Our Top 5 Tips for Visiting a Wedding Fayre

January marks the start of Wedding Planning kicking back into gear with Wedding Fayres starting to be advertised again. So here are our Top 5 Tips for visiting a Wedding Fayre!

All Set up for Leeds I Do Wedding Exhibition 2017

1. Pick Carefully who you go with
Are you going to look, or are you going to book? Depending on your main aim for the Wedding Fayre will give you an idea of who is best to go with. Are you wanting to show off the venue to your parents where you are thinking of getting married at or are you planning on booking your favourite suppliers.

2. Be Organised
You will get given a lot of information depending on the type of Wedding Fayre you are going to. So make sure you are organised to avoid overwhelm! Here are a couple of ideas for yourself.

• Get a document wallet that you can divide into sections by supplier. Then as you are given the information you can pop them into their relevant section making it easier to look through!
• Bring different bags. Delegate a "Yes" bag and an "I'll think about it" bag. Therefore when you get home you just need to look through your "Yes" bag of information from suppliers you really liked.
• Have labels made with your name, wedding date and email. Stick these on entry forms for competitions rather than filling it out at every stand.

3. Leave the Kids at Home
If its possible avoid bringing small children, especially to the larger Wedding Fayres. The bigger fayres can get very busy and you'll get frustrated that you cannot move with a pushchair. Alternatively, if your children are walking check out how big the venue is for the fayre as the children may get tired and cranky and there may not be enough rest areas. 

4. Stay Focussed
There will be lots of different suppliers offering different things. Keep True to what you want for your Wedding.  Make sure you have your budget set and thresholds set for each supplier you need. This will help you narrow down your suppliers even further.

5. Check the offers and Goodie Bags!
Suppliers spend a lot of money on booking stands and want to attract business. This can be with goody bags or competitions. If however, you have that supplier book, don't take all their goodies just because their look nice. Enter as many competitions as possible for the suppliers you are interested in too! Make sure if you don't have sticky labels you print your email address clearly so that if you have won something you will get the email! 

Happy Planning!

2017: A Year in Weddings

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. - Lao Tzu

2017 has been a fabulous year for Weddings I've got to be the photographer at so many wonderful Weddings including some of my friends too!

This year I have photographed 17 Weddings the same as 2016.
Which break down as follows.

4 Church Ceremonies

1 Outdoor Ceremony

12 Civil Ceremonies

I have photographed at FOUR new venues to Blue Lights Photography this year and 7 Weddings have been at Waterton Park Hotel.

My Wedding Season started in January at Wortley Hall, and ended in December at Waterton Park Hotel!

I really do love my job. As I photograph a MAXIMUM of 20 Weddings per year and a maximum of 4 Weddings per month this means that the people who book me get the best of me whilst the studio doesn't suffer either.

This year I have photographed at Wortley Hall, Waterton Park Hotel, Kings Croft Hotel, Parson House, Cubley Hall, Hotel Van Dyk, Queens Hotel Leeds, Smallshaw Farm, Casa Hotel Chesterfield and Whitley Hall.

I want to thank my couples for being so wonderful and allowing me to share their special days with them!

To find out more about Blue Lights Photography Weddings then you can head to our website or our facebook page. You can also find our prices and availability online too.

Walking with your hands in mine and mine in yours, that’s exactly where I want to be always. - Fawn Weaver

2017: A Year in Newborn Babies

You cannot buy happiness, happiness is born - Unknown

I really do love my job. New parents come to me and hand over their precious little bundle and allow me to snuggle them and create lasting memories whilst they're so tiny.

I always tell mummies and daddies that when they walk in they can just sit down and relax and I will undress and settle baby if they are unsettled and get them off to the land of nod.

I appreciate that these new parents are giving their babies to a stranger to move, and pose, and the best bit of all I get cuddles!

This year I have had the pleasure of photographing 40 beautiful babies. 

24 Boys and 16 Girls. This is the second year that I've photographed more boys than girls!

You can make a solid booking for your newborn session from your 20 Week Scan.

I take provisional bookings from your 12-Week Scan and I book you in via your due date - and then when baby arrives we get a confirmed session date in our diary.

I happily photograph babies up to 3 weeks new!

To find out more then you can head over to the website - or visit our facebook page. Alternatively if you wish to book then click to BOOK NOW!

