See more whole wedding, storybook albums, and wedding galleries on www.reellifephotos.co.uk. xx Elaine

Caina & Tony wanted to get married outdoors, rather than the traditional way in the UK. They were not put off by current English legislation (There has to be a roof at least for which a hefty fee has been paid to the council to “licence it”) which meant this beautiful ceremony would not be considered legally binding, as it was going to be their day (they did the legal bit beforehand). They chose Inter-Faith Minister Janette to conduct their wedding ceremony.

This is just few seconds of the wedding ceremony, showing the Element of Air in the fun bubbles ; such a beautiful idea too.

Right from the start when they were getting ready, they showed their love, as Tony struggled to place the necklace round Caina’s neck:

Groom lovingly puts on bride's necklace for her before they leave to get married outdoors in the woods.

Groom trying to put bride's necklace on for her, making her laugh!

Such love!

Lighting the candles at Caina & Tony's unusual wedding in the woods

Swans glide by to see what is going on...

Earth - the element and the smell of a hyacinth - gave Caina the strength to live - so a seemingly small thing such as this, plays a major role in their wedding ceremony

A simple gesture of love during Caina and Tony's outdoor winter wedding ceremony .

A really deep and meaningful wedding ceremony with Inter-Faith Minister Janette

Little candles in their holders, sweet liquid and sour lemons, and the four elements of earth, air fire and water, make this outdoor wedding ceremony in the middle of winter in the woods by a lake, truly  emotional.

Even bitter moments that make up life, can be shared, in hope of sweet ones to follow...

Sweetness follows the bitter lemons at Caina & Tony's wedding

Love keeps the bride and grom warm during their outdoor wedding ceremony ...

The couple pledge their love and are bound together by the Minister.

Group hug at Tony & Caina's wedding in the woods

Swans come to congratulate the bride and groom!

To contact Elaine of Reel Life Photos or  visit http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk to see loads and loads more wedding photos – in the galleries, All Day Wedding Pictures and  more unusual and traditional wedding storybooks

Ellouise and Colin had the most unusual wedding ever – not just because it was a snowy day at a magical castle, but also as they were the only participants: even the witnesses were provided by the hotel!

Snow in the grounds of Augill Castle

Augill Castle in the snow

Bride going to her wedding at Augill Castle

Wedding ceremony at Augill Castle

Signing wedding register at Augill Castle

Bride and Groom outside in the snow at Augill Castle in Cumbria

Contact Elaine if you are planning your exciting wedding  – anywhere at all – both in the UK  or abroad, as we travel anywhere for lovely people’s weddings (lovely on the inside that is…) see our main site http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk or our Contact Us Page

Winter wedding shoes and bouquet with snowy wrap by Christmas Tree

Toast before the wedding

bride and groom's baby daughter in her wedding outfit

Winter bride sorting out her Dad's cravat on her wedding day

Matron of Honour with bride before the wedding

Winter wedding at St Bartholomews Church in Marsden

Wedding Car at the Church

Font at St Barnabus Church in Marsden, West Yorksshire

Happy bride and groom!

Snowy Romance!

Snowy wedding on Christmas Eve - reception at the Huntsman Inn

Contact Elaine if you are planning your exciting wedding  – anywhere at all – both in the UK  or abroad, as we travel anywhere for lovely people’s weddings (lovely on the inside that is…) see our main site http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk or our Contact Us Page

Zoe and Steve’s wedding venue in Sweden.

The Ice Hotel in Jukkasjarvi is a feat of engineering, creativity and solid determination. It glows out of the semi-darkness, attracting international visitors like moths to a flame.

Ice Hotel wedding guests

Wedding inside Ice Chapel in Sweden

snowballs inside Absolut Ice Bar

Groom in uniform at the Absolut Ice Bar in Sweden

Bride and Groom sitting around a pretend fire in an Ice Hotel Bedroom

Ice Hotel Art Bedroom

Ice Hotel Art Bedroom

Just got back in time from the Ice Hotel wedding.  Set off again less than 12 hours after arriving back from Sweden!

wedding dress, veil and winter shrug

Wedding day preparations: hair and make-up at Thornton Manor

Flower girl watching the grown-up bridesmaids apply their make-up

Groomsman helps groom on with his cufflinks

bride going downstairs to her wedding

Bride and her father on way to wedding ceremony at Thornton Manor

Red carpet wedding entrance through trees at Thornton Manor

exchange of rings during wedding ceremony at Thornton Manor

Linda gives a reading during Karen & Paul's wedding ceremony

bridesmaids with lilly bouquets during wedding ceremony

Just married kissy look

Bride with little flower girl by bay windows at Thornton Manor

Karen and Paul

New Year's Eve wedding on damp foggy day at Thornton Manor

Formal but happy group shot!

