Katy Lunsford Photography »

I am so thrilled to have Sarah & Dan’s beautiful wedding featured on the gorgeous English Wedding blog. It is a real honour to be featured as English Wedding is a fabulous blog, showcasing the loveliest of real weddings and best wedding suppliers. Thank you to the lovely Claire for the wonderful write-up too – it made me cry it did!

Sarah and Dan had a wonderful wedding back in September, and here – at last – is the full report (I know this post has been a long time coming – but the bride and groom had to see the photos first!)

It was such an honour to photograph the gorgeous wedding of Sarah Summerton and Dan Parkinson at All Saints’ Church in Marple on Friday 24th September. (You may remember them from their lovely Engagement Photos) It was my first wedding back after having baby Sophie, so I was ridiculously excited! It was a truly fabulous day – Sarah looked amazing; Dan looked like the cat that got the cream; the ceremony – led by Dan’s father, the vicar at All Saints’ – was beautiful; the speeches were highly articulate and very amusing; and even though it was rather breezy the sun made an appearance and the rain stayed away.  I have loved getting to know Dan and Sarah and their families over the last few months, and it was wonderful to be a part of their special day.

Sarah and Dan met a wedding just over a year ago: ‘I had heard a lot about Dan prior to first meeting him, that he was an absolute legend. So when I heard he was there I went and introduced myself to him with the opening line “So you’re Dan Parkinson, I’ve heard you’re an absolute legend! – and your house has an amazing kitchen, can I come and bake cake sometime?” One thing led to another and I had arranged to come and make him cakes a few days later. How could he refuse?! Within a few days we realised we both really liked each other and Dan, being the slightly impatient man he is, decided he couldn’t wait so we made it ‘official’ after a couple of weeks!’

Sarah wore a beautiful backless Maggie Sottero dress and cathedral-length veil from Blissful Daze in Sheffield, and her shoes were from Choola boutique. After having their hair done at Bliss in Heaton Moor, Sarah and her bridesmaids – her three sisters – got ready at their parents’ house. I just had to incorporate this beautiful Victorian stained glass into the wedding photographs!

Sarah’s pretty pearl-drop earrings and matching bracelet were borrowed from her Mum, and originally came from Spain. Doesn’t she look completely stunning!

The beautiful bouquets and other flowers were designed by Mary at Mary’s Flower Basket, a lovely local florist on Tatton Road in Heaton Moor.

I love the look of awe and excitement on Sarah’s face as she enters the church – and doesn’t Sarah’s Dad look every bit the proud father of the bride?

Both the ceremony and reception were held at All Saints’ Church in Marple, a beautiful church where Dan’s father is the vicar. It was a lovely personal touch to have him lead the ceremony and marry them. Friends of the couple provided the music in the ceremony, prayed for them and gave the sermon, while Dan’s sisters gave the readings and Sarah’s sisters sang during the signing of the register. The ceremony was full of love, laughter, joy and tears, and the couple’s strong faith in God was evident, giving extra depth and meaning to the songs, readings and marriage service itself.

Thanks to my lovely assistant Hannah Prittie for the next few images – and more later on. She is a fab photographer, designer and illustrator – go check her out!

Not many brides have their first married kiss watched so closely by their father-in-law!

 

After the ceremony it was into the church hall for tea – from pretty vintage china – and cakes, accompanied by a string quartet.

Wedding Photography tip: The formal group photos which used to dominate wedding photography are still important for family records – and your Grandma would probably like one for Christmas! They can be fun and fast – keep it to a minimum to keep guests (and your photographer!) happy, and always include one big shot of everyone!

Soooo romantic! I love the way the wind is just catching Sarah’s gorgeous cathedral-length veil in the shot below.

Thanks again to Hannah for some of the beautiful shots below…

Meanwhile, the church had been transformed into a sumptuous banqueting hall, by a team from the church, with swathes of organza, antique candelabras, and showing off the incredible chandelier in the church. Doesn’t it make a stunning wedding venue? A delicious buffet was provided by Honeypot catering, and the cake was made by a friend. The invitations, orders of service and table name cards were designed by Tara Feeley, a friend of Sarah’s who has her own design company. And the beautiful candelabras were an eBay find!

 

 

 

The live music was provided by the fabulous Fonix function band, headed up by the lovely Hannah, playing an awesome selection of jazz, soul, pop and disco. The dancefloor was packed all night!

 

(helped along by a little off-camera flash and Hannah-the-human-light-stand, for the photographers out there!)

Want to see more? Have a look at the wedding from my lovely assistant Hannah’s angle!

Thank you Dan and Sarah for allowing me the privilege of documenting your special day. It has been a pleasure to get to know you and your families over the last few months, and your wedding day was wonderful. All the best for the future and in your married life together.

(Friends and family of Sarah & Dan – these images are available to purchase as prints. Please email me if you would like one: info@katylunsford.com. 7″x5″ print is £15, 10″x7″ is £25)