2017: a round up

Every year I like to take some time out during the Christmas madness to review my year.. and this year is no different. So here we go.. grab a cuppa!

The most important thing.. 25 fab weddings!

..or 40 if you include second shooting! This year I was updating my website and sat and thought about what weddings really mean to me. And the conclusion I came to was that during every single wedding I photograph, I get this resounding, comforting feeling in my soul that this is exactly where I am supposed to be, and this is what I am supposed to do with my life. Weddings feel like home.

So a huge, huge thank you to every couple I have had the privilege of working with this year - it was a joy and an honour to photograph and witness each of your wedding days. Have an amazing first Christmas and New Year together as husband and wife!

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Lots of travel..

A question I get asked on a regular basis is how far I'll travel for work.. and the answer is: wherever I am needed! This year I'm so grateful to have travelled abroad to Italy, Cyprus & Ireland for weddings and styled shoots, and at home, the length of the country from Cornwall to Aberdeen on weddings and commercial work alike. I'm always up for a road trip!

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2 awards.. and one Finalist!

After a whole day shooting an event on one of the hottest days of the year in June, I rushed home and just made it to the SME Bedfordshire Business Awards evening in time to find I'd won Young Business Person of the Year!

As with last year, I was honoured to be placed as a Finalist again for Best Photographer in East of England at the The Wedding Industry Awards. Although only a finalist I am super proud of this one as the TWIA awards are particularly prestigious within the wedding industry.

My Christmas always starts with a bang in the form of the Four Counties Wedding Awards gala, held each year towards the end of November. I love being a part of their close-knit community of wedding professionals and the gala always feels like our work Christmas party! Here I was honoured to win Highly Commended in my category of Fine Art Documentary Wedding Photography, alongside many other talented friends who also won awards in their categories. A really fab evening as always!

But although it is a huge honour to be recognised by my industry, the best part of all is the support I receive from my couples in the form of the votes and feedback they send in. It means the entire world to me and I am so excited to see my TWIA feedback in January!

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Features

It's always a huge highlight to have a wedding featured, and I'm sure not only for me but for the couples also! Big love to Rock My Wedding, Love My Dress (x2!), Whimsical Wonderland Weddings and Your Herts & Beds Wedding Magazine for the features. It means a great deal and I just love being able to read about each couple's story as a couple and wedding planning process!

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So a huge, huge thank you..

..to everybody who has played a part in making this year as amazing as it's been.

To my couples, thank you for choosing me to capture one of the most important days of your lives. It's been so much fun getting to know you all and spend time with you and I wish you every happiness for the rest of your lives together!

To my friends & family, thank you for your love, support and patience with me taking forever to respond to messages when I'm busy and for putting up with all the late nights working on my dream business. It means the world.

To my wedding industry pals, thank you for inspiring and pushing me each and every day to get better and better at what I do. We're all in this wonderful madness together!

I'm so fortunate to do what I love for a living and couldn't do it without you all. Here's to a joyful and prosperous 2018!

With love,

Cat


Are you getting married in 2018 and beyond? Get in touch!

I’m currently booking up as far as late 2019 but still have a some dates left in 2018. So get in touch - I’d love to hear all about your day!

 

Zoey & Joe: Cosy winter wedding at South Farm, Royston

From the moment I arrived at their venue, I knew Zoey & Joe's cosy, creative winter wedding was going to be a gorgeous one despite the rain that stopped and started throughout the day! They chose South Farm in Royston for their wedding venue, saying their vows in the intimate setting of the Old Dairy before heading over to the Tudor Barn for their celebrations.

I am completely obsessed with bride Zoey's style - as a graphic designer by day and blogger by night she of course has incredible style, choosing a spectacular beaded Eliza Jane Howell dress paired with Rachel Simpson shoes and soft vintage style waves in her hair for her bridal look. Her bridesmaids donned sparkles too in grey sequinned dresses by Lace & Beads London with faux fur boleros which complimented Zoey's look perfectly.

Zoey carried a beautiful bouquet of anenomes, roses, thistles and eucalyptus by Julie Cambridge, and they decorated the Tudor Barn with travel themed decorations, from a world map table plan, to little paper aeroplane place cards designed by the bride herself and a beautiful dark blue globe on the top table.

