Emotional Reportage Wedding Photography in Northamptonshire

After what was a damp and dismal first half of November, upon arriving at The Courtyard (near Stanwick in Northamptonshire), we were blessed with a dry, trying to be sunny Saturday afternoon. This gave a very positive start to what was an amazing and most definitely memorable day. I started with Kate in the bridal suite where I found a hive of activity. I quietly slipped in and went about documenting the precious moments in the build up to the big moment. Kate seemed calm, but with any wedding, there are a myriad of feelings bubbling away beneath the surface, which were not helped by Paul accidentally forgetting the music for the ceremony. This was the only thing he had to organise for the entire wedding…Naughty boy!! This is, believe it or not, a very common complaint of bride’s in the build up to the wedding. Sorry groom’s, you have been outed!!
After witnessing and photographing Kate finish her final preparations, I went on to meet up with Paul and also capture the guests arriving in a reportage wedding photography style. Paul was looking a tiny bit nervous although the Groomsman were not giving him much time to brood on his impending nuptials, keeping him busy and his mind occupied.
When the big moment arrived, everyone was seated and Kate was approaching, the gravity of the occasion was soon apparent. Paul struggled to keep it together as the bridesmaids made their way down the aisle, but once he set eyes on his bride it was all over. He could not contain himself and the emotions fizzed up and there were tears aplenty around the room. Without knowing Paul and Kate well, it was still plain to see how much they meant to each other. From the stories I heard throughout, this day was a culmination of their long journey together. A journey which included Kate’s daughter Aimee. While not Paul’s biological daughter, he helped raise her from a young age. During the ceremony, Aimee gave an engaging and humorous account of growing up with Paul. Speaking at length about how much he meant to her and her mum. This lovely speech concluded with the wonderful, heart-warming surprise that the registrars would also be changing her name to Harland that afternoon. All of a sudden I found it very difficult to see through my viewfinder, with bleary eyes and shaking shoulders, wedding photography became a little tricky. I looked around the room to see literally everyone weeping happy tears. Even the big tough looking guys! I am not sure I have ever witnessed a wedding so powerful, filled with such love and emotion. It was an absolute honour to be invited to witness such a beautiful event.
The day continued the with same electric atmosphere, with the guests having a great time and thankfully, paying little heed to the Northamptonshire wedding photographer buzzing around them. When the time for the speeches finally came, again, there was a deal more tears to be found while Paul and Kate’s mum spoke. However, the bestman delivered a speech that held no quarter for poor Paul. Daniel had the whole room in stitches as he metaphorically tore strips from him. However, this paled into insignificance when he, to end his speech, revealed a little story about Kate I am not sure she would want him to tell her best-friend, let alone a room full of people! Try and spot the moment in the photos below…
Congratulations Kate & Paul!

I would also like to make a special mention to Craig who worked closely with me throughout the day, filming what I am sure will be an awesome video! Great chap!!