Andree and James had a lovely relaxed wedding. They were married in the Unitarian Church on St.Stephen’s Green which meant no long journeys from one location to another. Andree got ready in the Cliff Town House. My favourite detail was her birdcage veil that was handmade by her crafty mother. Andree wore a stunning Jenny Packham dress and a pair of gold tone Buffalo shoes. She also handmade her Dolce Vita rose bouquet; flowers from the market wrapped with a bit of twine. She added a few lovely touches throughout the day such as lanterns hanging from the church pews and their initials which were bought in Avoca. But the best bit of the day were their wedding portraits. The lovely soft light and their naturalness with each other was a winning combination. I happily could have spent hours photographing the pair.

On the wedding day I had a bit of an embarrassing moment when I found out the groom had a twin. Or rather didn’t find out until I said hello to James and it turned out to be his brother! But we laughed it off. Later in the evening he gave one of the best bestman speeches I’ve heard. But what really had everyone in stitches was when he pulled out a life size cardboard cut out of James, or ‘cardboard Jimmy’ as he was nicknamed. Cardboard Jimmy even made an appearance on the dance floor. What a fun wedding! To Andree and James, thank you for letting me be part of your wedding!

During our stay we rented a car and sat nav, but due to the terrible storms the sat nav had issues connecting with the satellite and we had great fun getting lost around the island. Malta is tiny. You can drive coast to coast in half an hour. So getting lost really isn’t too much of a problem.

I was really surprised at the mix of cultures and architecture. Each city is completely different and there are strong European and Arabic influences mixed into one tiny island. The best thing about Malta was the fish. There was an abundance of fresh fish and in varieties unknown to me. On Sunday morning we visited Marsaxlokk fish market with everything from Shark to Lampuki. The most interesting thing about Malta is it’s history. Malta played an important role in WWII when Malta became part of the British Empire and was used as fleet headquarters and a shipping-way station. In Valletta there is still evidence of British occupancy during WWII.

Mary and I stayed in St.Julien’s on the east coast of the island. This part of the island has become built up with holiday complexes which in my opinion ruin the natural beauty of the original architecture. If you’re considering visiting Malta and want a more authentic experience I would recommend the west and south end of the island.

2012 is a big year for me. I can’t believe I’ll be turning 30! Crazy! We also hope to take some much needed long holidays together this year including London for the Paralympics. As I mentioned in my last post of 2011 I’m collaborating on a big project that for now is hush hush but all going well I hope to reveal soon. It’s something to keep me busy and in the wedding mood during this quieter season. Being passionate about photography and the wedding industry, I try to work on a new project every year. Having a side project keeps me driven and motivated. It may not always be a success but the failed attempts make me work harder next time. That’s why I like starting projects at the beginning of a year. It feels like a fresh start.

This year I will also be implementing a few business changes. With some serious consideration I’ve decided not to book weddings over the Christmas/New Year period. Colin and I have decided that we want to take this time of the year for ourselves. It’s the opportune time for us to travel. I also want to officially announce that I will only take a maximum of 40 weddings per year. Limiting the number of weddings per year allows me adequate time to spend with editing, meetings, engagement shoots, and really focusing on each of my couples. I aim to provide a high quality service to my clients and I feel limiting the number of weddings per year allows me the time I need to achieve this. Currently I am over half booked for 2012 so please do get in touch if you’re interested in booking for this year.

I am so excited by the prospects of this year! And I can’t wait to share with you all on my blog over the coming months. There are still some lovely shoots, weddings and travels to share from 2011 but for now I’ll leave you with a sneak peek of one of my Christmas weddings. Here’s to a new beginning!

Each year I continue to set higher goals and 2012 looks to be another promising year with new challenges and prospects. I hope to be launching the new site early in the year as well as a side project I’ve been collaborating on that might interest all you brides to be, so stay tuned. So what did I learn in 2011? I learned so many valuable business lessons from listening to fellow photographers and making mistakes myself. Yes, I do make mistakes. Nothing serious mind, but I’m careful never to make them again. I also learned where to find my inspiration and stop worrying that my images don’t look like other photographers images. The right clients for me will want me for my art and noone elses. That’s my aim. The most valuable thing I learned this year is don’t start or take on too many projects at once. Though, this still hasn’t quite sunk in yet!

And now bring on the holidays! This is my last post of the year as I take a small break from blogging. But never fear, I’ll be back in the new year! Ok a little lame I admit, but still true. I wish you all the very best Christmas and happiest New Year! Colin and I have decided to kick start our holidays early this year and start the celebrations tomorrow as he finishes work today. I like making our own traditions. That’s what the holidays are all about. And as this is a photography blog I leave you with a few photos from weddings that I haven’t had a chance to blog. See you in 2012!

Last week I photographed their fabulous wedding in Kilshane House which I can’t wait to share, but you’ll have to wait till the new year!

Sadhbh and Niall added some really lovely touches throughout their wedding day. Sadhbh wore a cute pair of pink heels that matched her pink rose bouquet. At the reception there were lovely details at the guest wedding book table with old photos of their parents on their wedding days, lanterns, birdcages and a handmade guest book with photos from their engagement shoot. Sadhbh and Niall love skiing and incorporated that into their day with a wedding cake made to look like a mountain covered with snow and each of their table names were named after ski slopes. My favourite part of their day had to be their wedding band. I rarely take note of the wedding band but The Willin’ Fools is not a typical wedding band. Everything about them is so unique. I highly recommend checking them out.

Overall a super day was had by everyone. Big congratulations to Sadhbh and Niall!

More images from the shoot:

Event Stylist: One of a Kind Weddings
Videographer: Best Day Productions
Hair & Makeup: Joy & Love Hawkridge
Cakes: Cake-a-licious
Flowers: Sweet Pea Designs
Decor: Grace & Favour
Vintage China: Me Auld China
Dresses & Suits: Que-Va
Jewellery: Fleurie

With a love of all things vintage they opted to include a few quirky and beautiful details such as lace table cloths, the original London Tube map as their seating chart, a real working gramophone, and 1920s style photos of the two of them around London. A lot of the details were DIY but some of the details came from Lamber de Bie and Pearl & Godiva.

Big Congratulations to Kelly and Chris! A fantastic couple that I’m delighted to have been a part of their big day!