The Devon countryside as a background, a magnificent barn, June warmth and sunshine, and two blimmin’ cool people getting married is not a bad combination! It’s no surprise then that Jim and Brooke’s Higher Eggbeer Farm wedding was a real highlight of 2019 wedding season!

I have known Jim pretty much all my life as him Mum and my Mum have been lifelong best friends. Along with his brother Chris (who was best man!) they are a family I grew up with and remember fondly going to their house lots as a kid! So it was extra special to be there to capture their day as they became Mr and Mrs Burgess!

Jim definitely wins the award for the best ‘tache going! And Brooke well, she looked stunning in her Lillian West dress, and she wore a smile on her face the entire day. Always full of life!

Higher Eggbeer Farm is a real dream wedding location. You get the whole place for the weekend. Cue party the night before the wedding, and more party time the day after. It means your wedding isn’t over in a flash. You get to enjoy a whole weekend with your closest family and friends. The outdoor ceremony space overlooks the Devon countryside and the barn set-up was amazing (a must see below!). Brooke and Jim did a superb job of making it look fabulous!

These guy smashed their wedding – there were so many funny moments! I will let the photos do the talking!

A big thanks again for having me along Jim and Brooke! Your Higher Eggbeer Farm was bloody awesome!!

If you’re having a fun and relaxed wedding like Jim and Brooke give me a shout! I’m now taking 2021 bookings and love barn weddings!

 

This blog post is so overdue! I can’t believe I’ve not this sooner but hey ho here we are 8 months from Emma and Simon’s amazing Drenagh House wedding and wow what a day it was! It feels like a dream now sitting here in deep, dark winter! It really was an incredible day and I 100% count Simon and Emma as two of the loveliest people I’ve ever worked with. Emma is also an amazing wedding photographer herself so we have a tonne in common and it’s no surprise her wedding was beautiful, fun, relaxed and an absolute pleasure to document. Together they are both so genuine, kind, thoughtful and upbeat. The best people to be around!

Being from Northern Ireland originally it’s no surprise Emma and Simon chose the stunning Drenagh House Estate near the north coast. They also managed to chose one of the hottest times of 2019 for all of the UK, which for once included Northern Ireland too! (Hurrah!) So we were able to bask in the best June weather anyone could hope for and we didn’t have one drop of rain! Just perfect.

The whole of Emma and Simon’s Drenagh House Wedding was all on the estate which straight away kept the day nice and compact and relaxed. They got ready in the main house and what a mighty backdrop it is. I was able to jump between them both in the morning which I always really enjoy being able to capture both sides of the preparation. Emma looked just incredible in her Sassi Holford dress and Simon smashed the black tie look good and proper! They both made each other cry some happy tears in the morning with very touching gifts for one another (big tip there!)

Their ceremony was so personal, being conducted by one of their friends Andy. The reaction when Emma and Simon met at the front was one of the best moments I’ve ever witnessed. There was so much love and so much feeling. You could see how just special this moment was for them both. The Moon Garden at Drenagh House Estate is a very unique outdoor spot for a ceremony and from a photographer’s point of view was as bit of a dream with lovely natural light. The perfect ceremony!

The rest of the day was fun and relaxed! We had some hilarious, and emotional, speeches on the grand staircase inside the house and outside the guests were able to feed on Tato crisps (what else when in Ireland!) and play garden games in the sunshine. The wedding breakfast was held in the walled garden and all the details were so well thought of by Emma and Simon (they have a really good eye for design!). Being the end of June it didn’t get dark until 11pm (so cool!) but we managed to finish the night with some of my favourite festoon light portraits ever (see below!) Just magical! The party was epic and everyone had an absolute blast!!

Emma and Simon – you were a dream! I am still so honoured I was able to be your photographer and truly know you have such an exciting future together as Mr and Mrs Reeve. Thank you for taking me to Northern Ireland (my first time!) for your Drenagh House Wedding – I absolutely loved it!

I hope you all enjoy these Drenagh House Wedding photos and reliving this awesome day! Over to the photos now!!

Here we are – January is here and it’s that time again to look back at the past year of weddings!! I love love love doing end of year reviews. It’s so good (especially now in the darkness of winter) looking back at the last 12 months and so many happy faces and weddings!! Going back through each wedding leaves me with a big grin on my face and reminds me of so many awesome days I had the privilege of capturing (and some balmy summer sun which I miss a lot right now!!)

2019 was another cracking year in so many ways! I got engaged myself in August in Ibiza and Jonny MP Photography turned eight years old in September. I can’t believe it’s almost a whole decade since I shot my first wedding! Planning a wedding now is fantastic, and quite an experience ‘being on the other side!’ and it has helped to reconnect me to the wonderful (and busy!) world of wedding planning that my couples embark on.

It’s hard to pick out every special moment of 2019 – there were so many! I do remember well when James surprised Abbie with a  puppy during their wedding in July (an amazing surprise!) which was brilliant and Mackenzie and Cameron’s wedding ceremony at St James Palace was an incredible setting. Bex and Charlie had their wedding on the hottest day of the year in July and then we had a mini tornado in the middle of evening portraits, followed by an epic rainbow, which was crazy!  Gemma and James had some lamas (hilarious!), Steve and Charlotte had one the best Dad reaction moments ever (see below), and going back to Kew Gardens with Natasha and Adam was pretty special!

