I love my job but finding titles for blog posts is not where my talent lies. “UK Wedding Photographer Surprises bride to be with Pre wedding photoshoot” is a bit of a mouthful. It was better than the short version I had “Photographer shoots bride to be”.
When Covid-19 arrived in the UK like ants at a picnic, I naively thought “OK, so a month of disruption, no problem”. Little did I know almost 2 years’ worth of wedding bookings would be postponed and worse yet, cancelled.
An idea started to form…
With a serious lack of weddings to photograph and a craving for something fun, I set about on a mission to surprise one of my brides with a “Should Be Your Wedding Day, But Covid Messed It Up” shoot.
Mike and Becky were due to get Married on 29th May but with restrictions being as they were, the wedding they had planned was not going to happen on the planned date. Family would need to travel, and guests need to party, so it’s postponed until November. Oh, how we will we party then!
Rewind to when they booked me as their Wedding Photographer. I remember talking about their first dance song “You and Me” by Disclosure the Flume remix. I also remembered seeing some prints by graphic artist Anthony Burrill, hanging in their home office . The prints had the same words as the lyrics of the song. When I saw these prints were now painted on the side of a building in Leeds, I knew I had to do something… It was like a shiny beacon calling to me, I had to go, and I had to get them there with me, somehow.
Action planning with the Groom to be.
I enlisted Mike to be my inside man, getting Becky to agree to a weekend away in their family’s cottage in Yorkshire was the start. A way to mark the original wedding date without having all a big fuss made, or so she thought. Insert evil laugh. As Becky knew she would be away for the weekend, a trip to Leeds on the way back wouldn’t be out of the question. With Mike looking after restaurant bookings, outfits and an outright ban on internet searches for anything that included “Leeds” we were well on the way to pulling this off.
Laura at @ingoodcompanyleeds was a massive help in giving me directions and helping to get a table at a pub round the corner called @sheafstreet. Also arranged for a bottle of fizz to be put behind the bar for them.
No backing out now
As a UK wedding photographer I travel all the time and I am never nervous. Fast forward to the day, and the first full day of sunshine in the UK…thank you universe! I arrived before them, feeling way more nervous than I should. I had butterflies flapping around. One final check, yep I had my camera (I had only checked 99 times and I do like to make it a nice round 100). I saw them walking towards me. Quick blend in with the crowd. Somehow it was still a surprise up until the moment she turned around and saw it.
Happy tears. Mission complete.
Cue happy tears from me, yes, I had a little moment. I love, love. I’m a sucker for happiness and the world needs more of it. Even a if its for a split second its worth all the planning.
I had a small speaker with me so I could play their first dance song whilst they danced around in the middle of a courtyard full of day drinkers. I hadn’t accounted for the courtyard being part of the pub opposite, but the crowd were on our side.
With photos taken and a day sitting in the sunshine talking all things wedding, I left them to enjoy the rest of their weekend. As a UK wedding Photographer I am used to working all over the country but I have made it my mission to go back to Leeds as soon as possible for a day out. It’s so lovely.
A surprise gift from a graphic artist
When I returned home, I messaged graphic artist Anthony Burrill and asked if he wanted to add a note or message to Becky and Mike. He went one better and sent me a signed print and a personalised message for them. Not only is he a brilliant artist but an all round good guy. I’ve been so overwhelmed with the kind messages and love for this shoot (which is heart-warming) but it’s not about me. As a collective we can get so much done. When humans unite and work together good things happen.
YOU&ME and ME&YOU by Graphic Artist Anthony Burrill. You can find more of his artwork at http://www.anthonyburrill.com
Curated by Laura Wellington at In good company Leeds. Raising funds and smiles. You can find out more at www.ingoodcompanyleeds.com where you can also buy one of the amazing posters.
Installed by Bread collective a multi-disciplinary design studio based in London https://www.breadcollective.co.uk/
More of my work can be found at https://www.sarahcarterphotography.co.uk/portfolio/UK Wedding Photographer.