Brand Photography by Elizabeth: Blog

Romantic wedding in Bradford on Avon and Wick Farm, Bath

(Brand Photography by Elizabeth) — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 11:58:12 GMT

On the morning of April and Angus's wedding, I joined April at the Waterhouse Hotel as she got ready. Set in the Midford valley, April, her mum, sister, bridesmaids, aunty and cousins all got ready together in a large room with stunning views. What a wonderful way to start the day. Friends and family were popping in throughout the morning to say hello and there was such a lovely buzz in the room as make-up was perfected and flowers were pinned delicately into hair.

April travelled to the ceremony in a beautifully classic silver and black Rolls Royce, and was very composed when she arrived at the Holy Trinity Church in Bradford on Avon with her dad. Angus, I think it is fair to say was a little nervous but he couldn't stop smiling. He kept busy with greeting his guests and making sure everyone had everything they needed and very quickly it was time to go inside and get ready for the brides arrival.

Their service was very special with two readings from family and friends and musical accompaniment on the flute and violin by two close friends. I also loved that their rings were carefully carried into the church on a beautiful piece of antique lace which had been specially placed on a silver dish. The young man looking after this was very serious about keeping them safe and watched me like hawk when I wanted to get some shots of them!

After Angus and April's ceremony, lots of fun with confetti and a few additional photographs at the Saxon church next door, we travelled to Wick Barn for drinks and their wedding breakfast. The barn is in a beautiful area of Bath and I just love all of the scenery around the venue that can be used for photographs of the bride and groom. We chose to go out to the front of the barn as there were a few locations the couple liked in particular and we had a lot of fun capturing their special photographs.

In the evening, the traditional cake cutting and first dance were followed by a Salsa masterclass. The lesson was lead by another Angus (a salsa teacher who had travelled up from Exeter) and he was brilliant at getting everyone involved. Everyone gave it their all and had so much fun learning their new moves. April even had a change of outfit so that she could move more freely and dance the night away.

Angus and April's friends and family travelled in from around the world to witness and celebrate with this very sweet and caring couple. They had a beautiful day and I really enjoyed capturing it all for them.

Bowood House - stunning outdoor and indoor wedding venue

(Brand Photography by Elizabeth) — Wed, 29 May 2019 11:01:58 GMT

Bowood House is a truly gorgeous venue for a wedding and I was so excited to be invited to capture their new outdoor ceremony venue on their open evening.

When I arrived, I was blown away by the beauty of their new pavilion. Taking in stunning views of the estate, and a few deer, couples can now get married in this exquisite oak and Cotswold slate structure. What a very special way to say "I do".

The dressing of the pavilion on the open evening was also perfect. I loved its romantic simplicity and thought it was very inspirational with it's minimal colour theme and deconstructed flower displays. I felt sure this would be very popular with couples and can't wait to capture lots of beautiful days there soon!

Bowood House Wedding Venue > You can see more photographs here >

Lots of fun in this relaxed portrait session at the family home

(Brand Photography by Elizabeth) — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 12:34:25 GMT

What a fun morning this was! I had a call from Sarah who was looking for a relaxed family portrait session to take place in her home. With it being being winter, she was keen for them to all be comfortable and to not have to worry about the weather and keeping the little ones warm. To which I replied "no problem!". I love going to see families in their home, everyone is always instantly more at ease and especially with young families, they have everything they need at hand which makes it stress free and most importantly lots of fun.

We had quite a giggle on the day and I love the photographs I captured for them. I have lots of silly ideas and things we can do to help bring out those cheeky smiles, having my own little ones has given me lots of practice! All of the children's toys were talking, their cuddly duck played peek-a-boo, there was a hiding frog! It was so much fun.

Ashley and Laura's engagement photoshoot at Lydiard Park, Swindon

(Brand Photography by Elizabeth) — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 12:53:46 GMT

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of taking a stroll around the beautiful Lydiard Park in Swindon with this lovely couple. Laura and Ashley are getting married later in the year and they were keen to get some romantic shots of the two of them before their big day.

