20-11-22
A horse at a wedding? Well, yes. If horses are a big part of your life, why not include them in your special day?
Beautiful bride Fran has an unbreakable bond with her horse, Diesel. So much so, the plan was for Diesel to come to Church on the big day. Unfortunately last minute circumstances meant he couldn't make it. Instead, we arranged a photoshoot a few weeks after the wedding. This meant Diesel could still make a special appearance in Fran and Rob's wedding album.
It wasn't all as dreamy and as easy as it looked though! As soon as I pulled up into the stable yard, the heavens opened. And the rain didn't stop. At all. Poor Fran looked a little deflated as she was ready, makeup and all. Rob pointed to the wreath the florist had made for Diesel to wear around his neck. We had a quick conversation about taking some photographs inside the stable and agreed (and hoped) the rain would stop in the meantime.
I fussed Diesel. He was such a gentle, handsome horse. And so tall! Fran reminded me she had a riding accident - which led to Rob popping the question and her saying yes! This also reminded me of how powerful these magnificent animals are. Still, I squeezed myself into the corner of the stable with my cameras, eager to capture a moment between them. It was then I realised this was going to be harder than I had initially thought.
My wide 23mm lens wasn't wide enough to get the full shot. I lifted my other camera, which was sporting a 35mm. (I guess I'm going to have to get closer in this already close space.) It turns out, these closer shots worked a treat!
Although obviously a little unsettled, Diesel was being such a good boy. He was even looking directly at the camera! We all knew this wouldn't be for long though, as the stable seemed to get increasingly smaller as Diesel started to move his rear end.
I gave Fran and Rob the option of taking some photographs outside in the relentless rain, or to rearrange the shoot. (I knew my cameras were weather sealed). Neither looked convinced but Rob gave Fran some encouragement. "It's now or never, we might as well make the most of the opportunity" he said to Fran, who was seemingly dubious.
"We'll go into the arena" said Fran. So off we went, Bride, Groom, Horse and Photographer through the pouring rain into the outdoor arena. Slipping on mud on the way and drenched in under a minute. It was at this point I knew this was going to be incredible.
Diesel was much calmer in a larger space and it was easier for Fran to control him. I guided Fran and Rob into various poses as I clicked away with my camera. I couldn't use an umbrella as it might have frightened Diesel. My camera was dripping wet. I just had to hope that my camera lived up to its weather sealed promise.
We spent perhaps twenty minutes outside which doesn't seem a long time but Fran was shivering at this point and her makeup had finally given in to the rain. The final pose was to get Fran riding Diesel. Getting on a horse in a wedding dress is another challenge in itself! A friend at the stables generously offered a helping hand and eventually, after several failed attempts, we hauled Fran up onto Diesel. (Who is one of the tallest horses I've ever seen by the way!)
The photo's were epic and looked like something straight out of a fairytale.
Afterwards, we called it a day. I knew I had taken a lot of photographs, almost 1200 to be exact! Yes, there were lots of photos that didn't and couldn't have made the cut. But what did make the cut was magical.
Fran and Rob were over the moon!.
"Thank you so much for the stunning photos ...so many people have commented - especially Diesels...I've a few friends who had a shoot with their horse in their wedding stuff but yours were so unique x."
So I guess the question is, do horses belong at weddings? MOST DEFINITELY. In the pouring rain? MOST DEFINITELY.
Rebecca x