We haven’t been blessed with the mildest of winters, so it was a pleasure to omit thermal underwear from the kit list for this one. Touch of drizzle, but definitely kinder climate for an otherwise weather hardy wedding tog. After a church service in one of Berkshire’s most striking villages Ramsbury, guests were Donnington Grove bound in Newbury for the reception. I travel a fair amount to ply my trade, though it’s comforting to sometimes be just round the block from your home once in a while. I know the Grove well, and although it’s fair to say the imposing hotel and eccentric small follies dotted along a river which cuts through it’s sweeping grounds, must be an initial draw for couples, it’s overall a pretty good all weather venue. Some of my favourites from the day.

Apart from bridal elation, flare in magnificent bundles and a marked need to expose by centre metering, two further things result from an extremely sunny wedding that involve burning. When you review your images during post edit, if your skies are exposed correctly you can see screen burned text through the deep blue reaches of the top of your composition. And if you’re folically challenged, you get a burned head. I have in the last 24 hours noted both occurrences. It’s been a while, too long, since I last shot a wedding at Newbury’s Donnington Grove Hotel. It’s good to be back! Ceremony shots from Douai Abbey.