Picture this: the 20th of April, the Palace Theatre in Paignton, Devon. As a wedding photographer, I’ve seen my fair share of love stories, but this one? This one had a touch of magic, set against the backdrop of a Theatre, where dreams come to life.

So, there I was, stepping into the theatre like I owned the place. After all, I’ve snapped enough dress rehearsals here at the Palace Theatre to know every nook and cranny. With my son, William, by my side, we split up to capture both sides of the story: bridal prep and Groom prep in the stars’ dressing rooms.

The ceremony itself? On stage, of course. There’s something about saying “I do” under the spotlight that adds a bit of flair, don’t you think? The vows, the tears, the laughter – it was all there, and our four cameras didn’t miss a beat, keeping away from the couple by using telephoto lenses. They didn’t even know we were there!

After the “I dos,” it was time for the obligatory group shot. We herded everyone into the auditorium, arranged them like pieces of a puzzle, and clicked away. Easy peasy, right? Well, we were time-restrained and the auditorium is a dark place. Thankfully our professional cameras and lighting could handle this with ease.

Lunch was a simple affair but it worked really well! It was set in the incredible Stage Left room within the Theatre. There were 40 hot fresh Pizzas from Domino’s and enough sandwiches and cakes to feed a small army. But hey, nobody ever complained about too much food at a wedding, right?

Now, let’s talk makeup. Melanie Thorton worked her magic on the bride, turning her into a vision of perfection. And when she stepped onto that stage, veil trailing behind her, she looked like something out of a fairytale. Lucky for me, I had my cameras ready to capture every breathtaking moment.

Formal shots? Check. We lined everyone up on stage, made sure nobody had spinach in their teeth, and snapped away. It’s all about finding the right angle, you know? Luckily, with my trusty Sony A7IV’s and a bunch of fancy lenses, I had that covered.

Then it was off to Roundham Gardens for some one-on-one time with the newlyweds. The backdrop? The stunning coast of Torbay. And let me tell you, that bride’s veil? It was like something out of a romance novel – billowing in the wind, catching the sunlight just right. I couldn’t have asked for a better shot.

With our cameras and a few Godox strobes and speedlights in tow, we worked our magic, playing with light and shadow until we got the perfect shots.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over everything, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. I’d captured love in all its beautiful glory, and it was a feeling like no other.

So there you have it – a day in the life of a wedding photographer. When you’re surrounded by love and laughter, there’s nowhere else you’d rather be!