JLM Wedding Photography

Tag: Photography

St Joseph’s Church & Clapham Village Hall, Bedford Wedding :: Shauna & Russell
My first wedding in Bedford!
Shauna and Russell’s wedding day happened to fall on the same day as Bedford’s river boat festival meaning road closures and heavy traffic on the way to the church.
Not what I was hoping for when I was already unsure whether I would be able to get parked anywhere near the church.
Turns out I had nothing to worry about, as usual.
At this point in what will no doubt end up being a legendary summer of 2018, not a drop of rain had fallen in weeks.
The glorious sunshine was in full force as guests wafted themselves with paper fans through the day.
As it happened the weather fit nicely with the Carribbean themed food and the mood never dipped all day.
The vast fields around the back of Clapham Village Hall meant we could take full advantage of the sun as it set in the later evening.
The golden, scorched grass blended beautifully with the setting sun as I took the happy couple out for a gentle photo-stroll.
Wedding Day Locations
Premier Inn Bedford South
The Holy Child & St Joseph R C Church
Clapham Village Hall
The Slideshow

The Photos
If you can’t watch the slideshow right now, here is a selection of photos from the album to scroll through.
If you would like to talk to me about photographing your wedding give me a shout. Contact details are on my Contact Me page.
Speak soon,
James
03/08/2018
Rockingham Arms, Wentworth Wedding :: Claire & Sam
Claire & Sam’s Wedding @ Rockingham Arms, Wentworth
This is England.
You have to expect a certain unpredictability in the weather.
Yes, we all hope for glorious sunshine on our wedding day, or at the very least for no rain.
For Claire, heavy rain seems to follow her around, having been born during The Great Storm of 1987.
Luckily the rain only stopped by as a reminder.
It was a looming threat throughout the morning and into the early afternoon. Knowing it was imminent we rushed through the group photos outside the church and we managed to just about make it into the cars before the heavens opened.
Boy did they open! The poor Morris wedding car on the journey between St Margaret’s Church and the Rockingham Arms was pummelled with rain.
Fortunately the downpour was short-lived and we were able to get out in the evening to capture some truly memorising sunset portraits of the happy couple around Wentworth Village.
The Benefits of an Engagement Shoot
I talked about this already when I wrote about Claire and Sam’s engagement shoot earlier in the year.
Like many couples I work with, they were not particularly fond of the idea of having their photograph taken when they arrived for the engagement shoot.
By the time we were wrapping up our portrait session as the sun was setting on their wedding day you would never have known they were the same couple.
There was no coaching involved, no forced posing. They just fell into place perfectly and just about every shot was a keeper.
You can see what I mean when you look through the highlights below, would you ever think these two didn’t like being photographed?
The Slideshow
So, without further ado, here is the story of Claire and Sam’s wedding day in about 5 minutes.

