Gathered Together – My Favourite Wedding Photos of 2012
Do I ever get tired of shooting weddings?
Nope.
But I do get tired from shooting weddings.
Despite what ‘Uncle Bob’, with his big camera might think, if you’re not exhausted when you come home from a photographing a wedding, you’re not doing your job properly!
When I’m right in the thick of a busy wedding season it’s hard to take stock of every single photo, but having a break to plan my year ahead and look back on the one just gone, it’s been nice to have the opportunity go through all the shots from 2012 and pull out some of my favourites.
I’ve not tried to crowbar them into a particular theme, venue, or stylistic hook, they’re just the ones that make me smile, get a lump in my throat and, in one or two cases, take my breath away…
Beautifully-blinged Jimmy Choos
On the whole weddings are fun and upbeat places to hang out on a weekend, and one of my favourite parts of the day is being with the bridal party while they get ready. It gets me warmed-up and, as well as snapping a few detail shots, it helps the bride, her bridesmaids and family get used to me and the camera as they get on with preparing for the main business of the day.
Capturing Harriet in her old grey T-shirt provided a nice context for the transformation to come
Emily and her bridesmaids in their personalised dressing gowns
Laura, her mum and Scarlet the bridesmaid as their preparations spread out to every room in the house
Make-up, mirrors and being laced into big floaty dresses – it is all photogenic stuff and is never more emotionally charged than on the morning of the wedding.
An old work colleague of mine, and a fellow ginger, Lucy made a stunning bride
Natalie at Nailcote
Saira being laced up before tying the knot
An army of bridesmaids is essential for a final primp and preen
Emily and her mum have a bit of a moment
A lovely shot of Joanna giving her lip the slightest of nervous chews
Bouquets ready to go, with garlands of paper hearts
It’s not always the women. If a bride and groom are getting ready at the same venue, or live close by, there’s sometimes the opportunity to capture the Groom getting ready too.
I love these pics of Simon in his room at Brownsover Hall – he really was this happy all day!
Once everyone is set, if there’s time, and the environment is right, and if the bride is up for it, I sometimes take a few posed portraits before the car turns up
An epic landscape painting made an impromptu backdrop for this stunning portrait of Saira
There’s something a bit pre-Raphaelite about this shot of Helen
There’s often a special moment when the Father of the Bride sees his daughter in her dress for the first time. I have to admit, since my own Dad died in February last year, these shots have taken on a much deeper poignancy.
A genuinely candid moment of Joanna and her Dad
The Bridal party leave Walton Hall
If I have been booked to cover all the preparations, it can sometimes be a bit of a race to the venue to arrive before the Bride. It’s nice get some shots of the expectant Groom and guests arriving when I can.
Everything set for the arrival of the Bride
Despite another rainy Summer, I was quite lucky with the breaks in the weather
Laura’s sister Ella arrives at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford
There’s always someone muscling in on my job
Waiting for their big entrance
Different churches have different rules on what parts of a wedding service I can photograph – some are strict, where others are pretty relaxed – hovever all registrars in Warwickshire request that all photographers follow the same guidelines. During a civil ceremony I am limited to; the bride entering, the exchange of rings, the kiss and shots pretending to sign the register.
A kiss in the elaborate church at Princethorpe College and one in the gatehouse at Kenilworth Castle
A great kissy pic of Andy and Sarah at Fawsley Hall
This year I was honoured to cover my first civil partnership. I really hope to get the chance to do more and I hope they are all as warm, funny and lovely as Becky and Louise’s day was.
The happiest of couples – Becky and Louise
The middle of England is blessed with some great places to get married – whether it’s a traditional church, stately home, converted barn or a castle or two. I certainly got to visit more quiet corners of Warwickshire, Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire than ever this year.
Saira and Justin outside their cute little church near Solihull
Laura and Nick arriving in style at Clopton House
The formal Elizabethan Garden at Kenilworth Castle and the more rustic grounds of Crockwell Farm
A cracking shot of Siobhan and Karl outside a little shop in Bretforton, Gloucestershire
Harriet and Lee looking relaxed in the countryside around Wethele Manor
A great view of Warwickshire from The Bell at Alderminster
Joanna and guests on the lawn at Walton Hall
Every fairytale princess needs a castle
Maria and Howard on high ground as the sun goes down
Laura gets the conga started
Marquees are a common feature at a lot of weddings, and some are prettier than others. They can create odd colour casts and the polythene windows and support struts can be distracting, however if the weather is right it’s like shooting in a giant diffused lightbox.
Emily and Chris in a quiet unguarded moment, in a marquee
Laura and Nick wait to be announced at their wedding breakfast
Guests check out a display of the couple’s snaps
Nick gets an update from his Best Man
I’m never happier than when any group photos are over and I am left to roam the celebrations and snap the guests. As my job involves focusing on faces I always find it interesting to spot family resemblances from generation to generation.
Little men scrubbed up for the big day
Candid moments
Not sure of the collective noun for a group of ladies in big hats, but here are some
Smiles, camera… action
Couples go to lots of effort to personalise their wedding and give their guests a unique experience, something I wholeheartedly endorse, especially with the blank canvas of a marquee.
Hats off to the happy couple
Bunting of all hues and styles was a popular touch at most of the weddings I attended this year
Drinking straws from Cat and Tom’s wedding and Laura and Simon’s exquisite cake
I try not to use flash at a reception, unless I absolutely have to. Not only does it irritate people, but the results are never that great. So when the sun goes down my primary light source disappears too.
As Warwickshire wedding venues go, they don’t come more iconic than one of our castles
Available light and moving objects make the first dance tricky, but the results can be quite atmospheric
Walton Hall at the end of a long day
Big thanks to all the couples, their families and the venues I had the pleasure of working with last year.
I’m looking forward to my first wedding of 2013 in Lapworth on Saturday and watching the skies wondering whether it’ll be my first snowy one too.
Cheers
RS x
If you’d like to know more about my wedding photography please visit www.rachelspiveyweddings.co.uk
Rachel Spivey Photographer 
Ok – I don’t mind admitting that I cried at my desk looking at these – a truly stunning collection of some beautiful moments. And we made the cut! 🙂 Best wishes to everyone for their big days in 2013 – I know you’ll do a great job at capturing their special days and I look forward to seeing more of your work soon x