Monday, July 25, 2011 | Surrey Wedding
Michi and Chur’s Oaks Farm wedding was a really thoughtful day with a bringing together of European and Chinese customs and showing off Chur’s design talents and patience.
The day started with Michi getting ready at Oaks Farm in the cottage with her family and friends.
Michi’s parents chose to sit calmly outside in the sunshine while most of the getting ready was going on.
Meanwhile, in the Victorian barn, the harpist was practising Michi’s entrance music and Chur’s family were putting finishing touches to the floral arrangements.
Everything was in place for the ceremony – a nervous groom and a nervous best man, who is also getting married this summer.
After their ceremony, Michi and Chur went outside for confetti and family congratulations.
Chur’s Hong Kong family heritage came into play as he and Michi took part in a traditional Chinese tea ceremony. Â In this, the couple show their respect for their elders by serving tea to their parents and grandparents. Â It’s also a time for the older generations to give gifts – traditionally in red embellished envelopes and sometimes precious items – in this case a necklace and bracelet for Michi.
Chur’s mother mentioned at this point that she would like a grandchild – and a few seconds later, this wish expanded into wanting perhaps four grandchildren – hence Michi’s giggles.
Another of the Chinese traditions at Michi and Chur’s wedding was a red tablelcoth that guests signed as well as a more traditional message book.
Michi and Chur took time out for champagne and chatting to their guests while I captured reportage photographs of their family and friends. Some of the youngest guests were especially keen on the garden games that had been organised for them.
Michi’s mother had made endless metres of bunting for the wedding, using many materials that were familiar from her childhood. Â It was strung around the Oaks Farm grounds for drinks and the orangery throughout the day.
We spent about 20 minutes around Oaks Farm for some wedding portraits.
Michi and Chur had spent countless hours working on their details, including a birdy table plan and using a combination of circus-style fonts for signage. Table names had a theme of childhood desserts.
Chur’s mother put together this array of cakes and wedding cupcakes – teaching herself how to cook and decorate them especially for the occasion.
The day had its speeches before the wedding breakfast.
Throughout the meal, Michi’s father kept a close eye on his sleeping grand-daughter.
Chur jokes with his friends – he had written the Chinese part of his speech phonetically so he could read it easily.
The day was also Chur’s father’s 60th birthday – so it was time for more cake.
Michi’s brother and sister-in-law sang “More than Words” as their contribution to the day.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010 | Surrey Wedding
The Oaks Farm wedding of Laura and Nick very much reflected their personal touches and design industry careers – so style and downright prettiness was the order of the day.
Nick spent a few minutes making sure he looked his best then it was time to get married to Laura.
The sky was overcast, which meant gentle light for their wedding portraits in the Oaks Farm grounds.
Their young guests had gone to some effort to look the part …
and after some deep concentration and thought …
… produced a bride and groom on-the-spot portrait.
After a little more time capturing their guests and reception, I finished with some details of Oaks Farm while Laura, Nick and their guests sat down to dinner.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010 | Surrey Wedding, Wedding
At Emily and Marz’s wedding on Saturday, there were so many children being utterly themselves that I wanted to give them their own post. All were charming, busy making new friends and exploring. It can also be fun working with them, aside from the reportage photographs. One of the little girls was eating a packet of raisins when we wanted to do a group photograph with her in it.  I offered to put the raisins on my head while I took the photograph so she could keep an eye on them – something she did with a rather suspicious look. By the time we came to take another group photograph with her in it, the raisins had gone, but the packet still went on my head. After it ‘fell off’ to get  her (& the adults) to laugh, she raced over and insisted “again, again”. And yes, we did.
Sunday, July 18, 2010 | Surrey Wedding, Wedding
We had the prettiest sky and clouds I’ve seen in a long time today for Emily & Marz’s wedding at Great Fosters in Surrey. Both looked fabulous and their families were so very warm. Â Here is one photograph from their day – before their ceremony – because, quite frankly, all the ones of people were too difficult to choose from. Emily’s shoes are seen with one of the venue’s famous chimneys.
Sunday, August 5, 2007 | Surrey Wedding
I just knew today was going to be fabulous with Kate & James getting married at Oaks Farm. They are so touchingly sweet and real, you just know that their friends and family are going to be similar – and I got to catch up with their friends Rachel and Steven again, whose wedding I photographed some years ago. The day started with Kate & her four bridesmaids getting ready at her mum Sheila’s house – complete with croissants & later sandwiches, so no-one went hungry. Kate looked so beautiful – and her bridesmaids were stunning in their US-inspired dresses. James was bowled over by the way she looked when she arrived at their venue Oaks Farm. Orange and yellow gerberas and a host of bright orchids and other greenery decorated the venue – with a ribbon-tied flower in each guest’s place.
We used the brightness of the day to get some great shots of Kate in the gardens during a lawn reception – as well as some of Kate & James together. After their breakfast and very touching and well-thought-out speeches, they cut their cake and Kate threw her bouquet. Despite worrying that it could injure one of her female guests, it didn’t – and a VERY delighted bridesmaid caught it!
PHOTOS: Kate in the gardens; Kate disappearing when I was going some portraits of her and James; Kate is presented with a new bouquet made from place setting flowers; the cake – looking cool in the heat; Kate shares a moment with her grandad; Kate & James; a very excited bridesmaid, centre, catches Kate’s bouquet; her boyfriend is on the far right.
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