Bride and Groom outside Thornton Manor in Winter at Dusk

Conversation Piece

Magical Touch: bride and groom in Winter wedding at Thornton Manor

Karen having fun with her veil by arched folly at Thornton Manor

Bride and her Mum

Groom with his father and new bride outside Thornton Manor

Manchester String Quartet playing at Thornton Manor

Contact Elaine if you are planning your exciting wedding  – anywhere at all – both in the UK  or abroad, as we travel anywhere for lovely people’s weddings(lovely on the inside that is…) see our main site http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk or our Contact Us Page

The Ice Hotel in Sweden at Dusk

Groomsmen outside the Ice Hotel Chalets before wedding

Ice Hotel Chalet no. 56 with bride's Stepmum by the door

wedding prep in Ice Hotel Chalet

The Snow Queen's wedding dress, bouquet and Champagne

The bride's father hugs his little girl

Make-up done, its time to get the wedding dress on and go...

Almost ready...

Bride looks on as her sister gets a hug from their stepmum

Ice Hotel bride ties her Mum's cape as they prepare to set off for the wedding

Contact Elaine if you are planning your exciting wedding abroad – be it icy as above, or hot and exotic – we travel anywhere for lovely people’s weddings(lovely on the inside that is…) see our main site http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk or our Contact Us Page

visit our International Destination wedding page too…

See the first part of this Ice Hotel Storybook wedding album

and a revised version showing the whole of the Ice Hotel wedding album

Shadowy shapes show mystically as the bride wafts on to the Ice Chapel

The Ice Chapel glows to welcome us in...

Its just adrenaline that is keeping Zoe warn!

The bride arrives. Steve is SO happy!

Ice Chapel wedding ceremony

Sealed with a kiss!

All eyes on the bride!

Walking down the aisle at the Ice Hotel Chapel

Congratulations!

Zoe and her dashing groom Steve and photos with bride's Mum.

Too Cool!

Contact Elaine if you are planning your exciting wedding abroad – be it icy as above, or hot and exotic – we travel anywhere for lovely people’s weddings (lovely on the inside that is…) see our  destination wedding page http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk or our Contact Us Page. Zoe and Steve also had a UK Blessing and masked ball evening reception See more Ice Hotel pics here…

Carolina and Theo got married out of doors – under a huge tree in the Botanical gardens in Sydney.  That was magical enough, but it was their wedding reception on a boat with the ever-changing views as it gently cruised the waters near Sydney, and the luscious array of seafood that made this a society wedding to remember.  However, I have to say that the mainly Portuguese and Greek guests  were all absolutely lovely, as were of course the bride and groom! Nothing snobbish about this elegant wedding at all…

Starship Sydney ready for boarding at Sydney Opera House

This boat looks like a playground for the rich and famous, so it was a once in a lifetime experience to be photographing a wedding there, so far away from Reel Life Photos home base in the UK.  Just wait till you see inside!

Wedding reception layout on Starship Sydney in Australia

What a view! Starship Sydney makes the sea magical...

Wedding guests boarding Starship Sydney outside Sydney Opera House

This starter is definitely a meal in itself

Just beautiful!

Top Table

I could eat this all over again! Mmmmmm

Carolina and Theo's grand entrance into their wedding reception

Don't they look happy...!

Sea-views all around...

Top table with groom's parents on left in foreground

Brides parents are all smiles...

Time to sit and eat..

Time to relax and enjoy..

See here to contact Elaine of Reel Life Photos about your wedding or visit http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk to see loads and loads more wedding photos! – in the galleries, All Day Wedding Pictures and storybook

xx Elaine and Cuban videoman Jorge

Pomp and grandeur ooze in this Roman Baths setting for Ice Hotel Bride and Groom's UK Reception

Masked Ball at the Pumphouse in Bath

Masked Bride and Groom

The masked wedding couple walk hand in hand to their UK wedding reception

Zoe and Steve's evening wedding reception with masks and period costumes

Even the table runner is part of Zoe & Steve's Ice Hotel wedding theme

wedding guests lift their masks to enjoy a drink

Cute Orville mask...or some sort of duck anyway!

Bride's step-mum with the perfect fan for the occasion

smart black tie and arty masks

Smart mask compliments demeanour

The masks perfectly add to the occasion!

See here to contact Elaine of Reel Life Photos about your wedding or visit http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk to see loads and loads more wedding photos! – in the galleries, All Day Wedding Pictures and storybook

xx Elaine and Cuban videoman Jorge

Such attention to detail.  Even the chocolates have the same design – specially selected by Zoe and Steve.  They were also amongst the delights served at their small family wedding reception in the Ice Hotel restaurant following their wedding there. See some of their Ice Hotel wedding pics here.

Don't they just look the part...guests during the speeches

Now these two caught me out - posing together, when they are not!

