Jewish Wedding Photography Dorset

Last week I was asked to photograph my first traditional Jewish Wedding. It was a great experience, full of tradition and realy good fun, these people truly know how to have a great time.

The ceremony takes place under a Chuppa which symbolises the home created and shared by the newlyweds.

Firstly is the Bedeken Ceremony which takes place privately in front of immediate family only,  the groom places the veil over the brides face after checking he is marrying the right bride!

David and the Rabbi Pete Tobias share a joke whilst waiting for Olivia to arrive.

Following her entrance into the Chuppah the bride then circles the groom 7 times, known as Hakafot this indicates that their lives will be forever entwined.

The exchange of the rings is an important part of every wedding ceremony, in a Jewish ceremony the rings are placed on the right hand index finger.

The Ketubah is the beautiful handcrafted marriage contract which is written in both Hebrew and English and declares the equal commitment of both the husband and wife.

The Shevra Brachot are then recited over a shared goblet of wine which seals the marriage union. The end of the ceremony is marked by the breaking of a glass under the grooms foot which recalls the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem by the Romans.

Following the blessings the whole party take to the dance floor for in this case 10 minutes of crazy Israeli dancing, as I say these people reaaly know how to have fun, this ends with the brides and groom being lifted on chairs by the guests.

This was an amazing experience for me as a Wedding Photographer and a real lesson in history and tradition.

I wish Olivia and David all the best in their married lives together with daughter Sophia (what a star she was too!)

Beach Weddings Bournemouth

The end of October saw the launch of beach Weddings Bournemouth, a very exiting new service allowing couples to legally marry on the beach for the first time in this country. The venue has been featured on ITVs Daybreak this week. 

The licence was finally approved for wedding ceremonys  to take place on Bournemouth beach, the first licensed beach venue in the UK. This is a really exiting new option for couples looking for something a little bit different and as a photographer I can’t wait, especially as I am one of the recommended photographers for the new venue.

The booking and planning of the weddings will be undertaken by “Beach Weddings Bournemouth” under the very cable Melanie Kiani from Bellissimo Weddings a very established local wedding planners.

Dorset Wedding Photography ~ Horton Village Hall

Congratulations to Gemma & David  on a beautiful Christmas Wedding on the 23rd December. They choose to have a humanist ceremony at Horton Village Hall with a marquee attached. The whole wedding was very personal and unique and there were some lovely touches. 

Gemma, her bridesmaids and her beloved Grandad (Paps) arrived in style on a steam engine, very fitting for such a lovely rural location even if it was a little chilly!

Parley Manor Wedding Photography

Congratulations to Vicki & Stewart on their wedding on the 23rd September. It was a beautiful day at parley Manor, the sun shone following a period of early onset autumn.

Bournemouth Wedding photography ~ The Orchid Hotel

Congratulations to Zuzana and Russell who got married at The Orchid Hotel in Bournemouth on 23rd July 2011

Bournemouth Wedding Photography ~ Hallmark Hotel

Congratulations to Ricky and Jemma who got married at the Hallmark Hotel in Bournemouth on the 11th June . Here are some highlights of their wedding….enjoy!

Ricky and  Jemma  don’t come from this part of the world but decided quite rightly it would be a lovely place to get married so they shipped all their friends and family in from Daventry and  all over England to stay at the Hallmark Hotel and celebrate their wedding with them.