Month: April 2012

Wedding Photographer: Montestigliano, Siena, Tuscany: Jon & Nancy

Amy was the photographer at Montestigliano, Siena, Tuscany, Italy for Jon & Nancy’s vow renewal ceremony.

In all of the years that I have been a wedding photographer, in Siena last week I was faced with a new challenge: not a wedding but a renewal of vows. Jon surprised his wife of 25 years, by organising one of the most romantic and intimate ceremonies I have had the pleasure of witnessing.

Montestigliano, a beautiful chapel on a hill played the perfect host for this wonderful event. Just Jon, Nancy and their 2 teenage daughters were present (along with brilliant Siena wedding planner Jackie.)

I met the family at the beautiful Grand Hotel Continental in central Siena. We had half an hour or so there before heading out into the countryside to Montestigliano. What a place! Great colours provided wonderful backdrops for my photographs and Jon & Nancy’s two daughters were beautiful models.

Take a peek:

Piazza il Campo, Siena.

Siena

Siena’s nooks and crannies are hidden gems.

Siena

My first photograph of Jon & Nancy in the Grand Hotel Continental.

Bride & Groom

Making their way down to the Campo to meet the transport.

Bride, Groom & Daughters in Siena

Few shots in the Campo before we headed off to Montestigliano.

Bride & Groom in Siena

Heading up to Montestigliano’s chapel.

Montestigliano

Love the walls of these old buildings. Great colour!

Bridesmaids

Sisters.

Bridesmaids

Great fun!

Bride & Groom

Perfect little chapel. I would love to photograph a full wedding at this venue.

Montestigliano

So intimate and romantic. Jackie, was in floods of tears at the back of the church by this stage!

Ceremony at Montestigliano

But there were laughs too when Jon’s new ring wouldn’t fit!

Ceremony at Montestigliano

Lovely gesture.

Ceremony at Montestigliano

Lovely.

Bridesmaid

Love this one.

Bouquet

Another natural model!

Bridesmaid

Remembering the detail.

Bridesmaid Detail

Probably my favourite from the day.

Bride, Groom & Bridesmaids

Thanks for inviting me folks. Really loved my time with you and thanks again to Jackie. Amy x

Wedding Photographer: Maiori, Amalfi Coast: John & Kelly

Amy was the wedding photographer in Maiori, Amalfi Coast, Italy for John & Kelly’s wedding.

Back in 2008 (have I got that right folks?) I photographed the wonderful wedding of James & Hayley at Malcesine Castle on Lake Garda. This time James & Hayley’s good friends, John & Kelly, were married at the wonderful Hotel Due Torri in Maiori – one of the coastal towns just a few kms before you reach Amalfi & Ravello.

Since photographing the beautiful private ceremony of Joe & Liz in Positano just one month before, it was as though someone had gone along the Amalfi Coast with a big yellow and purple brush and coloured it all in! The spring flowers were out in force – the wonderful yellow of mimosa and forsythia and the purple of … the purple flowers (must look that flower up one day!)

John & Kelly were an absolute dream to photograph. Easy-going, lots of fun and gorgeous. Hotel Due Torri lent itself perfectly to a wedding as the ceremony took place on the 5th floor, aperativi were enjoyed on the 6th floor terrace and the wedding breakfast was consumed on the 4th floor’s Pandora Hall – a beautiful, beautiful room.

After dinner, we all left the hotel and walked across the road to the Norman Tower where Chinese Lanterns were released and the guests partied hard!

Here we go:

Kelly’s beautiful dress, chosen about 18 months before the big day.

Wedding Dress

The Grooms and Ushers arrive at the Hotel. I focus on the shadows as a way of showing how sunny it was in a not-so-obvious way – something taught to me years ago by a very wise man ;)

Groom & Groomsmen

Kelly helped her Bridesmaids into their dresses.

Bridesmaid getting ready

Present time!

Bride & Bridesmaids

Simply beautiful.

Bride

Look at the fab weather!

Bride & Bridesmaids

One of my favourite shots from the day.

Bride

Lovely.

Bride & Parents

Handsome Groom.

Groom

There’s Hayley in the purple dress with Mac (James) far left – great to catch up with you guys.

Guests at Ceremony

Kelly’s friend reads during the ceremony.

Ceremony

I love this confetti shot, just married!

Confetti

What a gorgeous collection of dresses!

Guests

Over-looking Maiori town.

Bride & Groom

I love this shot of John with his 2 brothers in the background.

Groom & Ushers

Group shots – now one of my favourite parts of the day. You won’t hear that coming from many wedding photographers!

Bridal Party

All guests saying a big ‘cheeeeeeese!’

All Guests

The beautiful Pandora Hall – 4th floor of Hotel Due Torri, Maiori.

Pandora Hall, Hotel Due Torri, Maiori

Well done Dad!

Speeches

Breaking from tradition, the Groom’s Mum spoke at this wedding. Great stuff.

Speeches

Love this one.

Bride & Groom

And this was at the start of the night. Uh-oh. Think it was gonna get messy.

Guests at Evening Party

Weeeeeeeee!

First Dance

Wow – what a fun day. I didn’t want to leave! The perfect wedding day in every way. Thank you so much for smiling none-stop and for the amazing food and company. Re-new your vows next year because I fancy doing it all over again. Enjoy your hols! Amy x

Unseen Image

I often end up browsing through past weddings, trying to find certain photographs for whatever reason. So many times I have completely forgotten what I was looking for in the first place and just end up reminiscing! There are so many photographs that weren’t part of a bLOG post and are now archived away or locked behind a password in a gallery.

So, I thought, why not share some of these ‘unseen’ images? Each week or so I intend to put up an image that you are unlikely to have seen before that I love. They may not be award-worthy in the eyes of judges or other photographers but they were certainly favourites of the Bride & Groom and will be treasured forever.

Bride & bridesmaids

This image was taken at Hedingham Castle during the wedding of Chris & Natasha in September 2011. It’s rare that I have time to do this kind of group shot pre-ceremony but all the girls were ready in plenty of time and this beautiful staircase was on-route to the Norman Keep where Chris was waiting. I love this little twist on a group shot and it turned out to be one of Natasha’s favourites from the day.