There are some weddings where you can tell almost immediately that you're surrounded by a community.
M + A's wedding at Bow Grange near Totnes was one of those days.
Family, childhood friends, university pals, former housemates and friends from different chapters of their lives all came together to celebrate them. Their bridal party and groomsmen were made up of people who had known them for years, and everywhere you looked there seemed to be another connection, another friendship, another person who had their own story with M + A.
It gave the whole day a wonderful sense of togetherness. This wasn't just a wedding bringing two people together. It brought together all the different people and communities that had been part of their lives along the way.
One of my favourite things about M + A's wedding was seeing how naturally all these different groups came together.
There were childhood friends standing alongside family, university friends catching up with people they hadn't seen for a while, and former housemates celebrating with the people they'd shared an entirely different chapter of life with.
You could see those connections everywhere.
In the hugs. The laughter. The tears. The completely unplanned moments between photographs. The bridal party having far too much fun together. The people who clearly hadn't seen each other in ages immediately falling back into old friendships.
For me, those are the things that make wedding photography so special. It's not just about photographing the couple. It's about documenting the people who make up their world.
There were some lovely personal touches woven throughout the day too.
A's mum had made a beautiful afternoon tea for everyone, which was such a thoughtful addition and one of those details that feels all the more special because someone has put their own time and love into making it happen.
Then came the ice cream bike. Because obviously every large gathering of friends and family is improved by an ice cream bike. Later, handmade pizzas kept everyone fuelled as the celebrations carried on, and there was something wonderfully relaxed about the whole thing. Good food, good company and a lot of people who were very happy to be together.
There was plenty of emotion throughout the day too.
With so many people there who had known M + A for years, there were some seriously heartfelt moments. You could see just how much the day meant to the people around them.
And those are often the moments I find myself looking for as a photographer.
Not just the obvious moments, but the reactions happening around them. Someone trying desperately not to cry. A friend laughing through the tears. A family member watching from across the room. A group of friends squeezing together for a hug.
Those photographs become little pieces of the wider story.
After all the emotion, the celebrations properly got going.
With a huge group of friends and family together at Bow Grange, there was no shortage of people ready to enjoy themselves. The bridal party and groomsmen brought plenty of energy to the day, and the dance floor became exactly what you'd hope for after a wedding filled with so many people who already knew and loved each other.
It felt less like everyone had simply gathered for a wedding and more like a reunion of all the different communities M + A have built around themselves.
Looking back at M + A's wedding, I think the word that keeps coming to mind is community.
Family, friends, old housemates, university pals, childhood friends and everyone in between. All these different people, from different parts of their lives, sharing the same room for one very important day. There was emotion, laughter, homemade food, ice cream, pizza, a very enthusiastic wedding party and one hell of a celebration.
That's what made this Bow Grange wedding so lovely to photograph. It wasn't simply about two people getting married. It was about the people who had helped shape their lives being there to celebrate with them.
And honestly, that's a pretty brilliant thing to photograph.
