Dennis Orchard - images of life, love, & laughter.

Emma & Damion. Newland Hall

Over to Essex this week to a great venue, Newland Hall. www.newlandhall.co.uk  Thunderstorms were forecast for the afternoon but they held off for Emma & Damion, at least until they and their guests were safely in the Marquee.  The pageboys & flower girls behaved impecably and "stole the show" with their infectious smiles and their confidence. Well done Charles, Harry, Amelia & Ruby.

During the signing of the register we were treated to beautiful singing from soprano Dale Rutherford. www.dalerutherford.com 

Emma & Damion are heading to Singapore & Borneo for their honeymoon. 

Allison & Peter. Stoke Park Club

Allison & Peter will be sunning themselves on a beach in Mauritius by now and there was plenty of sun for their wedding on 13th June at Stoke Park Club.  www.stokeparkclub.com 

I always give one piece of advice to all my couples before their wedding and that is to relax and not look at the camera unless I specifically ask them. This makes the picture more informal and somehow "real". Well Allison & Peter followed this instruction to the letter and I feel the naturalness of these pictures bears out this "little pearl of wisdom"

Excellent piping came courtesy of Rob Watt, one of the finest pipers this side of Hadrians Wall! www.londonpiper.com or www.macbagpipes.com

My favoutite pictures are the cloud pictures taken down by the bridge. I have a great friend and brilliant photographer, Annika Metsla, who hails from Estonia. www.annikametsla.com  She is always using the sky as a backdrop to her couple shots. She was the inspiration for these pictures. Thanks Annika!

Also thanks to Tali, my assistant for the day. (see 2nd picture in the slideshow). I hope you enjoyed your day Tali and good luck when you start your Fashion & Photography course  at Southampton in September. I hope I taught you something!!

Katie & Adam at Wasing Park

 

The rain held off on 6th June for Katie & Adam Jeffries and PINK was definately the order of the day with Katie & her 6 bridesmaids arriving in pink shell suits!!  Wasing Park is a new venue in Aldermaston, Berksire and is an amazing setting for weddings www.wasing-weddings.co.uk

Katie's dress was designed by Suzanne Neville www.suzanneneville.com and those shoes were by Dior www.diorcouture.com  They completely stole the show.  

Suzanne & Daniel at Bearwood Lakes

 

28th March and a sunny but windy day for a wedding. Bearwood Lakes Berkshire was the setting, www.bearwoodlakes.co.uk and Suzie & Dan were so natural & relaxed in front of the camera. A special thanks to John the vicar for his cooperation at the church. Also thanks to Toastmaster Mark Shaw-Brookman www.southerntoastmaster.co.uk  for perfect organization and for keeping the fun going. Barry Weare was on hand to capture the video www.bwvideofilms.co.uk and to get in the way as usual!!  Only joking Barry.

Rebecca & Mark at Stoke Park Club.

Rebecca & Mark Goulden had Sunshine and Black tie for their fabulous wedding at Stoke Park Club in Buckinghamshire. www.stokeparkclub.com. They are following up with snow, bright lights and blue seas with a three part honeymoon skiing in Mammouth California before travelling on to Las Vegas & Maui.

Emma & Jason fly in from Brisbane!!

Emma & Jason Foreman would seem to have the best of all worlds. They live in one of the most beautiful areas of the world, Queensland, Australia, but chose to get married in one of the most beautiful towns in England, Marlow, Bucks.

The weather was kind to them and "Ozzies " do know how to party!!!   Emma's close friends Zoe, Avril, Heidi, & Christy made the journey from Queensland.  They seemed to have a fasination for Sir Steve Redgrave's statue. They just wouldn't leave it alone!!!!

Oliver - 4 months old

Oliver

I don't usually photograph babies but, a couple of months ago, I spent a morning with Sarah & her 4 month old son, Oliver.  Here  is an Album of the best shots

There are 9 million (and 1) Bicycles in Cambridge!!!

Emily & Marko Nikolic's Wedding in Cambridge

Storms were all around us on Saturday  but the weather held off for Emily and Marko for their Cambridge Wedding.

This was a first for me, in that it was the first wedding I've ever covered by bicycle!!!  Central Cambridge is no place for a car and the only way to keep up with the wedding party was to "bike it" from Brides Home to Church and on to Reception. Emily & Marko met while at Girton College and so it seemed fitting to choose the college for their wedding reception. www.girton.cam.ac.uk  Serbian born Marko, flew in a Serbian Trumpet Band to round off the evening and the  reception party continued late into the night.

Sunningdale, Springs, & Shrewsbury!

Sunningdale, Springs & Shrewsbury

May has been one of the coldest & windiest on record but for some reason I managed to dodge the worst of it.

The month started with a great fun wedding at Northcote House, Sunningdale. www.devere.co.uk  Suzi & Richard had a fabulous time with their friends and family. We had some glorious sunshine and the lakeside pictures were taken in “Golden Light”. The Wedding Breakfast was a riotous affair with crazy balloons and model aeroplanes. Suzi & Richard are due to have a new arrival to their family, late August. Don’t forget I do Christenings Suzi!!

Kate & Anthony held their Wedding Breakfast at The Springs Hotel

www.thespringshotel.com  and although the day started cloudy, it soon brightened up. Timings were tight for this wedding so I had to work fast to cover everything that was required. Jason of BW Video covered the wedding with me www.bwvideofilms.co.uk . We always work well together and had a great location shoot with Kate & Anthony in a cornfield between the church and reception.

My month ended at Rowton Castle Shrewsbury at www.rowtoncastle.com  with Sarah & Ioan. A lovely country house wedding. Sarah was convinced it would rain and had purchased umbrellas for the Bridal Party. I cautioned her not to place too much emphasis on Met Office long range forecasts. Sure enough when Saturday came the sun shone all day. Also met up with a couple I photographed two years ago, Stephanie & Adam. This happens a lot to me as I get many of my wedding bookings through clients. They are well and still showing their Wedding Album proudly to all their friends.

June weddings will include Harrogate & Cambridge. I’ll post details next month.

Sonya & Angelo. Taplow house Hotel

The April sunshine is still holding and last Saturday I was at Taplow House Hotel www.taplowhousehotel.co.uk .  Fabulous couple, Sonya & Angelo, so relaxed in front of the camera, (Sonya, anyway!). Chris the Vicar deserves a mention for allowing me to take discrete photographs during the ceremony so I was able to capture those special moments and his service was so heartfelt. Lots of Italian family on Angelo's side, perfect English and all I could offer in return was "Avanti" & "Prego"!

Taplow House Hotel was a super setting and Sonya & Angelo had great fun in front of the camera.

Most poignant moment: When Sonya stopped on her way down the aisle to kiss Dominic, her Grandfather.  See the image in the slideshow. Weddings are all about these things.