Rose & James Bury Court Barn

“These are amazing!!! Thank you SO SO much!  We loved absolutely every minute ( rain or shine) and we’re sooo pleased to have you there to capture it! You were such an absolute superstar running around in the rain ( and getting wet!) we can’t thank you enough for making the effort to still get some great outdoor photos – they really paid off and we LOVE the umbrella photos!! You really have caught some beautiful moments and it’s been so nice reliving them! We were incredibly lucky to have the BEST photographer but also to get to know you as a friend which made it even more great having you there!”

Bury Court Barn Wedding

So here we are, a new year, I want to say fresh start but we all know we’re still in the thick of the situation which seems like a never-ending doomsday. If you are reading this in the future then we’re in Jan ’21 and Covid is still raging free. I have decided I MUST get to sharing more from the lovely days I’ve been fortunate to capture over the last couple of years. I never find time to blog when I’m in full wedding season, then often shooting families in off-peak months. Also curating blogs isn’t easy for me, I really consider each image I choose. I want to tell the story, but I want to keep you engaged, I think my greatest compliment is hearing that strangers view my posts and tell me it made them want to cry, not even knowing the couple. That’s quite a feat for me, but I think this wedding may just bring a smile to your face instead!

Rose and James. I’ve probably bleated on about these two and their family on social media a little, lucky enough to photograph Rose’s sister Charlotte’s wedding to Russ a few years ago, I was thrilled when Rose and James asked me to be a part of their day at Bury Court Barn. It was a September Saturday in 2018 and clearly the weather gods decided that Rose’s beaming smile was enough to brighten the day, and typically blessed us with showers pretty much all day. I am always a little heartbroken for my couples when it rains. It’s never part of the design but I am always so impressed and in awe of how they handle it. In fact some of my favourite weddings ever have been amidst downpours.

Thankfully Rose’s aforementioned lovely sister lives close by to Bentley, where the whole wedding was centered. We started with preparations at her home with Russ, and a busy house of happy faces of lovely bridesmaids, and of course Rose’s niece, dear little Heidi. Having a sister myself it’s always lovely to witness another very tight knit bond between two ladies. Charlotte truly was a fabulous host, always calm, so organised and helpful. It’s clear to see how much these two care for eachother and I knew the day was going to be a wonderful one.

James was waiting at the very pretty St Mary’s Church in Bentley with his band of merry men. Any nerves he might have had soon disappeared as he saw his beautiful bride in THAT Suzanne Neville dress from favourite of mine, Miss Bush. It was a truly lovely ceremony and neither stopped smiling.  Upon their exit we were met with a bit of a downpour, but being troopers, they strode out amongst what seemed like a sea of umbrellas held high, for one of my all time confetti photos. I already knew that despite looking rather like a wet sock myself, that we were going to cope and make the best of the weather!

A short bus ride away we headed into the most stunningly decorated Bury Court Barn. Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the barn dressed so beautifully. The warmth from all the lights and pretty flowers from The Colour Green just set the room off perfectly. We had fun as the guests greeted the couple, and after a short while headed off to the grounds to do the couple session. Because Bury Court is so diverse there was plenty of backdrops to choose from despite the rain, and we had a good giggle with umbrellas!

The speeches, always a firm favourite of the day, were as expected bloody brilliant. Rose’s Dad Nigel is such a lovely character and after hearing his speech at Charlotte’s wedding I knew it was going to be a cracker! Mid-speech selfies (a tradition in their family) and many laughs were had, especially by James’s best man Scott. We had hoped for a sparkler shot but since the rain was still pouring down we moved onto their brilliant first dance instead. Rose’s brother Scott just happens to be a wonderful musician and was there to sing and play their first dance. It was such a beautiful moment and really brought the whole day together. Shortly before I departed I wanted to give Rose & James a chance to use a couple of their sparklers just for fun, and I am so glad we did. Lit by barely any light at all, we grabbed a couple of my favourite photos from the year, and ended the day on a real high. What can I say about these two, they are simply put, brilliant together. Being in their presence is so comforting and welcoming, and I was delighted to have recently captured their beautiful new son, Barney, born in 2020. Thank you James and Rose, for being the sweetest couple, I always have a ball with you guys, and it’s been a pleasure to capture some of your life’s biggest moments. Here are my favourites from your incredible wedding day! xxx