VOCO OXFORD THAMES

OXFORD

Stacey & Jake

Remember that time when we were all standing on our doorsteps in the chilly evening air, clapping and whooping for our amazing NHS & Frontline workers? Well, that's when this all began... The often underpaid and overworked Frontliners were blowing our minds with their courage and dedication and I felt compelled to give something back. I do occasionally run competitions but this was the first time I took the bold step to offer a free wedding to say thank you to a couple who were part of our incredible NHS and I'm so glad I did.

It's not often I get tearful during speeches (being a bit of tuffey Northerner an' all) but when Jake expressed how grateful they were for my gift, I got the wobbly lip!

Anyway enough about all that, this was their day and not about Covid or work or competitions it was about them and their love for each other and it was GLORIOUS!!

Jake was so nervous because a fine mist was threatening to interfere with the outdoor ceremony they had hoped for. I kept saying Nah... just go for it :)) it'll be fine and so did everyone else but Stacey and Jake being the loveliest people didn't want their guests to be uncomfortable. So they continued to worry until, at the VERY last minute, they made the call to stick to the plan and the rain eased off and by the time we started portraits we were all cooking in the sun again! Good old UK weather hey!!

This was a wedding I will hold dear to my heart because it meant so much. It wasn't about earning a crust or gaining a following it was about giving a genuine gift and it felt great. I highly recommend if you ever have the opportunity to gift your talent to someone who deserves a break - do it!! It's incredibly rewarding!

What Stacey & Jake had to say:

What stood out for you most on your day? Definitely how lucky we were to be able to celebrate the day with all of our family and friends! There had been a long wait to find out if we could have the wedding as planned or if we would need to restrict the numbers due to COVID-19, so to be able to have all our guests there was very special to us. We know how lucky we were and we took in every moment watching everyone have fun, and made lasting memories with each and every person. Vicky captured so many of these moments and we are so grateful we are able to look back on these and remember forever. 

What made your day extra special? Eg, a friend’s speech/ supplier that went above and beyond?

Vicky was amazing from the very start and continues to be! She made us feel so special from the beginning, and we both felt so lucky she was going to be a part of our day. The pre-wedding photoshoot was so much fun, and Vicky made us feel at ease with having our photos taken (which was important as Jake normally hates posing for photos)! 

Vicky was so much more than a photographer, I (the groom) didn't realise how much I didn't know about what to actually do on the day until it arrived and I would not have got through it without Vicky telling me where to be and what to do when. She coached me through my wedding whilst also doing what must have been a flat out job. 

For me (the bride) Vicky was a calm presence during the chaos of the bridal party prep! She managed to capture all the special moments of us getting ready and also helped me to remain calm when I only had 5 minutes to get into my dress!! The whole process of working with Vicky has been more than we could ever have hoped for.

Your top wedding planning/on the day tip: 

Our top tips would be to enjoy the process and remind yourself to take in every moment! I actually enjoyed the wedding planning so much (even through a pandemic!!) And I am so glad I didn't worry about what might not happen or what might go wrong. There will always be little things that don't go to plan, but it really doesn't matter on the day when you're finally married and with all your favourite people!

Personal highlight: A few days after Stacey & Jakes wedding they messaged me to say they wanted to bring me some cake! I so rarely get to sample the amazing cakes I photograph at weddings so this was a real treat, not just because I like a bit of cake but because I got to see these two lovely humans again - and the cake was delicious!

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