Summer 2012. It rained. And it rained. And then it rained some more. I was starting to wonder if Amy and Al were going to have to give up on the idea of a garden party and build an ark instead. And just when I was packing my wading boots, waterproof camera casing and wondering where my sou'wester had got to the sun came out! And not just a little bit out - suddenly we had SUMMERTIME!!!

Amy and Al, together with their lovely family and friends, had planned a seriously special wedding day. The ceremony took place at the  eye-wateringly beautiful St Mary's Church in Thame (I'm obsessed with churches and this one took the biscuit). Once the hymns were sung and the register signed, the bride, groom and I picked up her full white fairytale dress and gorgeously heavy lace veil (sigh!) and, what with time not being on our side, hotfooted it round the back of the super-photogenic church for the fastest newlywed shoot I have ever done in my life. Speedy Gon-poses. But Amy and Al were FAB. They giggled and snuggled and made big eyes at each other and it was wicked fun. After which it was all back to the entrance for a snowstorm of confetti and an exit in a very snazzy vintage sports car.

But here's where I was reaaaaally impressed. The reception was held in Amy's parents' huge long garden... Today it was full of flowers, a huge marquee with beautiful laid tables and uniformed staff scurrying around making things perfect, swings, a drinks tent, a colourful gazebo and even a splat-the-rat game (colour me impressed). Friends and family had worked long and hard with the newlyweds to make it magical... and it was full bursting with colour and special touches. Guests sipped elderflower cordial, cold white wine and colder beers and all I heard for the whole afternoon were the sounds of a hundred people having a cracking time. I mooched around chatting to many folks and shooting with a long lens. Love it!

Mr and Mrs are relaxed, funny, super-together and lovely to be around. Their wedding was exactly what a wedding should be - full of warmth and love and laughter, and I can't tell you how much I enjoyed myself. I know an amazing life awaits them... in fact - they're living it now :-)

For those die-hards who want to look at the *big* gallery, you can find it here http://www.mariposaphoto.co.uk/amyandal . In the meantime here's a selection of some of my faves of the happy couple!