A COVID times wedding at home with the closest of family and friends

We live in a very unique time at the moment and weddings in general have been effected hugely. With some restrictions now lifted on wedding celebrations, Ellie and Kristian’s wedding home in Lytham yesterday really does show how perfect a wedding can be, even in the middle of a worldwide pandemic.

Right from the beginning the excitement in the air was real. Back to normal times? Not quite yet, but we’re close! Yesterdays post lockdown wedding was the closest I’ve been to a real life time machine. With thoughts in the back of their minds on where we are right now, Ellie, Kristian and all their family and friends were pulled back to times where excitement was real and each guest was ready to celebrate this wonderful couples day in the safest way possible. I feel immensely honoured that I could be the one to capture these moments for such wonderful people.

Ellie and Kristian celebrated what can only be described as their unbelievable unique wedding yesterday! The couple celebrated at St. Cuthbert’s Church in Lytham St. Annes before traveling back to their family home for a small, intimate and safe wedding reception with the ones they love. Lytham St. Annes and the whole of the North West of England is such a charming and endearing place, perfect for a stunning day like yesterdays wedding. It is refreshing to get the chance to capture another beautiful wedding here. I am already excited for the next opportunity later this month. It’s fantastic to be able to show some true emotion and feeling during these crazy times and that weddings, although slightly altered from the “normal” can still be the most special of days for so many involved. Also backed up by the many additional friends and family members that couldn’t attend can relive their day through these images.

North West post lockdown home wedding celebrations

I started the day photographing Ellie and her girls at their family home, a stones throw from the seafront in Lytham, close to where the bride and groom would later tie the knot. Once Kristian and the boys arrived to St. Cuthbert’s Church, the preparations for the girls arrival started. Bridal Prep during the morning of a wedding day always gives me the opportunity to get to know the bridal party a little bit more and allows lots of opportunity for storytelling, especially as Ellie was having her makeup and hair finished by the AMAZING Jemma Cowell and Stephen at the Hair Studio Poulton, her bridesmaids in the meantime making sure her every need was catered for.

Once Ellie and her girls were ready to make the trip over to St Cuthbert’s Church, the beautiful and elegant cars loaned from her Grandad were polished, cleaned and ready to go. Stunning bridal florals by the most fabulous and talented pair at Flower Design were in hand looking perfect. Ellie arrived at the church with a small crowd of socially distanced friends waiting her arrival to see our stunning bride enter an meet Kristian at the alter. Ellie walked down the aisle with mum Curly on her arm and daughter Penny propping up the beautiful trio. The simple yet graceful ceremony was witnessed by some of their closest friends and family, our bride looking stunning in her dress by Rasario and Kristian and his best men in their very smart and crisp suits from Moss Bros. With some restrictions on singing being in place for Church ceremonies, the beautiful and extremely talented Chan from Sing out music gave the most stunning performance and kept guests attending in awe of her vocals, I was so happy to see that Chan was also to attend the reception back home. It was so much fun photographing this wedding ceremony in Lancashire, with restrictions in place for social distancing rightly set in the church I was still able to safely navigate this beautiful building to capture some breathtaking images. I’m already excited for the next wedding in surrounding areas of Lancashire such as Cheshire and Cumbria along with locations nationally and internationally. I truly enjoy every wedding I work on in this stunning part of the country whatever wedding restrictions are put in place.

After the ceremony, the newly weds and their guests celebrated their marriage with a bombardment of confetti outside the doors of the church before swiftly heading off to see grandad who sadly due to recent events decided to stay home. Ellie and Kristian made sure to involve their grandad in their wedding day, a true hero from world war two and a gentleman to say the least. I feel exceptionally honoured to have been able to spend a few moments with him.

Heading back to the family home where the day had started, Ellie and Kristian and the small number of special guests attending enjoyed a fantastic wedding reception, taking in the stunning sights around the home, perfectly decorated again by the talented duo at Flower Design Events and stationary by Silk Beau. Welcome drinks and nibbles were served by the marvellous Eve Townsend at Be Chocolate. It was a lovely atmosphere and everyone really enjoyed themselves. I started photographing the story unfolding as the guests relaxed.

Once the stunning food experience by Eve at Be Chocolate had finished and the guests had their fill! A few words from mother of the bride Curly, dapper Groom Kristian and (slightly forced) speech by our elegant bride Ellie followed. This was a perfect time to relay the happy couples thanks for everyone involved and how grateful they were to everyone for abiding by restrictions set on weddings but also enjoying their day to the fullest.

A moment to cut the newly weds wedding cake by Cheryl at To Nice To Slice and a cherished first dance finished the day off perfectly and the wedding party relaxed in the garden while the sun went down.

The Perfect lockdown Wedding, face masks included

As well as having a thoroughly fantastic day, it was just a total joy to photograph Ellie and Kristian's wedding yesterday. I know they will build a fantastic life together with daughter Penny ruling the roost! With the world we live in right now not ideal for the “perfect wedding” I know wholeheartedly that you will look back on yesterday as YOUR perfect wedding.

A huge thank you to Ellie and Kristian, your amazing family and friends, my newly adopted mum Curly especially! and the amazing vendors involved in yesterdays wedding. Your help and generosity towards this amazing day really does assist in allowing me to capture some of these stunning wedding images for the bride and groom to cherish forever, THANK YOU!

Enjoy your sneak peek. See you all in Tuscany!

Roll on 2021…

Adam Joe

*All Ellie and Kristian’s world class wedding vendors are linked above. Please show some support to these amazing business and drop them a follow or contact directly to see if they can help build you your perfect wedding day.

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