Of course the weddings where I had to jump on plane always stand out. Travelling to Northern Ireland to shoot fellow wedding photographer Emma Kenny’s wedding (amazing in every way!), heading to the west coast of Scotland with Nikki and Graeme (so much fun!) and France in September with Charli and Dec (far too much gin consumed!!). Within England I went far east to Norfolk with Hannah and Nick, far west with Jim and Brooke in Devon and shot at some stunning venues not been at before – Oxleaze Barn, North Cadbury Court, Borough Market, Preston Court, Shustoke Barn and Duncton Mill!

Last year I finally started to articulate what I aim to do as a wedding photographer. I’ve always been drawn most of all to the real emotion of weddings. Not just the obvious happy tears, but also the buzz and excitement- the boundless joy, smiles and laughter. The sheer energy of a wedding day is what I’ve always loved. Behind this is ultimately that a wedding day is about meaning, and with it feelings. So I coined the notion of ‘heart on sleeve wedding photography’ and I really feel it sums everything up what I do very aptly. Heart on sleeve people are all about feelings – we’re sensitive souls (who really do wear our hearts on our sleeve!). That sums me up perfectly!

Overall I must say a big thank you above all else to all my 2019 couples. You’re all amazing and I’m so so grateful I got to shoot your day! It was an absolute honour for me to document such a momentous moment in your lives!

Away from shooting weddings DEVELOP (which I launched two years ago) has gone from strength to strength and this is a big focus for me in the year ahead. I am really enjoying sharing what I’ve learnt and helping photographers reach their business goals!

In terms of the year ahead – I think 2020 is going to be another big one. I have 32 couples booked in and I can’t wait for their weddings and to capture more memories, and more heart on sleeve photography.

I hope you enjoy this look back at 2019. If you know anyone looking for a wedding photographer then do pass on my details. Referrals are, of course, massively appreciated!

 

 

At the end of August I travelled to Somerset to one of England’s finest venues North Cadbury Court. Ella and David are both from the UK, but now reside in New York, so they planned everything from across the pond, and what a fabulous job they did! Their North Cadbury Court wedding was absolutely brilliant and a wonderful day. It was one of those weddings that absolutely flew by as there was so much happening from start to finish!

Ella and David are a very popular couple with some amazing family and friends. They both oozed warmth, energy and sophistication. Their day had all the beautiful details and all the fun – the perfect combination!

North Cadbury Court is a brilliant place for a wedding for a multiple of reasons. One of the big plus points is that you can have a church wedding on site. There are not many wedding venue where you can do that. This makes the day far more relaxed as there is no need for people to move around on the day. On top of that North Cadbury Court can host a multitude of guests to stay so it really is a weekend wedding venue that you can make your home. It has stunning grounds and a really quintessential English feel!

There were lots of brilliant moments I could mention but one of my favourites was one all of the wedding party broke out into song as a surprise for Ella. It was just an amazing atmosphere and so many happy emotions. The look on Ella’s face was priceless!

I got to work with some awesome fellow suppliers at this North Cadbury Court wedding – namely Storybox Films on the film front, amazing dress by Karen Willis Holmes, and Fleur Provocateur on flowers.

I hope you enjoy these North Cadbury Court wedding photos and do get in touch if you’re looking for a photographer for your wedding!

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I love going abroad for weddings – everything has that edge. It’s exciting to go to the new surroundings, see new places and experience a different vibe to the UK. Charli and Dec’s destination wedding in France was absolutely brilliant and one I will always remember fondly! Held at Chateau De Falloux – about an hour north of Nantes, it was a so much fun and such a happy occasion!

I have known Charli and Dec for several years – having done five of their friends weddings! So it was an especially awesome wedding for me knowing a good number of the guests. It really was like shooting amongst friends!

The whole day was at Chateau De Falloux which has been lovingly restored in recent years. It’s a magnificent chateau and provided a stunning backdrop for Charli and Dec’s day. The outdoor ceremony area, under the trees, was just amazing. Total destination wedding goals!

The party was insane and everyone had a great time! Let’s just say half of the party photos weren’t appropriate to post …!

If you’re getting married abroad do get in touch!

Shustoke Barn has always been a venue I’ve wanted to shoot at and so when Hannah got in touch last year asking me to shoot their Shustoke Barn wedding I was over moon they booked me! Their day did not disappoint one bit – the journey to the Midlands was 100% worth it!

Part of the well respected Cripps Group, Shustoke Barn, near Birmingham, is a venue bursting with character and class. I can see why it’s so popular and why Hannah and Joel fell in love with it.

There was so much to adore about this wedding. Hannah and Joel really had thought through all the details so so well. Everything looked so good – especially the incredible semi-naked cake (that’s the technical term apparently!) and all signage was spot on.

Hannah and her girls got ready at the famous Belfry Hotel, not too far from Shustoke. The ceremony was conducted at St Peter’s Church in Little Aston and then everyone headed to Shustoke for the reception and party!

