The 'Big Day' -Annaliese and Tom

The 'Big Day' - Annelise and Tom September 2024

The wedding with the green dress. Now this wedding was something different, something extra special. The bride was dressed in emerald green and flower converse and the groom was matched in tweed and rustic feathered pins.

From the moment I met Tom and Annaliese, there was an energy where I just knew we were going to have fun. We met for our pre-wedding consultation at the local coffee shop and as I walked in I instantly noticed a beautiful girl with red hair and a man that looked like the cat that got the cream. As we sat down and discussed how they met , I was fascinated by this couple , truly, as they told me of what they did for a living and how they had met, I was hooked.

So, what did they do? its a part of their story I simply cannot miss out. Tom worked in a mortuary part of a hospital and dissected parts of the human body to identify the cause of death and Annaliese was a scientist! Yep these two were incredible and as we sat there my mind filled with all the things I could incorporate into their photography on the big day! Medical gloves, petri dishes for the rings... I got slightly carried away but you get the picture and luckily they saw the passion I had in mind and were not scared away but inspired.

A few months later the big day had arrived and I was in Taunton heading towards Sheppy's Cider Barn and the registry office in the town centre! The sun was shining and it was a warm day, the perfect mix of light, warmth, cool and shade - a photographers dream.

Tom was waiting in the pub across the street and all their friends were there with him, enjoying a drink or two, Tom was relaxed and his friends were excited to see the marriage take place. Everyone was dressed impeccably and the bright colours worn for this September wedding were fantastic. To be honest their guests looked like they were from a trendy magazine and I was delighted. Roll on a small while and it was time for the bride to arrive. I whisked myself over the road (dodging a few cars on the way) and crept a look inside the venue, it did not disappoint. Black vaulted ceilings and vintage velvet seats - it matched the style they had chosen perfectly.

Outside the guests are coming over from the pub and gradually going in to sit down for the ceremony, I wait with bated breath for the green wedding dress I'd heard so much about. After a few snaps of the guests, it was time and I turned around to see Annaliese almost floating up the stone steps ( scattered with confetti from the wedding before), she was a vision and Tom was definitely going to cry.

As Annaliese walked in , the bridesmaids flurried around her and made sure all was good, however this was the moment we realised that the rings had indeed been forgotten. Now, you'd think that panic would suddenly flood through this wedding party, but no. The father of the bride quickly stepped up, took his ring off and Annaliese just smiled and took a selfie with her maids- yep a true rockstar in every sense of the word. I was impressed to say the least and we were ready to go!

As I dashed to the top of the aisle and took a couple more snaps of the guests waiting for the brides arrival and most importantly of Tom just before his beautiful 'liesl' walked through the doors (there is something quite amazing about that moment - full of nerves, excitement and pure adrenaline - everyone has their breath held.)

As Tom waits to turn around, his bride enters the room and his groomsmen give him a look of ' you lucky devil' as she walks down the aisle dressed in the most exquisite emerald dress that you could imagine. The beading lit up and her hair was glowing from the light coming through the church style windows. The registrar began and it came to the point of ' if anyone knows of any reason these two people should not be married' suddenly a mobile phone rings ( yep, perhaps not exactly at that moment but it was around then and everyone let out a giggle).

During the ceremony Annaliese looked at Tom in a way that I can only describe as admiration - he is her safe space , her best friend, the one person that makes her feel truly herself and it shows. They say I do.

We make our way outside and the sun is glorious, I was lucky and it was beaming through Annaliese's dress beautifully. Confetti at the ready group photos were a blast - the steps were full of guest and I had to jump into the road to get the shot ( carefully of course) though this did ensure a good amount of smiles for the photo, as they watched me play dodge with the traffic in honour of the perfect pic!

Off we go to Sheppy's Cider Barn for the reception, this venue did not disappoint , the sun was shining and the backdrop of cider Vats was awesome, there was even a tractor in the car park - true cider feels! It was time to eat and I was touched that my gorgeous couple had bought me lunch ( an amazing hog roast with all the trimmings) and even given me a favour of seeds to plant - wrapped up with their own gold seal 'Love grows'. It was lovely.

Tom and Annaliese sat on a table for two whilst others ate together - she had a can of coke and again I was in ore of this remarkably unique couple. With drinks flowing and the barn at the ready people set off to the dance floor and speeches - met with prosecco on arrival, flip flops in case your feet got tired, a band played songs and the party got started.

I took a few more photographs of Tom and Annaliese in the moonlight and we even explored the barn with all the cider vats inside it - climbed to the top of the steel steps and got some arty shots! This couple had made it and I was honoured to have shared it with them.

That day I didn't just feel like a photographer , I felt like a guest. They had made it so I felt that way and everyone there was so welcoming it was almost a shame to leave. I packed up my things, said my goodbyes and felt like I'd made some real friends that day - what a great job I have and how lucky I was to be part of this wedding!