I was so pleased when Sarah told me they had found The Larmer Tree Gardens through our website, whilst searching for that special venue and that as soon as they visited they could imagine their day in the gardens.

The day began with the girls at the King John Inn, Tollard Royal and for the boys at The Fontmell, Shaftesbury.  It was exciting to see all of Sarah & Adrian's planning come together to create a truly beautiful day!

Their reception was held in the Pavilion, which was decorated with pom poms.  It was very emotional & their were lots of tears in the room.  Sarah & Adrian walked out to The Bare Necessities before going off for a little drive in their Morris Minor.

The day included a Bake Off, inspired by the recent series The Great British Bake Off, where guests added to the desert table with their baking triumph. Sarah & Adrian's faces when they saw all the different creations was priceless.  The Bake off did get quite competitive with people putting final touches on their cakes on the morning off the wedding, prizes were awarded later at reception.

I loved Sarah & Adrian's little Morris Minor, their Jazz Swing Band and of course Sarah's polka dot lace Fifties style wedding dress! Here is Part I from their day.  Be sure to check out more photographs from their day in Part II

Be sure to check out Part II of Sarah & Adrian's wedding day, for some Photo Booth fun and evening dancing, with The Wedding Smashers!

Holly looked stunning in her 1920's inspired wedding dress and the boys looked dashing in their tuxedos and bow ties. I look forward to sharing more from their day soon!

More from Lisa & Adrian's day will be up on the blog soon, but for now here are a couple of our favourites.

Anna & Johnny are such great company and we really felt a part of their day, with such a welcoming crowd of friends and family!  More from Anna & Johhny's wedding day will be coming soon.

It sounds like their wedding is going to be a lot of fun and we are looking forward to spending the day with them in a few weeks time!

The heavens opened just after we took these shots and we all got drenched, so thank you Liz & Tom for putting up with the weather!

This part of the forest has some of the largest trees.  The light was perfect this late spring afternoon  and it was very still in the forest.  We saw deer in the local park and ponies wondering amongst the trees.  

We are looking forward to Victoria & Thomas' wedding, which is only weeks away!

I can't wait to share more from their day....

Kate & Jonathan were really good company and we had a lot of fun in the nearby yellow rape seed fields and exploring The Larmer Tree Gardens.  Kate and I got a little carried away hunting for Tiny Doors, an art installation to commemorate the Larmer Tree Festival’s 21st year.  Artists Simon Sinkinson’s ode to the influential people in Larmer Tree’s history: the ‘Larmer Luminaries’. Unfortunately we didn't have any luck. I think a plan has hatched to see if the couple's wedding guests can find them....so the hunt continues!  We did however discover two beautiful Macaw Parrots, who seemed to be talking to the resident peacocks!

We are very much looking forward to seeing Kate & Jonathan again in June.

We captured the setting as Kelly and her Bridesmaids were getting ready inside.  Guests made their way into the gardens, taking in the views and exploring the grounds as we all awaited a first glimpse of the Bridesmaids and Kelly, who made their entrance through the gardens.  You could hear Kelly giggling before she appeared!

The grey clouds cleared as the couple said their vows to one another. I loved the expressions on Kelly's face throughout the ceremony, both her and Matt were extremely excited!  Kelly & Matt had their reception in a marquee, which was set up in their friends back garden. I love garden weddings as they are so intimate and relaxed. The marquee was decorated with pink roses in glass domes & bird cages, buttons were sprinkled on the tables and seeds were placed for guests to take home.  I especially liked the Cheese Cake, complete with pickles & chutney as a savory alternative to your usual wedding cake. We left the couple to enjoy the band in the evening and party into the small hours.

With grey skies overhead and the odd roll of thunder I think we made the right decision; we could dash for cover in the greenhouses, each decorated with beautiful rustic gifts and interiors. With hand crafted homeware, plants & antiques beautifully displayed, it made for a unique setting. We met in the Tea House, where they sell a delicious range of cakes, seasonal and fresh produce, to catch up on Catherine & James' wedding plans before taking a wander around the nurseries.

We are looking forward to Catherine & James' wedding at the Larmer Tree Gardens later this Summer.

We are pleased to announce that we are giving away a handcrafted eco-friendly wedding album to one lucky reader, who books our services in 2013!

To find out how you can enter, have a look at the competition over on The Natural Wedding Company's Blog.

Please do tell your friends and help spread the word as we don't want anyone to miss the chance of winning a beautiful hand-crafted album worth £750

The clouds cleared as we wondered around the lake, revealing the soft evening light; We found some lovely spots to take photos. It did shower at the end of our stroll and we made for cover under the trees and Jenny & Jon wrapped up in their picnic blanket.

We are looking forward to seeing Jenny & Jon later this Summer for their wedding at Highcliffe Castle, Dorset.

Think theatre meets science.....Fran & Chris set up their own Twitter hashtag so that everyone at the wedding could keep up with all the action #takeavow

Congratulations Fran & Chris, we hope you are having a wonderful time on your mini moon and we will be in touch with more shortly!

We shot Cara & Steven's engagement shoot at the beautiful Larmer Tree Gardens, which was the perfect venue for the couple's quirky picnic.

To see more from the session take a look at the Love My Dress blog.

We had such fun with these two and you can read all about their day on Lou's beautiful wedding inspiration blog Whimsical Wonderland Weddings.

To find out more about Dawn & Alex's day head over and read Adam's beautiful write up Those Three Words

Gemma & David planned a chic and stylish day, you can see more over at A Pocketful of Dreams.

Sarah & Adrian had one of their first dates in Brighton and regularly visit the seaside town, so when it came to deciding where the engagement photos would take place it was an easy decision.

As you can see we had a lot of fun exploring the lanes, the park and the amusements on Brighton Pier and we saw Bodhi the famous skate boarding dog. For those who haven't seen him:

We ended the day watching the starlings flying over the sea at dusk. Thanks to you both for a lovely day!

We made our way down the beautiful cobbled street of Gold Hill, which is said to be one of the most romantic sights in England & then headed to the park by Shaftesbury Abbey.  We were lucky to avoid the rain, which came down just as we were finishing up. We all took shelter in the village hall, where there was a lovely antique & bric-a-brac market.

