California - 5 years later!

Back in May 2013 we headed off to America for an amazing 3 week road trip from Seattle, Washington to Laguna Beach in California. Not only was it a dream holiday we’d planned for ages, but it was also our wedding! We chose not to have a big wedding in the UK, but instead be totally selfish, bugger off to another country, and get married on a beach with just a photographer and a Minister present… and it was perfect!

Fast-forward 5 years and we still don’t regret choosing to have the wedding day we did. It was exactly the day we wanted it to be. No fuss… but SO memorable.

So for our 5th wedding anniversary last year we decided to head back out to California for another 3 week break. Minus all the miles of the original road trip, but this time around with the addition of Jesse, our 2 year old son, this was going to be a very different holiday! Not to mention the fact Clare (my wife) was 5 months pregnant too.

We both love California, we must do to want to get married out there right? The atmosphere, the stunning scenery, and the totally relaxed lifestyle everyone out there lives by, the place has it all. Both of us were so excited about taking Jesse down to the spot where we got married.

This was one of those holidays however that we thought was jinxed, and just never going to happen. We originally booked to go away in February but sadly just a few days before we were due to fly out Clare had a miscarriage. Obviously we were heartbroken and cancelled the trip straight away. We then re-booked it for the November as I didn’t have many weddings on that month. Then just 48 hours before our flight wild fires struck across a large part of California, including the area near the Air BNB we had booked in Malibu. We managed to get hold of our Air BNB host and she told us that they had been evacuated from their house, and had no idea when they’d be safe to go back. Instead of cancelling for a 2nd time I got straight onto the booking.com site and looked for a motel to stay in for the 18 days. I found one, and within an hour of thinking we weren’t going we were booked into a motel in Laguna.

I’m so pleased we got to revisit the place we had so much fun in 5 years ago, and also to make new memories with Jesse. I’m also very pleased I actually took my camera on a holiday for a change. I mean, I always take one, but don’t always end up shooting much.

We had so many lovely days out including trips to San Diego, Venice Beach, Santa Monica, Dana Point, Huntington (a few times), Newport (a lot of times!), Balboa Peninsula, Joshua Tree National Park, not to mention lots of milkshakes in various Rubys Diners (the same diner we had our wedding photos taken in after we got hitched).

We made sure we spent every evening on a beach watching the sun set. It was so cute seeing Jesse cuddled up to Clare each night on the sand, just taking in the gorgeous colours in the sky, and listening to the waves breaking. Even though we ended up staying in a pretty rough-around-the-edges motel for the whole holiday we had so much fun, and actually enjoyed being in a cosy four walls place, instead of the stunning Air BNB we should’ve be in. I think it actually made us appreciate it all even more. Especially as the wild fires that forced us there were so terrible, and had affected so many people and destroyed their homes.

We spent the last night of our holiday sat eating pizza on the beach we got married on, and there was actually a couple getting married just a few feet away from the spot we said our vows!

Clare and I could easily live out in Laguna, or any part of the Orange County come to think of it. I’m not sure how much work we’d actually get done if we did, but we’d certainly be very chilled and pretty much be living on the beach most of the time.

Until next time California! Maybe see you in another 5 years :)

All photos (except the last one) were taken on the Fujifilm XT3 camera / with 23mm f2 and 35mm f2 lenses.

Cotswolds wedding photography - Rebecca and Chris

“You’re so blinking amazing! Thank you SO SO much for these wonderful photos. Each and everyone makes me smile. They all tell a story which is what we wanted. I think I've looked at them about 5 times since last Friday. They’re just incredible, wish we looked like that all the time!” - Mr and Mrs Bowers 

Were you a guest at this wedding? Below is just a selection of my favourite shots from the day, but why don't you take a look at their online gallery and download some photos... for free!

Simply click HERE -  Then get the password from Rebecca + Chris, and download as many HI-RES images as you want!

Swallows Nest Barn wedding photography - Becks and Ollie

Were you a guest at this wedding? Below is just a selection of my favourite shots from the day, but why don't you take a look at their online gallery and download some photos... for free!

Simply click HERE -  Then get the password from Becks + Ollie, and download as many HI-RES images as you want!

