There are some wedding days where the weather forecast looks so grim that you spend the week before checking it every few hours, hoping for some kind of miracle. Charlotte and Anthony’s wedding at Cockington Registry Office in Torquay was one of those days.
Every weather app seemed convinced that rain was coming. Dark clouds hung over Torbay for most of the day, and yet somehow, every time we needed to be outside, the weather behaved itself. In fact, there were moments when the clouds parted just enough for beams of sunlight to break through at exactly the right time. I like to think it was because I was there, although my wife tells me I shouldn’t get carried away with myself!
Whatever the reason, it worked perfectly for what turned out to be a wonderful wedding day.
A Grand Arrival in Style
Cockington Court is one of my favourite places to photograph weddings. The setting is beautiful throughout the year, but it always seems to have a little extra magic when the weather is constantly changing.
I arrived early, as I always do, to capture the venue before guests began arriving. The gardens were looking fantastic, the flowers were full of colour, and despite the threatening skies, everything felt calm and relaxed.
Guests soon started arriving and filling the grounds around the ceremony room. There were plenty of hugs, smiles, and those familiar conversations that happen before every wedding.
“Have you got tissues?”
“Do you think she’ll cry?”
“Do you think he’ll cry?”
The answer, as it often is, was yes.
Then came Charlotte’s arrival.
She stepped out of a stunning white Rolls Royce supplied by the wonderful team at Premier Carriage, and immediately turned heads. The car looked absolutely perfect against the backdrop of Cockington, adding a touch of timeless elegance to the day.
It is always worth taking a few moments to photograph the arrival when a couple has chosen such a beautiful vehicle. These little details become part of the story of the day and help bring the wedding album to life.
A Full House at Cockington
Charlotte and Anthony certainly weren’t planning a small wedding.
They completely filled the ceremony room, with all 50 available guest spaces occupied. It created a fantastic atmosphere, with family and friends packed in together to witness the ceremony.
One of the things I love about Cockington Registry Office is how intimate it feels. Even when the room is full, everyone feels close to the action.
As the ceremony began, there were smiles everywhere. Friends and family looked on proudly as Charlotte and Anthony exchanged their vows. There were also a few tears, particularly from some of the close family members sitting near the front.
These are always some of my favourite moments to photograph. Genuine emotion is impossible to fake, and those little reactions often become some of the most treasured images from the day.
The ceremony itself flowed beautifully, helped by a relaxed atmosphere and a couple who clearly enjoyed every second of being together.
Rose Garden Formals
After the ceremony, we headed into the Rose Garden for the formal photographs.
The Rose Garden remains one of the best spots at Cockington for family group photographs. It provides enough space for larger groups while still keeping everyone close together.
The weather continued its game of teasing us. Dark clouds circled overhead, but every time we needed to take photographs, the rain held off.
I always try to keep formal photographs moving quickly. Nobody wants to spend half their wedding standing around waiting for endless group combinations. The goal is to get the photographs the couple want while still allowing everyone to get back to enjoying the day.
Charlotte and Anthony’s family and friends were fantastic. Everyone listened, moved quickly, and we flew through the group photographs in no time at all.
Confetti and Leading Lines
Once the formal photographs were complete, it was time for one of my favourite parts of the day.
Confetti.
There is something wonderfully chaotic about confetti photographs. Everyone gets involved, nobody throws it in the same direction, and there is always at least one person who gets far more enthusiastic than everyone else.
The confetti tunnel produced some fantastic reactions and plenty of laughter.
Afterwards, we moved up towards the church area where one of my favourite pathways creates a beautiful leading line through the frame. It is one of those simple locations that works every single time.
The path naturally draws your eye towards the couple and helps create photographs that feel both elegant and relaxed.
We spent a few minutes capturing some additional portraits there before moving on to a handful of bride and groom photographs around the grounds.
A Few Moments for Just the Two of Them
Wedding days can be incredibly busy.
One minute you are walking down the aisle, and the next it feels like hundreds of people all want to speak to you at once.
This is why I always like to give couples a few moments to themselves during portrait photographs.
Charlotte and Anthony were brilliant to photograph. Relaxed, natural, and clearly enjoying every second of their wedding day.
The changing skies actually worked in our favour. The dramatic clouds added depth and atmosphere to the images while the occasional bursts of sunlight helped separate them from the background.
We didn’t need long. Just a few minutes together produced a lovely collection of portraits that reflected who they are as a couple.
Onwards to Hamiltons Club
With the Cockington photographs complete, it was time for me to head across Torquay to Hamiltons Club.
The reception was already underway by the time I arrived, and the atmosphere was fantastic.
One of the things I always try to do when arriving at a reception venue is capture the room before everyone settles in. Couples spend months planning table decorations, centrepieces, favours, cakes, and all the little details that help make the day unique.
It is important that these details are remembered.
I photographed the room setup, the decorations, and of course the cake before turning my attention to the guests.
There were smiles everywhere. People were clearly having a wonderful time, and it was lovely to capture those relaxed moments as family and friends celebrated together.
Although my time at Hamiltons Club was relatively short, it allowed me to complete the story of the day and provide Charlotte and Anthony with photographs that captured not just the ceremony, but also the celebrations that followed.
A Perfect Day Despite the Forecast
If there is one thing this wedding proved, it is that weather forecasts do not always get the final say.
Despite predictions of rain throughout the day, Charlotte and Anthony enjoyed a wedding filled with sunshine, laughter, emotion, and some beautifully dramatic skies.
From the elegant Rolls Royce arrival to the intimate ceremony, the confetti celebrations, the Rose Garden photographs, and the joyful reception at Hamiltons Club, it was a pleasure to be part of their wedding day.
Thank you both for trusting me to capture it.
I wish you a lifetime of happiness together.
Equipment Used on the Day
2x Sony A7IV
Sony 24 to 70mm f2.8 GM V2
Sony 70 to 200mm f2.8 GM V2
Godox V1 speedlights on both cameras, each controlling the other lights
Godox AD200 strobe
