Wedding and Portrait Photography Blog

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Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Wedding Transportation – Interview with Little White Car

Next in my series of interviews with wedding suppliers is a very special little car! The other day I met with the utterly charming Lauren who runs a Sussex-based personalised chauffeuring service with a quirky edge to it – perfect for weddings and events which have a vintage flavour to them.

Lauren, what made you start a wedding chauffeuring business?

It was actually through my photography that I developed an interest in weddings. I also have a passion for old cars which stems from my father who still owns the MGB that I used to ride in when I was a child – it was a two-seater and I can just about remember going on MG club rallies with him and fitting snuggly in the footwell of the passenger seat!

How long have you had the Little White Car?

I bought the car kind of by accident in 2004 when my then boyfriend, who was perpetually broke and a sucker for old motors, saw an advert in the local paper and managed to persuade me to buy this old car an elderly couple was selling in Littlehampton. It was in great nick considering it had sat gathering dust on their drive for years without cover. I bought it for £400 and it had only done 26,000 miles!

Tell me more about your chauffeuring services?

I aim to provide a service that is friendly yet professional. I really enjoy getting into character and have done a little homework on chauffeuring etiquette. It’s quite special and intimate being in the car with a freshly married couple and I feel it is important to maintain a certain kind of reserve – I will only speak when I’m spoken to; otherwise I will leave the couple to digest and savour what they’ve just done. That said, I am also more than happy to join in the celebration and engage in friendly banter! I also make every effort to tailor the service to suit each individual couple – and I will try to meet with my clients well ahead of their big day to discuss how we can make the car blend in with the style and colourings of the event.

It’s such a lovely and unusual car to use as a wedding car, you must have interesting stories to tell from your weddings?

Well as a matter of fact I had a little giggle to myself at the last wedding I did a few weeks ago. Darcy and Guy (the wedding couple) had asked for tin cans as an ‘extra’ after the ceremony. They booked at short notice and over a couple of days I had to make my partner Andy eat lots of baked beans and tinned fruit so that I could make a fresh batch of tins on string! Darcy and Guy got married at the Unitarian Church in the centre of Brighton and it was only when we set off for the Reception that I realised I had been a little over-zealous on the tin can preparations… the noise was unbelievable and we did a good job of attracting a crowd! It was lovely, though, as everyone was cheering and congratulating the newly-weds. On the way out of town I snuck out to put the tins away so Darcy and Guy could enjoy a few moments of quiet reflection.

Can you give any tips for couples who are wondering what kind of transport to arrange for their wedding?

Wedding transport is, for me, a really important statement and should not be taken lightly. It marks the beginning of an incredibly special journey and life event. I would say to any couple getting married to take their time and think about how they want to begin and set the mood for their big day – and to consider cars which are perhaps a little unconventional – you know, not the typical Rolls Royce type. I get a lot of people saying they like the Little White Car for its sixties retro look – and also often because it reminds them of a much-loved relative who used to own a car just like it!

Thank you, Lauren, for telling us about your beautiful car and your chauffeuring services.

Please contact Lauren directly at Little White Car to enquire about her availability or if you have any other queries regarding her services.

Who else would you like to see interviewed in this blog? Please leave your suggestions in the comments below!

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» Interview with Little White Car Little White Car - May 7, 2012 - 4:21 pm

[...] White Car. We then grabbed a cup of tea back at LWC headquarters and you can read her interview here. Copyright Light Trick [...]

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Wedding decorations – interview with Wedding Dressings

Being a wedding photographer, I’m in awe of how everything comes together to create a wonderful day for all wedding couples. There are the dressmakers, the caterers, the venue, the decorators, the transportation, the hair and make-up artists, the vicars, the registrars, the photographers, the videographers, the bands, the DJs, the florists – have I forgotten anyone? Everyone does their bit, and a lot of work goes on in the background leading to the wedding day and on the day it just all happens, just like that; or so it seems, when you work with people who are professionals and know what they are doing!

I thought I’d get to know a little more about all these wedding suppliers, what kind of people they are, how they work and what they like about working in the wedding industry; what kind of stories they have to tell, and what tips they can give to couples planning a wedding.

I shall start with and interview with Lisa Fox of Wedding Dressings. I met Lisa at a wedding fair a few weeks ago and was really impressed by the flair and beauty of her wedding dressings – the room Lisa had decorated looked simply stunning. The table centrepieces she creates are truly unique, and give a wedding a stylish look. Lisa caters for a variety of wedding venues, and she is the main wedding decorator of Brighton and Hove Bandstand weddings.

Lisa, how did you get into the wedding dressings business?

I worked for most of my life in the music and interactive entertainment industries. After a rewarding career and lots of hard work and lots of fun, the commute just became a bit too much for me and so it was time to hang up my videogame boots and start a new career. I wanted to be able to leverage the skills I had learnt over the years, but in a time frame that would allow me to manage other aspects of my life too.

Having always had a customer-facing role, with lots of time and supply chain management experience, the wedding management business seemed to me to be a great fit. Also having run a festival in Edinburgh for three years, I knew I enjoyed the challenge of creating something out of nothing.

I had the fantastic opportunity to work with The Bandstand in Brighton and Hove and grabbed that prospect with both hands and really, that’s where it all started.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

Weddings are an extremely happy time for couples and I really enjoy working with them to help them realise their vision for their special day. I have found most couples to be relaxed and willing to be open-minded about suggestions, so the liaison is great fun. Stepping back and looking at the finished result before anyone sees it gives me a buzz too. I’ve had some lovely testimonials from people that really make you feel like you have genuinely made a difference to their day – which is incredibly rewarding.