Hannah and Joel were a dream to work and I’m so glad I got to be their photographer. Such an awesome couple!

I will let the photos do the talking. I hope you love their Shustoke Barn wedding as much as I did!

Thanks again to Hannah and Joel for having me along. It was an absolute pleasure!

If you’re looking for a photographer for your wedding do get in touch here!

I love July so much – it’s absolutely one of my favourite months of the year and so I’m super excited to share with you one from the July this year at Oxleaze Barn in the Cotswolds. This was one of those weddings where you come away and realise you’ve just documented two very special people and their amazing Oxleaze Barn wedding was so much fun. Charlotte and Patrick are just two super, genuine, lovely humans whose love shines bright and made for an unforgettable day. I loved being part of it and didn’t want to go home!

I had known their Oxleaze Barn wedding was going to be off the charts as I have known Charlotte for a few years but I think their day surpassed my expectations – it really was ‘next level’! It had everything and it was one of my most memorable weddings of the summer season for sure. I was made to feel so welcome by all their super lovely family and friends!

Oxleaze Barn made for a superb venue. If you want a quintessential Cotswolds wedding barn venue look no further! It was my first time there but hopefully not my last – I would love to return. Kath, the venue manager, was excellent and ran the day very professionally, and with a large touch of warmth. The actual barn is stunning, with lots of lovely natural light, and I really liked the compact outdoor area. I always find the more compact the wedding the better so that the atmosphere is maintained and guests don’t disperse as much.

Patrick and Charlotte are just one of those couples who are just incredibly nice people and so they are incredibly popular and much loved by a lot of people. Their wedding day totally reflected them – just one big tidal wave of enthusiasm, love and fun, mixed it with some very personal additions to the day (the speeches were so lovely and I think I even shed a tear!). It was non-stop energy and it was exactly how I know they would have dreamed of it – all their super close friends and family (who mean the world to them) all in one place, for one special special Oxleaze Barn wedding.

Following the ceremony at St Margarets Church in Hinton Waldrist, everyone headed to Oxleaze Barn, for the drinks reception, followed by a wonderful wedding breakfast catered for by Chris and his team at Native Feasts!

I’ll hand over to the photos now – sit back and enjoy this extended selection from Charlotte and Patrick’s Oxleaze Barn wedding.

A huge thanks to Charlotte and Patrick for having me! So so grateful and I wish you all the best as the might Mr and Mrs Foster!

If you’re looking for a wedding photographer for your barn wedding do get in touch here!

So excited to share a few from Saturday’s amazing day with Adele and James! A Millbridge Court wedding is always brilliant!

When I grow up I want to be as happy and smiley as Adele and James!! A dream couple, at a favourite venue of mine, with stunning details and lots of lovely guests – what more could a wedding photographer wish for?! (It didn’t rain either!) To top it all off I got to work with @thompsongranger films!

Adele and James’ wedding was full of style, joy, stunning details and super relaxed. This is the way to get married!

If you’re looking for a photographer for your Millbridge Court wedding do get in touch – I’d love to hear from you!

Venue: @millbridgecourt
Catering: @kalmkitchenltd
Flowers: @jennibloomflowers
Dress: @sarahseven
Hair and make-up: @portraitsbridal

 

I am in the thick of editing at the moment but had to share Cayla and Andrew’s Borough Market wedding from August as it was just amazing and they were such a great couple!

Cayla and Andrew come from the US, but they met in London and London therefore has a very firm place in their hearts! It was the obvious step to have their day in their favourite city and at one of their most special spots in the city – Borough Market. The hustle and bustle of the area is second to none and the buzz come Friday night is really quite something! We had the perfect end of summer weather – not too hot and some beautiful light come dusk!

Cayla got ready with her girls at another famous London landmark – the Shard. Which meant stunning views as they prepared themselves for the day ahead.

Southwark Cathedral then provided the location for the ceremony and quite a place it was. The vast space is quite a sight to behold and the ceremony was personal with Cayla and Andrew doing their own vows to each other.

They then went on to Borough Market which provided a very cool set-up, led by fantastic wedding planner Shaun. The place looked so good and the party was truly epic!!

I loved their Borough Market wedding and so I hope you enjoy these highlights I pulled together!

Gosh how to sum up Nikki and Graeme’s Scottish coast wedding in 3 words… FUN, CRAZY, HAPPY! Documentary wedding photographer’s love action and characters. Nikki and Graeme’s wedding had this in abundance! From start to finish it was an absolute blast! You will see from the photos below there was a lot of smiles, laughter and everyone having the best time!

Nikki and Graeme are not only one HOT couple, but also one very cool couple! They currently live in Texas but managed to successfully plan their whole wedding back in their homeland of Scotland perfectly. Held at the Seamill Hydro, about 45 minutes drive west of Glasgow, it was a stunning spot right by the sea. It was amazing to do their evening portraits on the beach! A photographer’s dream!

The whole day was so happy and so much energy. Of course this is to be expected for a wedding in Scotland – they know how to party up there!

I loved shooting Nikki and Graeme’s wedding!  A big big thank you for having me along. It was well worth the trip from England!