Our friends Taff (aka Dave) and Elaine got married last Saturday. It was a bit of a rush job – no shotguns involved, it was merely that they wanted to marry in the small church on the country estate where they live in a stables conversion, and when they discovered that the church was closing after Christmas they had a wedding to organise in 8 weeks. Taff is, as many of you might know, a “Scraggy Crow” and “Scraggies” rallied round. Between us we provided the orders of service (by Scraggy who usually prints funeral services!), the car, and it fell to Chantal and me (well, mainly Chantal) to do the photography
We didn’t really realise this until the Thursday before. Taff had previously asked whether we were bringing our cameras, and if so, would we mind letting them have a copy of any photographs taken? He didn’t want any of the fuss of actually organising the guests – just shots of folk enjoying themselves at the wedding. On Thursday Taff told another friend that we were taking the wedding photos, which was a little more involved than shots of folk enjoying themselves, and so on Thursday evening I had a chat with the bride and persuaded her to provide a list of particular groups that she wanted photographing, especially since it appeared that we would have just a 15 minute window between the service and reception!.
Before the service Chantal took quite a few photographs of guests arriving, the groom and best man, ushers, and the arrival of the bride, she managed the signing of the register and the newlyweds walking up the aisle, and went outside for the group shots. After two photographs, the sky darkened and the heavens opened, with torrential rain. The guests refused to leave the church porch, and Chantal had neither the time, nor equipment, to organise everyone within the church.
I don’t think that Taff and Elaine are expecting formal shots. They certainly won’t be getting any….
.Despite the weather, it was a really relaxed wedding and reception – a lovely day with plenty of time to drink and gossip.
And, I am pleased to say, there was no music of a popular nature….
Technically we live in Oaktree House, but sadly the tree had to go.
We now have a thriving Oakstump at the front of the house.