Lydiard Park is such a stunning place and we had plenty of opportunities for great backdrops. Ashley and Laura are really natural with each other, it is clear to see that they love each other very much and we got lots of really lovely shots.

We also had a lot of fun chatting as we walked around the park (an engagement shoot is a great way to get to know your wedding photographer as well as helping you to feel relaxed with them) and I'm really looking forward to seeing them again later in the year on their wedding day.

"Elizabeth is so easy to get on with, really friendly and very attentive. She is easy to communicate with and very organised. We thoroughly enjoyed our engagement shoot and we're so pleased with the ideas that Elizabeth had for us and the end result was brilliant. We're looking forward to working with her on our wedding day!" Laura and Ashley

Lewis and Alex's stunning informal wedding at Devizes Town Hall

(Brand Photography by Elizabeth) — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 19:26:39 GMT

Lewis and Alex's beautiful wedding took place in the lovely Devizes Town Hall. This was my first wedding there and I was really impressed by the venue, the architecture and also the welcome given by the Hall manager himself. Their wedding was very relaxed and I was pleased to be able to capture shots of the entire ceremony as it was so special. They included lovely personal readings as well as two songs that everyone joined in with.

After, as they left the hall, their guests greeted them with a huge cheer and it was lovely to see their reactions. They are such a lovely couple and are surrounded by wonderful family and friends - love was certainly in the air.

Their wedding reception took place at Alex's Aunt and Uncles, with a stunning marquee set up in the garden. I loved seeing how all of their plans had come together. They shared a lot of details with me when we met for their engagement photoshoot and I was so impressed at all they had put together the day before their wedding.

Click on the play button below to view their wedding day slideshow.

beautiful devizes town hall wedding, wiltshire wedding photography

And here are a few favourites from their beautiful wedding day at Devizes Town Hall.

Engagement photoshoot with Alex and Lewis at family home

(Brand Photography by Elizabeth) — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 08:23:59 GMT

This was a lovely morning with Alex and Lewis. We met up recently to run through the plans for their wedding day and to also take some photographs of the two of them, helping them to feel comfortable in front of the camera. It was hot and sunny and we had a lovely stroll around Lewis's Aunties place, making use of the lovely lanes and trees. On their wedding day, their wedding reception will take place here so it was brilliant to talk about where everything would happen as well as getting to know this lovely pair.

I can't wait to shoot their wedding in August, Alex and Lewis are such a lovely couple and have a really sweet way with each other. It's going to be a very special day :)

Photoshoot with The Middle Green, creator of stunning jewellery

(Brand Photography by Elizabeth) — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 09:43:08 GMT

I met Tom from The Middle Green a couple years ago through the Whitewed Directory and was immediately impressed by his passion as a jeweller. Creating bespoke pieces as well as more classic rings and jewellery, his work is always interesting and also very well received by his clients.

So when he asked if I could come along to his workshop to get some photographs of him working, I jumped at the chance. You can see that he absolutely loves what he does and has such enthusiasm to create individual pieces that really catch the eye.

I discovered that Tom's workshop (below Oink Gallery) is packed with tools as well as lots of wonderful pieces he's currently working on. I enjoyed taking photographs of him at his work station and seeing the contrast between the process of making a piece (which isn't always shiny and smooth!) and the final glittering creation. The intricacies and concentration required to make these pieces is incredible and it was such an interesting morning.

I hope you enjoy these shots of Tom at work and if you are looking for something different, give him a call. You can find all you need on his Facebook page :)

Train themed wedding day for Joe and Emma at the Swindon Steam Museum

(Brand Photography by Elizabeth) — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 12:42:42 GMT

Joe and Emma had a very special day planned and I couldn't wait to see how they were going to combine Joe's love of trains into their day. Joe works with the Swindon & Cricklade Railway team and couldn’t wait to get married at Steam in Swindon.

They had a wonderful day and I started by capturing lots of natural shots of Emma, her mum and bridesmaids while they got ready at the Marriott. They had a lovely room and there was a relaxed vibe as they all got ready together. The bridesmaids wore pretty pink dresses from Little Mistress and Emma’s dress suited her perfectly. It had a very pretty lace bodice and tulle skirt with a jewelled tie around her waist. She matched this with rose gold heals for the day and sparkly Converse for dancing - perfect.