Best man's speech

First Dance

the dance floor is open!

just a bit of fun at the end of the day!

storybook album cover from wedding at Gomersal Park Hotel

This particular storybook album has – as always – been designed not only with the bride and groom’s own choice of images from their wedding, but also as requested by them to have interesting backgrounds, rather than just standard plain white or black.  All the backgrounds are created  using pictures from the individual wedding , so all contribute to the unique aspect of each and every hand-designed page.  Hope you like it! xx Elaine (wedding photographer and storybook designer)

wedding storybook album page 1

the flowers have arrived - Wahoo...

bride getting ready for wedding - helped by her bridesmaid and Mum

Sunlight streams into the room where the flower girls are getting ready...

on with the shoes - for little flower girl, and on with the earrings for the bride...

Little Maids All in a Row...

waiting for the bride to arrive...

Jodie - looking forward to her wedding day, where her brother is to give her away.

walking down the aisle

pageboy!

Exchange of wedding rings.

exchange of rings

Loving Touch...

Happy bride and groom!

bride kisses her son the pageboy

pageboy playing with the church candles while his parents kneel at the altar

Flower girls arranging the bride's train in church

Just married!

Too windy outside for wedding photos!

family wedding photos in church

Its a bit windy as guests leave church...

Hold onto your hat grandma!

Cheers, as bride and groom leave the church and arrive at their wedding reception venue

traditional wedding pics outside Gomersal Park Hotel in West Yorkshire

Confetti and Cuddles by the Wedding Car

I decided to turn the confetti pic into a black and white wedding photo, as although beautiful in colour too, it had too many different colours to hang together properly in the album.

Groom's family on steps outside Gomersal Park Hotel and bridesmaid fishing confetti out of the bride's dress!

pics of Table layout at wedding venue, best man with groom, & Bride's family photo

Happy and relaxed, as the cameras go click!

bride and groom walk down to the lake

all smiles...

Ah, aren't they a lovely couple!

I normally avoid green grass as a backdrop for wedding photos, as feel it tends to clash with most bride’s flowers and colouring, but in this case, by making use of the right patch of light,  and the bride’s unusual lemon roses, it very much suits Jodie and Scott’s relatively traditional wedding.

Gentle romance down by the hidden lake

The usually undemonstrative groom goes with the flow – even holding the wedding bouquet and laughing! The soft background behind these images elevate it from the ordinary to the extraordinary – with a subtle feeling of relaxation and gentle light.

Wedding speeches - action and reaction...

Wedding Speeches

Table plan and happy wedding guests.

Flowers and gifts for the mothers.

Jodie and Scott both smile naturally on the happiest day of their life

bride and groom's families

family wedding photos in storybook album set on a sky background from the same day

Groom with his Mum and bride with her Mum

cutting the cake and start of the first dance

Guests enjoy the summer's evening outside Gomersal Park Hotel

Evening wedding reception with romantic first dance

dancing the night away...

fun goes on into the night...

back of wedding album storybook

See here to contact Elaine of Reel Life Photos about your wedding or visit http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk to see loads and loads more wedding photos! – in the galleries, All Day Wedding Pictures and storybook

xx Elaine and Cuban videoman Jorge

We often get asked what our albums are like, so here are a few pics mainly taken at various wedding fairs in West Yorkshire . xx Elaine

Reel Life Photos storybook wedding albums

Display of wedding DVDs and wedding storybooks

and a few more album pictures on display at Dewsbury Town Hall in Yorkshire

Reel Life Photos storybook albums at Dewsbury Town Hall

Reel Life Photos wedding storybooks at Dewsbury Town Hall

Reel Life Photos wedding storybook albums

Reel Life Photos wedding story books

wedding storybook albums and ice Hotel pic on laptop screen

And at our latest wedding fair in The Light Shopping Centre in Leeds in January 2012 – a very popular show!

Children looking at Reel Life Photos storybook wedding albums

Reel Life Photos storybook wedding albums at wedding fair in the Light in Leeds

Reel Life Photos storybook wedding albums at wedding fair in the Light in Leeds

Reel Life Photos wedding photographer Elaine chatting with brides to be.

Two of our Italian wedding albums: the one at the front is of a beach wedding in The Seychelles

Photos and paintings at Reel Life Photos

The other side of Reel Life Photos reception.

See storybook wedding pictures as individually designed for each bride and groom personally by Elaine

Return to Reel Life Photos main website here: www.reellifephotos.co.uk

Lauren and Trevor found us on Facebook a year ago and clicked  “Like” on Reel Life Photos Facebook Page. They are such a lovely couple I thoroughly enjoyed giving them a pre-wedding engagement portrait session in Sheffield. They had their honeymoon on one of the lovely islands in the Seychelles following their beach wedding on Mahe.

Little wedding photographer Levana and I both covered their Seychelles wedding and at the reception venue in Cap Lazare, we were joined by Damien, another young wedding photographer but from the Seychelles, so will also add his photos to our site separately under All Day Wedding Pictures.

