Here’s part 1 of Mel and John’s January wedding – for those of you in the UK, I thought it would be a safe bet blogging a slightly wet, January wedding in April, but I’m doing it on the hottest day of the year – 24 degrees Celsius!

Mel and John were married at St Joseph’s Church in Havant, followed by a reception at the lovely Goodwood Hotel, Chichester, West Sussex. Mel is an old work colleague from my days in IT, so I was delighted when she asked me to cover her wedding to the John. It’s also nice to cover some new venues slightly further afield, so it was my first time down at The Goodwood Hotel in West Sussex.

I joined Mel and the girls for bridal preparations at Goodwood House – Mel was in fine form so bridal preps were great fun and lovely and relaxed.

I then made my way to the church to meet John and his family, over from Ireland. John has a cracking sense of humour and is always first with a joke and a smile, even when we’re trying to be serious! After a few quick groom and family portraits, we joined the guests inside (out of the rain) for candids and detail shots, before awaiting the brides arrival and the wedding ceremony. After the ceremony, a catholic mass was heard.

The weather was still against us after the service, so the guests stayed inside and congratulated the happy couple. I whipped out my trusty stepladders to quickly cover the group shots, before a small lull in the rain allowed the bride and groom to make their exit, hop in their car before making their way to Goodwood House for their wedding reception.

Come back soon for part 2, but in the meantime, here are my favourites from the first part of their wedding day.

If you’re getting married and are looking for wedding photography, please don’t hesitate to contact me for a chat about your coverage!

goodwood hotel

goodwood hotel bridal preps

nervous bride

bride necklace

wedding details

bridal makeup

bride doing her own makeup

bride delight at shoes

bride tying sash

doing up dress

admiring dress

st josephs church havant

groom details

groom greeting guests

brides mum

baby in church

groom with baby

awaiting brides arrival

bride in car

bride in church doorway

bride walking down aisle

groom greeting bride

bride hugging mum

baby in church

bride and groom in church

bride and groom with rings

bridal exit st josephs havant

bride and groom in car

bridal car

All photographs copyright David Burke Photography 2015