28th January 2012

Wedding in Lucca, nestled in the hills of Tuscany

I’ve been a bit slow putting up all the weddings from last year, but I’m now back and ready to show them all to you now! First up this year is a wedding I shot in Lucca, Tuscany, Italy last September. The couple were Emma and Richard, from the UK, and they invited their most special friends and close family to share their beautiful wedding day with them.

They rented a stunning Tuscan villa called La Pianella, nestled high up in the hills surrounding the historic town of Lucca. They had all been there a week before the wedding day arrived, so they had all settled in very well by the time I got there the day before the wedding! The villa comprises of two houses – the main villa and the farmhouse – both with swimming pools which were absolutely necessary in the lovely late summer heat.

The wedding ceremony was held in the heart of Lucca, after which everyone walked through the town to a wine bar for champagne and nibbles. After that we all headed back to La Pianella for the reception and meal. The food was laid out as a typical Tuscan picnic in the grounds of the villa. It was a super relaxed wedding, where people chilled out in the garden, drank lots of wine, ate great Italian food and even had a round of singing performed by some of the guests. The venue was perfect for a small, intimate wedding like Richard and Emma’s.

La Pianella, Lucca, Italy - photo by Pearl Pictures

La Pianella, Lucca, Tuscany

Wedding dress - photo by Pearl Pictures

Emma's wedding dress

Wedding hair style for Emma - photo by Pearl Pictures

Pretty hair clips in Emma's 'up-do'

La Pianella, villa in Tuscany, Italy - photo by Pearl Pictures

La Pianella

The bride in her beautiful wedding dress - photo by Pearl Pictures

Emma getting into her wedding dress

Guests getting ready

Guests getting ready in the beautiful surroundings of La Pianella

Bride in wedding dress and bridesmaid's dress hanging up - photo by Pearl Pictures

Emma and her bridesmaid's pretty dress

Groom looking out over great Tuscan landscape - photo by Pearl Pictures

Groom and bestman wait nervously for the bride to appear

The groom at La Pianella- photo by Pearl Pictures

Richard, the Groom

The bride before leaving for Lucca and the wedding ceremony - photo by Pearl Pictures

Emma before departing for Lucca and the wedding ceremony

Arrival in Lucca, Italy - photo by Pearl Pictures

Arriving in the beautiful and historic town of Lucca

Bride and Groom in the streets of Lucca - photo by Pearl Pictures

Emma & Richard arrived together in Lucca

Before the wedding ceremony in Lucca, Italy - photo by Pearl Pictures

Richard & Emma before the wedding ceremony

Wedding guests in the streets of Lucca, Italy - photo by Pearl Pictures

The guests arrive

Wedding ceremony, Lucca, Italy - photo by Pearl Pictures

On the way to their marriage ceremony

Wedding guests await bride and groom in Lucca, Italy - photo by Pearl Pictures

Wedding guests greet the bride and groom

Bride and Groom arrive for marriage ceremony - photo by Pearl Pictures

Emma and Richard arrive

The marriage ceremony, Lucca registry office, Italy - photo by Pearl Pictures

The marriage ceremony is the grand surroundings of Lucca's registry office

Marriage ceremony - photo by Pearl Pictures

The marriage ceremony

Wedding guests - photo by Pearl Pictures

Tears from Grandma

Pronounced man and wife by celebrant - photo by Pearl Pictures

Handing over of marriage certificate and a book on Lucca (?)

The happy couple - photo by Pearl Pictures

The happy couple

Wedding guests and the bride - photo by Pearl Pictures

Emma and her wedding guests

Walking through the streets of Lucca, Italy - photo by Pearl Pictures

Walking through the streets of Lucca

Walking through the streets of Lucca, Italy - photo by Pearl Pictures

Walking through the streets of Lucca

The wedding party walk through Lucca, Italy - photos by Pearl Pictures

Wedding party procession to a bar for Champagne!