The couple chose to get married in the Seychelles as the groom’s family are all from there, and decided on April as it is usually  the driest month. However on the wedding day, the beach wedding nearly didn’t happen as the clouds decided to to drop their load on the individually embroidered  towels laid out on the beach with personalised white paper fans!  The downpour stopped just long enough for the ceremony and a few pics before letting loose again with renewed vigour as we drove the half-hour’s ride to the wedding venue at Cap Lazare.

wedding car waiting to take bride Seychelles beach

Groom adjusting his bandanna

Guests shelter in the shade before the beach wedding ceremony starts.

bride and her Mum walking down Frangipani flower- strewn beach aisle

The wedding ceremony begins

Novel location to sign the register...on a rock on the beach!

Mystical bride gazing pensively out to sea

Just married!

Confetti tropical style

magical canopy of tropical foliage envelopes the newly-weds

The dried flower confetti accentuates Lauren’s trailing silk wedding dress as she glides over the sand under a canopy of tropical trees.  Paradise!

Time for a hug!

True Love on a magical Island

Lauren smiles as she looks up at her newly-wed husband Trevor

wedding reception venue at Cap Lazare

official arrival of the bride and groom at Cap Lazare

Katherine gives her brother a hug

Loving bride and groom

Glowing love

private moment at Cap Lazare

the open-sided wedding venue is ideal for the reception meal

first dance on the helipad at night lit only by one video light

Creole Dancers

See here to contact Elaine of Reel Life Photos about your wedding – anywhere in the whole world – or visit http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk to see loads and loads more wedding photos! – in the galleries, All Day Wedding Pictures and storybook

xx Elaine and Cuban videoman Jorge

Geese on the lake at Waterton Park Hotel

Spring at Waterton Park Hotel

View of Waterton Park Hotel, Walton Hall on the island

Weddings at Waterton Park Hotel are always very special due to the wonderful location on a private island on the lake

The trees are still fresh, as if Spring has only just unfurled, as the light catches the water while the fisherman cast their lines and the Geese go about their day….

Kirsty and Paul chose Waterton Park Hotel for their 15 May 2011 wedding day, which started bright and early with all the little ones in the large en-suite room in the new part of the building.  This room has changed quite a bit since our first ever wedding here in June 2002 for Lisa & Paul.  Gone is the four poster bed, replaced by normal beds… but the charming mirror is still there, just moved to a better light for makeup by the window.

wedding preparations 1

wedding preparations 2

preparations 3

preparations 4

preparations 5

two piece wedding dress bodice and skirt

bride's Mum fixing her Tiara

Tender moment with bride and her daughter

Little bridesmaids tickle the pageboy

cute little bridesmaid by the window

Little bridesmaids having fun by the mirror

Loads more pics still to come from this wedding, when I get a moment!! You can see them all online anyway under All Day Wedding Pictures on our site. See below…

See here to contact Elaine of Reel Life Photos about your wedding or visit http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk to see loads and loads more wedding photos! – in the galleries, All Day Wedding Pictures and storybook

xx Elaine and Cuban videoman Jorge

These Creole dancers performed in pitch black outside on the helipad by the sea at Lauren and Trevor’s Seychelles wedding reception. There was an official videographer there too (Michel T) , so this is just a basic clip I shot for myself (as the wedding photographer) on my Canon 5 D Mark II whilst also shooting photos.

Levana -  aged 9 and a half -  was my little assistant using one of my “big” cameras and two different “L” (top of the range) lenses during the first part of this wedding, up to the end of the beach ceremony, and several of her photos have been included by the bride and groom in this storybook wedding album.  She has been coming with me on wedding shoots since she was three , so know what to do, though its only in the past two years she has been allowed to use one of my professional cameras to participate in the photography.

This wedding was also videoed by Michel – a professional cameraman in the Seychelles.  He can be contacted on +2482510972 and his son Damien took over the assisting role once we arrived at the wedding reception venue.  Some of his photos have also been included, so many thanks to both my young assistants. xx Elaine

The earlier pages of this Italian storybook, showing the bride and groom and their families getting ready for the wedding, and Lauren & Trevor’s beach wedding ceremony in the Seychelles can be found here.

Sometimes I feel that  wedding photographers are frightened of colour and dull everything down to muted tones and plain black and white throughout.  That might be appropriate for some weddings in the UK and for certain couple’s tastes, but when in an exotic or vibrant environment,  its a shame to somehow avoid colour!  Having lived in Greece for 8 years where I brought up my family, I soaked up the Mediterranean light which in turn formed my artistic vision through my oil paintings and line drawings of people, and photography too.

I doubt Kate and William had a better wedding than this, though they did honeymoon in the Seychelles too!