We can't wait for their wedding at Gilbert White's House & Gardens, it sounds like it's going to be a lot of fun!

The Larmer Tree Gardens is one of our favourite venues and we are so lucky that it is just up the road from us. It is a great venue for those looking for an outdoor wedding ceremony and it is set in the most stunning gardens. There are a number of buildings in the gardens which you can choose to hold your ceremony. 

One of my favourite parts of the garden is the Singing Theatre, it's so unique and full of character. We are really looking forward to Holly & Ian's wedding in May & hopefully it will have warmed up by then!

We then made our way to Orchardleigh House near Bath.  The drive through the Estate was impressive and the House even more so! Andrea & Jon will have access to all the rooms on their wedding day, which are all full of character as we found out whilst exploring with Andrea & Jonny.

Orchardleigh House is set in the most stunning countryside and is surrounded by rolling fields. We made use of the gardens for Andrea & Jon's Engagement Shoot. You can see how cold it had been the night before as the lake had frozen over!

Andrea & Jonny were a pleasure to be with and we can't wait for their wedding in June!

Sam & Alex were such a lovely couple to work with and they planned a really fun wedding day; this was one of the reasons they booked the boat for their reception! You can read all about their day in the latest issue of Wedding Day Venues Magazine

It was dark when we arrived in Salzburg city centre and we had missed the last train to Jesenice so decided to stay in Salzburg for the night, on the top floor of Hotel Europa, which had amazing views of the city.

We woke in time to catch the first train to Jesenice. It was cold and about to get much colder.

The train journey was the prettiest we have been on, with thick snow on the fields, icicles hanging from the rocks and frosted white tree tops. We were glued to the windows watching the landscape change. At times we were above the clouds!

We finally arrived at Jesenice and made our way by bus to our final destination, Kranjska Gora.

From the moment we arrived we were amazed at how beautiful the village was. The slopes were ideal for beginners and we loved being out in the snow every day.

A highlight of our trip was a walk through the Tamar Valley to see the Olympic Planica Ski Jumps. When we told our hotel owner that we were going on a walk to the jumps she quickly grabbed her keys and offered to drive us there...she dropped us off at the local village and told us it was -12 degrees.  For a moment we felt stranded but were soon overwhelmed by the beautiful landscape, it was like something out of Narnia.

Milan Airport

A train journey through Austria to Slovenia

Our hotel

The village of Kranjska Gora

Night Skiing & Snowboarding (Scott on the right)

I took the camera up the ski lift with me....tricky!

Planica, Olympic Ski Jump

A wooden cabin at the top of the valley.  Where we drank strong coffee and Mountain flower tea.

A 12 mile walk through the Tamar Valley in -12 degrees. A winter wonderland, one of the most beautiful walks we have ever been on!

The snow squeeked underfoot, I love the sound of walking on fresh snow.

All the farms had these, used for storing and drying logs.

The plan was for us all to make snow angels, but we let Cathy go first!

Walking back across snowy fields to the nearest village to catch a bus back to Kranjska Gora

On the last day we went for a walk in the early morning, just a mile from our hotel, towards the mountain in search of a lake.  It was frozen over, but the light was beautiful that morning, the snow and trees glistened!

The last photo of the trip; The church spire looking through the village, a view we passed every morning on the way to the slopes, which were only metres away from our hotel!

We miss the snow, the slopes and the mountains and I think we have caught the bug for skiing and snowboarding!

We met up with Fran & Chris at the Theatre Royal, Winchester as Fran is in the midst of this years Pantomime, Cinderella on one of her rare days off, to take some shots of her and Chris around the Theatre.

As you can see we had a lot of fun, laughter and pretty much any backdrop, lighting combo we wanted.  Thanks so much to you both and your techie friend for the lighting and background changes.

We look forward to your wedding next Spring and I am sure there will be many more suprises in store!

It was our first time visiting the City and it seems like a city that never sleeps; it is buzzing and colourful!  We packed a lot into our short stay and only stopped to soak up the sun on the sands of Barcelona beach.

Places we visited include:

Las Ramblas

Gaudi Parc Guell

Casa Batllo

Gaudi Cathedral- La Sagrada Familia

Picasso Museum

Barcelona Beach

Maremagnum Shopping Centre

Gothic Quarter-Barri Gotic

Our highlights were Gaudi Parc Guell, going inside one of Gaudi's buildings, Casa Batllo up to the rooftop and swimming in the sea on Barcelona Beach-the waves were huge! We also found a Cafe just down the road from our hotel were we went every morning for a breakfast of focaccia and espresso!

Compton House is an amazing venue with a mix of classical and contemporary interiors and was the perfect venue for Justine and Ricky's Intimate wedding with their children, family and closest friends.

St Michaels Church, where their blessing took place is within the grounds and right nextdoor to the Manor House.

I photographed Justine getting ready in the bridal suite and took some details of her stunning beaded wedding dress, whilst guests were making their way to the church.  We could take a peek at the guests arriving from the bedroom window and the children enjoyed spotting their relatives.

There was a really cosy party atmosphere inside the house as the cold night drew in.  We left the party just after the cutting of the cake!

More photographs from Justine and Ricky are on their way and will be up on the Blog soon!

We wondered through a nearby field with Karen and Dougie to make the most of the Golden Hour before the sun set and the Wedding Banquet began.

The medieval barn had been decorated with many homemade details including colourful bunting, springs of wheat tied up in each napkin, fur cone place name holders and homemade chutney wedding favours, even the cake stand had been made from the branch of a tree.

As soon as the band were set everyine took to the dance floor and danced the night away!

Karen and Dougie's wedding was full of rustic details perfect for an Autumn wedding and the weather was sunny all day.  

Dougie is Scottish and the couple met whilst living in New Zealand so there were many guests travelling a great distance to celebrate because of this many of the guests were also going back to Karen's parents Farmhouse for more celebrations the following day.

Once the boys were ready they headed off to the pub next door to the church for some drinks before the ceremony began.

