
Mr and Mrs Todd
Married at Marwell Hotel
2nd August 2019
Getting Ready
Naomi always knew that she wanted to get ready at home. With 4 adult bridesmaids, 2 young bridesmaids and 2 young page boys, not to mention her mum, make up artist, hair stylist and myself, she felt it would be far more relaxed with more space for us all to spread into. Naomi had known from an early point that her Nan would not be able to join her on her special day, due to illness. I therefore suggested that she place photographs of her Nan around the house, so that she would be in the background of some of the photos. This was a big hit with Naomi and her family as she felt that her Nan had a prescence.
Naomi and James had chosen the themeas Beauty and the Beast, so I was particulary keen to capture as many of the details as possible, seeing as the Bride (normally) spends many hours researching, making and buying all the items that go towards this theme. Normally I would add this in later on in the blog, but it starts in this story with the shoes..
The Ceremony
The ceremony was a tale of two halves (rather than a tale as old as time – Beauty and the Beast theme! Get it? – ha ha ha). The first half was ceremony – a beautiful registrar ceremony with good friends reading the readings and two ex-pupils of both Naomi and James’ performing a beautiful duet while the happy couple signed the registers.
The second half was a blessing of the wedding. Naomi’s family are very good friends with the new Dean of Salisbury, the Very Reverand Nick Papadopulos, who was invited to bless the vows that Naomi and James had just taken. This was an incredibly personal and moving service which was just lovely.
The Reception
We were so lucky with the weather during the afternoon – it was lovely and warm and dry, so we were all able to make the most of being outdoors. Having never shot wedding photography at Marwell Hotel before, I was pleased to see some green landscape that we could all enjoy and utilise. I always try and spend some time with the bride and groom first, before we then invite others into the group shots and then finally everyone can relax and mingle whilst I take some candid shots.
The Speeches
The speeches, as will all weddings were gorgeous and beautifully personal. The Father of the Bride even managed to get James in a Pompey shirt whilst bantering about Saints (James’ team and Pompey Naomi’s team). Can’t see James ever getting in that shirt again!
The Details
Naomi and her Mother-In-Law had worked incredibly hard in the months leading up to the wedding, to create and collate appropriate Beauty and the Beast items to make the theme sing. And boy did they make it work! The cake was made by the incredible Nikki from Nikki B Cake Design and was just incredible! I’ve never seen a cake with its fairy own lights before – exquisite!
Although Naomi asked me to capture the details, I always do as a matter of course. These are the details that so many hours of planning and making go into, ther detils that can make a wedding so unbelievebly personal. As you can see from Naomi’s shoes, she has Grandad’s name included in the design so that she felt he was with her! What a beautiful sentiment.
The Party
James and Naomi chose to have a band playing at their eveing reception, and The Hatties did not disapppoint. They are an 8-piece band playing a mix of soul and Britpop and they had everyone dancing within minutes! Two of the members are the parents of the incredibly talented girls (Daisy and Nell) who sang during the ceremony, so it was lovely to have them all performing together at various points in the evening. It really was an amazing atmosphere and especially awesome at the end when the lead singer went for a little wander around the dance floor and was singing amongst the revellers!