Lindsey & Robert at The De Vere Cotswold Water Park Hotel

The last few months have been really difficult. As a wedding supplier it has been really sad watching all of the weddings that I had lined up over the summer more or less disappear overnight! But it has also been awful for all of the lovely couples who had been excitedly planning their celebrations for months (if not years) only to have to make the difficult decision to postpone or cancel their big days.

Lindsey and Robert's celebration was due to take place in July and, being cautious, they soon ensured that they had a Plan B date in the diary. However, with lockdown restrictions starting to lift in May, they optimistically starting making plans for a small ceremony just in case they were able to go ahead. I was so excited when it was announced that small weddings with up to 30 guests could go ahead from 4th July, just 6 days before Lindsey and Roberts anticipated celebration! That meant it was full steam ahead and, although the day was going to look very different to the original plans, they were just so thrilled that they were now allowed to say "I do"!

Arriving with my mask, hand sanitiser and additional long lenses (to ensure I could take photos from as far away as possible), the day went without a hitch! It helped that Lindsey's Mum currently lives with the couple as it meant that she was able to help Lindsey with her dress and shoes! 

With their ceremony taking place just days after the restrictions had been lifted, the venue had made the cautious decision to only allow the witnesses in the room for the ceremony. It was a joy, however (albeit rather bizarre), to see that their additional guests were able to gather (socially-distanced) on the decking to watch in through the open doors.

I'm not going to lie - I was anxious on the run-up to the wedding purely because this was my first post-lockdown celebration. The logistics of every part of the day needed to be carefully considered to ensure we were all adhering to the guidelines.

I needn't have worried - everyone was completely understanding. From the registrars who kindly allowed me to shoot the ceremony from a distance (thank goodness for those long lenses!), the guests who completely understood the need for social-distancing during the confetti throw and the group photos and, most of all, Lindsey and Robert who were totally relaxed and told me they would be happy with anything I could capture!

It was such an emotional and beautiful occasion to witness. It didn't really matter that there was only a handful of people there to congratulate them and, in a way, it was much more personal and emotional for being so intimate. I know it isn't something any of us could have predicted, but I for one am loving such intimate celebrations!