Richard and Sarah had been planning their wedding for  two years. That’s the way they do things down in Devon. No rushing.  All in good time.  We were the first people they booked, and then it was another year before they confirmed the venue. Still, it was worth waiting for – St Elizabeth’s House a stunning new boutique hotel just outside of Plympton. It’s run by Teresa and her daughter Elena.  The perfect setting for what was going to be a very special day of family celebration.  Sarah looked a dream in her exquisite figure hugging dress came from Prudence Gowns in Plymouth.  Shampoo Planet  styled Sarah’s hair,  while stylist Becci looked after the bridesmaids hair. Make up was by Jemma at The Body Shop. The bridesmaids dresses came from The Wedding Company in Plympton.  The gorgeous flowers were by Watts Florist and the cake from Dizzys  For the girls Sarah chose a stretch limo from Westcountry Limos  while Richard had a rather more rakish tourer from Harewood Cars.  The evening entertainment was a family affair withChris,  Richard’s brother-in-law, AKA the groove meister of Small Print Discos spinning the discs, and old friends Night School Band laying down some of the meanest licks this side of the River Tamar.  As a sea port, Plymouth has a long tradition of evening entertainment.  It might not be sea shanties anymore but this lot know how to party!

Rachael’s fabulous vintage wedding dress came from… the Vintage Wedding Dress Company  with shoes from Christian Louboutin.  Hair was by Crowning Glory from Bristol.  Rachael’s girls were very stylish in their Diana Von Furstenburg dresses.  The fabulous  flowers were from Lesleys Flowers  in Frome.   Orchardleigh has a fleet of Rolls-Royce cars and the Silver Cloud 3 is their own car – just the thing for a quick spin around the estate what what.

Cara had the look of a Hollywood goddess from top to toe, with her fabulous Blue Champagne dress by Enzoani from Proposals in Cara’s home town of Haverfordwest.  As a recommended supplier at Clearwell Castle we know how important all the local services are on the big day, and Utopia ( hair and make up) and Forget-me-not ( flowers) in Coleford are never less than excellent. Cara’s bridesmaids dresses came from Priddi.  The cake came all the way from Pembrokeshire, baked by Davies cakes.  Cara’s Mum did the gorgeous table flowers and the table decorations were by The Craft Shop.  Finally, for any chaps wanting to re-create Tim’s look, kilts are available from Dyfed Menswear.  Ladies, you have been warned !

We’d met Vicky and Lee at the Merry Hill Wedding Show and they had instantly fallen in love with our style of photographs. Later on when we found out that Lee had been a model we realised his professional eye had been at work when looking at our portfolio. Okay, so it had been when Lee was in short trousers and the modelling was for Kays catalogue, but you never, ever, ever, lose that poise. That knowledge of what your good side is, where the light is coming from, and how to turn on that cheeky little grin that makes ladies go weak at the knees and want to buy you a new catapult and some marbles. It must be said that Lee was extremely modest about his modelling days , but that’s the trouble with weddings – the Best Man gets up and tells everyone your secrets for a few cheap laughs.

We’ve photographed weddings at Redhouse Barns before, and it has to be said that Jane and co. have got hosting weddings down to a fine art.  No expense has been spared, and a  lot of thought has been given to  making this venue just perfect and of the very highest standard possible.  Plenty of barns have been converted for use as wedding venues  and some give the impression that the cows moved out the week before – but not Redhouse Barns. There’s no doubt that Vicky looks great in jeans, but she’s a stunner in her Genevieve by Rosetta Nicolini wedding dress. Tori shoes by Rainbow from First for Wedding Shoes.   Vicky’s vixens wore dresses by Rare.  The girls were like the Pussycat Dolls, Sugar Babes, Destiny’s Child and Bananarama all rolled in to one – and luckily I had Miss Pussycat to look after me.  The ladies were preened and pampered by Sarah Coley on hair and  Louise Boulton  on lipstick, powder and paint. Flowers were from Eloquent Flowers.  Not to be outdone Lee cast his professional eye over the menswear and came up trumps with his whistle and flute from Nicholas Smith at Merry Hill.