Mary the virgin church is said to be one of Dorset's prettiest church, set in the picturesque village of Bradford Abbas just outside Sherborne.  Once the ceremony was complete guests left to the sound of Bagpipes as they made their way outside before heading off to Lower Stockbridge Farm Barn, where a banquet awaited in Part II.

Part II A wedding reception in a Medieval Barn

We made our way to Shillingstone Church, where the ceremony was taking place and guests were filling up the pews. Joanne arrived in a vintage car and walked with her father and bridesmaids to the church.

Following the ceremony as guests were congratulating the couple as if out of nowhere the heavens opened. We all dashed for cover under a yew tree, whilst we waited for it to blow over, unfortunately that didn't happen so we headed off to Durweston Village Hall for the reception.  As soon as we arrived it had stopped; There's no beating English weather!

We didn't let it put a damper on the day and were able to head out on the green for some shots with the couple in the beautiful evening light, which you can see in Part II

Click here for Part II

We had planned to take some shots in the field behind the church but weren't able to due to the weather so throughout the evening Scott and I  kept an eager eye on the weather in the hope for a break in the clouds.

Luckily in the early evening there was a break in the clouds and the sun shone through. We made a dash for the green with Joanne and Jason and the light was perfect, that soft Autumn light you get in the golden hour. Well worth waiting for!

We began the day in the village of East Coker at Giles parents house where Rebecca and her Bridesmaids were getting ready.  Scott popped down the road to meet Giles and the boys at the local pub before they made their way to church.

St Mary Magdalene is a quaint Norman Church and quite unusual inside and out.  Following the ceremony we all travelled a stone's throw away to the other side of the lake where another Castle awaited.  

Rebecca & Giles Reception was held at Sherborne Castle and began with drinks in The Orangery; you can see the photographs from Part II here

Rebecca & Giles arrived at Sherborne Castle in their white Rolls Royce to see Part II of their wedding click here.

Sam & Alex's reception took place aboard Brunel's SS Great Britain, a huge ship, which you may remember from their engagement shoot! It was a really fun venue and guests enjoyed exploring all areas of the ship during the evening. Drinks reception took place on the top deck and the wedding breakfast was below deck in the banquetting room, which has a lot the ship's original features.

We thouroughly enjoyed our day with Sam, Alex and all their guests and wish them all the best!

We met up with Samantha and the girls at The Bristol Hotel, where they were getting ready.  Everybody was very chilled out in the morning and we could hear a Saxophonist playing outside the hotel window, which helped set the mood.

The photographs begin with Sam's stunning Karen Millen shoes complete with bling, aren't they gorgeous!  I also love the bright pink Bridesmaid's dresses.

The ceremony was again laid back and Samantha and Alex were beaming throughout. I love the smiles Alex gave Sam during the hymns.

Following the ceremony we made our way to Brunel's SS Great Britain, where the reception took place in Part II

Follow the second part of Sam & Alex's wedding aboard Brunel's SS Great Britain.

We met up with the couple in Bradford Abbas, which is a beautiful English Country Village just outside Sherborne.  Mary The Virgin Church is reputed to be one of the prettiest churches in Dorset and I would have to vouch for that.  

We took a stroll around the village and found a foot path leading to a river, so took some shots in the shade on the bridge, before making our way to the village pub and a lovely old phone box, which you don't see enough of these days.

We made our way with Alyssa & James down to the ford and to Taddlestones cottage, where Scott photographed the guys getting ready earlier that day.

Tarrant Monkton has to be one of the prettiest villages in Dorset. The cottages are picture perfect! The weeping willow and cottage garden are both lovely spots to take photographs.

The wedding breakfast was held in a marquee, which had been decked out with vases of bright sunflowers on each table and they had sunflower cupcakes to match!  

The dance floor was decked out with bunting and it's here we left the couple and guests to dance the night away!

Alyssa's Mum is American and family had made their way overseas for Alyssa & James' wedding day. It was great to meet everyone in the morning and there was a lot of excitement whilst the Bridesmaids were getting ready.

You may spot Alyssa's adorable Scottie Dog in the pictures, who decided to take a wonder around the neighbourhood whilst everyone was busy getting ready. Luckily Alyssa was reunited with him for some photos before we left for the ceremony in town.

We then headed off to Tarrant Monkton, where the couple had their reception in a beautiful marquee in Part II

Dawn and Alex are so natural together and it was a pleasure to be a part of their day. Their wedding was full of personal touches and most of the details were made by Dawn, Dawn's mum and an array of tallented friends!

I began the day with Dawn up on the balcony, where hair and make-up was underway, whilst Scott was downstairs with the boys. Dawn looked stunning in her Suzanne Neville wedding dress and lace bolero so much so that the staff were knocking on the door to take a peek before the ceremony.

The ceremony room was beautiful and light and the ceremony itself was full of laughter.  Following the ceremony we ventured down the cobbled lane to Lymington Quay to take some shots of the couple alone before heading back to the gardens for drinks and confetti!

Part II of their wedding reception and photographs at Lymington Quay

Part II of Dawn & Alex's wedding reception at Stanwell house and some photographs of the couple at Lymington Quay

We started the day with Susan, her Mother and Bridesmaids at the Hotel Du Vin, which are always so beautifully decorated.  Susan has the best smile and was so excited whilst getting ready.

The guys were meeting at the pub just down the lane from the church and so Scott met them there before they made their way to the ceremony.  The Groomsmen all looked smart with their top hats and Harry in his Military Uniform. 

The ceremony was lovely, I especially liked the reading they had from 'Winnie the Pooh'. Following the ceremony guests milled in the walled gardens before making their way to Winchester Guildhall for Reception in Part II.

Part II The Wedding Reception at Winchester Guildhall

Mel and Chris got married at St. Mary's Church on the 6th August in the village of Iwerne Courtney, Shroton.  Following their reception, country dancers performed on the village green, whilst guests watched and later joined in!

Guests then made their way to the Perbeck for reception which was held in the Barn at Kingston Country Courtyard

Melanie & Chris had a Dorset Country Wedding full of personal touches, we look forward to showing you more of their wedding photographs soon!

