In case you're interested, the two winning images can be seen here.
If you were considering having your wedding here, don't hold back from booking. It's in such a great location and it's so convenient because there is often no driving from Bridal prep-house to church to reception venue. Everything under one roof!
Just make sure they light the fire for you. The smell is so relaxing!

Unfortunately, the first time I met up with Samuel & Kayleigh was on their wedding day. Due to some worrying family health, the date had been pushed forward and it seemed like everybody helped out to make everything run smooth. And it did!

I wish I had time to of met up with them before their bit day as they're a cracking couple.
Still, never mind. I always try my hardest to really get to know my couples before their wedding day so that they can feel comfortable around me.
It is always beneficial.

Kayleigh got her hair and make up ready in the keepers cottage before escaping to the Bridal suite to get into her dress without anyone spotting her. All good fun I thought!
Whilst everybody was in the cottage getting ready, I went out the backdoor to have a little explore.
Long story short: door closed behind me, locked shut, spent 10 minutes shouting for help. Of course, everybody found it hilarious! Good times.

On with the pictures then.
Just a little note about these fabric bouquets; Kayleigh made them herself and was very modest about them. Well done Kayleigh, we all think they're amazing!

I could say this about every Bride that I shoot, but Jane made a fantastic Bride. She really enjoyed it!
I hope that you'll be able to see that from the images. Owen was very laid back and was also a pleasure to shoot.

A super-cool couple indeed!
How cool?

Well Owen is a concept artist who has worked on projects for some small companies like Disney and Atari.... No, I've never heard of them either.
Jane designs websites for CBBC and CBeebies.
I think that classifies them as cool, and those are just their jobs!

Thank you Owen and Jane for letting me be with you (literally) all day. You and your guests made me feel so welcome.
Enjoy these pictures.

Owen created these designs. Very impressive!

A sneak peek at Jane's dress

Hair and make up by the amazing Julie Dunkley

This is the cottage where Jane got ready, And yes, I was very nervous bringing the dress outside!

Jane's mum helps to take the dress to the Bridal suite

Nice to see a keen groom like Owen and suited up already!

Jane's twin sister Sam and friend Nerys made brilliant bridesmaids and multitaskers.

A new favorite.

I loved how Jane and Sam shared their mannerisms!

Jane's Mum loved seeing Jane get ready, and she was a great help too...in-fact she was a pro!

Owen's parents looking excited!

Molly just getting in some practise for her big job!

Jane's Dad was thrilled to see Jane looking so stunning!

Owen looks more relaxed than his best men! That's a first for sure!

The amazing wedding cake by Justine from Just Cakes

Wearing a hat as smart as this one, you can't help but smile, I think.

This amazing string quartet really set the mood!

Nobody knows how to play, but everybody likes a shot at it!

Good friends of the family and real gentlemen; Roy and Steve were very pleased to be at the wedding.

Rhydian looking a little nervous before his speech! I hate that feeling. Alcohol usually does the trick.

The soup really was that good!

I've not included the images here, but there was a pretty ugly riot at the wedding a little later on when the guests realised they weren't give fish and chips like Molly!

This here was the leader of the riot.

How good does this look though?!

In the same room was the secret meeting of hat wearing ladies. SShhhh!

A quick costume change! Very pretty!

Jane's fathers speech was brilliant and is physically congratulated by pretty much everybody!

"You ready?"
"Yep...let's rip Owen to pieces"

...and rip they did!

7:43 to be exact! I'm not too sure who won the sweepstake, but I did hear some heavy bribery going on!

We popped out whilst the light was just fading. All my couples, Owen and Jane included love this time when they can just relax and get some fresh air!

...and have a lie down!

I love a well beered-up group of stags, this lot though were especially tricky to work with. I loved it!

I challenge anyone to find me a picture of a freshly married groom with a fat cigar in his mouth, rocking a pair of aviators with a castle in the reflection.

Dance time!

Nerys and Nick make a great couple. (tried to think of an Avatar-based quip for their blue faces... I failed)

This lady is either heading for the dance floor, or the bar. Either way, she's going the right direction!

If you're not using your fingers to point in every direction, you're simply not dancing!

