WEDDING – Award Winning Wedding Photographer | Shianne Mercer | Story-Telling Documentary Wedding and Lifestyle Documentary Photographer

Ah well, how do I begin… Kathy contacted me a short while before her wedding looking for a photographer. She had seen my work and loved my style. When talking about her wedding it was going to be totally relaxed. We had a lovely video call to discuss all their plans and for me to give over some ideas etc. This was really lovely as I was able to see them and have a good old chat before their big day. I always give this option to anyway to get to know me and visa versa, especially if they good a little last minute.

Kathy and Andy got married at Apton Hall, a venue I had not shot at but had a wedding booked for next year that I was looking forward to. To be able to shoot there this year was amazing as I love going to new venues! Aston Hall is such a beautiful venue, very sleek and stylish with so much detail that you almost don’t need decor. Kathy and Andy were spending the morning together totally relaxed with the children in a very easy going, chilled out space. They had the bridal suit at Apton Hall which was beautiful and had enough room for all there that morning.

During bridal prep I was greated by Andy who gave me a little tour of the venue, then headed upstairs to meet Kathy who was with her Mother, Sister and all the children. Shortly after some guests began to arrive including two of Katy’s best friends who then joined us upstairs too. The decor to Apton hall was totally minimal and elegant, the venue is absolutely beautiful without the added extras so what Kathy and Andy had done really completed the look. The opted for two different wedding cakes, a rustic semi naked multiple tier cake with added floral detail and then a cheese cake which looked absolute amazing.

Their ceremony was totally relaxed and informative. With them walking down the aisle together to just the general flow of the day. Their love beamed throughout the venue and the ceremony was so lovely with the sweetest words read from family and friends. Joint moments at the top of the aisle and 3 beautiful little girls little in with the biggest smiles at the happiness around them. I spent pretty much the entire day at Apton hall for Kathy and Andy’s wedding and throughout the day just got better and better. With weather not being the best it really didn’t put a dampen on anything. After the ceremony we went straight into some couple photos, with umbrellas in hand we took a walk around the venue and it really wasn’t as bad as I though for my first very rainy wedding! After some group shots in the ceremony room it was time for some food and a little break.

After the meal it was time for speeches, they were emotional and so sentimental. Written from the heart and so raw. There is nothing more beautiful that reminiscing over memories and journeys between my wedding couples. It gives me an even bigger insight to them as a couple and to everyone present on the day, both friends and family I imagine it to be so magical. Kathy and Andy’s love story was so beautiful and they are definitely made for one another. Andy’s speech of humour and tears was so memorable and he is an amazing man. As is Kathy an incredible kind women and the three special little girl are so sweet and lovely.

The evening started with a magic mirror, disco and lots of dancing. The children were crazy on the dance floor and the best man even joined in with them! It was a beautiful day full of beautiful people. A ceremony made so perfect for a perfect pair. Thank you Kathy and Andy for choosing me to photograph your special day. It was an honour and one I will never forget.

A beautiful relaxed marriage full of entire happiness.

WEDDING

NADINE AND TONY | A SUNDAY AFTERNOON OF WEDDING PORTRAITS | LANGTON’S HOUSE AND GARDENS | SHIANNE MERCER PHOTOGRAPHY.

by shiannemercerphotographyupdated on November 20, 2019November 19, 2019

Nadine contacted me back during this summer on the request of some couple portraits being shot. This wasn’t just any normal booking as she had already been married… she continued.

This May Nadine and Tony got married and celebrated the most perfect day with all their friends and family. After receiving the photographs from her wedding photographer Nadine got in contact with me with the request to re-shoot her couple portraits as they wasn’t as she wished from the day. I was totally thrilled to be asked to do something like this and be trusted to create imagery which would be perfect for her. I knew of Nadine as she was a make up artist for my bride Lauren back in April so had credited her work from them. She always followed me and gave me support so after this contact it was an honour to do the job.

We chose a different venue to where she got married and instead picked to do their shoot on a Sunday afternoon at Langtons House and Gardens which is a little hidden gem in the heart of Hornchurch, Havering. Langton’s House is a public park too with a beautiful duck pond, a Sunday afternoon it gets people on the grounds having picnics or just sitting and admiring the location. We was met by many ‘congratulations’ as we walked through the grounds which was a little funny as they actually got married months ago! But they both looked so amazing you wouldn’t have known that that Sunday wasn’t their special day.

Thank you for giving me the honour to get the perfect wedding portraits for you both. Our session was perfect, the weather, the venue and the bride and groom. Nadine has given me the kindest feedback from her photographs and I am so pleased to have given exactly what you wished for.

“Omg, Ive just looked through them and they are amazing! I absolutely love them. Thank you so much”

WEDDING

MR & MRS SIDE | A CEREMONY FULL OF LOVE AND WARMTH | YE OLD PLOUGH HOUSE | SHIANNE MERCER PHOTOGRAPHY

by shiannemercerphotographyon October 29, 2019October 29, 2019

It’s a great story really, how it came around that I was to photograph Candice and Tom’s wedding. If you see my previous story of this incredible family a few months back, you would see how me and Candice actually went to school together.