Dawn looked stunning in her Suzanne Neville wedding dress and lace bolero!

Check out more of Dawn & Alex's wedding photography on our blog soon!

We took a walk amongst giant red firs in The New Forest, Hampshire for the couple's pre-wedding shoot.

We can't wait for Gemma & David's winter wedding and are looking forward to heading back to Rhinefield House and taking some shots of the beautiful rooms there.  How magical would Rhinefield House look in the snow!

As the sun was setting we took a walk with the couple around the Farmhouse gardens. It was the pefect Summer's evening.  Below you can see the details of Katie's beautiful Sassi Holford wedding dress, I love the big bows at the back and the delicate lace. 

The wedding parquee was decked out with English country garden flowers, lanterns and fresh herbs.

Here's Part I of their wedding day...

To see more of Katie's beautiful Sassi Holford Dress and the first dance, head over to Part II

We then headed to the RNLI College which is by the water's edge.  The couple had organised a boat for guests to take trips on during the evening, which we hopped on. 

The college is a perfect setting on a summers evening and the sunset over the water was beautiful that night!

Their day was a wonderful relaxed wedding celebration with their closest friends and family in the beautiful Queen Anne House and English country gardens.

We exchanged pictures of our exotic cats and stayed in touch. Cara kept me updated with their plans, their pink cadillac, her many flower girls and all the sweet treats they had planned for the day, including a desert table of Hummingbird bakery cakes and cookies.  We kept our fingers crossed for good weather and I am pleased to say the sun shone, even when it showered.  Cara & Steven's wedding day began at the stylish boutique Hotel Grosvenor in Shaftesbury, where I fell in love with the pink chair and Cara's Melissa shoes, it was the perfect setting for the couples Rock 'n' Roll wedding.

Here's Part I of the day, more to follow...

 Part II of Cara and Steven's wedding at The Larmer Tree.  Tea Party celebrations in the gardens...

This evening will showcase vintage styled wedding dresses through the decades as well as eveningwear for that special occasion!

Tickets are £5 to include complimentary drink and canapes.  To book your ticket call Tel: 01425 478894, Mobile: 07904294920

Tickets have to be pre-booked and are not available on the door!

Scott and I will be photographing the event and available to chat to Brides to be about their wedding photography, so we look forward to seing you there!

Their wedding was a relaxed country affair held at St. Huberts Church, Corfe Mullen and then we went on to Les Bouviers in Wimborne. 

Congratulations to you both!

Can't believe how the time has flown by since then, seems like our wedding was only yesterday!

Cara loves all things retro and has an impressive collection of props...she arrived with a car boot full for us to play with.  We had a great time and are very excited about their wedding this Thursday, which has many more treats in store!

The day was so relaxing and Trisha, Kimberley's mum had poured hours of love and attention into making every detail perfect.  What a star she was, having made all the floral arrangements, bouquets, Bridesmaid's dresses and yes she even made Kim's beautiful wedding dress.  Eash rose detail on the bodice took 4 hours to make!

Yellow and Blue were the colours of the day as Trisha is Sweedish and so the colours of Sweeden's flag were chosen.  I love the families duck yellow Astin Martin which the married couple raced off in after the ceremony. 

As you can see the wedding starts and ends with Mouse, Kim and Tim's beloved dog, who even joined them for their first dance....Look out for him in Part II

Part II of Kim & Tim's Country Wedding

Kim's father spent the morning of the wedding day polishing a 1907 Napier 60 hp, which belonged to Kim's late Grandfather. Kim & Tim had hoped to use this Chitty Chitty Bang Bang of a car as their wedding car but unforunately they couldn't get it running in time.  It took pride of place and we were sure to take some shots of Kim & Tim in the car, it was also a great spectacle for guests to see.

Can you spot Mouse during the First Dance...? Now that is true love!

The Fashion Show included the launch of Sarah Houston's new wedding dress collection. Exquisite Bridal Couture is the only stockist of Sarah Houston's wedding dresses in the South outside London; so if you are looking for a luxury vintage styled dress, with gorgeous laces then Natalie at Exquisite Bridal Couture in Lymington is the lady to talk to.  

Natalie offers a complete personal styling for your wedding day so you can find your dream gown and accesories to complete your look.

Here are some Bridal Fashion shots we took on the croquet lawn and gardens at Chewton Glen. We also made use of their fabulous new copper swings, which were perfect for our shoot!

To see the complete gallery from the Fashion Show you can do on our Facebook Page

If you are planning your wedding at Chewton Glen do get in touch to find out what photography packages we offer, we would love to hear from you!

The night before the wedding there was a thunderstorm and heavy downpour.  The thunder could still be heard in the early hours of the morning (so Darren informed us)! We remained optimistic and luckily the grey clouds dissapeared and the sun came out! It didn't rain again until all the guests were inside about to start the wedding breakfast...perfect timing!

Helen arrived in a dash and the ceremony began, during which the Vicar offered them a loaf of bread, which he made incase they got hungry on the way to reception.

We made use of the church gardens for enthusiastic confetti throwing before making our way to The Langton Arms. We always enjoy taking photographs in Tarrant Monkton as it is a typical Thomas Hardy English village complete with thatched cottages and a stream.

Helen & Darren I hope you are enjoying good weather, food and mountains (Darren is a big fan of mountains) on your tour of Italy!

If you are a bride to be and planning your big day why not buy a ticket and get the chance to see this superb venue, meet Natalie of Exquisite Bridal Couture and many more suppliers including Scott and I at Lisa Dawn Photography.

We look forward to meeting you!

The magazine was launched at The Designer Civil Partnership Show in London on the 6th March.  The latest issue is all about how to have a Vintage Styled Civil Partnership, with loads of tips and advice. If you would like to read the latest version of Pink Weddings Magazine click here

You can see Tammy & Nettie's full Wedding Feature here

We hope the magazine is a huge sucess and look forward to shooting our next Civil Partnership!

Mandy & Martin are very laid back and the day was thoroughly relaxed. The Langton Arms is in such a beautiful part of the world it is always a pleasure to photograph there!

I know Mandy and Martin are keen to see their photos before they dash off on their honeymoon to the Maldives, so without further ado here they are...

We can't wait to shoot Helen & James wedding at the RNLI Lifeboat College in July!

Bournemouth Beach Weddings are in high demand and it would be great to have a venue, which is literally on the sands! 

“A beach wedding package will be offered by local hotel partners who will be able to supply a wet weather licensed room at their hotels as back up.”

To find out more see The Bournemouth Echo's Article

The Webber's wedding is one that stood out for us last year and if you would like to see more have a look at their Wedding feature & Cherish the Dress Bridal feature.

I love reading about how our couples plan their weddings and the romantic stories behind the day.

If you would like to see how they and 14 other couples, in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset & Dorset created their dream days then the South West Magazine is full of inspiration. Click here to order your copy!

We have photographed many beautiful weddings this year (here are some that stand out for us) and in amongst our busy summer we set aside a couple of weeks to have our very own wedding. A day we shall never forget!

Here are a few shots from a 'We Did' session with Erica Turner, 'Turner Creative Photography' on the day after our wedding. On our wedding night we stayed in Taddlestones Cottage.  I will always remember walking down the country lane in the dark on our way to the cottage and waking up as Husband & Wife!

We wish you a Happy & Healthy New Year! Lisa & Scott x

Sarah & Shay had a Christmas themed wedding on what was a very sunny December day- the twelfth day of the twelfth month.  It was a special family occasion with many relatives that had come from South Africa to be there.

Natalie soon arrived in a silver Bentley with her parents. She looked stunning in her lace dress by Shanna Melville. I loved her contemporary look with a vintage twist!

Danny was so happy to see Natalie walk down the aisle and turned to the guests to give the thumbs up! We then stayed behind with the couple to take some shots in the House and Gardens while their guests enjoyed champagne on the bus journey to Weymouth. Part II Natalie & Danny's wedding to follow!

We met with owner Helen, who showed us around the site and the caravan and soon got settled in.  We had a cream tea waiting for us and a baby sham for later! We would like to thank Helen and Frazer for a fantastic holiday and we will definitely be coming back!

The Airstreams are also available for hire for your fabulous events, weddings and bespoke JAMBOREE extravaganzas! We thoroughly enjoyed our short break on the Island, the beautiful country side and delicious local food.

Places we visited and recommend! The Garlic Farm & Restaurant: http://www.thegarlicfarm.co.uk/

The Queens Palace by the Sea-Osborne House: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/book-and-buy/venue-hire/osborne-house

Arreton Old Village http://www.arretonbarns.co.uk/

Ventnor Botanical Gardens: http://www.botanic.co.uk/

Amazon World http://www.amazonworld.co.uk/

Carisbrooke Castle http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/carisbrooke-castle/

The Taverners Pub & Restuarant, Godshill http://www.thetavernersgodshill.co.uk/

Cowes Freshwater Bay and Coastal Path

"This extensive estate has an exquisitely furnished house and terraced gardens with panoramic views leading down to its own private beach on the Solent.

The House was built in 1845 for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert as a country retreat. The Royal couple escaped to Osborne regularly and were there on 24 May each year to celebrate the Queen’s birthday and almost always for the Prince’s birthday on 26 August.

After Prince Albert’s untimely death in 1861, the distraught Queen retreated to Osborne for several months, but thereafter avoided being there on these poignant dates. Nonetheless, the Queen spent much of the year at Osborne up to her death in 1901." If you are planning your wedding here we would love to hear from you!

Tammy & Nettie had a 'Shabby Chic' theme and made many of the items for the wedding themselves as well as having plenty of fun scouting around charity shops to find trinkets for their table decorations.  A lot of hard work had gone in to making games and personalised gifts for their friends and family.  With teapots and jam jars full of sweets and puzzles laid out on the tables the guests were amazed at how beautiful the reception room had been decorated. Our favourites at reception were the Wishing Tree, where Netty & Tammy had left messages of love and invited friends and family to leave some tips and advise for happy marriage and an old recipe book, which the couple had adapted with 'The Family Recipe of Love'.

Photographs with thanks and congratulations to Tammy & Nettie! We wish you all the best in your future together.

Following the ceremony guests made their way to The Mirimar Hotel on Bournemouth's seafront.  Guests enjoyed themselves in the garden with sea views, before making their way to the wedding breakfast, which is where we left the newly weds to enjoy the rest of their day with loved ones.

Wedding Photographs with thanks & congratulations to Mr & Mrs Tulk!

Not to mention seeing Earth Wind and Fire perform live and looking at relics from the not so distant past that will soon be classified as 'vintage'.

http://www.myspace.com/lewisfloydhenry

We started the day at Kim's parent's house in Blandford and then made our way to the chapel where guests and the guards of honour were gathered.

Kim and John's wedding was planned with military precision and certainly a fun packed day.  The newly wed's left the church to the biggest confetti shower we could imagine, blasted into the air with confetti cannons. Kim and John then joined their guests on a London Route-master which drove down the country lanes to the reception at the quaint Coppleridge Inn inn Shaftesbury.

Photographs with thanks and congratulations to Mr & Mrs Neville!

St.James is a Victorian church which is next door to The Old Inn, which was our next stop.  Guests soon made their way into the church ready for the ceremony.

Jess and Alex chose Canford School to hold their reception, which is situated in beautiful parkland and right beside the River Stour. With it's grand interior, The Great Hall was an impressive setting for the Wedding Breakfast, speeches and later dancing. The rooms are beautifully decorated with wooden panelling and chandeliers. When we first saw the stairs it took our breath away.

We thoroughly enjoyed photographing Alex & Jess' day, which was beautiful! We hope you enjoyed your tour around Italy!

Photographs with thanks & congratulation to Mr & Mrs Holt!

Wedding Suppliers

Wedding Flowers: Carnival Flowers, Wimborne

Jane & Ben fell in love with The Larmer Tree the first time they saw it and new that it was going to be the ideal venue for their relaxed and fun wedding celebrations. Despite the showers, nothing was going to stop Jane going barefoot and walking across the lawn with her dad and sister into the General's room where their ceremony took place.

