Wantage Wedding Photographer, Anya & Tommy
Whilst photographing a wedding in 2019, I received an email from Anya asking if I would be available to photograph her wedding in Wantage in 2020. Being a Wantage wedding photographer, I regularly get to work at some of Wantage's fabulous venues. Anya and Tommy were planning a wedding at a Church in town and then having the reception at the Village hall.Little did we know at this point how their wedding plans were going to adapt as the Covid-19 pandemic started to take hold in 2020.
Photography in Wantage
I have photographed many weddings in Wantage in such venues as Lains Barn and just down the road at Ardington house. Some couples opt for a church wedding and then have their reception at one of Wantage's many pubs. There are so many great spots for photos within town or for something a little more scenic, there are some lovely parks and the expansive countryside.
Here's what Anya had to say about their wedding
What was your favourite part of the wedding?Favourite part of the wedding was definitely walking down the aisle when I first saw Tommy with the biggest smile on his face, and walking out of the church to all our friends and family cheering an incredibly emotional moment.
Please let me know about any personal or DIY touches you added to make the day a little more ‘you’.We made all our table decorations for our reception Tommy cut the logs treated them and varnished them and I made the flower jars I collects jars wrapped them in hessian and lace to make them look pretty and that’s where our flowers sat.
Why did you choose your venue?We always wanted a church wedding and Wantage church is just stunning and our local church where we have lived all our lives.Reception venue the bear hotel was a last minute booking due to covid we choose the bear because we know how incredible the food is there and it’s a walking distance from the church I’m so glad we picked The Bear as they were fantastic with us even after all the covid changed we had to make.
How did you find using Lee Dann Photography, were there any particular things about my approach that you liked, and how did you feel about the photos once you received them?Choosing Lee Dan photography was easy from the first email Lee sent us when just enquiring about being our wedding photographer he was so friendly and professional. We had to make many changes to our wedding due to covid and throughout Lee stayed in contact with us and supported every change, with just 15 guests at our wedding our photographs are truly incredible everything we ever wished for and more. The whole day was captured perfectly with not one moment missed.
If you were doing it all again what would be the one bit of advice you’d give yourself at the start of the planning process?One bit of advice I would give myself if starting wedding planning again is don’t sweat the small stuff what matters in becoming husband and wife nothing else and I think our small “covid” wedding proves that.
Wedding photography in Wantage, a market town wedding
So the original plan was to have a full sized wedding in the local church and then have a fantastic reception in the Village hall. When the pandemic hit and the world started to go into a sort of uncertain spiral, I had a flood of worried emails from clients wishing to move their wedding to later in the year or the following year. Anya and Tommy had decided to move the wedding to later in the year hoping the pandemic had gone and things had returned to normal. This wasn't the case and when the 30 guest rule was applied Anya and Tommy changed there plans again. Closer to the wedding the government tightened the restrictions and weddings of only 15 were allowed. I really admire Anya and Tommy's determination to get married despite all the hurdles and obstacles.Anya and Tommy finally got married in the church of St Peter and St Paul's with their families in attendance. It was a lovely intimate ceremony with a fabulous surprise. As they left the church all their friends had turned out and were waiting to congratulate them in the courtyard. It really was a lovely thing to see.Following a few group photos and some couple photos the wedding party headed to The Bear Hotel in the market square for a meal and some speeches.I really loved working with Tommy and Anya. It was such an intimate, heartwarming day. I can't wait to photograph another Wantage wedding, hopefully one without a pandemic.I hope you enjoy looking at the photos and if you are planning a wedding I'd love to hear from you.