The Broadoaks Country House Wedding of Ben and Leanne

When I think about Ben and Leanne I am always going to remember a couple who are quite backwards. Literally backwards. At least Ben is after he walked up and down Kilimanjaro backwards for charity. What a superstar! Their wedding day at Broadoaks Country House, one of the Lake District’s finest, wasn’t at all a backwards affair. In fact, it was utterly brilliant.

“Why was Ben and Leanne’s Broadoaks Country House wedding brilliant?” I imagine anyone reading this might ask. First of all I had been looking forward to photographing this one ever since I first met them. With some couples you really do go on a journey with them as they plan their wedding. As the juggernaut that was their wedding day hurtled along, I was just the small wedding photographer hanging on at the back, trying not to let go, while shouting out my best wedding photography and planning advice. That juggernaut safely arrived over one of the hottest Bank Holiday weekends that the Lake District has seen in years.

Ben and Leanne. You are both amazing, and the friendship we have developed since you first popped into my inbox is testament to the beautiful humans that you both are. My dry sense of humour and daft jokes – not a problem; you still warmed to me. The outrageous and comical (at least I thought they were) suggestions about things you should do for your wedding – no worries, you laughed with me. The highs and lows of wedding planning – I was able to be there to support you both. A late evening hike up a fell for your pre-wedding photoshoot – you just went with it and trusted me to deliver some amazing photos. Your wedding day – it all came together perfectly.

So my most heartfelt congratulations to you both, and it was my genuine privilege to have you pay me lots of money to photograph your wedding. That and I don’t think I’ve ever been more invested in a couple, and I really get attached to my clients too! I’m like the sad stray that you just can’t get rid of! Seriously though, I am honoured that you chose me. Thank you.

To everyone else who was there, a huge thanks to family, friends and the best of bestmans (mens?), Dan and Gordon. A huge thanks to Mikey for being one of the best wedding coordinators in the Lakes and also to the rest of Team Broadoaks for their awesomeness. Thanks to Kym for working her hair and makeup magic in the morning, New Cards On The Block for the illustrations and High Dynamics for the banter and for being utterly brilliant musicians.

A huge thank you to Ben and Leanne for choosing me to be your wedding photographer. I honestly couldn’t have done it without you both. The Lake District did us good on your day, and I’m just happy to have been a part of it.