Lauren and Trevor hand in hand at the end of their beach wedding ceremony

wedding party arrives at Cap Lazare

bride and groom make their official entrance to their reception at Cap Lazare

groom's sister Katherine plays a delightful flute recital for the wedding guests at the start of the wedding reception

Three loving sisters with their three loving partners

The little pictures show details of the personalised coconut-shell cups the welcome drinks were served in decorated by star fruit. the tropical leaves overlaid with white Frangipani flowers following the theme of green dresses for the bridesmaids, and banana crisps wrapped in funnels of banana leaves. Absolutely fantastic!

I originally designed these with the images of the bride and groom to the left and to the right in a  slightly smaller size, as believe space surrounding the images is important to display the photos better, but always listen to bride and groom’s personal views and preferences so this is a revised version to suit their tastes.

Love the emotional hug from the groom for his sister after the flute performance while their Mum applauds and smiles with happiness too. All the bridesmaids had Frangipani flowers in their hair too, so overlaid this lovely image of Katherine onto a picture of the red flowers used.

The background photo here is of a sunlit dark green pool surrounded by palm tree fronds at the entrance to this Seychelles wedding venue at Cap Lazare in Mahe.  I really wanted to photograph the bride lying on the smooth undulating rocks at the side of this pool but it had rained heavily during our drive from the beach wedding ceremony to the reception venue, so it wasn’t to be…

bride's family who travelled mainly from the UK for the wedding in the Seychelles

Trevor & Lauren with their welcome drinks at Cap Lazare

How romantic to have wedding photos by this sparkling azure sea in the Seychelles

happy moments before the wedding breakfast

Trevor's Dad Emmanuel loved the idea of a pic that showed the blue sky above palm trees here

Groom's friendly family in the Seychelles

more of the groom's lovely family over clasped hands uniting both sides

Trevor and Lauren made this very creative seating plan board over a map of Mahe

photos of beautiful memories and giant shell in the Seychelles wedding venue loo

Seychelles wedding banquet! Exotic wedding food-yummie!

See here to contact Elaine of Reel Life Photos about your wedding or visit http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk to see loads and loads more wedding photos! – in the galleries, All Day Wedding Pictures and storybook

xx Elaine and Cuban videoman Jorge

Magical movements of Creole dancing and first dance in the dark outside

More night-time dancing outside on the helipad

See here to contact Elaine of Reel Life Photos about your wedding or visit http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk to see loads and loads more wedding photos! – in the galleries, All Day Wedding Pictures and storybook

xx Elaine and Cuban videoman Jorge

What abeautiful wedding cake!

Nearly forgot to throw the bouquet!

We bid a reluctant goodbye and good night to the end of Trevor & Lauren's wedding day

wedding proposal re-enactment

True love - 34 years on ... !

How romantic!

Roche Abbey standing tall

Isn't she lovely?

Is she a godess from Roman mythology I wonder...

Love the way the light caught her cheeks.

Togetherness

Majestic arch and brilliant sky frame this couple beautifully

Graham & Gill

the happy couple

Gill and Graham travelled all the way from Canada to renew their wedding vows in  South Yorkshire, to celebrate 34 years together and to have the big wedding they never had.  This will take place in a church today, so more piccies to follow!

One of my favourite pics of Gill and Graham here...

See here to contact Elaine of Reel Life Photos about your wedding or visit http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk to see loads and loads more wedding photos! – in the galleries, All Day Wedding Pictures and storybook

xx Elaine and Cuban videoman Jorge

We have just completed a 3 day Asian wedding in Dewsbury and Batley and Ravensthorpe – all popular areas for UK residents whose families originate from India and Pakistan, so many of our wedding clients are Gujarati or Urdu or Arabic speaking Muslims,  Sikhs or Hindus.

I can’t as yet show you more than a few details till the couple get back from their honeymoon in Dubai and Mauritius, as they have requested to be the first to see their wedding photos.

Shadows reflected on an opaque door as the Asian make up artist plies her craft

Putting the finishing touches to the bride’s hands.

All ready to go...

A soft light catches the bride's long wedding scarf showing off its rich colours

Wedding jewellery completes the outfit

Bride puts on her earrings

Arrival of the groom at The Grand Banqueting Suite

Best men arrive with flowers as gifts for the bride

Gifts for the bride - elegant shoes she will wear on the final day of the wedding celebrations

Like any wedding, Asian weddings are full of their own unique traditions.  Here the groom’s family arrives at the Grand Banqueting Suite on Huddersfield Road, bearing well-chosen gifts for the bride.  Inside the Asian wedding venue – near Dewsbury in West Yorkshire – the bride is awaiting her groom on the stage, where her family’s gift to the groom are all neatly load out.

