The one where we went hungry.

Following Chas and Katies wedding my next bookings came a few weeks later. I was then booked for a least one wedding a month, through until November in 2012. April began with Steve and Derek’s Civil Ceremony at Priston Mill near Bath followed by Ricki and Sally’s wedding, the following day, at Coombe Lodge, Blagdon. Both were lovely, wedding specific venues and it was my first experience of having a wedding co-ordinator running the day.

I’d been out to recce both venues prior to the ceremonies. The Mill, at Priston Mill, is quaint but not that big and the grounds are shared with The Tythe Barn, which is part of the same complex. I was worried because if we had bad weather I was going to struggle getting group shots within the Mill itself and the Barn was also booked for another wedding the same day, so using that wasn’t an option. It was just a case of keeping my fingers crossed for good weather so I could shoot outdoors.

Steve and Derek’s wedding ring shot. I was always on the look out for something a bit different. Steve allowed me to use this as a Stock Image with Alamy. It’s sold numerous times and still pops up in the Daily telegraph from time to time.

As it happened, although it was raining when we arrived, the weather improved slowly through the day and we were able to use the lovely gardens for our group and couple shots. The whole day was just a joy, although I did pick up the next lesson of my short career regards to sustenance for us on the day, or getting food at some stage during a 12 hour day of hard work.

‘I’m hungry Mr Pipkin’
The advice from my wedding training was to request a meal, for me and Lin (she acted as an assistant/second photographer at all but one of my weddings), provided for us by the Bride and Groom. That would either be a meal, similar to what the rest of the guests were having or something lighter, such as sandwiches, provided by the venue. We’d decided we didn’t particularly want a large meal, as we’d be back to work pretty soon after eating it, so at these first two venues we opted for sandwiches, provided by the venue.

Priston Mill was having a few problems that day. The bar area had become flooded following a malfunction with the fire alarm, although that didn’t affect our wedding, and they only had one chef covering both weddings at the venue that day. We discovered this when, after waiting for an hour for our food whilst the guests ate theirs, ours had still not arrived. With the main bridal party having finished their meals, the wedding co-ordinator found us and told me we would be needed in the main room for cutting the cake and speeches pictures. I pointed out that we were still waiting for food to which he replied “I can’t help that, the chef is stressed out and has told me you’ll just have to wait”.

Children picking up confetti, always makes for a great shot. The golden rule with kids is to try and get down at their level to take pictures of them. Experience taught me to look out for this shot as time went on.

I didn’t want to make a scene, but at the same time felt a bit miffed at this shabby treatment. I told him I wasn’t shooting anything, until I’d spoken to Steve and explained what was happening. To be fair to Steve he was more miffed than us at the way we’d been treated and told the co-ordinator that nothing more was going to happen until we were fed. Shortly after our sandwiches arrived. Writing this it all seems very petty but, at the time, I suppose having left home at 10am and worked through until 4pm without a break it was a big deal. Our experience, the following day at Coombe Lodge couldn’t have been more different and we were really well looked after.

I wanted to tell this story because during that first year our experience with venues feeding us went from very good to hopeless. It wasn’t just a case of us being taken advantage of either because the venues were charging our clients full guest prices for the food we were, or were supposed to be, supplied with. Following the training advice, I’d asked all the couples to provide our food during that first year but for future bookings, going in to 2013, we decided we would just take our own food and drink.

After a rainy start, by the end of Steve and Derek’s day, we were bathed in lovely sunshine.

Looking back I’ve always felt it was a privilege to have shot a civil ceremony. Steve and Derek’s event was a real hoot and apart from the ‘where’s my sandwich’ scandal an absolute pleasure to have been part of. So, having said our goodbyes we returned home, unpacked the car, cleared down the memory cards, cleaned the lenses and camera sensors prior to Ricki and Sally’s wedding the following day.

Sally arriving, in the rain, at Coombe Lodge

Sally and Ricki, Coombe Lodge, Blagdon, Somerset
Sally was another work colleague and someone else I always thank for taking a chance on me shooting her big day. She’d always been really positive about my photography and had modelled for me on a few occasions. I remember her ringing me, excitedly, to say they’d booked Coombe Lodge for her and Ricki’s wedding and wanted me to be their wedding photographer. I was really chuffed that they had chosen me to photograph their wedding and excited at the prospect of shooting at Coombe Lodge, a fantastic venue, so early in my wedding career. I’d already been booked by Steve and Derek, for their ceremony, the day before but there was no way I was going to turn down the opportunity to shoot Sally and Ricki’s wedding.

Some of the funniest and the best prepared speeches I heard were at this wedding. Several times I caught myself getting caught up in the stories and not concentrating on the shots I was supposed to be taking

Rain, rain and more rain!
Coombe Lodge is an old, large country manor house with extensive beautiful gardens and grounds. It was one of the top wedding venues in the area. Unlike the previous day, at Steve and Dereks ceremony, it was raining when we arrived at the venue and continued to rain throughout the whole day. I’d equipped myself with a number of white umbrellas, which we used for a few outside shots, but they wouldn’t be of any use for the larger group shots. Fortunately there were plenty of large rooms within the venue we could use and I’d taken my studio lights and soft boxes along just in case we would need them. About 90% of the images from that day were shot indoors.

I was quickly learning that, despite trying to prepare for every eventuality, you’ve got to think on your feet and I think we did the best we could in the circumstances. This was another lovely occasion to be part of with a chilled, cooperative Bride and Groom. I started to realise that, as a wedding photographer, you’re spending an awful lot of time with the bridal parties and their families and this crowd were a joy to be around. I was also beginning to realise, although I was being paid to provide a service for the Bride and Groom, what a privilege it was to be to be part of their wedding day.

Oh, BTW, Combe Lodge – best sandwiches we were ever served!

The end of the day. Modern software (I’ve used Topaz and Photoshop here) improve low light images like this so much.

All images: ©Stephen Hyde 2007-2025 – All rights reserved.