Garden Engagement Party

Garden Engagement Party

Colourful Garden Engagement Party

 

We love different events so when we were asked to cover a local garden engagement party recently we couldn’t resist.
It was colourful and chaotic at times but we loved it, so much going on all the time. Lots of family and friends arriving all the time.
The sunny weather certainly helped with the ambience too – a great party with such hospitable hosts and a gorgeous couple.

5 Tips for Planning a Garden Engagement Party

 

1. Consider Weather options

This engagement party was blessed with glorious sunshine but with British weather, it’s good to consider options for wet weather too.
Have shaded areas, covered areas – for shade or cover from the rain.
Consider a marquee or areas in the home that can be utilised

2. chairs

Think about the number of guests invited and the space you have to accommodate.
Some may wish to sit down – inside or outside.  A few chairs dotted around in cosy corners or around the perimeter of a garden may be welcome.
If you have an orangery that is a good way for home to flow out to the garden area.
If you need extra chairs  perhaps borrow from neighbours or if you need several  consider hiring from Wirral Table and Chairs  

3. Decor

Decorative lanterns and fairy lights add to the ambience of your garden.
You may incorporate your existing features like a garden fountain or wind charms and decorative plants

4. Catering

Of course, a good party needs delicious food and a bar.
This party had a specialist Indian  catering company Zaffran  – who prepared food to recipes from the host
It was totally delicious too . Have an area for a bar and have servers on hand.  Personalise with signature drinks for the event.

5. Plan for Pictures

Have an area where family pictures can be made as mementoes of the engagement party. Impromptu and candid shots will of course also be possible.
An area to cut the engagement cake too should be considered and how about fun props for the newly engaged couple to have some cute pics with

 

Binding and Family Gift Ceremony

The ceremony of receiving gifts from family  was fascinating  – the rice and dabbing of dye on the heads and the binding of bonds with the red and yellow Kautuka
This ritual thread is traditionally worn on the right wrist or arm by the groom to be males and on the left by the bride to be.

 

Cake Cut at Engagement Party

Cake always goes down well at an engagement party and a family member brought an engagement cake for the couple to enjoy.
It had some pipette shots of something sweet for them too

Happy wedding planning now Poorvi and Jas!  Thank you for letting us share your party – see you soon

Thank you to Nicola Joyce MUA  for make up for Poorvi and her mum

Ewloe Castle Wepre Park Pre Wedding Adventure

Ewloe Castle Wepre Park Pre Wedding Adventure

 

 Ewloe Castle Wepre Park: Tom & Rebecca

Ewloe Castle Wepre Park Walk

Wepre Park is a special place for Tom and Rebecca. a delightful wooded country park in Flintshire, North Wales.
Rebecca related to us how they meet here after work on Wednesdays and take their dog Jean-Luc for a walk. (star wars fans)
They call it their Wepre Wednesdays as they stroll along the forested boardwalk by the stream, past waterfalls and over bridges up to the ruined  Ewloe castle on the hill.
We love hearing these little stories as we gain an insight into our couples before the wedding.

So actually it wasn’t a Wednesday but a Thursday when we set off on their walk with them to chat and capture some fun images.
Cue lots of fun and twirls – it’s a Rebecca thing! as Rebecca and Tom share their much-loved walk along through Wepre Park with us
Oh think Jean-luc thought it was his shoot too – he loved showing off and getting into the shots too.

 

Ewloe Castle Ruins

We stopped several times along the way to chat and take pictures.
Eventually, we reached the ruins of Ewole Castle, a native Welsh castle built by the Kingdom of Gwynedd near the town of Ewloe in Flintshire, Wales
Ewloe Castle was one of the last fortifications built by the native Princes of Wales  and was abandoned in 1277  at the beginning of the invasion of Wales

We let this couple climb up to the top for some shots – Rebecca found a cute little window on the way!

 

engaged couple atop ruins of Ewloe Castle

they just love running…

Wepre Park engagement shoot

 

Promise of things to come….

A rainbow appeared at the end of the trail-  a faint rainbow but still a rainbow.
Sign of a promise of good things to come for this adventure-loving couple.

Thank you Tom and Rebecca for sharing your special place with us and we love your sense of fun.
You are super organised with all your planning  – nothing to worry about on the day.
It will be so enjoyable and so much fun – can’t wait to see you on the space-hoppers at Inglewood Manor!


If you want to enjoy an adventure pre wed shoot with us we’d love to hear from you
Check out our Engagement Gallery and prices

Tip! Pre wedding shoots are included with our album wedding packages

Promise Ring Ceremony

Promise Ring Ceremony

PORT SUNLIGHT COMMITMENT RING CEREMONY

kisses for a partner during a commitment ceremony Port Sunlight

Recently Pixsmiths covered an intimate promise ring ceremony in the beautiful Dell of Port Sunlight.
Jacqueline and Anna asked us to take a few pics of a personal bespoke commitment to each other and exchange of rings.
We were glad the rain held off and we could capture these heartfelt moments for them.

WHAT IS A PROMISE CEREMONY?