Wedding guests at a bar in Lucca, Italy - photo by Pearl Pictures

It was a very hot day!

Bride's bouquet - photo by Pearl Pictures

Emma's bouquet

Groom, bestman and friends - photo by Pearl Pictures

Groom, bestman and friends

Speeches and toasts - photo by Pearl Pictures

Speeches and toasts

Champagne reception in Lucca, Italy - photo by Pearl Pictures

Champagne reception in Lucca

The bride - photo by Pearl Pictures

Emma

La Pianella, Lucca, Tuscany, Italy - photos by Pearl Pictures

Arrival back at La Pianella Villa

Bride and Groom, La Pianella, Italy - photo by Pearl Pictures

Emma and Richard take a stroll

Bride and Groom, La Pianella, Italy - photo by Pearl Pictures

Emma and Richard

Bride and Groom, La Pianella, Italy - photo by Pearl Pictures

Emma climbing the 99 steps! (We got half way up!)

Bride and Groom, La Pianella, Italy - photo by Pearl Pictures

Looking down on their guests at the reception below

Bride and Groom, La Pianella, Italy - photo by Pearl Pictures

The happy couple

La Pianella garden - photo by Pearl Pictures

The reception in the garden of La Pianella

Wedding dinner at La Pianella, Italy - photo by Pearl Pictures

The picnics laid out in the garden

Wedding reception at La Pianella, Tuscany, Italy - photo by Pearl Pictures

The guests tucking into the wonderful Italian feast!

Wedding reception at La Pianella, Tuscany, Italy - photos by Pearl Pictures

The reception in the garden

Wedding reception at La Pianella, Tuscany, Italy - photos by Pearl Pictures

The wedding party

Wedding reception at La Pianella, Tuscany, Italy - photos by Pearl Pictures

The groom and his friends

Wedding reception at La Pianella, Tuscany, Italy - photos by Pearl Pictures

Getting tired now...

Wedding reception at La Pianella, Tuscany, Italy - photos by Pearl Pictures

Two guests singing

Wedding reception at La Pianella, Tuscany, Italy - photos by Pearl Pictures

The guests singing along

Wedding reception at La Pianella, Tuscany, Italy - photos by Pearl Pictures

Enjoying the entertainment

Wedding reception at La Pianella, Tuscany, Italy - photos by Pearl Pictures

The sun sets over La Pianella

 

 

 

 

11th November 2011

An English Summer country-style wedding in Oxfordshire

Earlier this year I photographed Mel and Tom’s wedding in Denton, Oxfordshire. They actually live in San Francisco (lucky things!) – Mel is American and Tom is English – but really wanted to have a traditional English country-style wedding. So they employed the great planning skills of Isobel at Isobel Weddings to arrange their dream wedding at Tom’s parents’ farm, which is nestled in the Oxfordshire countryside.

The most unusual aspect of this wedding were the 9 bridesmaids! That’s a first for me. The wedding day was a great celebration of bringing two families together from two different continents, and boy do the Americans know how to party! As soon as the music started the dancefloor came alive.

It was an absolute pleasure working with Isobel, her oganisational skills are superb and the styling of the wedding was beautiful, exactly what the bride had envisaged from over the pond in San Francisco.

Oxfordshire wedding by Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

Oxfordshire wedding by Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

Oxfordshire wedding by Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

Oxfordshire wedding by Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

Oxfordshire wedding by Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

Tom and Mel walked down the aisle together. Here they are about to go into the church.

Oxfordshire wedding by Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

Oxfordshire wedding by Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

Oxfordshire wedding by Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

Oxfordshire wedding by Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

What a great car to leave the church in!

Oxfordshire wedding by Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

Oxfordshire wedding by Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

Oxfordshire wedding by Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

Oxfordshire wedding by Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

The 9 bridesmaids (!) and Tom's parents' home, a beautiful setting for the reception.