At Steam, Joe and his best man Jordan were busy greeting guests. I took some photographs of them outside the museum while they checked the rings and fixed their buttonholes in place. I loved listening to them chatting and got some wonderful relaxed shots of them together.

Emma walked down the aisle with her mum, who looked very proud and Joe was wowed by his stunning bride. They had a lovely civil ceremony which included readings from family and friends and their guests were all thrilled to be a part of their special day. The room also looked wonderful with the lighting, balloons, chair ties and floral displays.

Drinks followed on the station platform, followed by some canapés and group photographs in front of The Bristolian train. Their wedding breakfast took place in front the Caerphilly Castle train and I loved exploring the decorations and details around the room. There were lots of lovely things to see, their table names were station signs in coal buckets and their cake had a mini train running around it with their names on the carriages. They had put so much effort into personalising their wedding breakfast room and I loved capturing it all.

Joe and Emma had a really wonderful and quite unique day and I had so much fun being there and capturing it all for them.

Cars from Function Cars of Purton | Flowers by Purple Orchid | Disco: Kosmic Entertainment | Bridesmaid dresses from Little Mistress
Venue: Steam Museum, Swindon

Intimate wedding for Ed and Emma with a marvelous mulberry theme

(Brand Photography by Elizabeth) — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 10:35:21 GMT

Ed and Emma celebrated their wedding day with close family and friends at the start of this year. They got married at the very welcoming Methodist Church in Royal Wootton Bassett and had a special service which included hymns sung by their talented choir friends.

Emma wore a rich mulberry coloured dress and I loved the flowers she had chosen to compliment, mixing deep reds with whites and lots of foliage. Ed and his men all looked very smart too with light grey suits and mulberry ties. Their heather buttonholes were lovely too, so simple and very beautiful.

After their service they braved the cold for a few photos and then we all went to Grittleton House, Chippenham to continue with their wedding celebrations. Guests were met with drinks, including a special gin cocktail by request of the newly weds! Grittleton House is a wonderful venue with lots of beautiful rooms and gardens, so we made the most of these stunning options for their photographs.

Ed and Emma are a lovely couple it was a joy to capture their wonderful day for them.

Flowers by Wendy House Flowers | Reception venue - Grittleton house | Cake by Classens Cakes

Phill and Sarah's wonderful wedding day at Wellington Barn, Calne

(Brand Photography by Elizabeth) — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 19:20:09 GMT

Sarah and Phill picked the beautiful Wellington Barn for their wedding day. I love shooting weddings here as the barn is stunning and the scenery that surrounds it is unique. Rolling hills, wild flowers and corn fields – love it!

My day started at the barn with Phill where I also met James his best man. They have a great friendship and I really enjoyed getting lots of relaxed shots before they went in to the barn to greet everyone.

Sarah arrived looking very calm. Her dress had an intricately gathered silk bodice with a delicately layered tulle skirt. I just loved the beauty of the unfussy design and it really suited Sarah. And with her hair swept up in delicate swirls and some pearls to finish her look, she looked radiant.

They wanted a relaxed feel to their day and planned garden games during their drinks reception along with just a few group photos so they could circulate more with their guests. I also loved that lots of their friends and family played a part in putting together their day. Aunty Debs made their amazing wedding cake, which was topped with poenys (my favourite's!). Sarah’s mum Barbara made a very impressive pinny for Sarah to wear while eating and their good friend (and florist) Martin put together all of the stunning flowers.

It was a wonderful day for a really lovely couple, always laughing and smiling, so happy together.

Flowers by Martin and the Magpie | Wellington Barn Wedding - Elizabeth Donovan Photography trusted supplier to the barn
Evening food by The Sausage and Mash Company | Magician - Robert Bone

Elizabeth Donovan Photography - Winner of Business of the Year

(Brand Photography by Elizabeth) — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 14:08:21 GMT

In 2019 I was thrilled to attend and receive
FINALIST in the wedding photography
at the Guides for Brides awards ceremony in Oxford!

