These stories can be read as stand alone, but form a series of my experiences as a Wedding Photographer. Enjoy.
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All the brides that I have photographed over the years have all been stunning. Every single one of them. I get to see them at their absolute best, toned, buffed, and pampered to within an inch of their lives. I've loved every single bride that I've ever photographed.
The parents of the happy couple fall into one of two camps -- they either love the day and embrace that they are seeing their child off in the best possible way, or they begrudgingly take part but never seem to enjoy it. They moan about everything -- the cost, the in-laws, the weather, and so it goes on.
The wedding that I'm about to tell you about, the bride's mother fell into the latter category, even though she had absolutely no need to.
Debbie was a young bride. She was only in her early 20's and in the wedding industry that's quite young. We're used to seeing late 20's, or early 30's these days.
About a week before the wedding, I went along to Debbie's parent's house to go through the final running order for the day, and any specific photos that Debbie and her parents might want. It's always good to get the bride's parents on-side as they are usually paying in situations like this.
I'd noticed that Diane, the brides mother, was a bit on edge, and a little bit aggressive towards the whole process. Not towards me specifically, but to all of us there in the room that night.
She seemed to expect everything to go wrong on the day -- that I wouldn't turn up, that the weather would be bad, that the photographs would be rubbish, that the food at the reception would be bad, the disco would be too loud and too modern, and so it went on. I felt for Debbie to be honest, this was her day, and her mother seemed hell bent on finding reasons why it would go wrong. Her dad just sat in the corner like a statue -- I don't think he actually spoke at all during the meeting.
Diane was not an unattractive woman. She was in her early 40's, but looked mid to late 30's. She had a great figure, and if she stopped sucking that lemon would have a good looking face.
Debbie showed me out to the car, and as she did I could tell that she was exasperated with her mother.
"God, that bloody woman! She's done nothing but moan about everything."
I was sympathetic to Debbie's complaint.
"Yeah, it's a stressful time for the Bride's mum, she wants to send her daughter on her way the best way she can, and sometimes it gets a bit too much. She'll be fine on Saturday I'm sure."
Ever the diplomat!
Debbie wasn't so sure.
"The silly cow has complained about everything and she's really starting to piss me off now. I'm really sorry that she was so aggressive in there, and my dad just sits there and takes it all, never saying a sodding word. He doesn't seem to give a shit that she's ruining my wedding day."
I made the right noises, and made excuses to leave.
==
The wedding day dawned, a sunny day with a light breeze to stop people sweating through their finery, and knowing the venue very well, it would look great on the photos. I'd booked a room at the hotel for the wedding evening, because it was over 100 miles from home, and after a shoot I'm too tired to drive that far.
I checked in and joined Debbie and her parents in the bridal suite to take the usual pre-ceremony shots, and almost as soon as I arrived Diane started sniping.
"We thought that you were going to be here earlier, to take photos of Debbie having her make-up done."
It was a statement, not a question.
"No, Debbie specifically asked me to come at this time, when her hair and make-up had been done. I'll get all the shots that Debbie requested within 15 minutes and then be out of your hair."
I rattled through the shots needed, and Debbie was glowing, as she should be.
"Thanks Paul. Sorry about mum, she's got worse as the wedding got closer."
"She'll probably chill out a bit once the ceremony is over, and she sees that all the planning that's gone on was worth it. Also she'll have friends there, so she might be better. And when she's had a few champagnes!"
Diane came back into the room at this point.
"Are you finished? We can't spend all day doing photographs you know."
"I'm done now thanks Diane, I'll see you both at the ceremony."
Again, Debbie's dad sat in the corner of the room, reading his paper, never saying a word.
"Good luck everyone, see you down there."
==
Diane walked into the Church like she didn't have a care in the world, and certainly not like the aggressive woman that I'd experienced upstairs. She did look stunning in an off the shoulder lemon dress, emphasising her bare shoulders, and just a hint of cleavage.
I was taking lots of reportage style shots of guests as they arrived, sitting in the marriage room, meeting old friends, etc. Exactly what we'd agreed I would be doing during this phase of the wedding proceedings.
Diane called me over with a beckoning hand. She kept the smile on her face, but her voice was like ice.
"People don't want you snapping away whilst they are arriving, go & do something else."
"I beg your pardon Diane? This is exactly what we agreed I'd be doing at this point, and people are not even aware I'm taking their photo, as I'm using a long lens and no flash."
I'm not used to being spoken to like this on a wedding day. They are usually such happy occasions, but obviously not today. I was getting quite sick of this woman.
"Well be quick and then be gone. Nobody wants to have a photographer hanging around."
Who did this woman think she was? And why was she so bloody bitter?
Debbie arrived and was duly married to her perfectly pleasant (young) groom.
We went outside to do all the group shots, and everyone was drinking champagne and chatting. I noticed that Diane had got a glass in her hand, and seemed to be thawing out a little, chatting with the older people in the group.
Debbie seemed to be in her element, loving her day and her new husband.
"Paul, could you take one of me with my friend?"
"Paul could you take one of my bridesmaid and her husband?"
"Paul could you take one of little Jake, he looks so lovely."
I love it when Brides do this -- they feel comfortable enough to ask, and treat you like a friend rather than the hired help, unlike her mother!
"What are you doing?"
"Why have you taken that photograph?"
"Don't photograph me, I'm busy."