A Promise Ceremony or commitment ceremony is a personal meaningful ceremony for couples, of any gender who want to make a public declaration of devotion and  commitment to one another
Promises and vows are made to each other, rings exchanged, and can include poems, songs, or readings to personalise the ceremony.
Such ceremonies are not marriage ceremonies that are legally binding,  there is no certificate to be signed

Couples choose to get married with a commitment ceremony instead of a legally binding ceremony for a variety of reasons:
There are many unique situations ….and none more so during these covid times with restrictions on travel

  • For some, their partnership might not be legal in their country or region.
  • Some couples don’t want to get legally married, or the timing of a legal marriage doesn’t fit in with planning a celebration.
  • it’s too inconvenient or impossible to get legally married at the same time as the ceremony – esp if a dream destination wedding.
  • A wedding has been postponed and this can be a beautiful way to mark a would have been a wedding day

PORT SUNLIGHT PROMISE RING CEREMONY

As not legally binding a Promise ring ceremony can take place in public – outdoors or indoors.
A celebrant can be arranged or you can ask friends to officiate the ceremony for you.
It can be exactly what you what it to be. – make it uniquely your own.
Friends can be invited or just yourselves making your declarations and exchanges to each other
You can be as casual or as dressed up as you wish – it’s your choice

Jacqueline and Anna chose the Dell in the pretty village of Port Sunlight as their location, just near a willow tree.
Just two friends to assist and us as photographers to capture this intimate relaxed ceremony
The flowers were a lovely touch to the setting. It was quite emotional and Anna also sang a beautiful song to Jacqueline.

After the promise ring ceremony, a stroll around the dell and the bridge were made to capture special ad fun portraits
We hope you enjoy these few highlights of the time shared.

vows during a Promise ring ceremony in the Dell Port Sunlight

emotional moment during promise ceremony in the Dell

 

At Pixsmiths we are happy to undertake a variety of events – proposals, elopements, commitment ceremonies, gender reveal or bump sessions
Don’t hesitate to ask us for details!

Would Have Been Chester Zoo Wedding Day Shoot

Would Have Been Chester Zoo Wedding Day Shoot

 Chester Zoo Pre-Wedding Shoot

Oakfield with its new Orangery at Chester Zoo

So September 19th would have been Chester Zoo Wedding shoot for Bethan and Carl.
They held out as long as they could, even planned downsized numbers to conform to new guidelines.

Restrictions of time though, meaning less time to celebrate and for photos in between the ceremony and meal led to the decision to eventually postpone.
So obviously a disappointment for this couple. but so honoured that having us shoot their Chester Zoo wedding was a major consideration to their decision.

So like a few other pre-wedding shoots this year, we opted to do a Chester Zoo pre-wedding shoot on their original wedding day and capture some beautiful images for them.
Covid 19 is not going to spoil making memories! A wonderful opportunity to walk around the zoo and check out the areas they would like to use on their new day next Spring.

We have shot a couple of Chester Zoo weddings before but there are always new things to see.
The Oakfield Manor is beautifully revamped and a new Orangerie now graces the front of the venue.
It’s going to be an amazing space for their wedding.

The lions have moved to a new home in the zoo – no longer will their roars be heard during the ceremony or reception!

We enjoyed a good wander, the weather was just perfect, although a little bright at times.  Plenty of nooks and crannies can be found
Particularly enjoyed the Japanese and sunken garden areas.  The giraffes and elephants were a big hit too.

After wandering around the Islands we let our couple has some time to themselves before they met up with family for a meal at the new Oakfields.
So thank you for this day at the Zoo Bethan & Carl. So glad you could make the best of what could have been a difficult day.
We look forward to the memories to be created next year.  For now, enjoy the highlights from your Chester Zoo pre-wedding shoot.

Chester Zoo pre-wedding shoot

Wouldd have been Chester Zoo Wedding Day shoot

chester zoo engagement shoot

had to see the meerkats of course, and squealed with delight when we saw the baby ones!

 

Edited to add link to their Disney Themed Zoo wedding

Chester Zoo Disney Themed Zoo Wedding

Lakones Village Corfu Pre Wed Shoot

Lakones Village Corfu Pre Wed Shoot

Lakones Village and Sunset Cruise Pre Wed Shoot

Scenic Lakones

In the scenic northwest of Corfu is the prettiest place of Paleokastritsa with its scenic bays, coves and caves.
The best vantage point is the village of Lakones some 4km above Paleokastritsa.  Far-reaching views of the bays and down onto the monastery.
This was the chosen location for a little;e pre-wed shoot with Tammi and Dave and their family, a couple of days before their fabulous wedding.

We virtually had the village to ourselves – we arrived just before the bar opened – and enjoyed a stroll around the old houses and alleyways.

The Lear’s path is the donkey path up to the village.  We will save that hike for another time.  Too hot in July carrying camera gear though

The next day we were delighted to join all the wedding guests on a sunset cruise around the bays and see 6 caves.
Stopping at sea as the sun went down was a memorable moment.  Tanmi and Dave had a wonderful pre-wedding  evening with their guests

The perfect end to the cruise and the promise of a wonderful day to follow.

 

We cannot wait to share the gorgeous images of this wedding n Corfu/  Watch out for that that one soon!

Family and Pre Wed Shoot: Emma & kevin

Family and Pre Wed Shoot: Emma & kevin

Royden Park Family Shoot

 

Family Shoot at Royden Park

An enjoyable  time capturing  a family shoot as well as some pre-wedding pictures
It’s nearly time for this family to be celebrating a wedding!  Our couples always love a pre-wedding shoot with us and family are always welcome too
It’s always good to get some pics on your own too so we suggest a responsible adult comes along to look after any young children whilst the couple has their own portraits.

Our style is very natural, not over posey.  We want our couples to engage with each other and that is exactly what Emma & Kevin did.
Lots of smiles and laughter at the ready.   Really going to enjoy their spring wedding at Inglewood Manor.
It was lovely to meet mum and the family too on this pre-wedding shoot in our favourite local park on the Wirral – Royden Park.

Unfortunately, the walled garden was closed during the visit – looks like they were re-planting and organising the garden
Still plenty of other options to enjoy. The daffodils made for a beautiful frame. Emma spotted a Wirral rocks pebble which made for a unique ring shot.

Enjoy these highlights, just a few weeks to go til the wedding itself.