Jennifer and Al’s wedding – Iffley Village and Tap Social Movement

Happy 2019!

I want to start the New Year sharing some photos of these two beautiful people in love: Jennifer and Al. I had the pleasure to photograph their wedding day last October, on a very cold and dark afternoon. When I reached the church – St Mary the Virgin, in Iffley Village – it was raining. Clear drops were on the trees’ branches, on the falling leaves, and on the wild berries, grown in between some old walls and the wooden fence of an enchanting cottage. Everything was silent and beautiful; then the guests started arriving, and so a smiling and happy Al, followed not long after by the lovely Jennifer, in her long white dress, holding a beautiful autumn’s colours bouquet.

The ceremony was relaxed but touching, and the warm atmosphere of the little church made everything perfect. At the end of it, despite the rain, we managed to find a few minutes to take some photos in the garden. Al and Jennifer were looking radiant! And so they were for the rest of the evening, spent at Tap Social Movement. I loved taking photos to their guests ordering hamburgers in the vans outside, chatting happily under the umbrellas; and I loved taking photos to the children playing board games – organized by Thirsty Meeples – while a band was playing for everybody’s enjoyment. So many special moments have been offered to my camera, on Jennifer and Al’s big day, and I feel lucky I had the chance to capture them. Joy and fulfillment were all over, and I wish them to be in this lovely couple’s everyday life for all the years to come.

Wedding Dress: Maudika Bridal; Bridal Hair and Make up: Daisy Oldershaw; Venue: Tap Social Movement

jennifer&al_wedding_01rijennifer&al_wedding_02rijennifer&al_wedding_04rijennifer&al_wedding_06rijennifer&al_wedding_07rijennifer&al_wedding_10rijennifer&al_wedding_14rijennifer&al_wedding_15rijennifer&al_wedding_23rijennifer&al_wedding_28rijennifer&al_wedding_29rijennifer&al_wedding_35rijennifer&al_wedding_36rijennifer&al_wedding_40rijennifer&al_wedding_43rijennifer&al_wedding_45rijennifer&al_wedding_51rijennifer&al_wedding_60rijennifer&al_wedding_62rijennifer&al_wedding_74rijennifer&al_wedding_88rijennifer&al_wedding_91rijennifer&al_wedding_96rijennifer&al_wedding_103rijennifer&al_wedding_104rijennifer&al_wedding_106rijennifer&al_wedding_111rijennifer&al_wedding_112rijennifer&al_wedding_113rijennifer&al_wedding_118rijennifer&al_wedding_125rijennifer&al_wedding_130rijennifer&al_wedding_133rijennifer&al_wedding_138rijennifer&al_wedding_142rijennifer&al_wedding_143rijennifer&al_wedding_152rijennifer&al_wedding_157rijennifer&al_wedding_158rijennifer&al_wedding_162rijennifer&al_wedding_168rijennifer&al_wedding_174rijennifer&al_wedding_177rijennifer&al_wedding_179rijennifer&al_wedding_182rijennifer&al_wedding_190rijennifer&al_wedding_199rijennifer&al_wedding_200rijennifer&al_wedding_204rijennifer&al_wedding_209rijennifer&al_wedding_215rijennifer&al_wedding_217rijennifer&al_wedding_223rijennifer&al_wedding_224rijennifer&al_wedding_228rijennifer&al_wedding_230rijennifer&al_wedding_232rijennifer&al_wedding_233rijennifer&al_wedding_234rijennifer&al_wedding_238rijennifer&al_wedding_239rijennifer&al_wedding_247rijennifer&al_wedding_252ri

 

Trisha + Paul – An intimate wedding in Woodstock

“The fountains mingle with the river
And the rivers with the ocean,
The winds of Heaven mix for ever
With a sweet emotion;
Nothing in the world is single,
All things by a law divine
In one spirit meet and mingle –
Why not I with thine?

See the mountains kiss high Heaven
And the waves clasp one another;
No sister-flower would be forgiven
If it disdained its brother;
And the sunlight clasps the earth,
And the moonbeams kiss the sea –
What are all these kissings worth
If thou kiss not me?” Percy B. Shelley

What a lovely, joyful, cheerful couple I have photographed a few weeks ago on their wedding day! It was a sweet, intimate ceremony celebrated in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, and followed by a small reception and of course a portrait session in the historic part of the town (we could not miss it, also considering how nice those little streets were looking!). Being spontaneous was the rule of the day, and I could not agree more! True love has not need for forced smiles and poses.

©2017 Flavia Catena

Paul&Trisha_02riPaul&Trisha_04riPaul&Trisha_05riPaul&Trisha_07riPaul&Trisha_08riPaul&Trisha_09ri.jpgPaul&Trisha_10riPaul&Trisha_14riPaul&Trisha_15riPaul&Trisha_17riPaul&Trisha_27_1riPaul&Trisha_27_2riPaul&Trisha_28riPaul&Trisha_31riPaul&Trisha_30riPaul&Trisha_32roPaul&Trisha_38riPaul&Trisha_40riPaul&Trisha_44riPaul&Trisha_49riPaul&Trisha_51riPaul&Trisha_63riPaul&Trisha_65riPaul&Trisha_67riPaul&Trisha_69riPaul&Trisha_74riPaul&Trisha_76riPaul&Trisha_93ri.jpgPaul&Trisha_92ri.jpgPaul&Trisha_90riPaul&Trisha_94riimg030.jpgPaul&Trisha_101riPaul&Trisha_102riimg031Paul&Trisha_104riPaul&Trisha_106riPaul&Trisha_108riimg032.jpgPaul&Trisha_110riPaul&Trisha_118riimg035img036