Oxfordshire wedding by Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

Oxfordshire wedding by Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

Oxfordshire wedding by Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

Oxfordshire wedding by Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

Oxfordshire wedding by Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

Oxfordshire wedding by Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

Oxfordshire wedding by Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

Oxfordshire wedding by Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

Father of the bride speech

Oxfordshire wedding by Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

Oxfordshire wedding by Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

Great styling by Isobel Weddings

Oxfordshire wedding by Pearl Pictures Wedding Photography

 

30th October 2011

A Wedding in Tunisia!

This summer I shot my first north African wedding. I went to Tunisia to shoot Daf and Wanessa’s wedding, which was a fantastic trip, traveling to a country that was experiencing a monumental change in it’s political history. The bride is Tunisian and the groom is Welsh. They both met whilst working in Germany but now live in Mexico – you can well imagine the wonderful cultural mix attending the wedding!

Even though the ceremony was at 5pm to avoid the main heat of the day, the temperature was still high at around 35 degrees. Originally the wedding was to be held at a venue near to the capital Tunis, however a curfew had been put in place so with only a few days to go before the wedding, the ceremony venue was relocated to the bride’s parents’ house, and the reception to a nearby luxury hotel. Everything went really well despite the sudden change of venues, and I’m proud to say that I coped quite well working in the heat!

Wedding in Tunisia by Pearl Pictures wedding photography

The wedding rings were presented on this embroidered cushion

Wedding in Tunisia by Pearl Pictures wedding photography

The fish is a symbol of good fortune in Tunisia

Wedding in Tunisia, by Pearl Pictures wedding photography

Daf had quite a bit of trouble tying his tie! Luckily the bestman stepped in to help.

Wedding in Tunisia by Pearl Pictures wedding photography

Wedding in Tunisia by Pearl Pictures wedding photography

The bride and her best friends

Wedding in Tunisia by Pearl Pictures wedding photography

Wedding in Tunisia by Pearl Pictures wedding photography

Wedding in Tunisia by Pearl Pictures wedding photography

The ceremony was translated into English by one of the groom's best friends

Wedding in Tunisia by Pearl Pictures wedding photography

Wedding in Tunisia by Pearl Pictures wedding photography

Wedding in Tunisia by Pearl Pictures wedding photography

Wedding in Tunisia by Pearl Pictures wedding photography

Homemade traditional Tunisian sweets passed around after the ceremony

Wedding in Tunisia by Pearl Pictures wedding photography

Bunches of jasmine flowers and mint tea

Wedding in Tunisia by Pearl Pictures wedding photography

Wedding in Tunisia by Pearl Pictures wedding photography

Wedding in Tunisia by Pearl Pictures wedding photography

We were all given sugared almonds, beautifully wrapped, when leaving for the reception

Wedding in Tunisia by Pearl Pictures wedding photography

Wedding in Tunisia by Pearl Pictures wedding photography

A 'Just married' number plate!

Wedding in Tunisia by Pearl Pictures wedding photography

Evening reception at the hotel

Wedding in Tunisia by Pearl Pictures wedding photography

Wedding in Tunisia by Pearl Pictures wedding photography

Wedding in Tunisia by Pearl Pictures wedding photography

The First Dance

Wedding in Tunisia by Pearl Pictures wedding photography

Traditional Tunisian dancing quickly took over the dancefloor!

Wedding in Tunisia by Pearl Pictures wedding photography

One day he will be able to keep up with the rest of them!

17th September 2011

A little taster of weddings this summer

It has been such a busy wedding season for me, so much so that I haven’t had time to do much blogging! I have had a wonderful few months traveling around England and Europe photographing many lovely couples in fantastic locations. Over the last six months I have shot weddings in London, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Italy, Montenegro and Tunisia, with a short trip to Switzerland to photograph a party in the mountains.

I thought I would give you a little taster of some of these weddings before blogging about them in full…