And in 2018 I received the
Whitewed Driectory Business of the Year WINNER award!

Whitewed Directory WINNER!

I was so thrilled that Elizabeth Donovan Photography was the Whitewed Directory BUSINESS OF THE YEAR winner.

The awards ceremony took place at DoubleTree by Hilton in Feburary 2018 and there was certainly a lot of excitement and anticipation in the air. All the shortlisted finalists were there as well as so many others from the directory and it was great to catch up with a few before the evening kicked off.

Following an introduction by Natalie Lovett from the Whitewed Directory, Sara Tye (RedHead PR and one of the judges) gave a talk on her journey to success before announcing the first award - BUSINESS OF THE YEAR. When Sara announced my name, it took a moment to sink in and as I tried to walk to the stage my knees started to wobble! It was such a wonderful surprise and I am absolutely thrilled. The competition was been judged by independent industry experts and to hear their feedback on my business and why they chose me to win was quite overwhelming.

Sara said, “I was most impressed by Elizabeth’s entry. She single-handedly runs every aspect of her business. Not only is she running a successful business, she is also a mum. I know the difficultly of juggling all this and the discipline needed to remain focused and grow a business. Elizabeth has demonstrated that she always goes the extra mile and has an exceptional eye for attention to detail.”

Elizabeth Donovan’s approach during her six years of trading has been photographing weddings in a natural way. She initially built her customers from wedding fayres but now gets around half her bookings simply through her fantastic reputation among past couples and suppliers she has worked with over the years.

Elizabeth has been fully booked for the past four years. Her bookings are boosted by enquiries from online channels and referrals from her professional and information-packed website. This reflects her creative and open approach, including regularly updated blog pieces, supplier connections and search engine optimisation.

You can read the full article here >

The other two judges (Adam Flint and Nicky Alberry) then announced the remaining 2 winners - MOST INSPIRATIONAL PERSON OF THE YEAR - Steph at Venues Covered and START-UP BUSINESS OF THE YEAR - Georigia Yates Wedding Stationery.

It really was an amazing night. We celebrated with a glass of fizz (or two) and I couldn't wait to tell everyone, especially our two boys. My eldest has since told me he is very proud of me - what a cutie!

Here are a few selfies from the night as well as the official photographs plus some of my lovely award :)

You may also be interested to read about my shortlisting in the Wedding Industry Awards >

Stunning autumnal wedding for Glen and Julie at Alexandra House

(Brand Photography by Elizabeth) — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 19:39:15 GMT

Julie’s favourite time of year is autumn and when we first met I caught an exciting glimpse of their October wedding theme. Julie was making all the invitations and they looked stunning - I couldn’t wait to see everything on their big day.

Julie got ready with her bridesmaids at Alexandra House. There was such a lovely relaxed feel in the room, music was playing and there was lots of excited chat about the day ahead. Julie’s dress was in fact a two piece - a buttoned tulle skirt and fitted lace bodice with silk buttons down the back. It really suited Julie and she looked stunning. Then, topped off with her trademark red lipstick, Julie was ready first! Her bridesmaids all wore delicate navy blue dresses and carried stunning orange rose bouquets. They all looked absolutely gorgeous.

I met Glen and his men (including Julie and Glen’s son) down in the bar. Their little boy looked so handsome in his three piece suit and converse - in fact all the wedding party looked very smart.

On the way to the ceremony room there were lots of decorated pumpkins and the room its self was decorated with more pumpkins, stunning autumnal flowers, fairy lights across the ceiling and navy bows around all of the chairs - their theme looked amazing, a real feast for the eyes.

They had a lovely ceremony and after we were able to use the courtyard for their photographs as well as out at the front of the hotel. It was such a beautiful day, sun shining and colourful trees everywhere, you wouldn’t have thought that November was just a few days away.

Julie and Glen’s wedding breakfast room looked absolutely amazing, so many details and together it was all very impressive. Continuing the autumnal theme they had made and decorated everything themselves. They had even made their own confetti for the tables, individually cutting each little leaf. There were candles everywhere, pumpkin centre pieces, flowers, little bottles of flavoured drinks for everyone, themed goodie bags for all the little ones and much, much more. I was really wowed by it all, Julie had done such an amazing job.