[Wedding] A beautiful Black and White Themed Wedding at Waterton Park Hotel

On Thursday, I had the pleasure of photographing my last Wedding of 2017 at Waterton Park Hotel. Tracey & Derek were to marry.

I first popped in and saw the Bride Tracey who was calmer than I expected and then headed into the room that was being used for hair, before heading to the room that was being used for make-up! Very well prepared! :)

The bridesmaids headed to their room to change whilst Tracey got ready in her room with her mum, mother-in-law and her boys.

The bridesmaids were each walked down the aisle, they all wore beautiful black fishtail dresses with black shrugs and gloves whilst the men were a black 3-piece suit and dickie bows and scarves. Everyone looked very Dapper!

Tracey was walked down the aisle accompanied by her two boys to Derek who was waiting nervously at the bottom of the aisle.

The ceremony was beautiful with two readings and the Waterton suite looked beautiful dressed in black and white with candles and flowers. So beautiful and classic within their theme.

We headed outside into the fresh winter air to take the requested group photographs. I know how much Tracey loves Black and White images but I had to keep some in colour for this blog :)

How stunning do Derek, Tracey and their collective children look!

After a mingle with their guests, a drink and a little bit of a warm-up, we headed outside for some couple photographs. Considering it was December the Weather was definitely on our side even if it was a little chilly!

Beautiful Sunshine, not windy and we even got to play with the snow machine!

Thank you to the new Mr and Mrs Baker for choosing me to share your special day!

Top 10 No-Carve Pumpkin Ideas

With Halloween just around the corner, the thought of carving a pumpkin and throwing away the insides is something that you don't really want to do then this blog post is just for you!

So put down the knife, and look at these ten fabulous ideas instead! 

Get in the "Trick or Treat" Spirit with these fabulous Black and White Pumpkins

Let the kids have fun helping decorate these Confetti Pumpkins!

Make this super cute Fox to stay in your garden for the rest of Autumn! Pumpkins don't need to be just for Halloween!

Decorating Pumpkins don't need to be expensive. Can't find any big wiggly eyes, then make some out of card to make this Mummy Pumpkin! 

Is there someone unicorn mad in your house? Then why not turn your pumpkin into your very own unicorn! 

Easy, but effective, turn your pumpkin into these fabulous bats! 

Love Stranger things? Then this Pumpkin Idea is right up your street! 

Celebrating baby's first Halloween? Then you definitely need to try these baby pumpkins!

All you need is a spider and some string to make these great Spider Web Pumpkins for your Halloween party! 

Pumpkins don't just have to be for halloween but can last as autumnal decoration too just like this leaf craft pumpkin idea!

Check out our No Carve Pumpkin board on Pinterest for more ideas!

[Wedding] Rebecca & Matt, a beautiful autumnal Wedding at Whitley Hall Hotel, Sheffield

On Sunday I had the pleasure of photographing Matt  & Rebecca's Wedding at Whitley Hall hotel. I've known Rebecca for around 17 years, so being able to share her special day was amazing.

I started with Rebecca just a little while before her ceremony, to get the detail and final preperation photographs.

Her little boy seeing her for the first time was just super cute!

Final preperations were underway, with the bridesmaids and Main Man of Honour before Rebecca's dad entered into the room to see his little girl for the first time.

The bridesmaids headed down the aisle as a nervous Matt waited for Rebecca and her Dad to walk down the aisle. Matt was so nervous and he just couldn't turn around to watch her walk down the aisle.

Two readings were done by Jess and Karl whilst Best Woman Kate kept safe keeping of the rings.

After the ceremony the new Mr and Mrs headed out of the ceremony played out by "At Last" by Southdene the String Duo.

We headed outside for drinks and group photographs. Starting with family photographs including the children who were getting resteless and wanted to play on the muddy grass!

After the group photographs were done, most of the guests headed inside as it was starting to turn a little cool. The tailend of Storm Brian was around and it was a little breezy, but meant that we were able to start Bride and Groom Photographs of the happy couple.

After the photographs we headed inside where the room was set up with music highlights and autumn feels with twigs and little pumpkins and a few scattered acorns too!

Speeches were before dinner, with speeches from Father of the Bride, Goom and finishing with The Best Woman.

After dinner, lots of people chilling around and catching up before the evening reception started and lots of partying and Karoke was had!

Thank you for letting me share your Day with you!