I was so excited. Loading up the van for a weekend away on the Isle of Wight. I’d never been over before and after a year and a half of lockdowns and postponements, I was buzzing to be going on a mini adventure! Emmy and Nathan were due to get married in Plymouth. I’d previously met them in 2018 for a wedding chat and we were all systems go for a wedding near Plymouth hoe! Fast forward 3 years and I’m buying tickets for red funnel ferries and rebuilding the bed in my van.
I’d known Emmy for a good few years. We used to work in a fish restaurant together in our early 20s and bonded over our love for AC/DC.
The van was loaded, cameras were charged, laptop packed, snacks acquired, cat sitter notified, house plants watered, fuel tank filled and tires checked. I was off. Off to Dorset for a pit stop to see the folks before heading onto Southampton for the ferry crossing the following morning. I soon realised navigating Southampton city seemed a lifetime away from the Cornish country roads, I’ll never miss the old life. The busy workers life. After queuing in the middle of the road with the rest for the cars, I was finally aboard the ferry and on route to the Isle of Wight.
What a difference a stretch of water makes. It was like driving off the hectic world of 9-5 to a sleepy village in southern Cornwall. All was well again and my mind was at ease. I headed south to Shanklin beach. I pulled up right on the beach front, across from an ice cream parlour and thought, yes this will do for the night. Free parking, the sea and ice cream. Thank you very much.
The wedding day
I awoke early after a wonderful nights sleep. Cosy in the van, I pulled on my clothes for a refreshing morning walk along the beach. The morning joggers and dog walkers were out and the sun was rising over the bay. Later that morning I drove up the hill to Emmy’s parents house and headed round the corner to Monroe’s where she was getting pampered with hair and makeup. Her and the bridesmaids had taken over half the salon and they were preparing a spread of pastries and fruit.
The Ceremony
The weather was perfect, the sun was shining and the warmth of late August was definitely upon us. We had a short drive to Ventnor to Our Lady and St Wilfrids Church. A beautifully modern church in the heart of the village. The service was stunning with Emmy's mum singing with the choir and their good friend also singing through the signing of the registrar. We were soon headed slightly north to New Farm Barn, situated in an area of outstanding beauty, it was a photographers dream exploring this stunning venue!
I have to do a special shout out to Emmy's mum - not only did she sing throughout the ceremony, she made the cake and also sang with her ladies in the barbershop quartet! What an absolute legend!
This truly was an epic day! I stayed for a little party afterwards to celebrate before loading the camera into the van and heading to the coast. I headed to Compton, home of surfing on the Isle of Wight - of course is was double over flat when I awoke in the morning. But still, a glorious spot for a morning swim before heading back to the main land and onwards to Cornwall.
Isle of Wight - I shall be back!
Thanks to:
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