Candice and Tom decided to book me for their wedding last October after I met with them and their youngest over a coffee at my local Costa, who doesn’t love a coffee meet up? We spoke about all their wedding plans and had a look through my portfolio. Candice really reflected on the ‘natural emotion filled shots’ and said that it was exactly what she wanted. If anyone knows Candice you would know she is very specific with what she likes and won’t settle for any less, oh and isn’t afraid to say! For her to say my work is exactly what she wants was amazing and to reflect on how many years had passed since we was at school together and where our lives are now was amazing too! It wasn’t long after I left them that day that she sent me a message and said that her and Tom would love to book!

Fast forward near on a year, a pre-wedding family session down it was then on weekly countdown to Candice and Tom’s big day. On the lead up I was so excited for the day to commence. We had met a few times before hand and they even requested a USB of their pre-wedding session to have on a slideshow during their wedding breakfast. Thinking about that part of the day so many of their guests complimented on them and loved that I had done that session and then was doing their wedding. They had so many personal and special touches to the day that I couldn’t wait to capture. And I wasn’t just a photographer but a guest too! Oh yes, I got a place at a table with other family members and my own name tag. It really made the day that much more special and their families were absolutely lovely and so welcoming!

Candice and Tom married at Ye Old Plough House in Bulphan which is a small village on the outskirts of Brentwood/Upminster. Sort of in the middle of them both should I say. They had a beautiful outdoor ceremony and bridal prep at the venue too. The reception was held in the Monks barn and had amazing evening entertainment the whole night through. Ye Old Plough House has the most perfect grounds and is a barn House with so many lovely features, inducing the cutest little bridges outside which were perfect for photos!

I started my day with Candice and her bridal party around midday. With the little ones having lots of fun, Candice was having make up by Made Up By Melissa Elise and hair by her cousin Courtney. The bridesmaid dresses were from Boohoo and Debenhams and Candice’s beautiful wedding dress was from Bridal Shop, Romford. The morning was a little hectic but lots of fun. What else would you want on a wedding day? The children loved their dressing gowns bought for them by Tom and enjoyed a snack of chips before getting into their dresses. The adults all got their hair and make up done too and we even got a pre-wedding bridal party shot which was super cute!

Shortly after I rushed over to Tom with he’s groomsmen and guests arriving. Here’s a funny little story and it could really only happen to me! As I was running across the grounds to Tom my shoe completely broke. It was a total OH EM GEE moment. Luckily enough Candice has purchased flip-flops for her guests during the reception. So yes, that was me. A rustic orange dress and unicorn colour flip flops throughout the whole day. Note to self, always have a spare fair of shoes! Another note to future wedding couples, flip-flops for your guests during the reception is such a lovely extra and goes a long way, trust me!

Patiently waiting for Candice to walk the aisle was her Husband to be, Tom. Standing top of the aisle and all the guests waiting, the bridal party started to arrive. The moment throughout the ceremony I can so clearly relive if I close my eyes was the moment Candice entered the aisle. You could hear her before you could see her, she was full of emotion and embraced the moment so beautifully. If I have ever been to the most sentimental and memorable ceremony it has to be this one. The feeling of pure joy and happiness from her was breathtaking and the photographs speak for themselves. I even got them up to show her during the wedding breakfast because I was just so overwhelmed by the emotion in them. Her uncle Damien, who walked her down the aisle, loved them too which meant to much to me!

Getting married is such an emotional moment and celebration. It was totally beautiful and I admire her strength to let all her emotions tell the perfect tale on the day. They really are the most wonderful memories. Moments throughout the ceremony were just beautiful. The ceremony ended with the Guard of Honour by Tom’s fellow work colleagues who were amazing and it paid a great tribute to the Fire Brigade.

Following on from the ceremony was time for photos. We kept them short and sweet for formal family shots and spent a little time wandering around the grounds with the Bride and Groom. Ye Old Plough House has the most beautiful gardens with so many lovely spaces to take wedding portraits. Lots of greenery and the perfect trees that created areas of shadow and amazing lighting. I got told later on in the day by a guests that “whenever I looked around you was in a bush or something, you didn’t miss a single thing it was great!”. Which is just what I want to hear! If your a photographer and don’t get in a bush on a wedding day, you’re doing something wrong! Ha ha.

The meal was held in the Monks Barn followed by the Wedding reception. The meal was made up of 3 courses; a chicken and bacon salad, roast dinner with Lamb and a cheesecake. It was absolutely delicious and speeches afterward went down a barrel of laughter. The reception was full of joy, dancing and happiness. Candice and Tom had a big white bounce castle for the children, after they had a go of course! A Photo booth which was so much fun and some decorative hire to complement the reception space.

Overall their day was a breath of fresh air and as perfect as they could imagine. The guests partied all night long and the entertainment was fab! The children had tons of fun in the grounds and Mr and Mrs Side are one happy beautiful family. I thank them for letting me be a part of their day and being a part of their wedding journey. I wish them nothing but joy, good health and happiness.

A memorable filled day of emotion, happiness and love. Congratulations!

WORDS FROM CANDICE AND THOMAS

“At our wedding I’ve never felt so many emotions in one day. Shianne being the great photographer she is captured every single emotion felt in our day! It is important to have picture that you can look back on as they are the only memories you have left close to reliving that special day. I cannot explain how amazed and proud I am of the way our photographs come out. They are truly amazing and when I look at the work Shianne produced I can feel the emotions all over again! I cannot wait to see our photo book full of all the photographs that were taken as I couldn’t choose a favourite. They were all perfect!”