On 24th July 2022 I had the pleasure of photographing the wedding of Kirsty and Thomas at St Tewdrics House in Monmouthshire. Upon my arrival at this Italian renaissance styled villa in South Wales, there was a slight panic in the air. During the bridal preparations, the bride’s shoes had been misplaced. They were positive they had made the journey from home, so must be within the building somewhere, or perhaps the car?. Eventually after a few hurried phone calls and second, third looks, the elusive Jimmy Choos were discovered, safely nestled under wedding dress covers in the corner of the cupboard of the bridal suite. The rest of the day went without any further drama, which is quite a feat with so several little children in attendance. Young wedding guests can be a god send for candid photography. Their lack of self awareness (at least before the teenage years) allows for some special images of unguarded moments. For example the two little girls, circling the newlyweds on the dance floor as they performed their first dance. Or the four children ‘helping’ the couple cut the wedding cake, and then helping themselves to a little taste of the icing. And even a bare footed flower girl, adorned with food stains, a tutu and a dummy in a world of her own and the adult wedding guests chat behind her. I am constantly being informed by past clients, that their favourites images are these natural, candid photographs. Not just a the children present, but of other guests and even themselves. Providing them with an additional viewpoint and a timeless record of such moments. It is always a balance documenting a wedding, a lot of the time I receive requests for staged photographs or moments yet to happen but are ‘pre-visioned’, which is fine, but you have to leave enough time for other moments to happen naturally. Personally I think that is the beauty of a more natural, documentary approach to wedding photography, you never know what you are going to capture. Just like in life, the best things are often those unplanned.
