The Big Day - Jayde and Oz

The Big Day - Jayde and Oz November 2024

Well, where do I start? Jayde and Oz, the love story of two people who found love behind a bin, on a police raid, in the middle of the night.

It all began when they were working together in the police force, eating cold 'meal deal' pasta, huddled hiding behind a bin , in the cold rain waiting for the bad guys to appear. I mean, just your regular love story...

These two are definitely a couple I will never forget, the love they have and the utter admiration they have for each other is undeniable to anyone.

Now, lets go back to when I met them... Jayde had contacted me to organise a maternity photoshoot at the studio, including her gorgeous boys Oakley and Kasper, she was apprehensive, yet full of pride for her up and coming extended family and I couldn't wait to get her and her gorgeous baby bump in front of the camera.

We did the photoshoot, had loads of fun and bonded over motherhood and careers, hers far more adventurous than mine it would seem.

Fast forward a few months and the beautiful Azra arrived to complete their family, just one more adventure was to come , Oz proposed and they wanted me to capture their 'big day'. Amazing! I was over the moon and completely honoured, true to form it was a natural understated proposal and guess what? it was happening in just a couple of months!!

So, lets start planning, how we are going to photograph the day they will always remember?!

Jayde was an absolute miracle maker and had organised the most beautiful venue - Mounton Brook Lodge in Chepstow.

We met at the venue a few weeks before and looking around this unique, artistic and rustic space, I quickly realised that the pictures were going to be stunning. The teal and gold walls in the bar, the stone walls in the main hall and the white beams and blossom in the ceremony room were perfect for my lens, I couldn't wait.

It was a frosty morning a few weeks before Christmas and I arrived at the venue at 8.30am to be greeted by Jayde and her crew. The coffee was brewing, princess Azra was having her milk and the boys were already out of bed and playing on their switches.

Jayde was calm with a sparkle of nerves -just as any bride should be and her friends were excitedly painting their nails and pouring the prosecco.

The countdown was on and as we made our way upstairs to the bridal suite, the make-up artist was already working her magic on the bridesmaids and laugher was filling the room, everyone was full of excitement for the day and I felt lucky I was chosen to be a part of it.

Camera at the ready, it was easy to start snapping away. The most exquisite wedding dress hung on the beams above the bed and the forest green bridesmaid dresses were picked to perfection. The colour combination was beautiful and I knew they were going to really pop in the editing suite when I got them home.

Now for the groom, Oz was tucked away from seeing his beautiful bride with his groomsmen on on another floor in the cottage attached to the venue (very swish) , I popped over and as always Oz was calm, collected and with a smile from ear to ear. Today he was marrying his Jayde and the delight was beaming from his polished shoes to his shiny cufflinks.

Jayde had bought him a musical wind up of a song box that was special to him and her, he opened it with a look that I will never forget, love.

After a few snaps of him getting ready, I went back to see Jayde open her gift from Oz, perfume that was specially selected for their day - Jayde spoke about how smells are directly connected to memory and that it was the perfect gift to get from him - he knew her well, he knows her best.

It's almost time to say I do, Azra is being fed her bottle and the boys come and see their mother, all dressed up in their black bow ties, suited and booted, the men in her life were about to give their mum away to someone who loves her as much as they do. The boys posed for some photos then ran off to play some more switch, whilst Jayde got ready to put on her dress.

Slipping into the lace, corseted dress , she is beautiful. Make up done and lip gloss on , Jayde is ready to make her way to the aisle and I am following behind silently while she takes every moment in before saying 'I do'. Off we go.

I enter the ceremony room , dressed in white blossom and green leaves and silks, the gold chairs are ready with guests waiting to see their friends finally tie the knot. The music plays and with a huge smile Oz looks at me and gives me a look of 'it's time, lets do this'. The moment Jayde walks through the lace curtains and walks effortlessly down the aisle with her mum by her side, the moment is here and its my time to capture what I am here for - the big 'I do'.

Its always a melting moment when you witness a wedding , you get completely engrossed in the story of your couple and you wish with every bone in your body that their day is as magical as they have hoped for.

As Jayde and Oz read their vows and make their promises to each other, the crowd clap and Oakley and Kasper look utterly captivated, Azra is asleep on Leannes lap ( I mean she is only a few months old, so we can let her off this once! ).

The day continues with fizz, canapés at the bar and photos outside, it was cold and icy but the excitement of the day was fantastic and as always Jayde and Oz were up for anything and we got some amazing colour cannon and sparkler shots!

We make our way into the warm and the guests and I listen to the stories of how Jayde and Oz met, how Jayde gave her mum a run for her money when she was young and her cosy memories of staying with her nan as a child. The room filled with tears and laughter and then it was time for the first dance. Jayde and Oz had chosen 'Yellow' by Coldplay and it was perfect.

As the night drew to a close and everyone began to dance the night away, the DJ played his tunes and it was time for me to slip away and drive home. Off I went, said my goodbyes and thought, what a couple, what a day, what a wedding!