that some people, like me, like it and others don't. I am not sure whether Jenny persuaded Frank to spend the night, but I am sure he relented in the end).

After an afternoon spent flitting between the gardens and the marque taking pictures of as many people as I could whilst listening to the brilliant Strings Aloud quartet, who played a fabulous mix of traditional and pop-styled pieces, we finished the photography just before dinner with a large group shot of all of the guests. They were reluctant to form a nice neat bunch but we got there eventually.

After the speeches the guests amused themselves in front of the 'Photocube' - an automated version of me, but more plasticky. I didn't feel at all jealous as I enjoyed taking some shots of the guests photographing themselves adorned with a selection of tasteful accessories.

Jenny and Frank then started off the dancing in the evening with a spectacular first-dance (I would have expected nothing less, particularly as Jenny is a dance instructor) followed up by brilliant music from their band, the Unknowns.

NUVO Limousines - www.nuvolimos.co.uk

Findlay Make Up - www.findlaymakeup.co.uk

Coverwiz (chair covers) - www.coverwiz.co.uk

The Unknowns (wedding band) - www.theunknowns.co.uk

The Photocube - www.thephotocube.co.uk 
Enterkine House - http://www.enterkine.com/ 
Strings Aloud Quartet - http://www.stringsaloudquartet.co.uk/

Douglas and Gayle's Wedding at Glenbervie House Hotel

On the last day of March I had the pleasure of photographing the wedding of Gayle and Douglas at Glenbervie House Hotel. I knew that it would be a great day - not least of all because the bride and groom are two of the nicest people you are ever likely to meet (and it was sunny too!).

Whilst on their honeymoon Gayle and Douglas sent me a very lovely note:

"Hi Trevor,


We are currently sitting in the Maldives, having just spent the past 2 and a bit hours looking through your photographs (albeit on a very slow connection...) and we have to say they are amazing. They are so much more than we were hoping for and love every single one! You have captured the day so well and we know no other photographer could have done such a wonderful job - thank you.


We will catch up when we get home next week and again, thank you!


D & G"

Thank you very much guys!

The day began, for me, at another wedding venue, Airth Castle, where Gayle and some of her family were getting ready for the day ahead. Gayle's brother In law was there and certainly didn't manage to leave empty-handed - the poor chap was loaded up with several bags of 'critical' wedding paraphernalia. I myself didn't even manage to escape without a bag stuff either.

On this occasion I wasn't allowed to take any pictures during the ceremony. When this happens, fortunately it rarely does, it is hugely disappointing for myself and, I'm sure, the bride and groom as well. However, since my camera can be operated completely silently I did manage to sneak a little picture...

On my short list of requested photographs was a note from Gayle asking for a picture in the evening with the sun setting behind. Well, as the weather was kind enough to give us a sunset I prised the happy couple away from their dinner and we popped outside and took a few photographs quickly between courses. I think it was worth it as low, warm evening light like this can provide a little extra sparkle to a picture.

In fact, if weddings were planned around the photography, I would insist on 6pm ceremonies so that we were all out in the best light of the day for pictures.

The ceilidh band are definitely worth a little mention. Rather than the nice, but standard, ceilidh music you normally hear at a wedding their band, Bahookie, take things to a whole new level with fantastic results. It was certainly the first time I have seen the Gay Gordons danced to 'Breathe' by the Prodigy. I thought it worked rather well!

Useful Links:

Bahookie Ceilidh Band http://www.bahookie.org/

Glenbervie House Hotel http://www.glenberviehousehotel.com/

Hair and Makeup http://www.scmakeupartistry.co.uk/

Another Glenbervie Wedding:

http://trevorwilsonphotography.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Glenbervie