Festival Wedding at Stroud Slad Farm

Thank you so so so much Flo! We had such a crazy-good time. Everyone was saying what a great job you did putting them all at ease - Ben, who was a wedding photographer for years, said he didn't realise that you weren't a guest for a good couple of hours because you blended so well! And of course, we loved your company. You made us both feel so relaxed and when your photographer spots you for a pint when you've forgotten your purse what more can you ask! You were the cherry on the magical cake that was our wedding day. 

Kate & Ed, August 2016

Kate and Ed’s festival was a complete mash up of all the things they loved, with no need to incorporate traditions that didn't represent them. Just the way weddings should be done! They threw out the checklist of suppliers and the rule book alongside it and created something so beautiful and personal to them. These guys only enquired a few months before the wedding as they weren't even sure about having a professional photographer but I am SO glad they booked me to come along. 

There was music, dancing, drinking, laughing, hugging - all the usual things you find at a wedding but in such an unassuming and casual location. Stroud Slad Farm is a working farm and they rented a few fields for camping and their glorious colourful marquees, and the woodland clearing where they held the ceremony. 

The day started with Kate and her 'bridesfolk', titled as she had a mix of boys and girls helping her get ready into her beautiful handmade dress! They then had a short, legal ceremony at Stroud registry office before we whizzed off in Kate's Dad's MG car complete with picnic basket and small bottle of bubbles to take some photos and also rehearse their ceremony! Instead of opting for a celebrant to lead their ceremony, they wanted do this themselves because, in their own words “the marriage is between the two of us and we don’t need anyone to tell us how to do it”.  

When we arrived the guests had made their way up the (fairly steep!) hill to the woodland clearing where bales, chairs, rugs and cushions were laid out for the guests to witness their ceremony. Their much loved dog Huxley was the ring bearer and there were some emotional speeches from their family and friends. We then quite literally paraded down to the farm site where there was much drinking, an outdoor ceilidh and a bring and share supper with everyone pitching in to help.

And then there was THE SKY… just as I was about to get in my car and head home the sky suddenly became just magnificent and the last few shots of the night were of Kate and Ed against it.

This wedding is such true proof that you don’t need a fancy venue or to spend a ton of money to have the most incredible wedding day. Their little snapshot video (scroll right down to the bottom past the photos!) will show you better than I could ever describe the pure love these two have, for each other and for all their friends and family. It also goes to show how everything falls into place in the end. Things you wanted to do  but didn’t have time, or things you did do but they didn’t get used on the day - they just don't matter. 

Safe to say I was one happy photographer on the way home..