Shiny Serving Pods at Grand Banqueting Suite

clean and tidy, all ready to receive the wedding guests

Gifts for the groom laid out on the stage

Gifts for the groom

Children swing their feet while waiting for the groom's grand entrance

I have had to be selective in the images used for this story, so as not to reveal too much as yet, until the bride has had time to see and approve her wedding images.

back and front cover of Lake District wedding storybook

Emma & Luke piled into my car to join four special friends on Lake Windermere while we were waiting for their wedding venue to open, following their midday ceremony at Kendal Register Office. After a snack of crisps and ice-cream, the bride and groom and their entourage clambered aboard the road-train to go the the the Island Cruise boat at Bowness. There was a huge queue, but everyone kindly allowed the wedding party to board first and get the best seats on the top deck at the front.  The Captain sneaked up to me to ask what the bride and groom were called, then made a surprise public announcement welcoming the new Mr. and Mrs. onboard, cheered on by the Japanese tourists who in turn snapped away with their own cameras too.  On the way back the road-train driver kindly allowed the bride and groom to pose for pictures inside his cab, so they were both made to feel like stars for the day.

This album aims to show what a fun time everyone had at Emma & Luke’s wedding in the Lake District on Wednesday 31 August 2011.

Emma's bright red hair looks spectacular as she gets ready for her wedding

bride descending the stairs and arrivals at her wedding ceremony in Kendal

Emma and Luke getting married

Exchange of rings and signing the register

the witnesses pose while the violinist plays live in the background

Meet the newly-weds!

Now the real fun can begin...

last few pics outside the register office

Pic with the girls! Then off to Windermere for an ice-cream!

This was fun!

Off to catch the boat for a cruise round the islands on Lake Windermere

Emma and Luke are allowed to jump the queue to get the best seats!

Life on the ocean wave...well Lake Windermere!

Back on dry land...

the return journey

The road-train back and reflections on wedding car petrol cap

Just spotted this stone arch in the lane Burnside Cricket Club (the wedding venue)

Flowers for groom's Mum

happy family wedding photos

wedding group photos on the grass at the cricket club wedding venue

more fun chasing the bouquet

Best Man and Bridesmaid , groom with his Mum, and bridesmaid with Richard

Couldn't resist this delicious home-made food and seeing the kids dance like this

time for wedding cake and dancing!

Oh so much in love!

wedding cake love...

love the way the kids help grandma with the cake afterwards

Sealed with a real kiss: the end! (only of this chapter...)

See here to contact Elaine of Reel Life Photos about your wedding or visit http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk to see loads and loads more wedding photos! – in the galleries, All Day Wedding Pictures and storybook

xx Elaine and Cuban videoman Jorge

The first Asian wedding we ever covered was a massive event with 2,000 guests on the final day’s Walimah.  Roll on nearly 10 years and that very same family was organising another wedding, for one of the brothers this time, so the family was happy to invite me to Pakistan. The visa and flights came to over £700, which I  paid myself, so you can see my motive wasn’t financial, but to experience a real Pakistani wedding.

Asian wedding treats of sweets

wedding gifts laid out on the bed for all the guests to see.

wedding gifts at The Groom's family home in Pakistan

The Groom's blind grandmother, in a beautiful lacy hijab, sits on the bed with her relatives

entrance to the bride's house in the village decorated for the wedding

The wedding chapati maker

Chapati maker with big chapatis

table layout

Top table

wedding food will be served first to the men here

The Yoghurt maker

The salad maker...

The bride's family on the wedding day

bride's family in their village home

Father of the bride

purple wedding marquee

entrance to the wedding marquee

The women's decorative headdresses

Groom's mother with traditional wedding headdress

The groom's father hands out money

more money being handed out by the groom's father

Traditional money garlands for the groom

The groom's brother with their blind grandmother

The groom's horse and all the onlookers

The groom on horseback outside his family home in Pakistan

groom's cousin on horseback

Shafkat riding to his wedding on horseback

Shafkat riding past Sadia's mother's family house

Outside the bride's family home in the village of Bhamber

Shafqat and his brother Saffi

The men on stage celebrating Shafkat's wedding in Pakistan

Sadia, the bride, arrives covered from view

If you want to see more pictures from Reel Life Photos wedding photographer Elaine go to http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk

I had always wanted to travel to India or to Pakistan to photograph a traditional village-style Asian wedding, and last week I got such a chance. My head is so full of images and the overall experience of being immersed into such a different way of life, where I was the only “white” woman the locals had ever seen, that I know I will struggle to choose the right images for this page, knowing that I cannot show you all that is exciting, that depicts even the first day’s travel from Islamabad to the village of Bhamber, 35 kilometers outside Jhelum, without totally crowding out this blog, so here are just a few photos  that might entice you to look further.

Colourfully decorated lorry in Pakistan

The first day involved a 3 hours drive from Islamabad airport, squashed two to a seat , as I clicked away at all the colourful lorries  and buses which, unlike our beasts, look for all the world like elegant gypsy wagons, complete with curves, tiny patterns and shiny chrome.

such beautiful designs and colours - and all different!

Outside Islamabad airport, the desperate, but highly skilled, beggars plead and badger you till you either give in or are rescued by your transport.

