How many of you reading this now are devoted Love My Dress 'happily married already' fans? We know that a good portion of our newlywed readers stay with us for up to eighteen months, even two years after their wedding, to enjoy reading about other couple's weddings.
Couple Samantha and Thomas celebrated their first wedding anniversary last month and to mark the occasion, they decided to have some styled photographs taken, the result of which are the images you see on this page here today.
Photography Copyright (c) 2013, Michelle Boyd Photography
Michelle Boyd Photography is a wedding photographer based in Austin, Texas, who collaborated on this shoot with stylist Sara Russell who can be found over at Wedding Sparrow.
I love that the models in this styled photoshoot were a real life couple, celebrating the very real love between them one year on from their wedding day – it adds a whole beautiful level of authenticity to and enjoyment of these images for me – though I swiftly fell in love with them anyway once I saw the elegant and graceful styling – that deliciously oversized bouquet, the gorgeous Belle & Bunty gown and the soft, natural light.
I also adore that these images are shot on film – something you can expect to see much more of in the future on Love My Dress as I'm a huge film photography fan.
The backdrop for these beautiful and luminous images was Max Gate in Dorchester – former home of Thomas Hardy. Here, 'Wedding Sparrow' Sarah shares a little about the shoot…
'Samantha and Thomas were married exactly a year to the day before this anniversary shoot took place – Samantha dressed in a stunning Belle & Bunty dress, with beautifully styled hair and makeup and she and Thomas spent the day generally being in love with each other in the former home of British poet Thomas Hardy.'
'With a vintage look and a botanical element to the styling, this couple were so sweet and who else can say they spent their first anniversary being pampered and photographed?! Plus, this shoot was photographed on film and being their first anniversary they now have some amazing images to print off as their traditional 'paper' gift, and to have in their new home together.'
Model Samantha herself shares a little about the experience of posing for these beautiful photographs o
'As we're sure most couples can relate to, our wedding day was a flurry of excitement and happiness – but it was also over far too quickly! We wanted to celebrate our first year of marriage with something we could look back on and treasure forever, and a photo shoot seemed to tick all the boxes.'
'On the day of the shoot it was a year to the day that we got married, so we both felt all the emotions of our wedding day rush back. Getting dressed up and making a big occasion of it was so much fun – the styling by Wedding Sparrow was simply gorgeous and Michelle made us both feel so comfortable in front of the camera. It was like being in a romantic movie!'
'We highly recommend an anniversary shoot – and it doesn't have to be limited to your first year of marriage. We're thinking it might be nice to make it a bit of a tradition! An engagement/pre-wedding shoot is also a really good idea as it really helps to get all those nerves of being in front of the camera out of the way before your big day.'
'Our first year of marriage has been amazing. We love being Mr & Mrs and can't wait for what the future will bring knowing we're on this incredible journey together.'
Quite breathtakingly beautiful. And all the more so for being a real, honest, purposeful photoshoot depicting a real life couple very much in love on their first wedding anniversary – congratulations Samantha and Thomas.
I hope you love these images. And if you love film photography as much as I do, you can see more here.
Many, many thanks to Michelle Boyd and the full creative team named below for choosing to share these beautiful inspirational images on Love My Dress - and Michelle – Happy Thanksgiving for tomorrow!
With love,
Annabel
Photography: Michelle Boyd Photography
Styling and design: Wedding Sparrow
Florals: Bo Boutique
Dress: The Lace Willow by Belle & Bunty
Hair and make up: Planet Make Up
Headdress: Lacielle Roselle
Cake: Blush Bakery
Location: Max Gate
Calligraphy: Sending Heartstrings
Styling assistant: Lesley Lau
Follow Love My Dress on Google+