Real Weddings; Jen and Chris

A big thank you to Libra Photographics for sharing this beautiful wedding. I love the bridesmaid dresses and the cars are amazing ;0)

I met Jen when my Daughter was born... literally, she was my midwife! Whilst my other half was having contractions in Poole hospital I started chatting about what I do for a living and found out Jen was getting married, offering her a good deal as a thank you for looking after my two girls seemed like the right thing to do, and I'm glad I did as this was a great, fun, wedding.

Turning up at the house for the preparations I quickly realised that Jen was uber organised along with her two bridesmaids, one of which I am photographing her wedding in October, when all the details had been nicely presented and thought out, instead of the usual stuff thrown all over the bed and dress in a bag. This was a pleasant surprise and allowed me more time to focus on the job in hand (I usually end up giving mirrors a quick wipe etc).

Jen  had picked out some beautiful dresses for her bridesmaids, a fifties look which looked great on her bridesmaids, I couldn't miss the shot of these two sat on the chaise longue looking twee to compliment the fifties look. I have to say one of the things I like about Parley Manor is the waiting area whist the bride is with the registrar, a large bay windowed drawing room flooded with light. Always makes for a few great shots before the ceremony kicks off after a short walk down the garden. to where a nervous Chris was waiting.

Jen and Chris have a passion for cars, a certain make of cars, Lotus. Although Jen turned up in a Rolls Royce, the guests had turned up in their lotuses, including the groom. I could not resist the urge to get these cars lined up outside Parley Manor for a few shots in the sun. I'm sure you'll agree it was worth it!

More information on Libra photographics is below:

I graduated with a BA(hons) degree in photography 1997, and worked in photography ever since. I started Libra Photographics in 2000 with medium format film gear going digital in 2004. I do miss the days of film but digital has bought a whole lot of extras with it. I am a bit of a control freak so it is nice to be in control from start to finish.

Based in Poole Dorset my local area is Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon and Somerset. But I travel farther if asked, I have even shot weddings in the Lake District on a paddle steamer! 

I have now split my company in two as I believe my weddings and my portraiture have evolved differently, I have weddings at www.libraphotographics.co.uk and portraiture at www.eamesphotographer.com. I find this has free'd me up to pursue a lot more creativity in both.

Guest Blog; Wedding Make-up Tips

By Eve Ashby – Professional Make-up Artist

www.eveashby.co.uk

The real trick to wedding make-up is to create a more groomed version of how you would normally look. This way you will feel comfortable but still in keeping with the glamorous image you are creating with your elegant wedding gown and styled hair.

Because this is not a look you would normally wear day-to-day it’s a good idea to have a trial run-through. Not only will this give you some time to adjust to your new glamorous self but it also means you can check any new products for allergy reactions.

When you practice your make-up it is important to do so in natural daylight. It’s surprising what a difference lighting conditions can have on the colour of make-up. Often dark colours can seem much paler under artificial lighting and this can encourage you to applying much more than you really need, making the look much heavier and more dramatic then you intended it to be.

Your wedding day is not a time to be experimenting with new, bright or high fashion make-up colours, as this will quickly date your photos. Instead I always recommend you opt for natural tones to create a classic look that will never go out of fashion.

The first thing people always see are your eyes and this is why it’s so important to get this part of the makeover right. On young skins shimmery eye shadows look fresh and bright but on older skins this shimmer can emphasise fine lines and draw attention to puffy or overhanging eyelids. So for this reason it is always best to put matt textures on older skins and keep shimmery eye shadows for younger brides.

If you have never shaped your eyebrows before you will be amazed at what a difference it can make. Not only will it make you look more groomed but will also open up your eyes. Another trick for a wide-eyed look is applying a few false eyelashes. You don’t need to go for a whole strip as this can look overpowering and feel heavy on your eyes. Instead a few individual lashes on the outer corners of the eyes work wonders and really finishes off a glamorous look.

If you have small lips opt for light or bright colours and lots of lip-gloss, as the shine will give the illusion fullness. Try to avoid darker colours on small lips as they can make them look even smaller. Lip liners have a waxy texture, which lasts longer on lips than the soft moisturising texture of lipsticks so it’s a good idea to apply lip liner to your whole lip area before applying lipstick.

The big thing to avoid on your wedding day is make-up containing light reflecting partials. The main culprits of these being under eye concealer pens. These pens work by reflecting light away from the skin to hide dark shadows and can do a fabulous job when people see you close up. However the flash from the camera will emphasise this reflection and all you’ll see are bright white areas wherever you have applied the product.

Whichever look you chose on your wedding day the main rule to make-up is blend, blend, blend. There should be no harsh lines and each colour should seamless merge into the next. If you follow this tip than your make-up won’t fail to look natural and perfect. 

Wedding Cake Trends for 2011

In a word the Wedding cake trend for 2011 is Tall and Skinny.

I love this particular cake trend as I feel it brings an elegance to cakes that wasn't quite there before. Instead of having a three tiered cake of 6, 8 and 10 inches, you can now stretch it up and have a five tiered cake of 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 inches that will truly be a fabulous centre-piece for your Wedding. To add additional height tiers can be separated with spacers.

Although white cakes will always be popular, this year cakes will be getting brighter with more use of colour to tie in with the colour schemes of the day. Earthy colours are popular such as mocha, grey, dusty pinks and peaches as well as brighter colours of orange, yellow and various shades of green and blue.

Sun-washed vintage colours and styling have retained their appeal with cakes being adorned with sugar lace and embroidery. Cupcakes are still popular although miniature cakes will always be the more sophisticated choice.

