Every now and again I get very excited about a particular wedding.
This can be for a couple of reasons – either it’s a new venue for me, or a favourite venue that I’m shooting at again, or the bride and groom are friends of mine. Well, Esther and Jason’s wedding in July ticked two of these boxes for me. Jason and I have been excellent friends for over 2o years so I was delighted when he told me he was getting married – and even more giddy (because I know where he lives!) when he asked me to photograph his wedding. Esther and Jason had been given an late booking offer they couldn’t refuse by the delightful New House Farm – a wonderful little venue just outside Cockermouth. It’s got a converted barn which is the main entertainment space, wonderful rustic bedrooms in the adjoining farm house and loads of beautiful outdoor space. Now, I’ve been walking in the Lakes enough times to know that the weather there can be just a little unpredictable, unless you include the prediction that it will probably be raining. Sure enough, on my first ever Lake District wedding photography shoot, the heavens were open. Not exactly a torrential downpour, more sort of an insistent non-stop drizzle. The kind that soaks you in seconds!
Naturally, it was going to take more than a bit of water to stop these Lakeland lovers tying the knot! Cumbrians are made of tough stuff, and although Jason and I are both southerners, we’ve taken the Lake District to heart, and the Lakelanders have taken Jason into theirs. The wedding celebration was a delight from start to finish, obviously so for Jason and Esther, but also for me and my wife (who was assisting) as I bumped into lots of old friends who’d travelled all the way up north for Jason’s wedding.
When it came time for the couple shoot, I was fully prepared to get wet if Esther didn’t mind. Hurrah! She couldn’t have cared less, so brollies in hand, we stepped out into New House Farm’s lovely lawns and managed to grab some lovely photos. I was a little gutted that Jason and I’s little plan of nipping over to Crummock Water for some mind-blowingly beautiful wedding photos couldn’t happen, but I’m still over the moon with the photos that we did get. If you’re getting married in the Lake District, please don’t hesitate to get in touch – I’ll be up there like a shot!