Pakistani bus with its ladder to the "top deck"

This lorry is a bit different with is large flower on the back

Pakistani bus and wagons

Even the most basic are works of art!

detail from a decorated lorry in Pakistan

typical dry landscape near Islamabad. They also seem to be removing much earth from the soil all round here, maybe for building materials...?

colourful Rickshaw

Red boat on blue with Arabic boat

Shadows in the Midday Sun

Tunisian Boat in patterns of yellow blue and orangey red

Chilli red

Stormy Skies and Woven Sunshades in Tunisia

abstract art patterns in camel saddle rugs

Beauty in decay...Rusty iron spikes in concrete

Tranquillity.

Patterns of Metal on White

Artful window

Shadows and structures with passing camel.

Textures in blue and neutral

Shadows in the sand.

Pottery Patterns

Cogs on yellow and orange

Abandoned boat

Tunisian Colours

Sunset Gold

Zig-zag highlighted in golden light

Sand textures between wood grain.

Sea Meets Sand

Smiling Tunisian Chef

Blue Pool in Late Evening Sunlight seen as Abstract Art

Tunisia Blue and White

Just a few art images  from my first few days in Tunisia, that would make beautiful picture postcards.  Not been able to wander far from the hotel due to being at a photographer’s conference here,  but still think they are interesting.  Will see more of Hammamet tomorrow.

Church hall in Lyneham being decorated with bunting and bride's Mum with a cake

Zoe and Steve actually got married on 28 December 2010 at the Ice Hotel in Sweden, so this was their UK church wedding blessing for the benefit of all the relatives and friends. Elaine, their wedding photographer, also photographed their wedding in the Ice chapel at Jukkasjärvi.  You can see some of those pictures here:

Beautiful dress sword Steve!

Church Arrivals

church arrivals

All ready now?

Church Blessing

Bride and groom listen to the choir and a reading

Guard of Honour

Big group shot of all the wedding guests

family wedding photos

From the church to the Pumphouse in Bath

Love the masks!

Let the fun begin...

Speeches and beautiful masks

The Speeches and Gorgeous reception guests!

wedding cake and first dance / dancing

wedding reception pictures at the Pumphouse Roman Baths restaurant

End of a lovely night!

See more happy wedding photos and how to book Elaine on Reel Life Photos main site http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk

cover of birthday book

You can see more photos on Reel Life Photos website

greeting guests with pink garlands and having sparkly nails painted

The birthday girl having her hair curled and pretty party details

birthday girl pictures

guests arriving and party roomparty garlands and getting ready

Fun Time!

girlie fun and birthday cake

Outdoor playtime during the party

time for a few traditional party games

traditional party game of pass the parcel "When will it be the party girl's turn," I wonder...

forfeits in between the layers

Pass the parcel: birthday girl's turn at last!

The birthday girl has won the last present inside the parcel!

There are many more pages in this charming storybook, but the rest are family pictures that include the adults…If you are having a special party, call Elaine for a quote.

Visit our main site for wedding photography and our contact details .

To see the pages properly, just click on them, one by one, as these thumbnails only show the middle of each page. We have loads more info on our site too, and love travelling to any wedding venue, be it in the UK or an exciting wedding destination abroad. We have more than 200,000 wedding photos, under All Day Wedding Pictures, selections of wedding galleries, and other wedding storybooks , so have fun looking at some of them, and get in touch with Elaine if you are keen to secure her as your wedding photographer, or just need a bit more info. http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk.

To see the pages properly, just click on them, one by one. We have loads more info on our site too. http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk

Zoe approached me early in 2009 to see if I was up for photographing another wedding  in the Ice Hotel at Jukkasjärvi in Sweden – on 28 December 2010 -  after finding my original Blog post for Colin and Sarah’s wedding that I covered in 2007.  Apparently I appeared so enthusiastic with my ideas that she was completely bowled over so coupled with the fact that we don’t charge for travel – just accommodation – and was happy to throw in her planned UK reception in Bath too – she quickly decided that we were the right wedding photographers for their special wedding.   This is the resulting Italian made storybook wedding album – which I’ve just finished designing for them. I also had to squeeze in all their UK reception – AND church wedding blessing (yes – it was like a full-blown second wedding!) into this same album but think it will look better in a separate wedding blog post at least…if not in a second album! xx Elaine

A swirl and a twirl for the newly wed Ice King and Queen

The Ice Hotel glows an icy blue, leaving the people like silhouetted Lowrey figures

The bride's brothers dressed as groomsmen despite the below zero temperatures

Ice hotel warm accommodation

getting ready for the wedding: bride's father doing bride's sister's hair & bride's mother

wedding dress, flowers, fluffy wrap, and champagne

Almost ready...Mascara on ...then slipping into her wedding dress - with a bit of help ..

big smiles as Zoe is ready for her Ice Hotel wedding at last.

Capes on, so its out to brave the bitter cold...brrrrrr!

This is it! Minus 15 outside, minus 5 inside the Ice Hotel.