Following the ceremony we went off around the gardens with Jane and Ben, whilst guests sipped champagne by the Roman Temple. In the afternoon, tea was served and everyone enjoyed games on the lawn.

The speeches took place by the singing theatre, where guests gathered on deckchairs and was followed by dancing.  Jane and Ben's first dance was to 'You're just to good to be true' by Andy Williams played by the 'Stour Valley Stompers'- a 7 piece Trad Jazz Band.

Following a game of rounders everyone made their way to The Pavillion where a hog roast was served and more dancing followed!

Photographs with thanks and congratulations to Jenny, Alistair & their family!

I loved the yellow and purple colour theme they chose, which suited the venue so well! During their ceremony they had a beautiful reading called 'A Walled Garden' which I would like to share:

"Your marriage", he said, "Should have within it, a secret and protected place, open to you alone.Imagine it to be a walled garden,entered by a door to which only you have the key.

Within this garden you will cease to be a mother, father, employee, homemaker or any other roles which you fulfil in daily life. Here you are yourselves, two people who love each other.Here you can concentrate on one another's needs.

So take my hand and let us go back to our garden. The time we spend together is not wasted but invested. Invested in our future and the nurture of our love".

Anon

Photographs with thanks and congratulations to Mr & Mrs O'Connor

It was a family wedding as Sarah and Andrew recently had a baby boy, Lucas and so it was lovely he was able to share their wedding day with them.

After the wedding ceremony guests wondered down the country lane to Holdenhurst village green where Pimms were served on the lawn, before Sarah and Andrew made a very stylish exit to Sopley Mill, in Christchurch.

You may have noticed the beautiful cream Cadillac-Andy is a big fan of American Cars and this was a special treat for the couple on their wedding day.  We were sure to capture some pics of the newly weds on route to the reception.  A relaxed reception followed with speeches in the riverside gardens overlooking the water-meadows....

Photographs with thanks & congratulations to Mr & Mrs Telford!

Wedding Suppliers

Photography: Lisa Dawn Photography

Reception: Sopley Mill, Christchurch

Wedding Car: Premier Carriages Ltd.

Wedding Cake: Sue Holloway

Wedding Flowers: Flowers on the corner, Pokesdown

Our wedding took place on the 13th June this year and we were lucky enough to be featured on Love My Dress, thanks to Turner Creative Photography, so why not take a peek!

Photographs with thanks & congratulations to Mr & Mrs Allen!

Springhead is a special place for Poppaea and James and holds many happy memories, it is therefore no surprise that it was here that James proposed to Poppaea. There are several springs at the far end of the lake at Springhead, crossed by a wooden bridge and overshadowed by great and ancient trees. It is said that if you taste the waters you will be sure to return!

Poppaea and James are both creatives, Poppaea Bicknell is a talented costume designer and James Webber is an up and coming film-maker, needless to say their wedding was beautifully decorated and choreographed to perfection! Poppaea made her own vintage inspired wedding dress and headpiece, which looked truly stunning and deserve their own feature. Poppaea's vintage inspired hair accessories were made by Magpie Vintage in collaboration with Poppaea Bicknell and her necklace was custom made by Magpie Vintage . The bride's shoes matched her outfit beautifully; the jewel covered shoes were made by Emmy Shoes with shoe clips by Magpie Vintage.

Poppaea Bicknell also worked closely with Bonzie Designs, who made her bolero. To see Poppaea'a bridal shoot including all these details please click here.

The wedding day was filled with many hand made details and vintage relics. The wedding party arrived in a vintage Austin, from Austin-Beauford Wedding Cars and made their way to the The Drawing Room, where the wedding ceremony took place.

The Bride and Groom then led their guests through the lakeside gardens to the Rotunda, where guests were seated on the grass amphitheatre to listen to Music, by the Paradise Quartet and Readings.

Readings

'Zebras' by Kieran Knowles, 'Name' from Rapture by Carol Ann Duffy, 'Love song of the Ents' from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Music

'The Swan' from The Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns, 'Final Duet and Sinfonia' from The Coronation of Poppaea by Claudio Monteverdi

The wedding party then walked to the springs, set in woodland, where friends and family made a toast to the Bride and Groom with fresh spring water.

Drinks and Canapés were then served on the lawn, followed by dinner and Speeches in The Mail Room. The Reception was beautifully decorated with vintage birdcages, candles and pink and purple floral displays by Country Wedding Flowers. Poppaea had made table names featuring all of the families cats, and being a huge cat fan myself I especially liked these!

The Tea Party then began! Chocolate cake was served on vintage saucers and Tea and Coffee was served in vintage tea cups. The pastel coloured chocolate cake was made by Poppaea's best friend, Olivia Zampi of Couture Confections.

As the sun set, the garden was illuminated with lanterns & candles and became even more enchanted. We followed guests as they took a midnight stroll-it was really quite magical!

Photographs with thanks and congratulations to Mr & Mrs Webber!

We had a great time photographing the day and felt the bride, her dress and accessories deserved their own feature.

Wedding Suppliers

Wedding Dress, made by Poppaea Bicknell

Wedding shoes, custom made by Emmy Shoes with jewels by Magpie Vintage

Wedding Necklace, custom made by Magpie Vintage

Bolero: Poppaea worked closely with Bonzie Designs, who made her bolero

Vintage inspired hair accessories, made by Magpie Vintage in collaboration with Poppaea Bicknell

Wedding Flowers by Country Weddings

We had our own apartment, garden and pool hidden away on top of a hill amongst the vineyards. It was the perfect place to unwind. Ironically it seems the weather was hotter at home, but none the less we made the most of it and on rainy days spent our time in the Therme Spas set up in the mountains-so I can't complain!

Our trip began on the crazy Italian roads of Pisa! Even when we were away we found a Bride and Groom to photograph.

Some of the places we visited include:

Pisa

Florence

Alinari National Museum of Photography

Castellina in Chianti

The Spa at Rapolano Terme

Siena

Castiglione della Pescaia

Saturnia

We had an amazing day and pulled off a relaxed fairytale wedding, just as we imagined it. We are so pleased that our friends and family were there to share our wedding celebration with us!