Harlestone Village Institute wedding photography - Cass and Mark

 

"We can't thank you enough for the beautiful way you captured our day. Trying to create a shortlist of pics for the walls and albums is proving a tough job, there are just so many we love and we can't stop looking at them. You captured all the joy, big smiles, happiness and some very funny shots that summed up the atmosphere on the day but also so many of the personalities of our guests. Thank you so so much." Cass & Mark

 

Were you a guest at this wedding? Below is just a selection of my favourite shots from the day, but why don't you take a look at their online gallery and download some photos... for free!

Simply click HERE -  Then get the password from Cass + Mark, and download as many HI-RES images as you want!

 

Wedding photography at Kedleston Country House - Jenny and Matt

 

"Wow! You talented man!! We are blown away, our photos are absolutely beautiful, they capture our day, our family and friends and us as a couple, perfectly. 

You have provided us with everlasting memories which we will treasure for a lifetime. 

We are lost for words, the photos are truly outstanding. 

From the first look at your website we knew we had to book you, it was a pleasure to meet you, thank you for shooting our wedding on your birthday too!"

 Jenny & Matt

 

 

Were you a guest at this wedding? Below is just a selection of my favourite shots from the day, but why don't you take a look at their online gallery and download some photos... for free!

Simply click HERE -  Then get the password from Jenny + Matt, and download as many HI-RES images as you want!

Preston Court wedding photographer - Emma and Dan

Wow! Ed - we cannot thank you enough! We love each and every picture.

Words really can’t sum up how amazing a job you did! And we are literally recommending you to EVERYONE!

Thank you again times a trillion billion! 
All the best,

The Mackeys! :D xxx

 

Were you a guest at this wedding? Below is just a selection of my favourite shots from the day, but why don't you take a look at their online gallery and download some photos... for free!

Simply click HERE -  Then get the password from Emma + Dan, and download as many HI-RES images as you want!

Las Vegas destination wedding photography - Jen and Bryan

What better way to kick off my 2018 than with a wedding in America! I flew out to Las Vegas with Jen and Bryan to spend a few days with them, and snap them getting hitched at the Little White Chapel on Las Vegas Boulevard. 

The day before they got hitched we headed out to the stunning Red Rock Canyon for a pre-wedding shoot. Bit of a tip for you if you visit Vegas... make sure you take a bottle of water and some sun cream if you plan to head out into the desert for a photoshoot. Yep... typical Brit-abroad mistake made there! Luckily there was a visitor centre at Red Rock.

Despite visiting the U.S quite a lot (including getting married out there myself!) I'd never actually been to Vegas. I was really looking forward to see what the place had to offer as a photographic backdrop, and also excited to see how shooting an elopement abroad was going to sit with my style of photography. Well, I'm pleased to say I loved it!  Jen and Bryan were so chilled out and fun to be around, and the way they just let me get on with documenting their time in Vegas was bliss.

As you're about to find out, this is one of my longer blog posts as there was just SO much to photograph... so I'll shut up now, and let you scroll down.

Thanks again Jen + Bryan for booking me, and treating me like one of the family. I had a fantastic time, and really enjoyed shooting your week in America.

Are you a friend or family member of Jen + Bryan? Above is just a selection of my favourite shots from the day, but why don't you take a look at their online gallery and download some photos... for free!

Simply click HERE -  Then get the password from Jen and Bryan, and download as many HI-RES images as you want!

 

 

 

Dovedale pre wedding shoot - Jenny and Matt

Forests, beautiful riverside views, rugged hills, and lots of fresh air... this is my kind of sunrise pre-wedding shot... Just a shame there was no sun.

Dovedale is such a beautiful area. With its picturesque stepping stones, and trails that take you all around the local area, the place really does have everything. 

I met up with this lovely couple to photograph them for their pre-wedding shoot shoot, and hear all about their plans for their 2018 wedding. Jenny and Matt are getting married on my birthday later this year... if I don't get a slice of the wedding cake I'll be very disappointed! 

 

West Mill wedding photography in Derbyshire - Susie and Mike

Were you a guest at this wedding? Below is just a selection of my favourite shots from the day, but why don't you take a look at their online gallery and download some photos... for free!

Simply click HERE -  Then get the password from Susie + Mike, and download as many HI-RES images as you want!

Derbyshire wedding photography at the West Mill - Naomi and Tom

Were you a guest at this wedding? Below is just a selection of my favourite shots from the day, but why don't you take a look at their online gallery and download some photos... for free!

Simply click HERE -  Then get the password from Naomi + Tom, and download as many HI-RES images as you want!

