Wedding Memories (continued)

Some vicars are great. There used to be a tall, imposing one who was very forbidding to look at unless you knew him. I would often arrive early at his church to find him in his adjoining garden dressed very casually and cutting the grass. This was specifically for photographers to use his garden for pictures and to keep the church entrance clear, especially if there was another wedding. He'd see me and then would say "Oh-hello Gareth, am I running late?" "No don't panic, David" I'd reply, "I'm a bit early-there's plenty of time". Then he'd stop and we'd have a chat for five minutes or so before he loped off to change. Unfortunately, before leaving the vicarage I would always have to walk around his garden picking up the empty confetti boxes and other litter-how thoughtless of people when he didn't even mind the confetti blowing around.

Enough of churches and vicars? Well, we've had some pretty hot days in recent years and it can affect everyone. I've seen all sorts fainting. To be fair, stress and dehydration are the main culprits. Just before the ceremony brides frequently break out in a stress or anxiety related rash, usually all blotchy around their throat and chest. Amazingly, immediately afterwards it just disappears. But fainting is not uncommon-brides, bridesmaids, mothers, grandmothers and even the groom! It happens less now, with the custom of people carrying their preferred brand of bottled water! I always have a bottle or two of water or a re-hydrating drink in the car, generally for myself because once I had this awful experience.......mmm - but that's another story for the much less squeamish.

Cakes are often victims of the heat-they melt and collapse, if they've not already been knocked over accidentally by a handbag or wild children! I arrived at one venue and as usual went to photograph the cake first in case of accidents, but it hadn't been assembled. The staff were worried that it would all fall apart. So I posed the couple for a picture complete with knife, then the staff quickly put the cake together in place and stood by just in case-three quick pictures then it was dismantled and taken away. I've seen countless sinking and lopsided cakes.

In the hot weather some of the older, vintage cars can break down. In the days before mobile 'phones everyone was inside the church waiting for the bride and father to arrive. Five minutes late- 10 minutes late-15 minutes late-20 minutes late-and we were all becoming a little edgy. Then the vicar's wife came running down the path from the vicarage next door, straight into church and whispered into the vicar's ear. He smiled and announced to us all that the bride was on her way but that her car had broken down. There was an audible sigh of relief and half the congregation proceeded outside for a cigarette! The bride did arrive, but in an ordinary car. She and father had flagged down a kind driver from passing traffic.
It's a fun picture with the car bonnet up and a few of the men pushing it, but it can be upsetting for the couple and their families.

I had a lively bride one hot day and we had arranged for photographs to be taken at the nice reception venue. When we all arrived at the reception the bride and groom were really happy and exuberant and celebrated with a couple of glasses of champagne-and the bride promptly collapsed! A touch of heat exhaustion combined with a lack of food left her lying down, resting for over an hour which of course, completely threw all the plans and timings into disarray. We started the photographs over an hour later than planned and then finished them after the wedding breakfast-at dusk.

There's no doubt that fathers can become very nervous just before walking down the aisle. It is also surprising how much detail the mind absorbs when checking backgrounds and appearances-much of it quite subconsciously. Anyway, it was going to be a good wedding. Friendly people, attractive venues, good weather and a lot of attention to the details-so far so good. The bridal car arrived - very smart. Father - immaculate in morning dress including hat, stepped from the car. I helped the bride out and tidied her dress. I could tell that Father was nervous so I asked if everything was all right. "Yes", he said rather curtly, "Let's get on with it". Without taking my eyes from his face I said "You're wearing your slippers".