THE MOST MAGICAL, INTIMATE WEDDING IN SANTORINI, GREECE

May 11, 2017 Louise Hendry

This wonderful, magical santorini september wedding was never featured on my blogs because it was during one of my busiest times and i was a little behind on blogs, i always had the intention of sharing this incredibly romantic wedding, how could i not, it was one of most wonderful experiences and i am truly thankful to Kelly +Gary for giving me that.

I met Kelly and Gary a few years ago when i first started to photograph their beautiful little family, I've seen them grow through the years and it was such an honour to be asked to capture their special day in such a beautiful place. They could have chosen a local Santorini Photographer but as this wedding was so intimate as often destination weddings are, they wanted someone there to be part of the day not just there doing a job, as a photographer, we get to spend so much time with you on your wedding day, we get to see every moment, every emotion, thats a real honour to me for someone to let me into their lives like that. Because we spend so much time together we get to know one another really well on a personal level so it really feels like on the day I'm not a stranger taking pictures of the most intimate and special day of your lives, I'm more like a guest which makes yourselves and everyone else more relaxed, and as we all know the more relaxed you are, the more you can just let go, be yourselves and thats when the magic happens, thats when your photographs come alive

With destination weddings particularly i get to spend a lot of time with the couple before the dates planning everything and the actual time abroad with them, i usually go to all the events leading upto the wedding day, meals out with the guests and stay till the very last person has left the dance floor, yes i capture everything even the drunken dancing and as you will see at the end of the images ...the late night skinny dipping in the sea too! :) so what you get when you book a destination wedding photographer who will travel anywhere for a love story is someone being part of your day, feeling every emotion with you every step of the way...only unlike other guests i capture all this with my camera :)

I brought my mum who also often assists me at weddings, and we had the time of our lives. There is something special about Santorini that is just magical, the light there is just spectacular, everything has this beautiful spectrum of blues and whites. There is an air of romance as you sit looking over the ocean high above in the cliffside bars and restaurants as musicians play classical music, it is just breathtaking and i completely fell in love, so much so i plan to go back this summer with my boyfriend Ben.

This magical journey started late in the afternoon, with everyone slightly hungover from the night before's celebrations where were were lots of jagerbombs being passed around.

Everyone was so relaxed getting ready which is one of the reasons i love intimate weddings abroad, everyone and everything is so relaxed and calm. Kelly + Gary said their vows overlooking the ocean, it was so atmospheric, so romantic, so beautiful and so emotional.

After the ceremony we took a few group shots and we walked through the tiny streets to capture some beautiful natural shots.

I then took a taxi ride with Kelly and Gary to meet the rest of the guests at their evening reception venue which i can only describe as some wonderful secret little beach side hut right next to the sea, i will always remember that drive, i sat in the front of the car, the hazy golden hour sunlight through the windows, the sound of the beautiful classical song Ave Maria on the radio, kelly + Gary laughing with each other sat behind as we drove through beautiful scenery, through the hills of santorini, mountains eachside, it was as if we were on some secret magical adventure and i been allowed to sneak in on, and allowed in on this secret, it was truly magical.

When we arrived at this secret location we were met with guests where we danced all night right by the ocean. It was such an unforgettable experience and one ill never forget.

Thank you Kelly + Gary for choosing me to be part of this amazing day, thank you for letting me capture your beautiful story.

If you or someone you know is getting married in Santorini, Greece or anywhere else in the world please do get in touch and tell me your ideas :)

With Love,

Louise Xx

KATIE + LIAM'S RELAXED WINTER WHITE WEDDING AT MANSION HOUSE, ST.HELENS

March 3, 2017 Louise Hendry

IN LOVING MEMORY OF ROY.....

THIS BLOG IS VERY BITTER SWEET TO WRITE, AS KATIE AND LIAMS WEDDING WAS BEAUTIFUL, IT WAS RELAXED, INTIMATE AND FUN, HOWEVER SADLY ONLY A FEW DAYS AGO, KATIES DAD ROY SADLY PASSED AWAY. IT IS SUCH HEARTBREAKING NEWS, I CANT EVEN IMAGINE THE SADNESS A PERSON FEELS WHEN LOSING SOMEONE SO CLOSE TO YOU.

