It’s so easy to forget everything we produce in a calendar year, I’m certainly guilty of thinking it’s another 12 months chalked off and I haven’t really accomplished anything, that is until I spend the first week of the new year reflecting on the previous, and I think that’s why I love the process of collating this post so much. It’s more than just putting my images out there into the world, it’s more than just a blog post for marketing purposes, it’s a personal moment of reflection, a time when I get to look back at my work, noticing new images that in the height of the summer when we’re all moving at light speed, I just didn’t recognise as a favourite first time round. That said, I’ve been doing this for almost a decade now, and I’ve certainly become much more efficient at recognising those favourites during the wedding season, but it’s still amazing when an image grabs you 5 months down the line.
So, onto what happened last year, I mean, how long have you got?!! Do we even need to? I suppose I should just make a nod to the situation we all found ourselves in from June last year. And firstly, for anyone reading this that worked in our industry, I hope you’re ok, I hope you’ve been able to rest and recover, spend time with friends and family, and just generally switch off, because for 6 months, none of us had that off switch within reach. But we’ve survived, and as the famous saying goes, what doesn’t kill you….
And for my couples, some of whom were on their 2nd or 3rd re-arranged dates, or had guests drop out through fear, had to wear masks or adhere to restrictions and guidelines, and those that experienced anxiety like nothing before when Boris had another announcement, I hope (in fact I pretty much know the answer already here from our end-of-the-night hug and chat), but I hope it was all worth it in the end?! I’ve mentioned this several times on social media, but I’ve felt more disappointment for my couples than I have the precarious position of my business. My business can and will be re-built, I’m already trying to come back stronger than ever before, but the pre-wedding experience for anyone getting married over the past 18 months-2 years just hasn’t been fair, there’s no other way to put it. But I hope you can all take solace knowing that you all absolutely fucking smashed the hell out of it when the time came, I know, I used a bad word, but fuck it, I don’t care!!
And finally, onto what actually did happen last year, well, I got to see everything I love about this job condensed into the most amazing and bonkers 6 months of my life! Despite the nightmare experience of being turned away from a flight because I took my latty flow 20 minutes earlier than I should (don’t panic, I made the wedding!), I’ve seen brides dance in the rain, grandparents hug and cry, an opera singer surprise guests during dinner, 180 people in Kew Gardens, couples dancing on the tables and even bars, I’ve seen kisses, holding hands and connections, dogs sitting on dresses (yes, more than once!), a bride jump in the pool, and I’ve heard the laughs, the “I can’t breathe I’m laughing so hard laugh”, the vows and promises, the emotional speeches and shaky voices, and I’ve loved absolutely every single moment of it.
The last year was tough, but it only reinforced everything I love about this industry, the suppliers, the community, and most importantly, the couples.
So on that final note, here it is, my selection of favourites from 2021, there’s no rhyme or reason as to why I select these, some images may hold a meaning or a memory that stood out, some I just connect with visually, they can be complex or very simple, but they’re my choices, they’re my favourites. And after I post this, it’s time to start making some memories from ’22.