Our clients always tell me that the wedding day flies by and it sure does!

Many people were curious who we would chose to photograph our wedding...and this was a tricky decision. With some photographers not believing we were actually getting married and just after business information we had not anticipated how tricky this would be. So after resorting to Twitter a photographer from overseas, Erica Turner from Turner Creative Photography jumped at the chance. How refreshing!

Erica has become a true online friend & we have been keeping up to date with each others work for many months! I am fascinated by all the outdoor weddings and gorgeous styling many of the weddings Erica shoots in Mid West America & Erica was equally interested in English Weddings and the different architecture & style our weddings at home have.

We finally met with Erica & Chad in Blandford Forum days before our wedding to talk through our plans and thoroughly enjoyed their company.We were sad to see them leave and missed them a great deal!

To have Erica shoot our wedding was a dream come true and as for the results...you can see for yourself!

To see the whole collection from our wedding, please take a look at Erica's Blog

And here is our ceremony live!

Lisa & Scott's Wedding from Scott Darby on Vimeo.

Photography with a huge thanks to Erica & Chad Turner at Turner Creative Photography to see more from our wedding visit Erica's Blog

Catering

Wedding Cake with thanks to Pat-a-Cake of Wimborne- It tasted delicious & looked divine!

Elderflower Champagne, Homemade by Scott & I-Recipe & equipment from Brew, Salisbury

Venues

Wedding Ceremony: Old Wardour Castle

Wedding Reception: The Langton Arms

Transport

Vintage Wedding Car found from Premier Carriages

Modern Wedding Car from Hunts of Salisbury

Décor

Bunting-Hand made by Pat Simmons at Pat-a-Cake of Wimborne

Vintage Birdcage, urn and flower stand hired from Poundbury Florists

Wedding Flowers & Buttonholes made by the Bride (with help from my sister Cathy & Mum, Pat-Thank you!) and bought from Global Flora Wholesalers

Confetti (freeze dried Hydrangea flowers) online from Immati

Ribbons & Fabric (Bunting, chair sashes, flower ribbon) with thanks to Franki Campbell, purchased from Hansons, Sturminster Newton

Bridal

Wedding Dress by Sassi Holford, purchased from Oxfam Bridal Suite, Poole Highstreet

Wedding Shoes from River Island

Bride's Wedding Hair by Emily Jirat

Jewellery from Papyrus, Blandford Forum

Wedding Attire

Men's trousers, jackets & shoes from Marks & Spencer

Men's Waistcoats & Cravats from i-ties

Wedding Rings from Reale Jewellers

Entertainment

Wedding Music found from The Morris Agency

Harpist: Amanda Whiting

Gypsy Jazz Band: Jonny Hepbir Trio

It was the first wedding of it's kind-Elise & Alistair were first on the list to be wed in the gardens and when the Thatched Summer house got a license they were thrilled. Their guests arrived at the Italian Villa, a gorgeous building with equally breathtaking formal gardens and awaited the arrival of Elise and Alistair who turned up together, along with their Bridesmaid.

Elise & Alistair love all things Japanese and they styled elements of their wedding with the orient in mind. I loved the choice of colours, black, white and the lime green and red really popped out. Elise didn't want too many flowers as for her no flowers could beat those that they would be surrounded by as they said their vows. The Acers and Aezelias were out in full bloom and the bright colours were such a great setting for this tranquil wedding, which over looked the gardens and ponds.

Bride and Groom, Elise and Alistair led their way through the Italian Gardens and into the Japanese Gardens with friends and family close behind. The thatched summer house was cool and the ceremony began.

Once the ceremony was complete we made the most of the backdrop for the group shots. We then had a wonder around the tiny paths which lead you around the gardens in amongst the flowers and over stepping stones across the ponds (watching our step!) with the newly weds. We had a lot of fun.....

The drinks reception took place in the Italian Gardens before we all made our way to The Haven Hotel, another great venue and this time we had the beach on our doorstep so naturally we all kicked our shoes off for some more photos before guests waited for the wedding breakfast to be served in the Brownsea Suite.

The flowers and cake were decorated with an Asian theme and again the colours really stood out against the black & white. The table was set outewith all the guests seated around to make for a cosy feel. We left the party to enjoy their meal. Elise and Alistair stayed at the Clavell Tower in Kimmeridge for their wedding night and were sure to take cake with them. I am sure they had a great time.

Photographs with thanks and congratulations to Mr & Mrs Macrae

Lee and Geraint's wedding took place on 1st May, 2010 - May Day. This was the same date that Lee's parents married, so they will share their wedding anniversary with her parents.

We began the wedding day by making our way to Branksome to take some Bridal preparation shots. I think it is lovely to have coverage for this part of the day as this is where the wedding really begins and the Groom can share these moments through the photographs.

As we arrived Lee was having the finishing touches made to her hair, which looked stunning and the Bridesmaids were having their make-up and hair carried out by the talented Bridal Treats.

I love Lee and Geraint's choice of Halter-neck Bridesmaids dresses from Karen Millen, which have elegant waistcoats bodices with a long flowing black skirt and a gorgeous low back with black and white bow. The Bridesmaids also had corsages with white roses and purple flowers, which was a lovely touch.

Before leaving the Bridal party we took some small group shots in the garden- just as the sun came out! We then made our way to St.Michaels and All Angels Church in Verwood to see how the Boys were getting on! The Groom, Best Man and Ushers were looking very dapper in Black suits and Bow ties. Guest were arriving and making their way into the church to await the arrival of the Bride.

The Bride arrived with her father in a beautiful Black and White vintage car, with a floral shower in white and purple by Signature Flowers , Lilliput, Poole.

We then went off to Sandbanks Beach for some relaxed and romantic shots of the newly weds. Our couple shoot is a great time for Husband and Wife to escape from their wedding guests for a few minutes and share some time together before joining the wedding party at their Reception.