What are the smallest and biggest weddings you have catered for?

The biggest was probably about 100+ and the smallest 12. The small wedding parties sometimes feel they need to explain – of course they don’t. Their day and guests are equally as important!

What are the pros and cons of a location like the Bandstand?

The Bandstand is one of the most elegant, listed outdoor venues on Brighton and Hove seafront for a wedding or civil partnership ceremony. It is truly majestic, in an unrivalled position, elevated over the sea. Pros are exactly those!

Cons are the vagaries of the British weather. But with a bit of magic we can transform the indoor venue downstairs.

What tips do you have for brides and grooms choosing the type of decorations and colour scheme for their wedding?

Really most colours work well – what I wouldn’t recommend is trying to mix colours together just because you are trying to accommodate each other’s favourite colour in to the theme; this can result in a clash of colours. So keep it simple, but not necessarily neutral! Zingy colours like tango, lime and fuchsia look as stunning as the more traditional neutrals, like white, cream and greens, and can be presented in modern, contemporary or traditional ways.

Keep your centrepieces tall on the guest tables so that they do not obstruct the experience of the interaction of your guests (this is a common mistake). The taller centrepieces tend to be hire-in items as they are very costly to buy – but you can hire them at very affordable prices, and customise as you like.

Keep the decorations on the top table relatively low lying, so the wedding party can see and engage with their guests, after all that’s why they are all there.

Don’t be afraid to use artificial flowers…. there are some fabulous ones out there and they can be given as gifts/keepsakes afterwards, whereas real flowers, as beautiful as they are, often just get left behind after the big day, or die quickly after, which is such a shame and waste.

If you have a lot of kids coming get some entertainment in for them like a magician or goody bags – these work wonders – they have a fabulous time and the parents get to share in celebrating the special moment and day too.

Thank you, Lisa, for all your tips and info!

For more about Lisa’s services, go to the website Wedding Dressings and give Lisa a call.

Who else would you like to see interviewed in this blog? Please leave your suggestions in the comments below!

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Dade Freeman - April 25, 2012 - 1:13 pm

Nice interview strengthened by great images, you should do more of these, its a great way to connect

Katariina - April 25, 2012 - 1:22 pm

Thanks, Dade! Yes, I have some others lined up for interviews, looking forward to blogging them

Luke Stanton - April 28, 2012 - 1:28 pm

Oh my God, the vases for the flowers look incredible! looks like it was a great wedding to be at. very elegant and stylish.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Sussex Wedding Photographer – Ross and Fiona’s wedding on the Bluebell Railway

Have you ever been at a wedding on a train? I hadn’t until this wonderful wedding of Ross and Fiona at the Bluebell Railway. It all started at Horsted Keynes Station…

Bluebell Railway run two steam trains on this line, and Horsted Keynes is a beautiful station that has been restored under a 1930s theme, including lots of original paraphernalia from the era.

The bride arrived in style!

The guests who were waiting on Platform 2 turned around when they heard the bagpipes. Fiona and her parents and bridesmaids were led by the piper from the front of the station across to Platform 2 where the wedding ceremony was to take place in the Waiting Room. It was such a special moment- what a way for the bride to arrive. (You have to imagine hearing Road to The Isles on the bagpipes here.)

In the meantime, the groom and best man were waiting in the… well, the Waiting Room!

I don’t remember what was said at this moment, but I love the face Ross is pulling.

And here they are, Mr and Mrs! Officially!

The wedding train arrives.

We took some photos of close family and friends posing in front of the Golden Arrow steam engine.

And as there was a steam engine, I thought, surely we should have some steam! (I thought this would be the steamy photo of the day, but Fiona had a plan for a steamier one later!)

And so the journey on Bluebell railway starts! The carriages are absolutely beautiful with all the original details.

Not only was wedding breakfast served on the train, but there was entertainment, too! Magician John Clayton was amazing everyone with his tricks.

At the end of the railway line at Sheffield Park station Ross got a chance to go and ride in the engine when it moved from one end of the train to the other. Of course Fiona would have been allowed to hop in as well, but there was no way to fit into that small steam engine without getting her dress and shoes soiled in soot. Just have a look at those two fellows on either side of Ross and you’ll see what I mean.

Everyone had a chance to stretch their feet at the station.

At the very end of the journey, John had one special magic trick for the newly weds. I have no idea how he did it, but Fiona and Ross have a unique playing card memento from their wedding day to keep.

Did I mention a steamy photo earlier? Fiona had spotted a sign in the bushes that she wanted to have a photo next to. What a wicked girl! I couldn’t resist but do a bit of photoshopping on the sign.

Off to the party!

We stopped en-route for a few photos, just before the sun set!

In the meantime, Highbrook village hall was ready for guest to arrive.

After some drinks and speeches, ceremonial cutting of a very little cake. The gorgeous cupcakes were made by Amy of Vintage Cupcakes.

Time for First Dance! Rachel Bundy and her band started playing, and Fiona and Ross took to the floor.

I can honestly say this was the most impressive first dance I have seen. But no wonder… the couple actually met on a dance floor some 17 years ago! Quite fittingly, the track Fiona and Ross danced to was ‘At Last’ (by Etta James).

What a beautiful and fun wedding. It has been an absolute pleasure to get to know Ross and Fiona, and I wish them continued happiness in their lives from now on as a married couple!

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