After working in the wedding industry for nearly 5 years it regularly aggravates me how much bullshit there is that’s angled to make the bride feel like she is not enough as she is, and how now she is a ‘bride’ there is even more of an expectation (and let’s be frank, normal every day life is just enough) to look million dollar perfect. And by that I mean like the size 0 air brushed models plastered on the front of the magazines. There’s lists about body scrubs and facials and pedicures and tanning and diet plans – the list goes on. You might think the one day of your life you are marrying someone you adore and who adores you, you might be free from that kind of pressure but in fact it is just multiplied.

Relaxed and Laid back festival Wedding at Barnutopia Glamping Venue in Wales

Boho Festival Marquee Wedding

Writing this on a chilly January day makes summer feel VERY far away! Jenny & Antoni got married in September and it felt like such a perfect summery day - definitely helped by the fact that they opted for ice-creams in stead of canapes at their reception too! They had their legal ceremony on Friday in Shropshire and then celebrated with a boho marquee wedding at the family home the next day, with their Saturday ceremony being led by a close friend. I really love it when couples opt to do this, it means you can marry outside which is much less restricting and you have so many opportunities to make the ceremony more personal. Jenny and her bridesmaids wore pastel yellow and each had flower crowns (I’m such a sucker for a flower crown and they photograph so nicely!) and when they walked back down the aisle they brought their lovely little doggie!

Just look at these two beautiful faces!! I had such a brilliant time filming and photographing Emily & Johan’s wedding in August, along with my ace second shooter Faye Green. They had a ceremony at Old Downton Lodge in the beautiful old mill room and then enjoyed some delicious canapes on the lawn before heading to their tipi reception just outside Bromfield near Ludlow.

As soon as I walked into the tipi it was so clear how much work they’d put in creating a laid back and unique space for their guests. On each table was a little picnic basket filled with goodies for their wedding breakfast, and they even had homemade wine (decorated with photos from their engagement shoot with me!) The whole day was very relaxed, and as day turned into evening and they lit the fires and the music started up it was like a proper little festival.