I've photographed short-notice weddings in the past. I've done a couple at a few weeks' notice and one at 11 days notice. Enter George, who phoned me at 4pm and said 'Hey Lee, love your work... I'm getting married at 11am tomorrow and would like you to take the photos'
The wedding was as intimate as they come - just George, Nathan and George's parents. The ceremony took place at the Hive in Worcester (the new home of the Worcestershire Registration Services after their old offices were condemned for having used that dodgy public sector concrete.) Following the ceremony, the couple of couples had booked a dinner at Brown's Restaurant, right on the river. It was a gorgeous and sunny day so we opted to walk the 400 metres between the two. I'd run in front, look back and take a few photos, and repeat.
The best thing about this wedding was just how much love George and Nathan clearly had for each other. They're glowing in every single image and I didn't have to remind either of them to look happy even once (seriously... I spend a lot of time at weddings doing this!) We paused on the city bridge to get some photos before having a champagne reception just outside their reception venue.
After 30 minutes of sipping champagne in the summer sun (such a tough life I lead) we deposited George's parents at Brown's and I took the newlyweds for a short jaunt down to the cathedral grounds.
For the vast majority of weddings I shoot, I've known the couple usually for at least 10 months, if not 2 years or longer. Over that time I get to know the couple a little more, know what their plans look like for their wedding and have a well-formed idea as to how their wedding will go, and where I want to be at what time to capture certain aspects. George and Nathan's wedding was different. My plan consisted of little more than 'arrive 30 minutes before the ceremony and go from there' and whilst I'd only 'known' George for 18 hours before his wedding, the three of us left that day feeling like we'd all known each other for a decade. And that's why I do this job.
Location: Worcester Cathedral.
Keywords: Photographer-directed image (121).