My new collection, released within the next few weeks has examples of these trends.

Whoopie pies are making their way over from America and cake pops are quickly becoming very popular as favours or on a dessert table but these should, in my opinion, only be served as part of a very relaxed affair.

Janet Mohapi-Banks is an award winning luxury bespoke cake designer based in
Epsom and working in and around London, Surrey and the UK. Featured in the
country’s leading wedding magazine and on national television, Janet Mohapi-Banks provides cakes of excellence for discerning clients. http://janetmohapibanks.com

Acknowledgements for: 

Styling by Cherry Topped Bespoke Weddings - www.cherrytopped.co.uk,
Flowers by Woods Florist -www.woodsflorist.co.uk 

Stationery by Ivy Ellen - www.ivyellen.com
Photography by Sugar & Spice Photography - www.sugarandspicephotography.co.uk

Green Inspiration Board

For one of my upcoming weddings, I have put together a green inspiration board. I am especially loving the shoes!


Thank you to everyone who sent me their photographs.

Green Inspiration Board

Inspiration board credits

Cake - Cakes by Krishanthi  

Bramble Tiara - Katie Vale Designs

Cupcakes - Cats Whiskers Cake Design

Green shoes - Alexander McQueen

Green short Bridesmaid dress - Alfred Angelo

Green Bridesmaid Bracelet - Beady Eyes Designs

Earrings - Crystal Jewels

Tiara - Crystal Jewels

Wedding Invitation - Delightful Occasions

Candles - One Stop Pamper Shop

Wedding Invitation - Delightful Occasions

Steel Tree Table Centre - Elegant Sparks

Steel Trees - Elegant Sparks

Wedding Dress - Alfred Angelo

Long Bridesmaid Dress - Alfred Angelo

Real Weddings; Lucy & James

Huge thanks to Markus MacGill for this stunning real wedding based in Devon. 

I absolutely love the cake (how amazing!) and the rural village feel to the entire day which was brought through by the little  finishing touches - the table centres, table plan and ice cream tricycle. 

Lucy and James had a truly rural wedding, bang in the middle of a field in deepest rural Devon. 

Most of the people living in the small village had a part to play in the day, so there was lots of personal detail. 

Local people were involved in sweeping up the tiny little wooden church and organising a hog roast. With milk churns for the flowers, this was authentically rural, except perhaps for the posh Portaloos! 

Hopefully the rural feel of the day really comes through in the pictures. 

Thankfully it was one of many hot summer's days last year - I can only imagine what that farmer's field would have been like soaked in rain.

T: +44 (0)1271 345477

M: +44 (0)7986 868020

E: contact@peopleandpictures.co.uk

W: www.PeopleAndPictures.co.uk

Guest Blog Post: Tips for choosing your wedding dress

A big thank you to High Society Bridal for this fantastic article on a very important aspect of your wedding - choosing your wedding dress. 

Going dress shopping is often one of the first things you want to do once you’re engaged and is an exciting and hopefully once-in-a-lifetime experience! However, it is usually a completely new kind of shopping experience too, and can seem a bit overwhelming. So here are a few tips for your first few appointments, to help you make the most of it!

·         Wear neutral underwear you are comfortable in. A strapless bra and neutral knickers make all the difference when putting the gown on – there’s nothing more distracting than pink bra straps or black undies when you’re looking at yourself in white and ivory dresses. Remember you will be helped in and out the dresses, so if you’re a bit shy, boy shorts or full briefs can be helpful.

Amore by Suzanne Neville

·     Be open-minded. This is repeated over and over, I know, but it really is true. At least for your first appointment, try dresses in a wide variety of shapes and styles. A good bridal assistant won’t try and force you into something you won’t like – when they pull out a style you wouldn't pick, it’s because the shape might really suit you. They have a wealth of experience, so you are in good hands. Even if you know what style you want, you’d be amazed how the unlikeliest dress can be the one that you look best in – and if nothing else, it’s good fun seeing yourself as in all the different looks, from Princess bride, to Vintage bride or Boho bride.

Melita by Alan Hannah

·         Bring one or two people whose opinions you really trust. Another classic tip, but again, it really is a good one. Tempting as it is to bring all of your nearest and dearest, dress shopping can easily become an emotionally charged day, and you need to have people who you know will be honest (and kind!) with you.

Eden by Jenny Packham

·         Don’t take on too much at once. Trying to get through as many visits in one day can seem the best way to see everything, but it can be completely overwhelming and by the end of the day, brides have often forgotten which dresses they loved, or are so tired and confused they really don’t enjoy themselves. Going straight from looking at your dress to look at bridesmaids dresses can be stressful as well, as it’s very hard to decide on bridesmaids before you know what you’re wearing. 

Kelly by Sassi Holford

·         There are not always fireworks. There’s a huge cultural myth of finding ‘the One’, where you step out crying with joy and everyone around cries with joy too. It can happen – and it’s lovely when it does – but it’s not the most common experience, so don’t worry if it doesn’t happen for you.

Lilly by Stephanie Allin

    A more common way of knowing it’s the one is it stays in your mind for a few days, or when you try other dresses on and think, “it’s lovely, but not like the other one”. It’s when you come back and try it on again that you realise that yes, this is your dress. A lot of our brides say that’s it actually the morning of the wedding, when they’re styled and dressed and ready to go that they have ‘the One’ moment.

Yolanda by Claire Pettibone

To find out more information on High Society Bridal contact them below:-

W: http://www.highsocietybridal.co.uk 

E: info@highsocietybridal.co.uk

T: 01446 771775

Follow them on twitter