Phil & Alex’s Spring Micro Wedding at The Frogmill

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

“Nikki, you were absolutely amazing, you made us both feel relaxed on a hectic and nervous day. You included us in the process throughout, even after the event. the pictures are just absolutely amazing, we couldn’t be happier. You did exactly what we wanted, and the candid shots of both us and our guests give us warm memories of the day. Thank you so much for everything.”

What an awesome wedding to start the year on! I met Alex and Phil over Zoom during lockdown and we hit it off instantly. I was so happy that they chose me to be their wedding photographer.

Over the time leading up to their wedding I have got to know these two lovely chaps and boy do they make me smile with their dry sense of humour and very obvious devotion to each other.

Their wedding incorporated themes that were personal to then both; Raven and  Harry Potter for Alex. Star Trek, Chip & Dale,  and Scuba diving for Phil.

Their wedding was such a fun day as you’ll see from the photographs below! This is definitely love, laughter, and happy ever after!

And so in their own words, here is the Wedding Story of Alex and Phil…

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Q: What made you choose me as your wedding photographer?

A: “We looked around locally and you were the only person who had LGBTQ+ pictures on your website, that was a massive tick. Coupled with your reviews and awards we messaged you. Having had the zoom call (bloody lockdown!) We absolutely clicked with you and it was amazing to hear you so excited about us.. not just the photo taking bit. And you then proceeded to make the whole process so easy.”

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP  Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Q: When and how did you first meet?

A: “We started chatting online in January 2017, Alex was away at uni. So we didn’t meet until 13th March 2017. He flaked on me 3 times before we finally met.. in a bloody Wetherspoons! We treat that date as our anniversary.”

Cotswolds Micro Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP  Cotswolds Micro Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP  Cotswolds Micro Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Q: Why did you choose your venue?

A: We wanted a small wedding, just closest friends and family getting together after covid. An opportunity to enjoy each others company. Phil hunted around for small venues and when we found the Frogmill and the snug it meet just what we wanted (a relaxing place for people to chill). It also hit our price criteria. The excellent food and service was a bonus!”

Cotswolds Micro Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds Micro Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds Micro Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds Micro Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds Micro Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Q: What piece of music did you walk down the aisle to?

A: “Jurassic Park! Alex made the mistake of letting me pick it, it’s not like he can hear it. But actually it was perfect. The dramatic rises in the music gave us the perfect spots to walk in on.”

Cotswolds Micro Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Q: Who popped the big question and how did they propose?

A: “Phil did on 13th March 2021, we were going for a walk around the forest of Dean (lockdown was in effect but you were allowed exercise!) We were off the beaten track and I dropped to both knees and proposed. Alex noticed the styling of the ring before he acknowledged what was going on and said yes. I’d been planning it for ages.”

Cotswolds Micro Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds Micro Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Q: Was there an inspiration or theme for your wedding?

A: “Not really, we just wanted it to be relaxed. If we didn’t have a photographer we probably would have worn jeans and a t-shirt 😜

Cotswolds Micro Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds Micro Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds Micro Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Q: How long did it take you to plan your wedding?

A: “We started planning it about a year out, got the venue and most suppliers booked. Then we did bits on and off over the course of the year. We both knew what we wanted and took the time to find the right suppliers and items to meet what we wanted.”

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Q: Did everything go to plan?

A: “Yes!! Literally everything as we planned, it was perfect.”

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds Micro Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Q: What was your favourite part of your wedding day?

A: “That’s a hard one. I enjoyed it all so much. I guess the magic show, Richard was amazing, he included everyone and was just so funny and entertaining he really started the evening off for us.”

Cotswolds Micro Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds Micro Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds Micro Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds Micro Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Q: Did you hire a wedding planner or was it a DIY affair?

A: “The venue provided a coordinator but we did a lot of the detailing ourselves. Fred was very detail orientated though and helped make the day just how we wanted it.”

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Q: Where did you spend your honeymoon together?

A: “St. Just in Cornwall, we’ve been there before and love it. Weather wasn’t great but we had some nice walks and some downtime to just catch our breath.”

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Q: What advice would you give anyone planning their big day?

A: “It’ll probably cost more than you think, but those personal little details are with every penny.”

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

“Nikki, you were absolutely amazing, you made us both feel relaxed on a hectic and nervous day. You included us in the process throughout, even after the event. the pictures are just absolutely amazing, we couldn’t be happier. You did exactly what we wanted, and the candid shots of both us and our guests give us warm memories of the day. Thank you so much for everything.”

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Q: Did you incorporate any special family details or heirlooms, for example?

A: “We had the photo boards of us each as children, provided by our parents. Alex wore his Grampy’s watch for the ceremony. His Grampy had passed away in 2020. Chip and Dale on the cake are part of a notorious part of Phil’s childhood trauma 🤣

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Q: Did you make, design or create anything yourself?

A: “The centrepieces were put together by us, as were the photo boards. Alex mum (Louise) very kindly made the bunting for the ceremony.”

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Q: What did you have for your wedding breakfast?

A: “We both had Salt and Pepper Squid, Roast Chicken dinner. For dessert Phil had Sticky Toffee Pud (rude not to) and Alex had bread and butter pudding. We actually moved around for each course so that we got to site and interact with different people attending.”

Cotswolds Micro Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Q: What kind of cake did you go for?

A: “As above. Had to taste a few flavours to settle one them 😜

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

[above] When you thank your photographer and she’s looking straight at you from behind the lens!

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

A: “Honestly, you. You made us both feel so relaxed and actually enjoy the day when we were actually pretty nervous about it all coming off! But honestly everyone was fantastic, particular kudos to the barman at the Frogmill who was so friendly and chatty with everyone. Oh and the barber.. I can’t express how desperate I was for a haircut 🤣

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Cotswolds LGBTQ+ Wedding Photographer Nikki Kirk QGWP

Alex & Phil’s Wedding Dream Team

Ceremony & Reception venue:  The Frogmill

Flowers: We had dried flower button holes and confetti from Shropshire Petals. And we had JellyCat Amusable flowers for table decorations

Suits/wedding outfit: We had blue suits (Phil navy and red tweed, Alex light and dark blue) provided by James of Montpellier

Cake: 2 Tier, Blueberry top, Lemon and Raspberry Bottom provided by Claire’s Cakes of Cheltenham. It was custom made for us based on ideas we gave her. Styled with handdrawn spring flowers, models of our 4 cats peaking under the icing and Chip and Dale in morning suits as toppers (which we kept!)

Catering:  Provided by the Frogmill, we offered choices from their Sunday menu, rather than their Wedding breakfast. We also had pizzas in the evening and provided a sweet bar based on Honeydukes from Harry Potter

Stationery: Various from Etsy!

Entertainment: Ardeton String Quartet for the wedding ceremony, Richard the Gloucester Magician for the evening

Favours: Loads!! Custom coasters to commemorate the day, Bee Bombs, Pride cat badges, Shortbread. Candle branded with the date. Probably more!

Wedding Rings: We didn’t have any, I custom designed Alex engagement ring prior to proposing, and he then did one for me (Phil) given the cost and the thought involved we kept these as wedding rings.

Hair: BarberNBar came to the venue to give us both much needed haircuts, shaves, facials and neck massage.. worth every penny.

Cat Art: Kamie Marie Art drew the absolutely beautiful pictures of our cats such that we could include them in the wedding.

 

Are you getting married at The Frogmill?

Then please get in touch and lets chat about how we can work together to create the most beautiful and timeless wedding photographs for you.

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