We headed for Harbour Heights Hotel, which is a stunning Hotel with views over looking Poole Harbour and Brownsea Island. The Harbour Heights has a very modern and stylish feel and was perfect for Lee and Geraint's sophisticated wedding and what better way to welcome guests than with a cocktail! Lee and Geraint hired a professional team of mixologists who made a variety of colourful cocktails, including flaming cocktails. This was certainly a spectacle for all the wedding guests and then fun lasted throughout the evening.

We took some Group shots on the patio and in the gardens of the wedding guests, family and friends before leaving the party to enjoy their wedding Breakfast. We had the opportunity to help ourselves to the Buffet and desert and the food was simply divine! So thank you to Lee, Geraint and the staff at Harbour Heights for that! We then joined Guests, while the speeches began....

The evening celebrations began with the cutting of the largest wedding cake I have ever seen, what a feature for the reception Room!

Lee and Geraint share their First Dance as Husband and Wife, with some impressive dance moves!

We left the celebrations and guests to dance the night away!

We hope Lee and Geraint had a fabulous time in Dubai and The Maldives on their Honeymoon.

Photographs with Thanks and Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Waters!

We would like to say a special Thank you to the team at Harbour Heights for being so accommodating, helpful and friendly and we look forward to photographing another wedding their soon! We would highly recommend the venue to wedding couples looking for a dedicated team and stunning wedding venue. Wedding Suppliers

Wedding Photography: Lisa Dawn Photography

Venue: Harbour Heights Hotel

Videography: Wedding Memories

Flowers: Signature Flowers

Bridesmaids Dresses: Karen Millen

Wedding Make-Up: Bridal Treats

Lawrence and Melanie are getting married in the Waterside Suite and weather permitting taking a boat across the river following their ceremony. We are looking forward to photographing their wedding in July, until then here are some shots of their beautiful venue.

The Four Star Hotel and Spa was beautifully decorated inside with contemporary décor and furnishings, which makes it a very stylish venue for those planning a chic wedding.

If you are planning your wedding at The Captains Club do Get In Touch as we would love to hear from you!

On the 23rd January the big day had arrived, we arrived in Poole's Old Town and made our way to the boutique Hotel Du Vin. Before we went up to the Bridal Suite, Dom Perignon we were sure to make the most of capturing the beautiful interiors and décor at the Hotel.

Champagne was cooling on ice as the open fire was lit in the Crows nest ready for the arrival of the guests.

We met with Jayne and her mother to take some shots of the final preparations before they made their way to the ceremony in the 'Port' Room

Couples began to arrive and check in to their luxurious rooms and make their way to the cosy Crows nest where they drank Champagne and mingled.  Jazz music played in the dimly lit room, which really created a relaxing and classy atmosphere.

We took some relaxed shots of The Groom, Alan, his Best Man and Sons at the Bar, you can always be sure to find the groom within a short distance of the Bar.

The guests made their way into the ceremony room and awaited the arrival of the Bride. Jayne's son, Alex walked her down the aisle towards an already tearful Groom!

The ceremony was filled with emotion, tears and laughter all round, with beautiful readings and vows, Jayne and Alan where now Husband and Wife.

After the ceremony the drinks continues, with canapés, which looked divine.  A guitar player played smooth jazzy tunes whilst everyone laughed, danced and shared their congratulations for the newly weds.

We disappeared with Jayne and Alan to make use of the beautiful features the Hotel has to offer for their 'Couple Shoot'.

After more dancing and chatting everyone made their way back up to the Port room which had been transformed ready for the Wedding breakfast.  Here we left Jayne and Alan to enjoy the rest of their evening with their nearest and dearest.

Photography with thanks and congratulations to Mr & Mrs Addis

Wedding Suppliers

Photography: Lisa Dawn Photography

Venue: Hotel Du Vin, Poole

Hairstylist: Robin James

Page 41 includes includes an article on Poole's Wedding Coast, where you can request the Poole Wedding Guide, where you will also find us featured.

The featured photograph above was taken at Hotel Du Vin a stylish boutique in Poole Old Town, for further details about the venue why not visit their website. To request your copy of Poole's Wedding Guide click here.

If you are planning a wedding in Poole or Sandbanks why not Get in touch to find out what we can offer you!

It is the perfect setting for what we had in mind and will be an impressive backdrop for our wedding photography! Now we just have to wait until June...

If you are also planning a wedding at Old Wardour Castle or an English Heritage property and are searching for your wedding photographers to Get in Touch as we would love to hear from you!

Wedding Venue:

Old Wardour Castle

Katie Haines
Hospitality Co-ordinator
Portland and Old Wardour Castles
Direct tel. 01305 820868/07824 416927

I spoke to founder Rosie Ames to tell her all about Anna & James' special day and also found out all about Green Union.

Eco Chic Weddings is a Wedding Ideas & Inspiration Blog focussing on all that is Ethical, Thrifty and Chic. Three things close to my heart.

The founder, Emily Anderson used to work in marketing and branding, first for a fashion company, Donna Karan New York, then for Vanity Fair Magazine, and after that for (much loved) lifestyle company Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. Emily also worked as a New Media Consultant with television stations and web sites during the first Internet boom, pre-2001.

Emily then wrote a book about weddings, Eco Chic Weddings and it became a part of a big trend called the Green Movement. This is when Eco Chic Wedding Blog also began. The blog became so popular that a lot of the blog's readers didn't even know about the book!

In 2008 Emily wrote a book for Popular Mechanics about making green changes around the home, When Changing A Light Bulb Just Isn't Enough.

Most recently, her book Eco Chic Home has been added to the list, which will be available in Spring 2010, so definitely one to look out for!

This book includes over 60 design projects, each project fits the same profile: chic, purposeful, affordable, easy, and made from an everyday material that can be remade into a brand new item for your home. Some of the items include a rug, cake stands, and lamps. Emily found inspiration and ideas from all over the web, from magazines, books, friends, family-basically, everywhere. More of her ideas can be found on the blog, Writing Design and Life, as well as some of the sources that inspire Emily Anderson.

La Bella Donna

Inspired by marriage in 15th- and 16th- century Italy, Bride Magazine reinvent the Renaissance bride.