December wedding: Sunset @ 15:55 – Ceremony @ 17:00
Guess we’re shooting this one in the dark then :/

First ceremony at Goodwood House to take place in the Tapestry Room, with the wedding breakfast in the Egyptian room.
An intimate affair.

Rain on your wedding day? On a December day in Wales it’s almost guaranteed!

We met up with Phil and Catherine the day before their wedding in a grey and wet Malcesine. They looked a bit depressed. They had booked the whole wedding over the internet and this was their very first visit and they weren’t expecting the poor weather. Over a few cappuccinos we chatted and soon convinced them that Malcesine is magical whatever the weather. Mysterious in the mist, glorious in the sunshine. We came up with a plan which included a walk around the town after the meal. A chance for them to spend some time together and for us to capture the romance of Italy.

Busy. Moving the Janda Office and decorating in preparation for the arrival of the new Team Janda member in January. Migrating editing from PC to Mac, still have 7 weddings from 2011 to blog, several albums in the production line and a few more weddings to shoot before our last of the year on the 23rd December.

After reading photographer Jonas Petersons Mason Jar Manifesto, thought we’d try to strip it back a little.

Here’s a post with no Photoshop. It’s simply what Angela and I saw on the day.

Never seen siblings work so hard to make sure their sister had the perfect wedding. Very touching.

Finchampstead Church ceremony followed by DIY reception in the mother of the brides garden. Portraits taken in the street outside the house, and around the veggie patch at the back of the garden. Very organic.

No corn in the field. No water in the river.

But there’s love in the barn. (and space hoppers in the garden :)

We’ve never shot an average wedding. But some are more unusual than others. Laura arrived at the Church in a bona fide racing car, then tried to kiss Terry before the Vicar gave her permission (easy Tiger!). They didn’t question us asking them to have pictures on tractors, in a timber yard, the garage, the porta loos !? They trusted us and were happy to try anything. Thanks guys.

The New Forest provided the perfect backdrop, more Deep South USA than Hampshire UK. Wild, mysterious, perhaps lawless, and filled with real nice folk who certainly know how to have fun. Yeeha!!

Busy wedding photographers meet hundreds of new people every week. Getting along with everyone is a prerequisite for the job and we pride ourselves on our tag line “it’s like having friends who are professional photographers.”

However, every once in a while we meet a couple that are that little bit special, a couple that we hope will become our friends for a long time into the future. Katherine and Sharad are such a couple.

At this point we’re usually away. But sometimes we stay and play ;)

After our engagement portrait stay over at their Bath farmhouse, Katherine and Sharad flew us to Udaipur, the city known as India’s “wedding central”, for the first part of their wedding weekend. Only joking, setting was far more glamourous: Splott in Cardiff.

Never been to an Indian Ceremony before. It was mesmerising. Here’s a summary.

Everyone dresses in beautiful colours and fabrics. Groom takes his top off. A coconut gets tickled. Brother of bride convinces groom to take his sister by offering him some apples. Groom hides behind orange sheet. Brides father washes grooms feet with milk. Bride and groom finally see each other and wipe their faces with leaves. Bride is showered with gifts and jewellery. Bride is showered with yellow rice. Bride and groom shower each other with rice. Garlands are exchanged. More rice and flower petals are deposited on each others heads. Couples outfits are knotted together, never to be separated. Everyone has a wonderful time. The buffet is delicious.

Like I said, I’m no expert. Take a look, see what you make if it :)

Part II, the ceremony at Caerphilly Castle and reception at The Celtic Manor to follow. In the mean time here a taster…

Obviously not a picture of Kate and Carl. This is Chief Bridesmaid and Best Boy, Eva and Nathaniel. They’re Kate and Carl’s children.Tooooo cute! Anyway, back to the headline couple…