a Priya Parker appriciation post

Otherwise known as :

Here’s that lady I was talking about who has great advice for shaping your wedding to feel how you want it to feel for you and your guests.

I love that Priya Parker’s ideas are fun and thoughtful ways to make events work better. It’s about being intentional and the results are really delightful.

And so, because I rabbit on about her a lot, I thought I’d put a few of her main points and some links together so I can share them with you more easily. I really love thinking these things through and I think you might too… and if you do we’ll surely all be set for a great wedding. So that’s win-win!

She has a whole wedding section on her website, including some of my favourites: 10 wedding planning questions (which will help you think about the purpose of your wedding day and head towards it with your plans) and 5 ways to reinvent traditions (which will help you to choose which traditions to ditch and which you can shape to fit you as a couple).

Jon & Steph’s cake receiving line

Her website has lots of good sections, freebies and things to read. I particularly love the comments sections of her Instagram posts where her followers share their suggestions and tips for good plans. This post about reimagining traditional wedding rituals has so many real-life ideas in the comments.

“We greeted our guests by pouring a glass of champagne as each of them arrived and had a small cocktail hour before the ceremony.” - @studioqevents

(Which reminds me of when Jon & Steph served everyone cake at the end of their wedding ceremony instead of having a traditional receiving line)

Priya’s book The Art of Gathering is great if you want to deep dive into the stages before, during and after a gathering and how to make the most of each stage for you and your guests at any type of event. We devoured her audio book in the car driving to so many events.

Charlotte and Luke's Civil Partnership Ceremony at Aston Wood Golf Club

Charlotte and Luke’s civil partnership at Aston Wood Golf Club in Sutton Coldfield was an evening-only event, so we got to have fun with sparklers straight after the ceremony and take some cool couple shots under the festoon lights in the dark. We love how Charlotte and Luke kept everything low-key, just chilling (and a bit of dancing) with family and friends. They also had live magic and their snack game was incredible. Pork scratchings and scampi fries? Yes please!

If you’re planning a wedding and you’re looking for relaxed photography like this we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch here.

Will and Sarah's Wedding at Hallé St Peter's in Manchester

We knew this big Manchester wedding would be excellent. Two lovely, friendly people, two beautiful venues, and a hefty dose of Scottishness, it was always going to be a winner.

We adored spending the day with Will and Sarah and the noise their guests made when they kissed at the top of the aisle showed how much love they have for them too.

There was lots of silliness (find a photo where Will doesn’t have a cheeky grin on his face), the ceilidh dance was huge, and Sarah’s veil definitely didn’t fall in the canal!

For more information about our wedding package.

Click for their engagement photos

Church: St Philip’s Chapel Street, Salford / Venue: Hallé St Peter’s, Manchester / Florist: Blossom Flowers Chorlton / Catering: Chapman Holmes / Hair: Gilpin Hairdressing /

If you’re planning a wedding in manchester and you’re looking for relaxed photography like this we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch here.

Lauren and Muz's wedding at Hyde Park Picture House Leeds

What a day! Two gorgeous venues and walk through the park in between. We had a great time with this rowdy bunch who were ready to celebrate all day.

Venue- Hyde Park Picture House, Leeds

Venue- The Adelphi, Leeds

Catering- Chef Miller

MUA- Rachel O’Dell Makeup & Hair

If you’re planning a wedding in leeds and you’re looking for relaxed photography like this we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch here.

Hannah and Liam's wedding party, Sutton Coldfield

The Birmingham celebration of Hannah and Liam’s Vegas wedding, dripping with treats and bright details. These sweet flower girls stole the show partying hard. The Townhouse in Sutton Coldfield was the perfect venue.

For more information about our wedding package.

If you’re planning a wedding in sutton coldfield and you’re looking for relaxed photography like this we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch here.

Becky and Alex's Wedding at Cider Mill Barns

Becky and Alex had a wonderful wedding at Cider Mill Barns in Pebworth. Becky and Alex looked amazing and their wedding had a camper van, the BEST bridesmaids and flower girls, a dip kiss on the aisle and our old friend, Oscar the dog!

For more information about our wedding package.

their engagement photos (featuring Oscar the dog)

Venue: Cider Mill Barns / Hair: Bad Hair Co  / MUA: Done Up Beauty / Pianist: Chris Keys Pian / Video: Two Towers Media / Cake: Cake Creations Redditch / Florist: Hibiscus Floral Design / Styling: White Violet events  / Foliage and Faux / Band: Knightley / Illustrator / Live Artist: Harley Sindall / Dog Chaperone: Redditch Dog Walking 

If you’re planning a wedding at Cider Mill Barns and you’re looking for relaxed photography like this we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch here.

Raj's Maiyan Ceremony

Next level hospitality to celebrate with Raj.

If you’re planning your wedding celebrations and looking for relaxed photography like this we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch here.