Whether it’s our style of photography, or the kind of people we are, we do seem to attract adventurous bride and grooms. It was no surprise to us, then, that Vicky jumped at the chance of climbing the Saddleworth Rushcart on her wedding day to the sound  hundreds of laughing and cheering onlookers in Dobcoss. None more laughing and cheering than Richard, her new husband.

The week before at Crow Hill in Marsden I was climbing a tree to get a good vantage point for a photograph and Laura the bride said “I’m coming up there too” and promptly climbed up with Oliver. Not something many brides would do (except ours).

We had planned with Vicky and Richard to meet the Saddleworth Morris in Dobcross and had structured the whole wedding day around this, it really worked out well.

Those who follow our blog will know that we do very few weddings local to us. `Our couples mostly get married in London, Sussex, The Lake District and Cheshire who choose us to shoot our unique style of wedding photography. Unfortunately we usually miss the wonderful Rushcart celebrations , but this year we were right in the thick of it.

We met Vicky in the morning for her preparations just minutes from our Uppermill Studio. It was a hive of activity which paused for a few minutes to watch the Rushcart being pulled along right past her house, none of us knew than what was in store for us all later in the day. Vicky really did look great, as did her bridesmaids, she obviously has a great eye for detail and all her planning was definitely paying off.

Prep photographs done we then left to meet Richard at the lovely St Chads Church in Uppermill, stopping outside the house to take some photos of the lovely old “Morris” Minor which was to be the days wedding car.

The church looked great festooned with the banners from previous Rushcart Weekends. I’d not seen the vicar before he must be relatively new and he carried out the ceremony in such a warm fashion. He also let us go anywhere we wanted in the Church too, which was great.

After the ceremony and the congratulations the guests made their way down the road to the Civic Hall. We had been there earlier in the day to set up our Photo Booth so we knew what a treat was waiting for them. Our friends Saddleworth Shindigs  had dressed the venues in a superb vintage style, they really had pulled out all the stops and it lpooked pretty special. The look was finished off by Eden Flowers another local shop who used beautifully romantic flowers. Vicky certainly had kept it local and it paid off big time.

Lets let the pictures do the talking about what happened next but it was a buzz for myself and Bekka to be involved. The Saddleworth Morris men were so accommodating to us and the crowd went mad when Vicky climbed the Rushcart  and took a drink from the copper kettle. According to the Morris men, a bride that climbs the Rushcart is sure to be fertile, we will keep you upto date on that! 🙂

So it was then back toUppermill Civic Hall for lovely afternoon tea provided by Ravenstones and time for the Photo Booth which was hugely popular with old and young.

Richard and Vickys wedding is a great example of what you can do with a bit of imagination and effort (and picking the right wedding professionals).

Have an amazing honeymoon Mr and Mrs Sample and we really hope to see you both for a drink when you get back, The Church Inn or The Navigation ? xx

saddleworth Rushcarts wedding

Behold the rush-cart, and the throng
Of lads and lasses pass along:
Now, view the nimble morris-dancers,
The blithe, fantastic, antic prancers,
Bedeck’d in gaudiest profusion,
With ribbons in a sweet confusion
Of brilliant colours, richest dyes,
Like wings of moths and butterflies-
Waving white kerchiefs in the air,
And crossing here, re-crossing there,
And up and down, and everywhere:
Springing, bounding, gaily skipping,
Deftly, briskly, no one tripping:
All young fellows, blithe and hearty,
Thirty couples in the party …
 — From The Village Festival by Droylsden poet Elijah Ridings.

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