I throughly enjoyed capturing their day, they are such a lovely couple, very caring of each other and of their son. Their family and friends were all very welcoming and I loved the incredible effort they had put into personalising their day. It really was very special.

Flowers by Purple Orchid | Rings by Tom at The Middle Green | Beverley co-ordinated their day at Alexandra House

Katie and Ricky's beautiful Kingscote Barn wedding, Tetbury

(Brand Photography by Elizabeth) — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 13:50:25 GMT

Travelling to Ricky and Katie's wedding felt a little like a magical mystery tour. Passing through pretty woodlands and sun soaked autumn leaves, I eventually arrived at their cute cottage in the stunning village of Painswick. The girls were all getting ready together, along with Katie's Mum and Auntie and were enjoying a relaxed start to the day. Katie and Ricky had given all the bridesmaids personalised boxes with a selection of carefully chosen gifts inside, such a lovely touch and the girls enjoyed their champagne while getting dressed. Katie's hair and make up looked stunning and she wowed everyone when she came down the stairs in her exquisite fitted lace fishtail dress.

At Kingscote Barn, Ricky was excited to get the day started. Helping each other out with their buttonholes, it was clear from the start that this was going to be a very fun day filled with lots of jokes and laughter.

The barn looked amazing and I loved how the chairs were decorated with tulle and hessian bows. Katie and Ricky provided all their guests with tissues on their seats and a little plan for the day, all of which had lovely designs. They also had lots of little jam jars filled with soft pastel colour flowers and candles decorating the pretty barn. This was my first wedding at Kingscote Barn and I was really impressed by it all. And although it was at the end of a rather damp September, the sun was shining for this lovely couple and we could make the most of the impressive landscape around the barn for all their photographs.

We had lots of giggles while taking their special photos, Ricky and Katie were so relaxed with each other and it was really lovely to capture the warmth between them.

Kingscote Barn | Band - The Hares | Hair - Fay at Hair Hostess | Getting ready - Washbrook Cottage | Flowers of Bath

Jen and Joel's perfect English wedding

(Brand Photography by Elizabeth) — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 12:30:11 GMT

Jen and Joel's beautiful wedding took place on a gorgeously sunny day in August. They had a touching church ceremony, followed by drinks and canapés on the lawn, a horse drawn carriage to their evening venue and a ceilidh band. WOW!

Having flowin in from their home in Canada a week before Jen and Joel, had a busy few days checking the last minute details with Jen's mum and Natalie (their wedding planner). This was when I met them. It was great to get to know them a little, as well as having a look around the tranquil village of Mildenhall, near Marlborough, to explore where it would all take place.

On the day Jen and her bridesmaids got ready at a friends house just opposite the church. Jen looked stunning in her corset style gown with a beautiful lace sweetheart neckline and full silk skirt. Her bridesmaids also looked very lovely in their purple dresses and matching waterfall plaits in their hair.

The couple had a beautiful blessing in the church which was packed with friends and family, many of whom had flown in from around the world for their special day. After this, I went with Jen and Joel to their friends garden to capture some really special shots. The garden was impressive, very well cared for and big too, so we had lots of lovely opportunities for their photographs.

We then rejoined the wedding party and the couple enjoyed catching up with their guests before hopping into their horse drawn carriage to Marlborough Town Hall. After a very tasty meal and brilliant speeches, heals were swapped for flats as the ceilidh band warmed up for their evenings entertainment.

Their day went so well and everyone had such fun (including me!!). It really was a perfect day.

Acoustic guitar singer - Ben Cipolla

Flowers - Hedge Rose Florist

Wedding coordinator - Natalie Lovett at Love to Plan

2017 - You were amazing - thank you!

(Brand Photography by Elizabeth) — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 16:55:48 GMT

2017 was a very exciting year in the world of Elizabeth Donovan Photography, covering weddings all over the county and beyond, as well as being shortlisted for two prestigious awards along the way.

Looking back and picking out a few images for the montage below, I wonder how I squeezed it all in!!

