Another of our last years couples provides us with their favourite pictures and their Top Tips for a successful wedding. Alison and Simon’s wedding took place on the 29th August last year; They married in the lovely St Annes Church in Weymouth and then traveled to Lulworth Castle in Dorset for their reception. A beautiful sunny relaxed day and we were even treated to some fantastic jousting and knightly shenanigans which was great fun.

Here is what Alison and Simon (well mostly Alison!) had to say…

Hi Courtenay,

Sorry it’s taken so long but I am always late with everything, as you know! (Except for turning up to my wedding…)

I am finding it really difficult to find just one photo that we love the most. Our big day was had so many different parts to it, which were all important for different reasons. So it’s virtually impossible to pull just one photo out!

There are about four that stand out for me.

This one -

Because after NINE YEARS (!) that was the moment we were finally married. In the church where my Mum and Dad had had got hitched too. I’d expected the ceremony to be very sad and emotional because of losing my Dad almost exactly three years before. But it wasn’t. The sun was out, everyone was in great humour and the vicar forgetting Simon’s name had got everyone giggling. And there was a great round of applause and a cheer when he pronounced us man and wife.

And then -

It kind of sums us up. Simon being naughty and me half-telling him off, I can’t remember what he said, but it was something cheeky.

Of course -

Just a moment on our own..

And lastly -

The jousting was a surprise for everyone (apart from a few close friends and family). I love that we are relaxed here, on our throne – so Posh and Becks (!) – with our mates, being not very classy at all.

As for the top tips? Well I suppose they are the things most brides would say.

1) Your day is about YOU. Do not try to keep everyone happy, you only get one go (well hopefully) and it has to be all that you desire – big or small. So be firm but polite with anyone who wants to stick their oar in!

2) If it’s not done by the night before then you don’t need it. You’ll be too busy enjoying yourself to notice that tiny detail!

3) Palm off the responsibility to someone else on the Big Day – we had two great friends who were the ‘go-betweens’ with caterers etc. Any questions – and there were only a couple as we had such brilliant people behind the scenes making everything go smoothly – and they dealt with it.

4) ENJOY YOURSELF. I woke up on the day of the wedding and just decided I would uncharacteristically go-with-flow. Having the go-betweens (Tip 2!) sorted I just had a glass of champagne in the morning while getting ready and just tried to relax and take it all in. We had twelve hours of emotion, food, fun and partying to remember…

5) Take mental snap shots. Every now and then we just would spot something and tell each other. I remember seeing people’s faces as my brother and I walked into the church, watching the guests on the lawn eating canapes from afar and their faces again when the knights walked into to announce the jousting.

It was the best day of our lives together…and we’ve been together a long time…but as Simon says, ‘he just wanted to be sure…’ ahem.

Hope that’s ok. I do go on a bit…

Alison (& Simon!)
xx

Dorset Wedding Photographer – Courtenay Photographic