Georgia and Kim married at Mythe Barn in August, with both of them getting ready at the venue and both determined to use the bridal suite.
The solution was to take turns.
Georgia went first, Kim followed, and by the time the ceremony began the same room had produced two complete bridal preparations, two dresses and two separate reactions from their dads.
They booked The Full Story, so the photographs continue through both entrances, the ceremony, drinks outside, speeches, a first dance, a second dance nobody else knew about and pizza later in the evening.
Mythe Barn has one bridal suite. Georgia and Kim both wanted the experience of getting ready in it, so the room operated as a very civilised hot seat.
Georgia used it first. Once her dress was on, family came in to see her and her dad’s face did most of the talking.
Then the room changed hands and Kim had her turn with the bridesmaids before her own dad came through the door.
Neither of them had to settle for being the person getting ready somewhere less interesting. They simply shared the good room without sharing the surprise.
Georgia entered first with her dad.
Kim followed with both her mum and dad, which left Georgia waiting at the front with a fairly good view of the three of them coming down the aisle.
Both families were only a few feet away. The photographs move between Georgia and Kim at the front, their parents beside them and the reactions coming from the first few rows.
Then came the first kiss and the walk back out together.
Georgia and Kim came out through the barn doors and straight into the confetti.
Once the hugs and drinks had begun, we gathered everybody for the aerial photograph. It is not subtle, but neither is trying to organise an entire wedding onto one patch of grass.
The smaller family groups stayed close to the barn and gardens. Once they were finished, everybody went back to the reception and Georgia and Kim had their first few minutes together.
We used the wooden gazebo for the first set of portraits.
There was no reason to cover the whole venue in one go. The light would change later, and The Full Story gave us enough room to use that rather than trying to manufacture everything during the drinks reception.
A short set in the garden was enough before they went back inside with everybody else.
The tables were ready, the little wooden hearts were in place and Georgia and Kim came into the room together.
Kim stood up during the speeches. Whatever she said landed well with the man at the nearest table, who appears to be enjoying himself considerably.
The cake was waiting beside the windows for later.
The earlier garden photographs were never meant to be the only ones.
After the wedding breakfast, Georgia and Kim went back outside for another short set. We used the gazebo again, sat on the lawn and then left it alone until the sun dropped behind the trees.
Splitting the portraits across the day meant each part stayed short. They got a different version of the venue without losing one large piece of the wedding to photographs.
Georgia and Kim had the first dance together while everybody gathered around them.
Then Georgia’s dad joined her.
The routine had been planned between the two of them and nobody else knew it was coming. The matching sunglasses were an early indication that this was not going to be a cautious shuffle around the middle of the floor.
Once they started, the whole room understood fairly quickly.
After that, the dance floor stopped requiring any help.
The sun was dropping behind the trees while the evening was already underway.
Georgia and Kim came outside with their drinks for one last photograph beside the fence. We used the light while it was there and went straight back.
The final photograph in the story is Kim choosing pizza.
There are worse ways to finish a wedding.
No awkward posing. No staged moments. No turning your wedding into a photoshoot.
Most couples I work with want to spend the day with their people, not disappear for hours taking photographs. So I keep things simple. I document what’s happening, step in when you need me and get you back to your wedding.
Big country house, registry office or somewhere in between, the job stays the same. Honest photographs of the people, atmosphere and moments that made the day yours.
Years from now, I want the photographs to take you straight back to it.