Thursday 12 August 2010

Introducing.. Mrs Palmer

A lot has been happening in both my professional and personal life this year. One of which was my marriage to Robert on a very sunny, hot Saturday 26th June. After much planning and running about organising all the finer details in the last few weeks, it all came together; it was a most beautiful occasion and the day was perfect. But maybe I am bias!


St. John the Baptist, in a little village called Shedfield (Hampshire) was our chosen church, seating up to 300 people. A colourful brick interior, beautiful large stained glass windows, but an aisle I had to measure before the big day just to make sure my dress (and my father/groom) would fit! These pictures are courtesy of Keith Curtis, official wedding photographer and Shaun Hodge.

After the ceremony.
Photographer: Kash Rafique

These two were taken by the lovely Karen Jones as the confetti was thrown.


My beautiful bridesmaids, Stacey, my cousin Anna, my maid of honour Rachel, and another Rachel.


More images courtesy of Shaun Hodge.

The wedding party also included our 5-year old flower girl Caitlin, dressed in sage green crinoline and silk with a petticoat that almost competed with mine(!), 14-year old page boy George, best man Nick, (above left) my father Ian, (above right) master of cermonies, Anthony and the two young ushers, Joe and Ben.
All the guys wore morning suits with top hats from Charles Gale. Cravats and handkerchiefs were made from leftover bridesmaid dress material - you would not believe how hard it is to find that gold/green colour in the shops!


Photographer: Kash Rafique
The olive green taffeta floor-length bridesmaids dresses were bought from Cynthia Styling. The jewellery I made myself from tiny champagne and ivory pearls. On the morning of the wedding, we all had our hair and make-up done by Southampton based make-up artist Rachel Thomas, who is not only excellent at what she does, but a good friend of mine. I first met her working on a shoot with Graham Wood.


Flowers courtesy of By Arrangement.
Dress altering courtesy of Heidi Diefenbacher.
Dress courtesy of.. Ebay!
No kidding, Heidi pretty much sewed it together, but initially I had bought this for a shoot and loved it so much, it simply had to be my dress. I don't really believe in spending ridiculous amounts of money when you can shop around and quite honestly? I didn't even find anything I liked in bridal shops.



Our reception was held at Botleigh Grange Hotel (Hedge End) near Southampton and this is an image by Keith Curtis outside in the grounds, and below with the horse & carriage, me with our gorgeous little flower girl and the cake.




Last but not least, a group of net-model models and photographers, from left: Bob Dixon, Steve Spurgin, Jessica Harris & partner, Amanda & Shaun Hodge, Andy Haynes, Kash Rafique, Tobin Jones, Robert & I, Nikki Hambry, Roze Thorn, Graeme Trott, Karen Jones, Loreena Maguire and Linda & Chris Brick.

Time out for a two week holiday on the cruise ship, Ventura in the Mediterranean last month was pure bliss. Neither of us had been on a cruise before, so we agreed seeing many of our favourite European cities in one trip, including Barcelona, Cannes, Pisa, Rome, Palma, Valencia and Gibraltar was definitely the thing to do.
Not to mention the outstanding service on board - the formal dinner nights, the entertainment, pools, spa treatments, gym.. which I have to say was much needed after the restaurants' set 6-course dinner menu each night. We even went to salsa and jive classes to wiggle off all that delicious food a little more.

Of course, this entry has nothing to do with modelling, (despite the net-model 'paparazzi' outside the hotel who tried to prove otherwise) but it is such a huge milestone in our lives and I am so over the moon.
Robert has only ever been thoroughly supportive and positive in regard to my work as a model; he has never judged or felt threatened; but listens and admires, and in return I have great respect for him.
I am so lucky to have that wonderful support.

Beautiful song we first danced to, Anne Murray ~You Needed Me.