Oxfordshire wedding photography at the Crooked Billet pub - Lou and Nick

Ed was just brilliant, he made us feel so comfortable on the day, even Nick who isn't the happiest in front of a camera. He has taken some really wonderful images and has captured how much fun we had on the day, so we couldn't be happier with the photos. So many amazing memories captured without us even knowing! We would highly recommend Ed as he really understood our relaxed style and what we were after for the day - he really got us!

Thank you so much Ed, Lou and Nick x

 

Were you a guest at this wedding? Below is just a selection of my favourite shots from the day, but why don't you take a look at their online gallery and download some photos... for free!

Simply click HERE -  Then get the password from Lou + Nick, and download as many HI-RES images as you want!

Lake Como, Italy wedding photography - Ashley and Mike

This wedding will definitely be a huge highlight of 2017 for me. Amazing scenery, party-crazy guests, and one of the nicest couples I've ever photographed. 

Ashley and Mike live in New York, and chose the backdrop of Lake Como in Italy for their wedding day. The boutique hotel Relais Villa Vittoria was their venue, and WOW, does it have some stunning views over the beautiful lake. 

I had only met the guys on a Skype call when they booked me last year, so having a pre-wedding shoot the night before the wedding was a perfect chance to get to know them a bit better. 

I could ramble on and on about this amazing wedding, but I think I'll let the photos do the talking. All I will add, is that it'll be a long time before I shoot another wedding with such a wild party. The cellar bar at the venue was roasting hot from all the dancefloor action! 

Ashley and Mike, thanks so much for asking me to shoot your amazing wedding day... it was a fantastic wedding to be a part of, and the freedom you guys gave me to wander around, mingle with your guests, and just "do my thing", allowed me to get the totally relaxed story of your day that you see here. 

Thanks also to Matthew Oliver for making the day run so smoothly with your wedding planning skills. I will never forget the look on your face when a guest picked you up on the dancefloor... priceless! 

 

 

Were you a guest at this wedding? Below is just a selection of my favourite shots from the day, but why don't you take a look at their online gallery and download some photos... for free!

Simply click HERE -  Then get the password from Ashley + Mike, and download as many HI-RES images as you want!

 

 

Hertfordshire wedding photography - Sharon and Simon

Sharon and Simon got married at the stunning Sopwell House in Hertfordshire. Their Indian/Jewish fusion wedding was insane! (In a good way of course)

It was non-stop action straight after the couple said their vows. Music and dance dominated the day, and made it great for myself and Anna to capture loads of cool reportage images. By mixing up gritty black and white photos, with edgy and vibrant colour shots, I feel we really captured the atmosphere of the day. And more importantly, we managed to tell a solid story of the day.

Guys, thanks a lot for having us along to capture your wedding celebrations. We had a blast! And I think that show in the photos.

Were you a guest at Sharon and Simons wedding? Why not take a look at their online gallery and download some photos... for free!

Simply click HERE -  Then get the password from Sharon and Simon, and download as many HI-RES images as you want!

 

Norfolk wedding photography at Voewood - Kate and Stuart

Were you a guest at Kate and Stuarts wedding? Why not take a look at their online gallery and download some photos... for free!

Simply click HERE -  Then get the password from Kate and Stuart, and download as many HI-RES images as you want!

 

Nottinghamshire pre-wedding shoot - Claire and Alex

Having a pre-wedding shoot is always a great way to settle any nerves you may have about having your photo taken on your wedding day. Even better if you can bring along your pet pooch and your cute little girl along for some family photos too. However, I think Baxter and Arielle were just there to provide a cute distraction from all the attention being on Claire and Alex.

It doesn't bother me though. I love it when couples want their kids or pets to join them on their pre-wedding/engagement shoot. Plus... don't they make the most attractive family? And yes, I am including Baxter in that! 

I've known these guys since my days working on a photography magazine, and really can't wait to photograph them getting married at their stunning wedding venue near Rutland Water in the summer.

The Great Tythe Barn in Tetbury wedding photography - Charlotte and Mike

When the bride is a photographer, getting a thank you card as lovely as this means the world to me...

 

"Ed, we can't thank you enough for being our photographer! As you can imagine, choosing a photographer was so important to us - once we saw your work we knew exactly that we wanted you to do it.

We've had so many lovely words from our family and friends about the photos - and what a wonderful guy you are!

So, a huge thank you again. We will treasure them forever!" Charlotte + Mike