In keeping with tradition the dastardly local lord claimed his right to the bride but was challenged and defeated by a gallant knight in armour.

A candlelit medieval banquet was held in the nearby church hall, the low light testing my camera to the limit. Entertainment included mock trials with defendents identified by the groom held in stocks. The poor wretches included the executioner (for having a floppy chopper), the bowman (worrying sheep) and a witch (she turned up late). Fortunately all were found not guilty and so escaped dreadfull punishments although the executioner did spend some time in the naughty corner.

Danesfield House was in its full, blooming glory last month when Tanya and Neil tied the knot. It's a stunning venue and with such a handsome couple on a lovely day photographer Stefan Zabel and myself had a field day!

Danesfield House is set within 65 acres of magnificent estate grounds within the beautiful Chiltern Hills and overlooks the River Thames near Marlow.

Lovely Sharon got ready at her parent's house and tied the knot with handsome hunk Karl at the beautiful Bisham Abbey overlooking the Thames near Marlow. It's just a few minutes drive from my home and I was with local photographer and good mate Dennis Orchard. Apart from taking super pics Dennis was up to his usual antics keeping everyone laughing and balancing on windowsills and precarious tables.

Alison and John finally tied the knot on a beautiful day at the magnificent Temple of Concord and Victory at Stowe Landscape Gardens. It was a wedding reflecting their personalities full of music and great entertainment. They only booked me a few days before the wedding, I can't believe they nearly didn't have it filmed!

On arrival Alison did an impromptu dance to the jazz band with her brother and watched by her father. As she entered the temple their little son Robert was transfixed by the scene unfolding. Two really magic moments captured on film.

At the Old Town Hall the evening was great fun with traditional entertainment.  A lively ceilidh band was followed by  Berkshire Bedlam morris dancing troupe including John who managed to escape serious injury during the stick dancing.  Then the wonderful Chesham Acapella  ladies choir featured Alison and a bemused young Robert.

The first civil part of Simon and Glinder's wedding took place at The Elvetham  followed by a traditional Sikh ceremony and celebration a week later in Birmingham. It was the first time I had worked with Cheltenham based photographer Robin Bradshaw who kept an admirably low profile throughout despite looking like a lead singer for Oasis!

Glinder looked fantastic and didn't mind soiling her very expensive looking dress in the damp conditions outside. That's the right attitude I reckon, the dress is for looking great on the day whatever the weather. Simon grew a beard in a week for the Sikh ceremony although it had some way to go to match some of the locals, as you can see.

I received this E-mail from Clare today:-

"It has been nearly 3 years since we last met but
i just wanted to say that to this day we still watch our wedding DVD and
shed a tear! The DVD is amazing and brings back every moment of our special
day.

I was watching it just last week with my 17mth old daughter who was most
excited that mummy was on tv!

If you are still working when she gets married I would have no hesitation
in calling you

Many thanks
Clare Brooks
Easthampstead Park
August 10th 2007"

I have told Clare that I'll be pleased to film her daughter's wedding, as long as they let me out the nursing home for a day.

Early March brought bright sunlight to St. Mary's church at Denham and the lovely Anouska braved a freezing wind to look radiant throughout. It was good to work again with Stuart Bebb, another of my recommended photographers. The reception was at the magnificent Hedsor House and my second visit there in a few months. The couple had worked in New York and several guests came over specially for the wedding. A special treat to make them feel at home was the "Statue" of Liberty greeting guests at the reception. The wedding continued its exotic flavour into the late evening with a Sri Lankan ceremony and traditional dancing.

I now know many photographers quite well and it's always great to work with them again. They often tell me horror stories about videographers getting in every shot and generally making life difficult. Hopefully they are more at ease working with someone they know. At every other wedding I seem to meet a new photographer and I start by assuring them that I'll do my best to work around them. Invariably there are no conflicts, we end up having a good chat in the meal break and exchanging cards.

All I ask of the photographer is that my film doesn't end up like this one :- http://www.youtube.com/user/takyc#p/a/u/0/gnsAnPIX_E8. I can feel my nose twitching just watching it.

For the record I was DVD Videographer of the Year 2002. This award was presented by Samron Technologies who at that time were the UK's premier DVD authoring studio. In the early days of DVD wedding videographers sent their tapes to Samron for them to make the DVD versions. It was particularly pleasing because they processed thousands of weddings each year and based the award on consistent performance rather than just one specially prepared one. A bit like winning the league title rather than the cup and I am still very proud of that one!

Then there was the APV Wedding Video of the Year 1999. Organised by the Association of Professional Videographers (now discontinued) there was tough competition at the time from some larger production houses. I have to admit this was as runner up but the winner was from somewhere up in the frozen North so I did claim an unofficial Southern Area title.

I've worked with Keith Thompson many times over the years. The most memorable time was filming a wedding in Monaco along with Keith and young Jamie. The wedding was incredible and we had a very interesting, amusing and exciting few days. The story of the trip is worth a separate blog entry so watch this space.  Anyway browing through their albums on display reminded how good Keith is, he really does produce stunning wedding images.