TO SHARE KATIE AND LIAMS WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHS WITH THEM OBVIOUSLY BRINGS BACK SUCH LOVELY MEMORIES OF WHAT WILL HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE BEST DAYS OF THEIR LIVES, BUT I ALSO KNOW THIS WILL BE SO EMOTIONAL LOOKING BACK AT PHOTOGRAPHS OF KATIES DAD ON HER SPECIAL DAY I DO HOPE THESE PHOTOGRAPHS WILL ALWAYS BRING COMFORT AND JOY, AND I AM JUST SO GLAD I COULD CAPTURE THESE SPECIAL MEMORIES.

THERE IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF KATIE AND HER DAD RIGHT BEFORE THEY ARE ABOUT TO WALK INTO THE ROOM TO GET MARRIED TO HER LOVE LIAM , KATIE WAS FEELING EXCITED AND A LITTLE NERVOUS AS ALL BRIDES FEEL AT THAT MOMENT, I REMEMBER SHE TOOK A BREATH AND LOOKED AT HER DAD, ROY HAD SUCH LOVELY KIND EYES , HE LOOKED AT HER AS IF TO SAY 'ITS OK' , THAT KIND OF COMFORTING REASSURANCE ONLY A PARENT CAN GIVE, HE LOOKED SO SO PROUD AND WHEN I SEE IT IT JUST MOVES ME AND MAKES ME TEAR UP WITH EMOTION EVERY TIME AND I THINK IT ALWAYS WILL.

IT IS SUCH TIMES AS THESE I REMEMBER WHY PHOTOGRAPHY IS SO IMPORTANT, WHY IT IS ONE OF THE MOST PRECIOUS THINGS WE CAN HAVE IN LIFE, AS PHOTOGRAPHERS WE STOP TIME, MOMENTS LIKE THIS WITH KATIE AND HER DAD, PROOF THAT YOU LOVED , THAT YOU WAS LOVED AND THAT YOU LIVED, LONG AFTER IM GONE, THIS WILL STILL BE THERE, JUST A MOMENT IN TIME, JUST A FRAGMENT OF A SECOND , BUT ONE THAT MEANS EVERYTHING , IT IS JUST IRREPLACABLE.

AND AS I SAT HERE GOING THROUGH ALL THE PHOTOGRAPHS ONE LAST TIME, WITH TEARS IN MY EYES, GOOSEBUMPS ON MY SKIN, I REMEMBERED ...THATS WHY I DO THIS JOB....THATS WHY IM TOTALLY AND UTTERLY INLOVE WITH THIS JOB...THATS WHY I HAVE HARDLY ANY SOCIAL LIFE AND SPEND ALL MY LIFE DECLINING OFFERS FROM FRIENDS TO GO OUT, SAYING NO TO LOTS OF HOLIDAYS OVER SUMMER ...WHY I SPEND MOST DAYS FEELING LIKE A ZOMBIE AFTER STAYING UP ALL NIGHT EDITING TILL 6 AM ... JUST THAT ONE PHOTOGRAPH REMINDED ME ..THATS WHY! ....IT WILL ALWAYS FEEL THE MOST WONDERFUL FEELING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE SOMEONE THE GIFT OF A SPECIAL MOMENT STOPPED IN TIME.

THE DAY ITSELF WAS BEAUTIFUL.

I KNEW KATIE AS 4 YEARS PREVIOUSLY I HAD PHOTOGRAPHED HER LOVELY SISTER EMMA'S WEDDING. KATIES FAMILY ARE SUCH LOVELY, WELCOMING AND FUN PEOPLE.

I KNEW KATIE AND LIAMS WEDDING WAS GOING TO BE BEAUTIFUL AND IT WAS, IT WAS A VERY CRISP WINTERS DAY, THE SUN WAS OUT AND I DO LOVE THOSE KIND OF WINTER DAYS.

