It felt a little strange as things in the wedding industry started getting moving again in 2021. After all the lockdowns, restrictions, cancellations, and postponements in 2020, I like most couples that I spoke to, almost didn't believe an event was going to be able to go ahead, until I was actually there and it was going on. As April arrived along with my first wedding dates of the year, there were some restrictions and also still a lack of clarity over what was and wasn't allowed - including a meal with the guests, music, singing, a first dance etc. One thing was clear though, couples had waited long enough, and even if there were some restrictions, if they could get married, then they were getting married. I will always look back on this year and smile at the decoration from one wedding cake - it simply said : "Fucking Finally." It summed up the feeling perfectly and I think after what we'd all been through, the choice words were more than acceptable.
Living with this uncertainty helped me live in the moment and appreciate every wedding that little bit more. I talked to other suppliers and we all loved being back, but also had an uneasy apprehension that the rug would be pulled from under us at any time, with weddings being stopped again. Thankfully, that didn't occur and as the year moved on, you could see how much more relaxed people were at each wedding and how much more normal (I say normal here in the best possible sense) they all felt again.
I loved seeing how couples and venues adapted their weddings. For some of the weddings at the start of the year, indoor dancing was still prohibited, and so couples had their first dance on outside areas that were available to them - this could be at the top of some balcony steps, or in the courtyard. This was a beautiful change from the normal location of an inside room somewhere, and may not have been what the couples imagined, but for me, it was so much more special. I'd love to see a lot more dancing and partying outside going forward.
I was back at lots of my favourite venues again such as Wadhurst Castle, Nettlestead Place, Penshurst Place, Hendall Manor Barns, Winters Barns, The Plough at Leigh, Buxted Park Hotel, The Old Kent Barn, Bradbourne House, Blackstock Country Estate, and also got to work at some new locations like The Barnyard, Pelham House, & The Oakbarn Frame Farm.
Putting this best of compilation together was once again, a mix of being thoroughly enjoyable and incredibly difficult. I love looking back each year and reliving all the moments, but it's so hard to not include more photos. I love so many moments from each wedding that the blog post could easily fall into containing thousands of images and being a never ending page. There are so many photos I have left out, but I hope you all like the selection included and they make you smile like they do for me.
Thanks again to all my couples for choosing me as your wedding photographer. I feel honoured that so many people like my style, and that I could be a part of their incredible days.
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