Giles and Danielle's engagement shoot in Southwold

Map-makers - Giles and Danielle - have been friends for ages but 2 years ago they fell head over heels in love and are now planning a beautiful wedding next year with a vintage afternoon-tea feel.

Being outdoorsy types; the beach was a no-brainer for their engagement shoot! Southwold is somewhere that I personally love dearly as I spent so much time there as a child with my family so no amount of wind and drizzle was going to spoil our hour of seaside fun!

 

Di and Andy's woodland engagement shoot

Last month we ran a competition at the Norfolk Brides wedding fair at Drayton Old Lodge for two couples to win a free engagement shoot. Today I went on a lovely walk around Bacton Woods with Di and Andy, the first couple to have their name picked out of the hat.

Andy produced Di with her engagement ring just last month, so today was the perfect excuse to celebrate with a fun day taking a few pictures of them together.

Pippa - their springer spaniel lead us round a familiar set of paths at one of Di and Andy's favourite walking spots - Bacton Woods in Norfolk. The sun was out, the floor was strewn with burnt orange leaves and the air was fresh - it was a great way to spend my Sunday morning.

Me = Bridesmaid = Excited

The 80’s. Oh the 80’s. This was the last (and only) time I was a bridesmaid. Thrown into an outrageously floral dress with preposterously vast puffy sleeves, I spent most of the day drinking fizzy pop and playing in the couples back garden where they held their reception. I had a rather lovely time playing princess for the day.

Fast forward 20 years and I am thrilled to have been asked to be a bridesmaid - as an adult - at my friend’s wedding next year. I still intend to drink some fizzy (champagne) and I will be frolicking among the beautiful grounds of Southwood Hall in Norfolk - http://www.southwoodhall.com/ with all the guests and my friends.

Last month, my friend Poppy asked me to meet her in a café in London, along with 3 other friends. We ate, we drank, we chatted and then she pulled out 4 enchanting little parcels and gave one to each of us. Inside my decorated bag were some photos of us over the years, some home-made ginger and chocolates truffles, rhubarb jam, a wedding invite to her and Greg’s big day and a personalised invite to be her bridesmaid; it was an awesome surprise and a great way to be asked!

It’s going to be an entirely different experience being an adult Bridesmaid and I know it’s going to be a lot of fun helping Poppy make plans for her big day – time to start looking at dresses!