KATIE GOT READY AT HER MUM AND STEPDAD'S HOUSE WHICH WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL TO PHOTOGRAPH BRIDAL PREP SHOTS, AS IT WAS SO ELEGANT, WIHT LOTS OF NATURAL LIGHT. I LOVE BEAUTIFUL SHOES , AND I HAD A GORGEOUS PAIR OF SPARKLY JIMMY CHOOS TO PHOTOGRAPH SO I WAS VERY HAPPY!

KATIE IS JUST A NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL PERSON, HER SKIN IS JUST SO FLAWLESS, HER DRESS WAS SO PRETTY, I JUST LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT HER STYLE.

KATIE IS SUCH A FUN CHARACTER AND OF COURSE THERE HAD TO BE SHOTS OF SAMBUCA BEFORE LEAVING THE HOUSE WHICH I WAS URGED TO JOIN IN, HOW COULD I SAY NO?? I CAN NEVER SAY NO TO A SAMBUCA :)

I MET LIAM AT THE VENUE , HE WAS SO SO NERVOUS GOD BLESS HIM!

THE VENUE MANSION HOUSE IN ST.HELENS IS A GORGEOUS VENUE FOR A WEDDING, IT IS SITUATED IN A PARK, HAS LOVELY GARDENS AND THE HOUSE IT SELF OS VERY ELEGANT, THE ROOM IN WHICH KATIE AND LIAM GOT MARRIED IS FULLY MADE OF GLASS WHICH MEANS THE LIGHTING WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL.

KATIE AND LIAM HAVE A GORGEOUS LITTLE BOY AND THE REGISTRAR INCLUDED HIM ALOT IN THEIR VOWS WHICH I THOUGHT WAS REALLY SPECIAL.

AS IT WAS LATE WINTER TIME, THE SUN SET PRETTY QUICKLY BUT WE MANAGED TO GET ALL OUR GROUP SHOTS AND SOME REALLY LOVELY SHOTS OF KATIE AND LIAM, THEY WERE SO EASY TO PHOTOGRAPH, THEY HAVE A REALLY LOVLEY NATURAL CHEMISTRY, THEY LAUGH ALOT TOGETHER, I FEEL THEY ARE BEST FRIENDS AND I HEARD THEM BOTH SAY THEY WERE EACH OTHERS SOULMATE :) ....AHHHH HOW I LOVE LOVE!

IT WAS THEN ONTO BRILLIANT SPEECHES AND FOOD, PERFOMANCES BY X FACTORS FINALIST KEIRA WEATHERS WHO WAS AMAZING AND REALY GOT THE PARTY STARTED AND I LEFT THE PARTY IN FULL SWING WITH EVERYONE ON THE DANCEFLOOR :)

KATIE + LIAM IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO BE PART OF YOUR DAY AND TO BE ABLE TO TELL YOUR STORY WITH PHOTOGRAPHS, I KNOW YOUR GOING THROUGH SUCH A DIFFICULT TIME RIGHT NOW, I HOPE THESE PHOTOGRAPHS BRING YOU SOME HAPPINESS AND COMFORT TODAY , AND EVERYTIME YOU LOOK AT THEM MAY THEY BRING BACK HAPPY MEMORIES.

ALL MY LOVE LOUISE

IF YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW ARE THINKING OF GETTING MARRIED AT MANSION HOUSE OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WOLRD AND YOU LIKE MY PHOTOGRAPHY THEN PLEASE DO FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH :)

MAKEUP BY THE AMAZING LAURA HITCHEN http://laurahitchenmakeup.blogspot.co.uk/

KATIES SHOES- JIMMY CHOO http://www.jimmychoo.com/

KATIES DRESS- ALWAYS AND FOREVER https://www.alwaysandforeverbridalboutique.com/

THE VENUE- THE MANSION HOUSE http://www.themansionhouse.org.uk/

ENTERTAINMENT BY THE FABULOUS KEIRA WEATHERS-

https://www.facebook.com/kieraweathersuk/

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WATCH THE FULL WEDDING COLLECTION OF KATIE + LIAM , PLEASE CLICK THE SHORT FILM BELOW :)