I liked watching Jane hold on tight to her husband!

And that's all!

Congratulations Jane and Owen.
You made me feel very relaxed and welcome and I thank you for that.

I hope you've enjoyed your honeymoon in San Francisco and I also hope that you really enjoy the rest of your lives together, you're a wonderful couple!
Take care.

I really enjoyed this wedding, I was there right up to the very end which was great as I really got to know a couple of the guests.
I certainly felt like one of Owen and Jane's friends by the end of the evening as they made me feel so welcome!

So, thank you, you two!
I hope you made your flight to San Francisco for your honeymoon in the end!

This one picture is just a little teaser.
It really caught my eye when I was going through the 1400-ish pictures!

I love that Owen's mum made time to glance at her son at a very important moment.

Keep an eye on the blog as I've got another great teaser to post before I blog the best of Owen and Jane's pictures from their wedding at Clearwell Castle.

Enjoy!

But it was still quite a surprise to me that this is the only reception venue that I've shot at before!
You'll remember Will and Cindy's wedding earlier this year if you're a regular reader. Dave and Paula had quite a similar wedding also at Clearwell Castle, but obviously at a completely different time of year. The trees at the moment are so beautiful, perfect for pictures!

As soon as I got out the car at Clearwell Castle, the smells hit me! At first I could smell whatever the guests were having for lunch which made my saliva glands go crazy, but the best smell was of burning wood, and as I walked into the castle I could see the open log fire crackling and it filled the whole room with this gentle warmth that wrapped around my cold face! Even throughout the day when I was shooting outside, the air was full of this amazing wintery smell!

I introduced myself to the staff, and then a very happy looking Dave came up to me and without being blase he had to be one of the most relaxed grooms I've ever met. I went upstairs to see Paula and she was equally relaxed whilst she was having her hair done by her best friend Claire. You can always tell if it'll be a relaxed day if the two most important people are relaxed, it was perfect!

Enjoy these pictures, hopefully it'll give you an idea of the feel of the day!

Megan, Dave and Paula's little girl holding onto Mummy's hand

The Bridal suite is incredible!


A smile like Dave's really sets the mood for the day!


I like this picture, I think its the fact that he is surrounded by these martini glasses, and he's just casually sipping his orange juice like a little dude.


And on the subject of long pictures with people sat on chairs, I present you with this;


I have to end with this one! Check this little man out!! He's almost as good looking and charming as me!

Congratulations Dave and Paula!
Me and Jessica hope that you have a really great time on your skiing honeymoon! (not jealous at all!!!!!!)

http://www.photoboxgallery.com/josephyarrow

This was a real last minute wedding!

This was a good thing, as it gave it me no time to work up my nerves (which I always get before I shoot a wedding)
Cindy's Dad found me on Flickr ("or was it twitter?"), rang me up and asked me to do the thing that I do, for his Daughter.

Will and Cindy were wed in Clearwell Castle, not far from the Forest of Dean.
Seems like the castle has had some pretty cool modern history! Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Bad company have all recorded, or rehearsed there...and I quote from wiki: Black Sabbath came to the castle in 1973 seeking inspiration after a series of fruitless writing sessions in California. The band found what they were looking for (including "the riff that saved Black Sabbath") in an underground "dungeon" there, writing the critically acclaimed album Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.

Cool!
What it doesn't say on wiki though, is that Clearwell Castle probably has the largest collection of furniture I've ever seen!

Thank you so much to the staff at Clearwell Castle for making Will and Cindy's day go so well, and special thanks goes to Elise.

Anyway, the wedding was a really relaxed affair, it was a pleasure to be there and it was awesome to see two really great people marry.
Thanks allot for allowing me to be part of your day.
Enjoy these pictures won't you...

Will and Cindy's Cutie-Pie-Little-Girl, Isla


Mr Groom, Will!

The competition.

Will with their Son, Noah

Will's Best Man and Brother, Doug

Grandad!

The Bride!











Not everybody was pleased! =P



The Hyde Family!







Where do you think you're going?

Don't Mess.

No Grooms were injured in the creating of this image

The Ladies were allot more...Ladylike



Quite an impressive venue, I'm sure you'll agree!

Congratulations Will and Cindy!