WE MET IN A FIELD
My initial contact with the Habgoods was made via Ben who sent me the warmest of emails asking if I were available for their wedding. My instincts reliably informed me that we were going to be a good match and soon we arranged our first meeting. This took place in an empty field in Surrey (a first for me). We chatted about the day and then we hugged. So when my business meetings end with a warm embrace I tend to know it's going to be a great wedding!
BLUEBELLS HUGS AND COFFEE
The next time we met it was in spring this year when the bluebell woods were in bloom. This time I took my camera as we were also there to capture some engagement photos and finalise the details for the wedding and not only did we do that but we managed to pass a couple of hours with great conversation too! Those that know me well know that I do like my deep and meaning-fuls.
From these two initial meetings I learnt all I needed to know about Ben and Juliette. They have an adundence of love for each other, family, nature, adventure, animals and people. So they are not just my kind of people because we hugged they are everyone's kind of people (unless you are weird and you don't like hugs).
Ben and Juliette chose to have a humanist wedding, determined to marry in a field but first they made their marriage legal. So en route to the field in which the main event was to take place we stopped off at a registry office with immediate family and close friends to make it all official.
THE CEREMONY
The field was the most beautiful backdrop for the wedding. The weather was perfect, the tent was decorated beautifully and for as far as the eye could see only fields (and a few sheep) surrounded us.
THE CEREMONY
So this was where the really emotional stuff took place. Since one of the unique and intimate aspects of humanist ceremonies is that the couple get to write their own vows. Ben and Juliette's left most of us weeping and Ben even promised Juliette a cat some day (which was the point in which I wished I'd invested in waterproof mascara).
These two are obviously oozing with love for each other but in equal amounts, listening to their vows, there is just as much respect for one another too.
CELEBRATING THE GOOD TIMES
After tears the tears of joy were shed and there was a jolly good cheer from the guests it was time to crack open the bubbles, enjoy more hugging, eat some FANTASTIC scrummy pie and oh yes... bust out some obligatory wedding hand stands!?!!?
For the evening's entertainment Ben and Juliette booked a Ceilidh and once they had made suitable adjustments to Juliette's dress (using Ben's belt I believe) they were off dancing to the setting sun with family and friends.
At this point I grabbed myself a well earned glass of something, pulled up a bale and just sat back and watched for a while before heading home with a heart as full as my belly and a shed load of images to look forward to editing!
Mr and Mrs Habgood had exactly the wedding day that they had hoped for and absolutely deserved! It was full of laughter, fun, dancing, hand stands and of course plenty of hugs.
I am looking forward to our next hug/coffee/conversation in whatever order that comes in.
You guys were a dream to work with and I am absolutely delighted that the world has people like you two in it.