Highlights from the Gallery
If you can’t watch the video right now, here are a few highlights to scroll through.
If you would like to talk to me about photographing your wedding feel free to contact me.
See ya next time,
James
26/06/2018
Pumping House, Ollerton Wedding :: Katie & Oliver
Katie and Oliver’s Pumping House Wedding
Right from the start when I arrived at Katie’s mum’s house and met the bridesmen I knew this was going to be an interesting day.
I mean that in the most positive way, too.
It was definitely a different start to the day for me.
The morning was certainly a lot less girly than I am used to.
That’s probably something to do with the bridesmen.
It was a very calm and relaxed start day which I think set the pace for the rest of the day.
The car, well, Volkswagen Camper Van, arrived in plenty of time and before we knew it we were on our way to the Pumping House.
The Pumping House
(Website | Facebook)
First thing that comes to mind for me?
Steps.
My thighs were burning by the end of the day!
Yes there is a lift, I discovered that about half way through the day.
Thing is, I like to be quick on my feet, I hate missing out on moments and I felt the lift was just too slow for me.
It might not have been, I didn’t actually try it.
Anyway, something to keep in mind is that, because the venue has beautiful high ceilings and an open plan upper floor, expect plenty of ups and downs through the day.
If steps is the con, everything else is a massive pro.
The Pumping House is just spectacular.
Not necessarily in a grandiose, stately home kind of way.
The beauty is in the details.
Every room, every corner is full of interesting features and cool things to do.
Add to that how warm and welcoming the staff are and you got yourself a winner.
Seriously, if you are planning on getting married anywhere near Sherwood Forest put the Pumping House on your list.
Wedding Mini Golf!
I have never seen this before but apparently it is the next big thing. 9 Hole Event Hire (Website | Facebook) supplied a mini golf course which they set up in the Ollerton Room once the ceremony was done.
It’s a great use of the space and really went down well with the guests.
Stonefire Pizzas
Buffets are all well and good, but if you really want to give your guests an evening treat make sure you hire a pizza van.
Ian and co. from Mr & Mrs Pickwick’s (Website | Facebook) were as lovely as their pizzas making the whole experience really a cut above your ordinary evening catering.
Add to that the fact that Katie and Oliver were invited into the van to make their own pizza!
Ask yourself how many brides would splatter tomato sauce onto a pizza in a cramped can whilst wearing a bright white wedding dress? That’s how easy going (and awesome) Katie is.
I don’t want to waffle on too much about what happened. I think with so much to love about Katie and Oliver’s wedding day, it’s probably best to let the photos tell the rest of the story.
If you would like to ask any questions please do feel free to contact me.
Highlights from the Photo Gallery
If you would like to talk to me about photographing your wedding feel free to get in touch.
See ya next time,
James
18/04/2018
Lantern Theatre and Courtyard Cafe Wedding
** This wedding was featured in Rock N Roll Bride wedding blog in March 2018, which is awesome!
I’ve been looking forward to this wedding for nearly two years.
Every since Pippa told me she and Dean would be getting married in the Lantern Theatre in Nether Edge I knew it was going to be something different.
I like different.
Lantern Theatre Wedding Ceremony
Looking around the 1890s theatre, it is such an interesting place that I would probably quite enjoy taking photos there even if there were no wedding going on.
Pippa and her bridesmaids got ready in the changing rooms, naturally.
To be clear this is not the wedding venue for everyone.
The dressing room is quite drafty. Even though it was an unseasonably warm November day there was no getting away from the chill.
Combating the chill was an electric heater which was plugged into one of only 2 power sockets.
Yes, only 2 power sockets.
So, if the idea of getting ready for your wedding in a chilly dressing room with very little power available for hair dryers, straighteners, phone chargers and so on then the Lantern Theatre is perhaps not for you.
If, like Pippa, you can see passed all that then you are in for an absolute treat.
The Courtyard Cafe Wedding Reception
Today was a day of hidden gems.
The Courtyard Cafe in Attercliffe looks, at least from the outside, to be quite small.
Walk through the door and you are in for a surprise.
By day the Courtyard is a cafe serving hot and cold food.
What is unique about it is the fact that it is, quite literally a courtyard.
You dine in the open courtyard area surrounded by interesting little shops.
It’s a lovely outside inside concept and well worth a visit.
What you might not expect is that the Courtyard Cafe by night becomes a magnificent wedding venue.
Heaps of character, beautiful food and really friendly staff.
Rocky and the Stage Dive
Usually its the bride who comes with a photo wish list.
Shots that they really wanted me to try to capture through the day.
This time it was Dean with the list.
Well, I’m always up for a challenge.
First on the list was to recreate the final moment of Rocky III, a scene for which he brought boxing gloves to add to the authenticity.
Then he wanted to to do a stage dive and be caught by his groomsmen.
Followed by a photo of the guys up on the balcony.
And finally a photo of the other love of his life, a Ford Cortina.
I had an absolute blast photographing this wedding.
I think that will come across in some of the photos.
Well, that was my last wedding of 2017, hope you enjoyed it.
Look out for my 2017 retrospective coming soon along with plenty more articles on weddings, advice, photography.
See ya next time.
James
05/11/2017