We take this one step further to create a beautiful bespoke book with images of the couple presented in a contemporary design and uniquely personalised to them and their wedding day. Space is left either amongst images or on blank pages with plenty of pages and room for the number of guests you are expecting.

We have samples at the studio but here is one for you to view online. This is from a pre-wedding shoot at the lovely Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Ampfield near Romsey, Hampshire and features Sally and Mark who were married in September 2009. We needed to keep the design under wraps until after their wedding as they wanted to book to be a surprise for all of their guests – who loved it !

The gardens mean a great deal to the couple and so I made sure that they also featured strongly in the book.

The session creates a series of traditional and contemporary images with some natural and relaxed images ideally suited to show the couple together. For our wedding couples we like to use the venue that the majority of the photographs are going to be taken, and more specifically the family groups and posed shots – if there are any, as it gives us chance to work out the best areas – and those the couple like most – saving time on the day and freeing up the couple to relax with their guests.

These images are used on our online gallery cards presented to the wedding guests to allow them to view the images from the wedding day, can be used as the centre-piece for a signing board (or signing mat), or in a bespoke guest signing book. However, every couple also receive a framed fine art image of their choice presented in one of our large 14×11″ desk frames. The heavyweight fine art paper and museum quality mount are set off in the high quality frame which for 2010 come in a dark mahogany or black and is valued at £100 if purchased separately.

Today whilst out we delivered the pre-wedding shoot framed print for Rosie and Scott who are getting married on New Years Eve and a photograph of the finished product can be seen below. The print is black and white and shows them seated on the large fountain at Rhinefield House which makes a majestic backdrop. It is finished in the dark mahogany frame with UV conservation glass to protect the print from the damaging rays of the sun.

The framed print below is held as a display sample in the studio and comes from the pre-wedding shoot of Sally and Mark – who also selected this image for their own desk frame. It is presented as a platinum toned print again in a dark mahogany frame and Sally and Mark proudly displayed theirs in the entrance to their marquee on their wedding day for all the guests to see.

“Thanks so much Mike – the photos look amazing and we’ve been able to come back and relive our special day through your wonderful images.  The parents love them as well and everyone complimented on us on our choice of photographer because of your friendly and professional manner on the day and the final product of course! We can’t wait for the proof pack and to start compiling our very special album.”

We will be designing Sally and Mark’s album very soon and are really looking forward to it.

Then it was onto the St John the Baptist church also in North Baddesley, an amazing little church which somehow managed to cram 90 guests, myself and the vicar in for a very moving and enjoyable service. The guys arrived with Mark in a Porsche and cars held a theme through the day with Sally arriving in a 1952 Armstrong Siddeley Whitely Saloon driven expertly by Nigel Eversfield Morgan.

After the service it was onto St Jermyn’s House at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens for the reception and some formal photographs before Sally, Mark and I took a quiet walk to get some more relaxed images. After a (very tasty!) barbeque three lovely speeches ensured and Mark was treated fairly in a great speech by best-man Brian before they stepped onto the dance floor for their first dance.

Here are a few images from the day. Sally and Mark have the access code and details for the online gallery, which they will send out on their return from their honeymoon and their images are planned to be up by the 26th September. I hope these keep any family and guests going until then !

make-up artist Helen Spenser applies some lip gloss to Sally

Mark, his best-man and ushers outside the St John the Baptist Church in North Baddesley

The order of service with a hand drawn image of the church

Sally is walked into the church by her father, with her mother looking on

Sally and Mark check with the guests that no-one has due reason to stop the wedding !

A little laughter during the formal photographs at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens

Sally looking stunning in her dress for a formal bridal portrait

Sally with her three bridemaids just outside St Jermyn's House

The bride and groom take a stroll along the Centenary Border at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens

Mark's love of cars and drawing is explained during the best-mans speech as Sally looks on

The first dance

Finally Sally and Mark had a pre-wedding shoot at the Hillier Gardens, here in Hampshire,  and as part of their wedding photography had a framed print included. They brought this to the wedding, and displayed it at the entrance to the marquee next to the box for cards, and also just behind the custom guest book I created for them from the images taken at the pre-wedding shoot. I thought this was a great idea – and good use of the print, and of course I was touched they were so pleased with it that they wanted to show it off to everyone as well !

pre-wedding shoot framed print and custom guest book at the entrance to the marquee

We started in an oak shelter down by the pond and moved past some big architectural planting to a beautiful spot near Jermyn’s House (which incidentally had a wedding taking place in it at the time), having captured some great images we walked back to the visitors centre and finished off before leaving just as the gardens closed for the night.

As usual here are some images from the day… more after the jump.