I met so many wonderful couples and I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to you all. You were all brilliantly, gorgeous and amazing, I loved working with you. You trusted me to get on with what I do and I've been totally overwhelmed by your comments and feedback.

I must also say thank you for all the other things you did for me like carrying my big camera bag on occasions, topping me up with lemonades, checking I am OK and having everything I need. You really were a lovely bunch!

2017 was also very exciting on the awards front. I was shortlisted in the 2017 Cotswold Wedding Awards and I am in the final 3 in The Whitewed Directory Awards for Business of the year. Again, I feel overwhelmed at being nominated and also selected, watch this space for the results!

I would also like say a big thank you to some of the lovely venues and suppliers I worked with this year. You were all brilliant, excelling in your own areas. Your talents helped to make these couple's dreams come true and I look forward to working with you all again this year.

Venues:

Alexandra House
The Bay Tree Hotel
Chiseldon House - Styled shoot on my blog
Kingscote Barn
Manor by the Lake
Marlborough Town Hall
Rendcombe college - Anna and Paul on my blog
Stanton Manor Hotel - Amy and Scott on my blog Lee and Sophie on my blog
Wellington Barn - Katherine and Mark on my blog
The Wiltshire Hotel, Golf and Leisure Resort - Karen and Jon on my blog
Winkworth Farm - Laura and Kevin on my blog

Suppliers:

The Middle Green - Handcrafted Jewellery
Fay at Hair Hostess UK - Bridal Hair
Hayley Hewlett - Bridal Hair - Katherine and Mark on my blog
Stacey at Updoo - Bridal Hair - Laura and Kevin on my blog

Holly Anderson - Make Up Artist

Jody at Rosy Lea Florist - Karen and Jon on my blog
Martin and the Magpie - Florists
Purple Orchid Florist

Natalie Lovett - Wedding Planner at Love to Plan

Richardson Marquees - Amy and Scott on my blog

Sarah at The Scrumptious Crumb - cake on my blog

Rock and Roll covers band - JitterBug

Thank you everyone!

If you are getting married this year or next, do consider the above suppliers, they really are brilliant at what they do. And all such lovely people at the same time :) Also, take some time to look at my wedding galley. If you are yet to book your photographer, who knows, maybe I am the one for you!!

So HAPPY NEW YEAR and here's to an exciting 2018!

Shortlisted for Business of the Year 2017 in The Whitewed Directory Awards

(Brand Photography by Elizabeth) — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 13:56:29 GMT

I am absolutely thrilled to share with you that Elizabeth Donovan Photography has been shortlisted in the first-ever Whitewed Directory Awards for BUSINESS OF THE YEAR.

There are three award categories in the awards, Business Person of the Year 2017, Most Inspiring Business Person of the Year 2017 and Start-up Business of the Year 2017. Each category has three shortlisted finalists and I am so pleased to be down to the last 3 in my category.

The winners will be chosen by an independent judging panel made up of three highly respected industry professionals and will be announced at an awards ceremony taking place on 1st February 2018 at the Doubletree by Hilton Swindon.

I will keep you posted on how I get on, in the meantime, I am thrilled to be shortlisted and recognised for the work I do within the Wedding Industry.

Natalie Lovett, creator of The Whitewed Directory , said: “Congratulations to Elizabeth Donovan Photography for being shortlisted in the inaugural The Whitewed Directory Awards. It’s fantastic that we have had so much interest in the awards and are delighted to have received many excellent nominations from around the region. All of our shortlisted nominees should feel very proud of themselves for this fantastic achievement and we can’t wait to find out who the winners will be at our exciting awards ceremony in February 2018.”

Natalie also passed onto me that the judges were impressed with how I came into industry, learned my trade, took on challenges and gained great feedback from clients.

Find out more information about The Whitewed Directory.

Love and laughter at The Wiltshire Hotel - Jon and Karen's wedding

(Brand Photography by Elizabeth) — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 12:03:09 GMT

Karen and Jon's wonderful wedding day stated at their home in Broad Hinton. It was a busy, but very organised morning with their four daughters and Karen all getting their hair and make up done together in their kitchen/diner.

