In memory of Tracy who passed away on the 30th October. The photograph below was her favourite from the wedding.
“Simon, all weddings should be special but for reasons we, you and our guests all know, our wedding was very, very special.”
These are Steve’s words from his original enquiry back to me in early August –
Message: Simon
We are in the process of arranging our wedding to be held at the end of this month or early September at Fawsley Hall.
Tracy, my fiancee, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, so time is of the essence.
Fawsley have provided a list of dates which we will then need to align to the Registrar’s and your availablity. A weekeday will be fine.
I have left a voicemail message for you and would be very grateful if you could call me to discuss soonest.
Regards
Steve
Steve then came over to visit me and told me Tracy had little time left, they had presumed they would have lots of time to share together but now realised this wasn’t to be. The date was fixed for the 8th September and we all kept our fingers crossed that Tracy would be well enough on the day.
On the morning of the wedding I arrived to photograph Steve and his dad (on best man duties) getting ready before heading upstairs to catch up with Tracy. I walked into Tracy’s room and was surprised to see two beautiful dresses hanging up, this was to be a surprise for Steve who had no idea Tracy would change for the evening party.
Steve and Tracy’s closest family and friends gathered for the wedding at Fawsley Hall and Tracy walked in looking stunning and causing a few tears from everybody involved. The ceremony was very emotional and a delight to photograph.
After the ceremony the couple and their guests enjoyed drinks in the Great Hall which dates back to 1537. This was followed by afternoon tea with everyone sat around one long table. There then followed a break to allow Tracy time to rest before the evening dinner. Steve waited for Tracy at he bottom of the stair case and Tracy surprised Steve with her beautiful evening dress. After dinner the evening ended with dancing.
This is where I’d like to thank the patience of many of my clients who have had to wait slightly longer for their albums, I pushed all of my other work to the side and worked non stop on Tracy and Steve’s photographs and album. The album was made in record time and two and a half weeks after the wedding I drove across to deliver the album and spent some time with Tracy and Steve. Tracy’s reaction to the album was enough for me to realise how much the photographs meant to them.
It was an absolute pleasure to photograph this wedding and to be part of Tracy and Steve’s wedding day and to spend time with them after the wedding.
Simon
All weddings should be special but for reasons we, you and our guests all know, our wedding was very, very special.
It was a perfect day in every respect and your consummate skill, unstinting patience and thoughtfulness has provided us with the perfect record. The pictures and the album are truly wonderful and we cannot thank you enough. As Tracy said this afternoon… “You’re the best!”
I shall treasure your work for the rest of my days; thank you so very much.
With very best wishes
Steve Riley-Snelling
31/10/2013. Sadly I received the news today that Tracy passed away last night in Steve’s arms at home. To me being a wedding photographer is much more than just a job, I become involved in peoples lives. “Thank you again for doing such a fabulous job with the photographs – they will be a great comfort to me in the coming days, weeks and months” – Steve. My thoughts are with Steve and the family.