This monumental snow arch is an engineering feat in itself, but today marks the start of Zoe & Steve's new life together

Ice Hotel Bride Zoe swishes her black cape as she walks past the Ice Hotel with her father at dusk and the groom inside the ice chapel awaits his bride.

The Ice Hotel bride and groom's breath intermingles in a cloud of frozen vapour as they become joined as one in their Ice Chapel wedding ceremony

The elated couple kiss as Sami music reverberates throughout the Ice Chapel.

Soft light glows throughout, bringing the ice sculptures to life, echoing the couple's solemn vows, in harmony with the world.

The Ice Hotel Chapel fill with warmth as kisses and hugs envelope the frozen families..

wedding photos of bride and sister, bride and mum, bride and groom inside the Ice Chapel

I can honestly say this is the first time I have photographed the throwing of the bouquet inside the Ice Chapel!

bridal party silhouetted outside the Ice Hotel entrance, ice glasses with hot lingonberry juice inside Absolut Ice Bar .

pics inside the Absolut Ice Bar

the magical atmosphere inside the Absolut Ice Bar works wonderfully for wedding photos

The Ice Hotel works its magic!

The background is from one of the Art Bedrooms in the Ice Hotel, but the photos are inside the Absolut Ice Bar

Zoe and her dashing groom Steve!

Just love the sheen on the clear ice, as it reflects the coloured light. Perfect for wedding pictures! The guys look great in uniform too!

On the left there is a sequence of photos where everyone was throwing snowballs at Zoe & Steve.  Love their expressions!

The picture on the bottom left shows Eva - who usually conducts the civil wedding ceremonies. She is just wonderful!

Just love the Sleeping Beauty pic in the polar bear art bedroom!

Even the blue colour makes me feel cold, but the atmosphere is electric!

Moving speeches during the Ice Hotel wedding reception in the restaurant.

The image on the bottom left with the green sky shows the fleeting Northern Lights – The Aurora Borealis – which we were lucky enough to see between taking wedding photos inside the Ice Hotel!  Magic! xx

See here to contact Elaine of Reel Life Photos about your wedding or  visit http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk to see loads and loads more wedding photos! – in the galleries, All Day Wedding Pictures and storybooks

Storybook album cover showing Sara & Dan as they cross the bridge onto the island for their wedding reception.

Sara & Dan chose to get married in the lovely chapel at the National Trust-owned Nostell Priory, the bride having got ready at her parent’s home nearby. The following pages tell the story of their wedding day, using just the photos they themselves chose, though with all the unused shots they could easily have created a second album, that showed more of the reportage-/documentary type images.

Goodnight kiss at night

The dawn of Sara's wedding day starts as expected, with hair an make-up - bridesmaids first ...

The bride does up her father's cuff-links, there's a last-minute spot of ironing , and its into the wedding dress and on with the veil.

Sara is all smiles as she waltzes round her family home garden in her wedding dress and floaty veil

Traditional bride in black and white with spot colour floats off the pages ...

The bride's parents and little bridesmaid.

bridesmaids in limo, the grandparents, pageboy and wedding car arriving

The bride's arrival almost looks like a moving video as your eye is drawn through the perspective of these images.

Framed by the arched doorway of the church, the bride then walks down the aisle with her father.

Sara & Dan's wedding service at the chapel at Nostell Priory

Who gives this woman to be married to this man...? and "The Kiss"

The Kiss and blessing at the altar

The real signing the resgister

The real signing the register

Last few photos inside the chapel.

Meet the newly-weds!

All the wedding guests in big group photo outside the church

Wedding car kiss...awhh!

Wedding car by the lake as the couple arrive at Waterton Park Hotel

Time for a few cuddles and a sit-down by the lake

Windy day at Waterton Park whisks up the bride's veil

Windy Wedding Arrivals at Walton Hall, Waterton Park

Family pics and beautiful island wedding venue with fountains

All the bride's Aunties and Uncles

View from the window of the reception room during the speeches

beautiful table layout in the old building on the island

Fun family wedding, wedding cake and table details

wedding flowers, speeches and cutting the cake

wedding speeches at Waterton Park Hotel

Funky or what!

family wedding photos - bride's grandmother and descendants

How romantic!

The groomsmen's turn at last...

Ah so much in love...

smiley groomsmen photos and bride's bouquet

the party is well underway on the island with a barbecue

The Fire-eater was a fabulous surprise for the guests' evening entertainment

Such a grand performance!

Juggling with fire!

Beautiful colours and evening light on the island as the evening wedding reception draws to a close with a barbecue and strawberries.

The evening wedding guests linger outside by the lake as the light fades, reluctant to go inside.

The end of a lovely night...

See here to contact Elaine of Reel Life Photos about your wedding or visit http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk to see loads and loads more wedding photos! – in the galleries, All Day Wedding Pictures and storybook

xx Elaine and Cuban videoman Jorge