I loved Karen's make up and she looked beautiful with a gentle chignon in her hair. Her dress was just perfect too, the cut of the dress along with the detail around the bodice really suited her and her girls were quick to compliment once she was ready for the church.

Their friends provided two classic vintage cars to take them to the church, freshly cleaned and polished for the occasion. One of their drivers had even bought a chauffeur hat, he was taking his role very seriously!

A quick hop to St Peters Ad Vincula Church in Broad Hinton and Karen's dad looked very proud as he walked his girl down the aisle. Friends from the village performed a number of beautiful songs during the ceremony and the couple, along with their children, lit candles for loved ones who couldn't be there. I think it's also safe to say the vicar was very happy to be taking their service. She gave them such a lovely personal ceremony - she even mentioned how she danced about her home when she received their call to book their wedding.

Their wedding reception took place at The Wiltshire Hotel in Royal Wootton Bassett. We were lucky with the weather and Mandy the wedding coordinator at the hotel arranged for us to go out in golf buggies to the lake on the course for some photos. I've not been in one before and decided Ben their videographer should drive our buggy - what an experience and a great opportunity to capture some more stunning photographs of Jon and Karen.

The venue looked wonderful and I loved that Jon credited Karen in his speech, for all her hard work leading up to the day. Everything looked so pretty and there were lots of cute details everywhere. I also enjoyed seeing Jon and Karen's school photos on their table plan and the poem that Karen's school wrote to the couple was also on display.

They had an amazing day. Karen nearly had me in tears during her speech, there was so much laughter and fun throughout the day and their guests were all so lovely and welcoming. All of this made it so hard to pick, but here are some of my favourites from their day.

Ben Thomas - videographer

Jody at Rosy Lea Florist supplied their beautiful flowers

Mandy was their amazing wedding coordinator at The Wiltshire Hotel, Royal Wootton Bassett

Scott and Ami's stunning outdoor wedding at Stanton Manor Hotel, Chippenham

(Brand Photography by Elizabeth) — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 19:58:30 GMT

Scott and Ami chose the very lovely Stanton Manor Hotel in Chippenham for their wedding day and were blessed with dry weather allowing them to have the outdoor ceremony they so hoped for.

Ami looked stunning in her two piece wedding dress and with help from her mum and her bridesmaids, she was ready with time to spare. I loved Ami’s hair and make up and her look was finished off with a beautiful pearl and diamond necklace from Scott.

Scott, his best men and ushers all super smart and took great care in getting everyone to their seats in time. The outdoor gazebo looked lovely decorated in organza with matching peach wedding flowers tied to each of the posts. Everyone was so happy to be outdoors for their ceremony, as they knew how much it meant to them both.

Ami and her mum made their way to the ceremony hand in hand and it was so lovely to see how Scott embraced both his bride and mother-in-law to be when they reached the end of the aisle. Their ceremony was perfect and amazingly Scott did one of the readings... from memory - I think the nerves would have been too much for me!

Everyone looked wonderful, drinks and nibbles were enjoyed on the lawn after their ceremony and everything ran so smoothly. There were lots laughs and the gathering clouds did nothing to dampen the summer vibe of their day. Scott's brother Sean even captured the whole day for them on film - a lovely personal gift to the newly weds!

The staff at the hotel were all so thoughtful and Zoe, their wedding coordinator, couldn't have been more attentive. Their food was really delicious too (and I even got to sample a very yummy desert as well as their main - yum)!

It truly was a beautiful day, I hope you enjoy some of my favourite shots from their day.

Watch Scott and Ami's Wedding Video at Stanton Manor Hotel - Shot by Sean Jefferies
Marquee by Richardson Marquees | Cake by The Pretty Cake Company

Cotswolds 2017 Wedding Awards - Please vote for me!

(Brand Photography by Elizabeth) — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 11:39:33 GMT

I am thrilled to share with you that I have been selected for the 2017 Cotswold Wedding Awards and I need your help to win.

Please follow this link, enter your name and email address and then select me in the Wedding Photographer list - it's that easy!