Wedding at Macdonald Randolph Hotel – Jessie + James

My wedding season has started, and I could not ask for a better couple to work with! Jessie and James celebrated their big day last June in the beautiful location of Macdonald Randolph Hotel, in the heart of Oxford, just opposite one of my favorite photography spot: the Ashmolean museum. They had both the ceremony and the reception in the hotel, and every moment I had the honour to photograph was moving and at the same time full of smiles and laughts. It was great to see these beautiful people surrounded by so much love (Jessie’s family came for the occasion from Singapore to England and some of Jame’s friends from Australia!). This is what makes a difference in a wedding, this is what makes my work every time new and every time special.

Thank you, and a very happy life together!

©2017 Flavia Catena

Amanda & Billy – A countryside wedding

Amanda and Billy got married last summer in the lovely village of Wytham (Oxfordshire). I had the pleasure to work and collaborate with Amanda the year before, and I was very happy when she asked me to photograph her wedding, treating me as a friend and really trusting my vision and style! The ceremony, celebrated at All Saints church, was a very heartwarming one, and it was followed by a reception in the Wytham Town Hall. Everything, from the cake to the decorations and the childrens’ games, was handmade (families and friends worked hard on that) and beautiful. Speeches were hilarious, funny and moving. I could not expect anything better from a couple in love! Everytime I photograph a wedding like this, I feel blessed to work with such lovely people. So, thanks again Amanda and Billy, and all the best in life!

©2016 Flavia Catena

 

Victoria & Vinesh’s wedding

“If I had a flower for every time I thought of you… I could walk through my garden forever.” Aldred Tennyson

This is something Vinesh could have said to his Victoria, among all the other beautiful words that have been shared on their wedding day! They had such a marvelous celebration last June, and I felt honored to be their photographer for the second time. Vinesh and Victoria got officially married last year, and wanted to do a great party for those family members and friends who could not attend the previous civil ceremony. Nothing could be done better! From the location – the amazing Rhodes House – to the table setting and all the little gadget prepared for the fun of their guests, everything was joyful, young and inspiring. Also the speeches – some of which were readings from books – were touching and beautifully romantic. The best I have heard so far! Equally special was the pre-wedding session we obtained the permission to shoot at the Codrington Library of All Souls College (see the photos at the bottom of the post). For a person like me who loves books and historic locations, that was a real moment of happiness. For all these reasons I want to thank again Victoria and Vinesh for letting me be part of one of their best days in life!

©2016 Flavia Catena

 

Cindy and Miguel – A pre-wedding session

Have a look at Cindy and Miguel’s pre-wedding photos! I really loved to work with them, last week, and I want to wish them all the best in life, and of course on their wedding day. Tomorrow they will be husband and wife!

©2016 Flavia Catena

DSC_2565 copiaDSC_2604 copiaDSC_2631 copiaDSC_2671 copiaDSC_2712 copiaDSC_2825 copiaDSC_2830 copiaDSC_2850 copia

A romantic day trip – Pre wedding photo shoot in Oxford

I had the pleasure to photograph this lovely couple at the beginning of the month. They were going to get married in a few days, and liked the idea to get some pre-wedding photos in Oxford, a city they were looking to explore during a romantic day trip. I could not ask for more, being both a photographer, a guide, and chatting with such great people all in the same morning! I really wish them all the best in life!

©2016 Flavia Catena

DSC_7978riDSC_7968riDSC_8026riDSC_8070irDSC_8089riDSC_8106riDSC_8142riDSC_8282riDSC_8368ri

Wedding photo shoot on the boat

“Curious,’ the Prince continued, after a deep silence, ‘is it possible never to have known something, never to have missed it in its absence – and a few moments later to live in and for that single experience alone? Can a single moment make a man so different from himself? It would be just as impossible for me to return to the joys and wishes of yesterday morning as it would for me to return to the games of childhood, now that I have seen that object, now that her image dwells here – and I have this living, overpowering feeling within me: from now on you can love nothing other than her, and in this world nothing else will ever have any effect on you.” Friedrich Schiller

That day was perfect for a punting tour! Congratulations again Ruta and Karlos and thank you for being so sweet and spontaneous!

©2015 Flavia Catena

DSC_0894-1copiaDSC_0947-1copiaDSC_0959-1copiaDSC_0971-1copiaDSC_0982-1copiaDSC_1132-1copiaDSC_1101-1copiaDSC_1139-1copiaDSC_1195-1copiaDSC_1251-1copia

Emma and Jack wedding

Emma and Jack got married last May! True emotions directed the day, a typical cloudy English day. They had a small but perfect ceremony in an old church of Deddington – Oxfordshire – with the family and a few friends, followed by a reception in the gorgeous Jack’s parents house. I have to say again that I really enjoy intimate weddings, because of the family atmosphere you can feel, because of the love, the excitement that people show only to those they really care of. All it is so real that I find myself emotioned as a guest! Photographs are simply the result of that… Congratulations Emma and Jack!

©2015 Flavia Catena

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

13

14

15

1617181920212224.2252627DSC_2499 2-1 copia29303132333435363738394041424344454647484950515253