A look at Groom prep
If you’re looking for an absolute rollercoaster run-up to a wedding day, with things happening left, right and centre, but matched by a chilled wedding couple who repel stress like it’s a superpower, you’re in the right place! Jade and Keith’s day at Essex barn wedding venue Crondon Park was memorable for so many reasons, and it was the overwhelming sense of happiness and their relaxed approach – in the face of a fair amount of craziness – that stayed with me.
In the approach to their day, I was aware Jade had been really busy with arrangements for the day, which isn’t uncommon when planning a wedding, but it was only when she told me she’d been filming segments for a bridal television show, where I realised she’d really had her hands full! Jade advised she’d been filming for a bridal TV programme on the TLC channel, which would be aired in May. It’s one of the ones where you’re helped to find your dream dress, and as part of the programme, they’d be filming a little at the wedding too. As you can imagine, I was incredibly giddy after finding this out! I find myself getting so personally invested with my couples and their weddings – after all, we are documenting every moment of these special days – so the chance to re-live it on a TV show was pretty darn exciting!
Finally the big day arrived, a bright and sunny Spring afternoon over in Stock, rural Essex, and before I’d even left my house I’d had a phonecall from Jade: She told me not to worry, but when I arrived to photograph at Crondon Park, she wasn’t going to be there. My heart stopped for a moment. Jade went on to say that very sadly, her hairdresser had been involved in a car accident en route to the venue, and wasn’t going to be able to do her wedding hair, so Jade and her bridal party were hot-footing it to a hairdressers in Wickford.
Despite this obvious set-back and proverbial spanner in the wedding planning works, Jade remained relatively calm as she swung by a salon in Wickford, and I arrived to Crondon Park, with only some of the production crew for company!
When Jade and her bridesmaids eventually made it back to the venue to finish their prep, I began to understand this wasn’t the only mishap in the build-up to their day; Keith, the groom, was meant to have a special vintage VW camper van to transport him to the venue, but that had broken down days before, and couldn’t be used. And just a couple of days prior, the boys had tried on their wedding suits, but none of them fit! Coupled with the stress of a television film crew following them around… it was looking like an emotional rollercoaster for Jade and Keith, but in absolutely legendary form, neither were fazed by any of it. Brides and grooms who remain relaxed in the face of adversity are my absolute favourites.
And of course in the end, Jade’s hair was beautiful, the boys’ suits were fine, and Keith was chauffeur-driven to the venue in a Porsche, which was fairly awesome I’d say!
Throughout the course of the morning when the TV crew were filming I had to pretty much stay out of the way, but hopefully you’ll agree I managed to get some lovely shots. Jade and Keith’s wedding is featured on TLC’s Curvy Brides Boutique, which you can find on Sky and Virgin Media under the title The Jade C Episode. Scroll below to see the photographs of the day two Ducks flew together!
