Gemma and Matt’s Winter wedding at Rockbeare Manor in Devon, was one awesome way to spend New Year’s Eve! It had the perfect mix of excitable build-up, glamorous outfits, sumptuous feasts, non-stop drinks and extravagant fireworks. One hell of a party!
As career choices go, wedding photography must be one of the very few where in the space of one ‘shift’ you not only witness a roller coaster of emotions, but live through them too. Reena and Sam’s hot and sunny wedding day at the incredible Tunnels Beaches in Ilfracombe, Devon, was the perfect example of one of those days.
Reena and Sam had been desperate to marry for a number of years, but other priorities had meant they’d had to keep pushing the date. So by the time it got to their actual day, everybody was feeling ecstatic and extremely emotional. Theirs was not only an epic love story that resulted in two families uniting, but two cultures, too. This meant that we were treated to the most colourful beach wedding we’ve seen to date. And it was stunning! The intoxicating mix of bright colours, sunshine and raw emotion saw this ‘shift’ absolutely fly by, and more than a couple of tears slip out from behind the lens.
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I can’t tell you how much we love being asked to photograph a wedding in Salcombe. Well, OK then, I’ll give it my best shot!
Salcombe is steeped in maritime history from the honest pursuits of fishing, boat building and general sailing. Not to mention the not so honest smuggling, and downright exciting piracy. Salcombe is also a beautiful seaside town made from a magic mix of all that makes Devon so very Devon!
Nowadays Salcombe is well known for being a stunning coastal location with beautiful white sandy beaches and a bustling sailing community. I should know, it’s where my past sailing career was launched. Whenever we get asked to photograph in Salcombe I get really excited. It always feels like going home. Imagine how it felt, then, to arrive with Hamish and his groomsmen, only to discover that I went to university with half of them! It felt a lot like I’d been transported back in time, and that could only mean one thing – we were going to have a lot of fun!
I knew this lot, I knew how crazy things were likely to get as the day wore on. I knew drinking games would be a definite. Heckling during the speeches would be a given, and that the chances somebody would end up drinking from their shoe, was very high.
Given both Sadie and Hamish are professionals within the sailing world, it was only right that Hamish’s day would start in the Yacht Club. It started with him leaping on to, and throwing himself off of the bar, face first! I know, us Devon sailing folk have some funny rituals. Must be all the sea air and rum. A risky business on any normal day, but particularly so right before your own wedding ceremony.
Hamish and his party, having escaped breaking any bones, made their way through the streets and the pouring rain, to the church. Here they eagerly awaited the arrival of the beautiful bride. Sadie was being driven to the ceremony in a classic, pink wooden dinghy by her proud Dad!
The happy couple made their way through a tunnel of cheerful umbrellas, despite the wonderful Devon weather, and the confetti rained down. Then Sadie and Hamish climbed into the frighteningly rare vintage Bentley to be whisked through the lanes and back to the boats. I use the term ‘frighteningly’ from the viewpoint of us two photographers with heavy cameras dangling from our waists!
The guests settled into the celebrations at the spectacular private venue, complete with its own perfect private beach. We snuck off with Sadie and Hamish for not just one, but two boat trips around the picturesque estuary. A spot of the usual post-wedding boat trip photography! Followed by a stroll on the beach in the much welcomed sunshine.
Finally we walked away from the sea and headed up to enjoy the wedding breakfast. Drinking games and heckled speeches on (nearly) dry land led to a party in the boat shed that echoed off all sides of the estuary.
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