Ok, first off I’d like to apologise because this wedding post is very kid centric… but that’s kinda the point. It’s also my favourite wedding of this year.
Marika and Stu were hitched with just a handful of family in attendance, at the Town Hall in Leeds. No fuss. No fluster.
No big expensive wedding gown. No flashy wedding car. No favours, no nonsense. Just plain and simple LOVE.
And that’s what weddings boil down to isn’t it? Love. But sometimes we can lose sight of that one important fact as we get embroiled in the ‘bunting/lanterns/Edisonlightbulb’ theatre of it all. We forget that the sole reason that we’re walking down the aisle, is to marry the person you can’t live without – whether or not there are petals strewn at your feet by cute flowergirls in matching frocks, is neither here nor there. Don’t get me wrong, I love a great big party and how often do we get to see all of our friends and family under one big roof having the time of their lives? So yeah, I love me a big wedding with a big band and crazy bridesmaids and groomsmen who make me roar with laughter, but I also love little intimate city weddings where love is the order of the day.
So if you’re planning a massive wedding celebration, don’t forget that sometimes less is more… and sometimes, Love is all you need.
But back to Marika and Stu. For them, it’s all about their little family. Bridal prep was a maelstrom of everyone getting ready and making sure the boys had eaten and were dressed in their cute little tweed outfits. The amazing Vicki Farr was on hand for make-up and hair and the wonderfully talented Lynnie at Stems Design created Marika’s drop dead gorgeous berry and roses bouquet and Stu’s buttonhole. Marika’s sister and parents had flown in specially and well, the morning of your wedding sometimes means making sure the baby has enough bottles and the pushchair is packed with essentials – you never really stop being a parent, even if it is your wedding day.
After a sweet ceremony at the Town Hall in Leeds (where Samuel was the best ring bearer ever), it was time for a few portraits and then on to the cool Iberica for dinner and champagne and then home in time to put the boys in bed and relax with their feet up with a cup of tea. Perfection.
A massive shout out to the guys at Iberica for letting us pretty much shoot anywhere we liked (including the toilets, cos the light in there was spectacular) and to Marika and Stu and their families for letting us share in their small but perfectly formed day.
If you’re planning a wedding at the Town Hall, get in touch by visiting my website at www.toastofleeds.co.uk or you can find me on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram
