24/08/2026
**NO SPARKLERS. SO THE SKY STEPPED IN. š**
Last week took us over to Essex and the beautiful for Clare & Matās wedding - a day built around two people with a shared love of good wine, good food and the people closest to them.
It was also a rather special one for me.
Eight years ago I photographed Clareās sister Karen marrying Graham at the Matara Centre in Wiltshire. Being invited back into a family to photograph another chapter all these years later is something Iāll never take for granted.
After one of the driest, hottest summers weāve had, naturally the forecast decided **this** was the week to change. Showers. Sunshine. More showers. āļøš§ļø
And with the ground officially in drought, the sparkler dash Clare & Mat had planned had to be cancelled.
Disappointing? Absolutely.
But weddings have a habit of reminding you that the unplanned stuff can be far better than anything on the schedule.
Because somewhere between the rain and sunshine, the sky delivered something we couldnāt have ordered if weād tried.
**A huge rainbow, right across the vineyard.**
So we grabbed Clare & Mat, headed into the vines and had a few glorious minutes to play.
No Photoshop. No AI. No elaborate setup.
Just two newlyweds, an Essex vineyard and Mother Nature showing off at precisely the right moment.
I think weāll take that over the sparklers. š