Thank you :)

http://www.cotswoldsawards.co.uk/vote-in-the-2017-cotswolds-awards/

Mark and Katherine's Beautiful Wild Flower Wedding

(Brand Photography by Elizabeth) — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 08:47:16 GMT

I met this lovely couple last September while shooting Katherine's sisters wedding and was so happy to be asked to shoot their day this year.

Katherine got ready at her parents house with her bridesmaids and family around her. There was a lovely bubbly atmosphere and it was so cute to see the two little bridesmaids playing together as the grown ups whizzed about them. The girls all looked lovely in their blue dresses and I loved that they were all different in design. Katherine looked stunning in her fitted lace dress and I really enjoyed getting some gorgeous shots of her mum helping with her finishing touches.

At St Michael and All Angels Church in West Overton, Mark and his men all looked very smart in grey and blue. He had two best men as well as his ushers with him and I just enjoyed listening to them chatting and joking while getting their button holes in place.

They had a lovely ceremony and I loved watching Katherine's face during the sermon, great reactions to some of the comments made by their vicar. While signing the registar, Katherine's singing friends performed the most amazing song, it gave me goose bumps!

Later, they celebrated their wedding at Wellington Barn, Calne. The weather was absolutely glorious and they were able to enjoy an outside drinks reception along with games to play and lots of tasty nibbles to eat.

During their special photographs, Mark was keen to use the corn field – Katherine took a little persuading! We got lots of lovely shots there, as well as in the Wellington Barn wild flower field. The light was amazing and I could have kept them out there all day!

Mark and Katherine's beautiful sunflower wedding cake was made by their sister-in-law Sarah, who owns Scrumptious Crumb and their room decorated with a travel theme which reflected their honeymoon, backpacking adventure. It all looked so pretty.

They had a fabulous wedding day and I hope you enjoy these photographs.

Wellington Barn Wedding - Elizabeth Donovan Photography is proud to be a trusted supplier to the barn :)
Hayley Hewlett - Bridal Hair
Cake by Scrumptious Crumb
Band - JitterBug

Anna and Paul's beautiful wedding at Rendcomb College, Cirencester

(Brand Photography by Elizabeth) — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 17:17:43 GMT

Anna and Paul had a truly stunning wedding day earlier this year, the blossom was out in full force and the sun was beginning to give us a taste of the summer to come.

Anna got ready at her parents home with her bridesmaids and close family. All the ladies were pampered with hair and make up and I loved watching Anna's granny's reaction to her make up, make over! Everyone was very calm and before we knew it, it was time to head to the church.

Anna and Paul chose the very impressive Rendcomb college and church for their wedding day and WOW, what a place. Their service was lovely and I always enjoy listening to the newly weds sermon. They are always so different and Paul and Anna's reactions to some of the vicars comments were brilliant. They had a really lovely ceremony and the sunlight steaming through the stunning stain glass windows as they signed the registar was so beautiful.

After a few photographs outside, everyone walked across to the college for the drinks reception out on the terrace. We then took their group photos out on the lawns with the very picturesque valley in the background.

The hall where they ate their wedding breakfast also looked incredible, the college did a fantastic job in setting everything out. Continuing their blue and white theme, there were tall flower centre pieces and blue ties on all the chairs. The room looked gorgeous and I loved seeing hyacinth, tulips and anemones in Anna's bouquet too - so pretty.

Here are a few favourites from their beautiful day.

You can read Anna and Paul's review of me and the photographs I took for them on the Guides for Brides website :)

Rendcomb college wedding

Family portrait - fun with my little one

(Brand Photography by Elizabeth) — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 20:11:21 GMT

Family photographs are so important and I can never get enough of my own. I love being able to capture children doing what comes naturally to them, in a place that they are comfortable. So a stomp in the woods or a play in your own back garden can make a great backdrop for a family photoshoot.

This is my littlest monkey. He just loves to play with water, whatever the weather. So last week with the heat, he needed no excuse to play in his favourite bucket! We had a great time splashing about, driving cars into it and blowing bubbles. And I really enjoyed capturing him having a blast doing it!

Here are just a few of my favourites from our little splash session last week :)