We were lucky enough to have a gap in the rain just before sunset, which gave the bride and groom the opportunity to take the venue's tuk-tuk for a spin, before a little portrait session in the beautiful corridor of trees and caravans that South Farm is famous for. And of course a fantastic confetti run too of course!

Congratulations you two and thank you so much for asking us to photograph your day!

They are absolutely stunning - I cannot thank you enough!! The photos are more than we could have ever have hoped for. Absolutely beautiful. We’re so excited to share them with our family and friends.
— Zoey & Joe
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Elly & Adam: Pretty Pastel Wedding at Dodford Manor

When I've reached my ideal number of wedding bookings for the year, I like to open up my calendar to help other photographers out through second shooting. I love working with Dan at Two-D, it's always great fun and Elly & Adam's day was just that: fun, joyful and vibrant.

Dodford Manor was the setting for their big day, and Elly chose a multicoloured yet pastel theme for the wedding which complimented her beautiful sapphire engagement ring, especially when it came to the pastel rainbow of bridesmaid dresses and beautiful floral arrangements that they decorated their wedding breakfast with.

Elly chose a beautiful, elegant Maggie Sottero dress and I just love the delicate lace and scoop back. She carried a stunning pastel bouquet by Fleurette of peonies, succulents and of course, Eleanor roses!

They said their vows in the barn and left under showers of rose petals thrown by their loved ones. They were blessed with spectacular sunshine and as their guests enjoyed the bouncy castle and garden games whilst we snuck off for photos in the grounds of Dodford Manor.

Everybody enjoyed afternoon tea for the wedding breakfast and Elly & Adam cut a towering sponge cake before starting their evening with a heartfelt first dance. Congratulations you two!

Second shooting for Two-D Photography.

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Holly & Graeme: Clifton Church & Garden Marquee Wedding

I arrived at the Bedford Embankment Hotel and it didn't take me long to find the boys - they were practicing their bagpipes next to the river and I could hear them as I approached the hotel! They honoured Graeme's Scottish heritage with the groom in a kilt and the best men in tartan trousers, and of course the bagpipes played by friends and family as they left the church and entered the reception!

A red London bus arrived at the hotel to take everybody to the church, so I hopped on and grabbed a ride with them. The bus had such a fun, party atmosphere and buzzed with excitement as they journeyed to Clifton church for the ceremony.

The rain stopped and started whilst we waited for Holly and her father to arrive, and she just looked stunning in a floaty tulle dress and gold leafy headdress by Kelly Spence. She carried orange calla lilies and beamed as they entered the church and saw Graeme for the first time.

After the ceremony which Graeme ended with a fist pump (amazing!) they headed to Holly's parents' home for canapes and fizz on the lawn before going into the marquee for dinner and speeches.

They ended the night with a ceilidh band, my ultimate favourite wedding entertainment! The marquee was just alive with excitement as they swung each other around dancing the night away.

Taken whilst second shooting for Emma Hare.

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Kate & Tom: Stylish Winter Wedding at Bassmead Manor Barns

There are no words to describe Kate & Tom’s wedding day other than just exquisite – their entire wedding day was just filled with stylish detail everywhere you looked. Wintery hues of wine reds and gold in everything from the flowers to the photo booth set the style for the day, and the incredible Basement Florist brought Kate’s vision to life with not only a stunning bouquet but show stopping table arrangements, hairpieces and flower jars too.

Kate’s entrance into Bassmead’s Rickety Barn for their ceremony was a real wow moment, walking down the aisle in her glittering Jenny Packham dress and ribbon-tied bouquet, arm in arm with her dad. We all had tears in our eyes! Kate & Tom’s little son Max stole the show during the ceremony, even walking up to the registrar at one point and standing behind the table! Their day had a real focus on family, perfectly embodied by a heartfelt centrepiece which featured photos of their beloved family members throughout the years, with flower jars dotted in between and an amazing wintery reed centrepiece.

When the sun went down, everybody headed outside with their sparkler wedding favours to start the evening reception with a fabulous sparkler entrance for the bride and groom, and the rest of the evening was spent catching up and dancing away. The perfect end to their day.

Cat, you are amazing! You both are. I am lost for words. I cant thank you enough and express just how thrilled I am at how well you have captured our special day. I am now going to spend the next week looking over and over and over at these fabulous pictures like a crazy lady. When I come back down from cloud nine I will be in touch regarding our album. Honestly, you guys rock.
— Kate & Tom
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