A stunning vintage wedding day with plenty of love and laughter in the rain

One of the things that I believe most couples will stress over in the run up to their special day is the weather.  Despite the fastidious amount of planning that goes into each wedding, there is one thing that we have no control over and that is the good old British weather!

I have photographed weddings in every kind of weather, including six inches of fresh snow, driving rain, a hurricane and scorching bright sunshine; even my own wedding day took place on a very wet day in October.  However, what was falling from the skies became a secondary consideration to what our day was really about.

Have I ever seen the weather ruin a wedding day?  The simple answer is no.  Even the recent wedding at Wentworth Castle Gardens which made the National news saw a Bride and Groom embrace the hand they were dealt, and with true British grit and determination they made the best of it. Their love for each other transcended anything that Mother Nature threw their way. Instead of letting it ruin their day; they kicked off their shoes, jumped into the puddles and made their day even more memorable for all the right reasons. 

The wedding day of Chris and Sarah wasn’t quite as bad as Wentworth, but it rained, and rained… and then it rained some more.

I have known Chris and Sarah for only a relatively short time, but in that time I have felt like they have been friends and part of my life for years.

Sarah is one of the most caring and generous people I know, with a heart as big as the ocean. Chris is equally as lovely and they absolutely adore one another and compliment each other so beautifully.  Their relationship has established itself over many years and the fact that they tied the knot after such an interesting courtship made humorous content for the best man’s speech.

Prior to her recent business venture which now sees Sarah owning her own Vintage Boutique in Bakewell,  Sarah was a teacher at the very prestigious private school of Mount St Mary’s at Spinkhill near Chesterfield. Through her connections Sarah and Chris had privileged access to the stunning Catholic Chapel within the school and it was the setting for their exchanging of vows.

After the ceremony the guests made their way down the M1 to the beautiful venue of Swancar Farm on the outskirts of Nottingham. It is one of my favourite wedding venues and boasts an amazing rustic hall, fully beamed with exposed brick walls and clever ambient lighting, it’s stunning!

The weather, despite its persistence didn’t spoil the day.  Yes it made it so that we had to change a few timings around and make a few adjustments for some of the group photos, but the couple were so gracious and understanding and never once let it get in the way of their celebrations. They even joined us outside, braving the rain under the umbrella and the results were so worth it.

With creative collaborations from lots of amazing suppliers from the most awesome pork pie and cheese cake wedding cake from the Cheese Factory in Chesterfield

Hair and Make up from the very talented Julia Jeckell Hair and Beauty

The stunning, fragrant bouquets of fresh lavender supplied by JJs Flowers

The bride’s first wedding gown from Nora Eve Bridal Boutique

The Bride’s exquisite brooch bouquet, second gown and shoes, plus the groom’s stunning button hole and outfit from Pure Vintage Weddings of Bakewell, and Vintage Raven

The very entertaining video Marryoke by Elektra Films

Chris and Sarah, on behalf of myself and Charlie (who was my second shooter on the day) I would like to wish you both a lifetime of love and happiness for your bright, warm and fuzzy future together. No amount of rain, wind or hale will shake your solid foundations. You are both utterly adorable and I am so happy to call you my friends.

Love Marie x


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