*SPOILER ALERT* It's still beautiful!
Curious to know how church weddings will look and feel in the midst of a global pandemic? So was I before I recently had the privilege of shooting Catherine and James' church service near Stoke.
Would the restrictions leave what was meant to be a warm and joyous event feeling cold and impersonal?
The good news is NOT AT ALL!
Limits on guests, face masks and social distancing just could not dampen what was a truly beautiful and emotional day for everyone involved.
For all you brides and grooms considering, or looking forward to, a church wedding in the near future, here's some interesting and reassuring observations from what was definitely a very enjoyable experience.
How the ceremony looks
Yes, there's no getting away from the fact that people had to wear masks inside the church - but not outside. And there was no hiding the joy and happiness.
Catherine and James and the vicar were the only ones mask free once through the church doors, and the bride's uncle also had to don face protection to walk her down the aisle.
But of course the eyes are the windows to the soul, and just from people's eyes the emotions were so very evident, possibly even more so - the smiles of delight and of course the tears welling up...
Family and friends were spaced in alternate pews, with the others signed as 'Not In Use' and roped off. Apart from a few 'Please Keep A Safe Distance' notices on the walls, the only other noticeable signs of Covid restrictions were a few discretely placed hand gel dispensers - but hey, we're all so used to them these days that you hardly notice them.
How the wedding feels
Wedding parties were still restricted to 15 people, but the church felt far from empty. In fact the big bonus was a wonderful feeling of intimacy, that everyone was truly privileged to be sharing in this very special, once-in-a-lifetime moment for Catherine and James. There was no 'making up the numbers' or having to invite Great Auntie Ethel just because she'd been to every family wedding since the Norman Conquest.
The logistics of a smaller wedding meant it flowed easily and seamlessly, and there was less a sense of 'herding cats' that you sometimes get at much larger events.
And it was all there, everything you'd expect from a traditional church wedding; the hymns, the prayers, the vows, the kiss (!) the signing of the register and that wonderful newlywed skip down the aisle to the chorus of applause!
To Photoshop or not to Photoshop?
As a wedding photographer documenting one of the most important and historical days in the life of this young couple, I was left with a bit of a dilemma - do I try and Photoshop away any evidence this was a wedding that was undoubtedly impacted by an ongoing global pandemic? And should I even be considering doing so?
Like so many couples across the land, Catherine and James had been forced to change their original wedding plans not just once, but several times as a result of the UK-wide lockdowns.
The past year had been an emotional rollercoaster-ride of building excitement followed by bitter disappointment, followed by relief that they were finally tying the knot and starting a new life together as a married couple. That experience and the pandemic will always be an inescapable part of their life-story together, for better or for worse (to borrow a phrase...) and there's no airbrushing that out.
Anyway, it was clear it would be impossible to Photoshop away face masks. In the end I DID erase a few signs (literally) that this was a Covid wedding, for purely aesthetic reasons. I felt the bright yellow 'Not In Use' notices on the roped off pews just distracted from the joyous couple and the beautiful church ceremony. So they were gone.
The overall experience
As all weddings should be, this was still an emotional and moving experience - perhaps even more so because of the events of the past year, and all of the disappointments and frustrations endured by Catherine and James during that time.
But it was also incredibly relaxed, bursting with warmth and love, and as already mentioned, it felt very intimate.
As the wedding photographer I felt at times more like one of the family than a vendor. I was asked for my advice on the order of events following the ceremony, and was more than happy to suggest a beautiful part of the church grounds for the cake cutting and champagne toasts.
So, for any couples who might be worried that current or future Covid restrictions could diminish their church wedding dream, I would say worry not - it still truly is a beautiful way to get married...
Here's a few more pics to convince you! For the full gallery click here:
