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Although Monday's announcement from our Boris was a welcome one for the wedding industry, as he outlined our road map out of the 2020-2021 pandemic, there's still time for lots of "Covid Wedding" too... So why would we want a Covid Wedding? I hear you say, well there's many the reason why some couples may opt to get married during the Covid restrictions: -You might not want the massive wedding party, this way you don't need to have those awkward conversations. -You prefer quality over quantity -Maybe you would struggle to afford your "ideal" wedding with 100s of guests -Loads of venues and suppliers are offering great deals at the moment -You will get time to actually talk to your guests properly -Things are ironically, often a little more relaxed -Getting the perfects photos isn't as much of a whirlwind -You're documenting a bit of time for history I could go on...but why don't we hear it from some really life couples. Kelly planned her wedding in a matter of weeks with the help of her husband Steven and Alison- wedding coordinator at Burythorpe House, near Malton. They'd spotted an amazing deal that the venue were offering for small, covid weddings. I believe they got their room for them and their guests, a 3 course meal and a toasting drink too. The deal was fantastic value and very clever of the venue too, last year was really tough for them, they had staff to pay and the building to maintain on top of that, so at the end of the day a small, wedding is better than none at all. Kelly said, "I wouldn't of had it any other way, I was very pleased I chose to have my wedding when I did... It was perfect, personal and the best day ever... the photos were fabulous the venue was amazing, loved it!!!!" This couple got in touch with me mid August, for their September wedding, they just wanted to get married and decided to just go for it despite C-19. Originally, they were planning for 30, then they had to cut it to 15 with just days to go, but they still had a great time, ate amazing food and enjoyed each others company. Rachel & Karl said, "Our wedding was lovely and intimate, everyone got to chat to everyone, which wouldn't have happened to same extent if it was bigger. Organising the wedding was also easy and no stress. We had a fab day and so did our families, it just felt like a big feast in the evening. All of our suppliers from the cake maker to the venue went above and beyond. It also wasn't too bad being the centre of attention when there was only 13 other people." Hannah and George had been planning their wedding for a good 18 months, they suffered a venue closing down on them and then around 3 weeks before their wedding Boris locked us down, so they dragged everything forwards and got married on a Wednesday because they were just desperate to be Mr and Mrs! Even with the added pressures this is what Hannah said, "With the uncertainty of weddings during the pandemic, with the worries about guest numbers, it was incredibly hard to feel excited for the whole run up. But what it did teach my husband and I, is that the main thing for us was to get married to each other and start our married life. The intimate wedding that we were lucky enough to have made us realise how lucky we are to have each other and our family and friends. If you’re disheartened by the potential of not having a big, white wedding that you’ve always dreamt of- don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone. You might just find that you fall in love with having a small and intimate wedding!" Sophie and Morgan had been planning their wedding for around a year too, we met the week before lockdown was announced, so I saw their plans for 60 guests go down to the 15 they were allowed, by the time their day came around. Sophie planned for the guests to colour patches of fabric so she could stitch them all together at a later date to remember their day, their guests found this really therapeutic, they also hosted a pub quiz and their best man had created a video show which included lots of messages from their guests who couldn't be there. Sophie's wise words, "To anyone wondering, is it really worth getting married in a pandemic? I would say the answer is most definitely YES! A wedding should really be about celebrating the love you share with the person who you want to share the rest of your life with. Favours and seating plans and the perfect wedding playlist don't really matter in the end. I LOVE being married, and am so glad that we didn't wait to start this next chapter of out lives together! ...that and there's absolutely no reason why I can't have my full on princess bride fantasy day as an anniversary party instead!!" Tina and Clairwyn decided to get married in the heigh of the pandemic, they contacted my in the July, their wedding was at The Star Inn, Harome. It was important to them, to really treat the guests that they were able to invite, so they went all out with fancy nibble and the best champagne, something that would have been extremely costly with lots of guests. They turned everything on it's head too and the fizz and canapés before the ceremony so they could enjoy the September sunshine. Tina and Clairwyn said this about their day, "Some of our guests said they had never been to such an intimate Wedding, they felt so a part of it, not just a guest. It was as if everyone involved with our day also felt as lucky & fortunate as we did, everyone was a part of it, almost as grateful as we were that somehow... our wedding happened, and it was even more special that we could ever have hoped for. If we’ve learnt one thing from this past year, it was to not put things off.. don’t take tomorrow for granted. So many positive’s, we had chosen the perfect venue for us, with the utmost commitment, professionalism and warmth that against all the odds ensured we had such a magical day. We will be for ever grateful to everyone involved, without their enthusiasm, vision & care we may never have had such an amazing day." Becky and Iain chose to get married at St Lawrence's Church in York with this being their local parish and them both being heavily involved with it all. York has a special place in both of their hearts, it's where they met, where they're living and now where they became Mr and Mrs Milne. They wanted to show this in their photos, so with them only having 30 guests for their day, it gave them time to nip off with me, for some photos in the city itself, whilst their guests got started on their afternoon tea. When we returned they enjoyed mingling with everyone from a distance in the sunshine, before we got some photos of them with their family in the stunning churchyard. Hannah and Tony were given the go ahead by Malton Registry Office with only a few days to go, they'd enquired to see if there were any 2020 date left just out of interest. Then with 9 days to they got a date. Hannah cracked on and sorted her dress from The Little Pearl, Bridal Boutique in Pickering; luckily, it fitted perfectly. She got ready in her office above Willow Green, Estate Agents, Malton, because this is who she works for, then with the ceremony being booked for 5pm we planned to do getting ready shots and then a few before. Unfortunately, it rain all day, but we had a backup plan and used York House, kindly donated to us for an hour so we could get some beautiful shots of their family of 3. Hannah's wise words, "I’m beyond glad we got married when we did, in fact I’d go as far to say as it really could’ve been that simple all along and we could’ve done it way sooner. No overthinking things, no worrying about seating plans and budgets it was so easy and zero stress. We’ve been engaged ten years and always put off the big wedding because we knew the cost would be crazy having large families on both sides. It came down to just us and really that’s all that matters. I’ve the most amazing photos from Fiona which I will cherish forever, they tell the gorgeous story of our day and capture the intimacy we have as a family." Last year I captured 8 weddings during the later end of the pandemic, two where there were 30 guests, five with a wedding party of 15 and one where it was literally just the couple, their little girl and their 2 witnesses. So what's the best part of capturing a wedding usually? For me it's the build up, the smiles, the emotions during the ceremony and then getting to see the couple with their loved ones afterwards, seeing everyone congratulate them and wishing them well. During a "Covid Wedding" this still happens. A lot of the time, the couples seem to have gone above and beyond, not only have they planned the most perfectly put together day, they've planned extra entertainment and fun so that their guests don't get board. It's like to couples have become so aware of a "lul" in their day that many people worry about. So during these weddings we've had fun with the guests during photos and then I've taken the bride and groom intermittently for theirs, so they were never away for long at any one time. We've had: singing and piano playing with the guests; guess the movie; pub quizzes; colouring patches of fabric to make a patchwork quilt with afterwards; there's been messages from guests who couldn't be there; canapés and champagne before the I do's and afternoon tea in the church yard grounds. You know it's been an absolute ball watching the plans come together as they did. If you think it could be for you don't forget about your photos, they are so, so important as I hope you cam see from what I've shown you above. I'll be offering an hourly rate up until the 21st June 2021 please see details below: Covid Wedding Prices 1 hour £250 2 hours £450 3 hours £ 600 To find out more, please give me a call or an email anoifphotography@outlook.com 01563 695567 | 0777 0938295

Where do I start? I’ve been thinking about what I might write for my end of year, annual blog for a while now. Usually, I celebrate all of the wonderful weddings and family shoots I’ve completed over the year and it’s all rosey and lovely, don’t get me wrong there’s been plenty of moments like that in 2020, it just didn’t pan out how I’d/we’d expected… 2020 was the year I’d been waiting for, with over 20 weddings on my calendar and bookings still coming through, the year was looking exciting and full of prospect: I was looking forward to meeting all of my couples and hearing about what plans they had made so far; I’d booked and carried out some photography training during February and was looking forward to putting my new skills in to action. Who could have second guessed what was around the corner, not less than a month away. The news was brimming with stories of this new virus; alas, it was over seas and naively, I’d put it at the back of my mind. In the middle of March I captured my first wedding of the season, little did I know this would be my first and last of what we called normal weddings for the rest of the year. The news broke that following Friday, weddings would be halted, pubs would be shut, school closures were imminent and we were warned NOT to go and visit our mothers at the weekend for what would be Mothering Sunday. New phrases like social distancing and isolating were being more frequently used and I received a heartbreaking phone call from my weekend’s bride to be, who was due to be wed the following day. It all seemed somewhat surreal, how could you be planning your wedding for the next day and then at 5pm be told you couldn’t go trough with it with less than 24 hours to go. Honestly, the scenario is and was unimaginable. The kids went off to school the following Monday to then be told one would be closing on the Wednesday and the other on Friday, a few weeks were mentioned to begin with and the weeks turned into months. The postponements came in waves, firstly, the spring/summer weddings, then the autumn ones, followed then by the spring weddings of 2021. At first, as an industry we thought we might receive help, maybe the wedding insurance would pay out or the government would pass us a grant; nevertheless, in my case and in many others’ this help never arrived. Our contracts were ripped to shreds and we were told our time was unaccountable, it didn’t matter. It was infuriating and at times made you feel a little worthless, like your efforts didn’t count. Then from nowhere you’d get a lovely email, from a couple or a client being grateful for your time and understanding, for as they put it “bending over backwards” to help them and it all seemed worth it, what else were we to do other than help, after all in my mind the couples had suffered enough, it wasn't their fault. I had past clients and new ones wanting to support my business, by buying gift vouchers for birthdays or booking one of my doorstep/mini sessions. This was what lifted my spirits in what sometimes felt like a dark hole with no light, so thank you for everyone on of you would took the time to do one of those things. As the restrictions lifted, a new era dawned: optimistic couples crept out of the cracks wanting to make the most of what they could still do; some of them just wanted to be married and decided they could party afterwards, at a later date; some of them only wanted a small gathering anyway; others decided they could really treat their nearest and dearest with luxury meals and drinks because there were fewer mouths to feed. Not only did I keep bookings that had been made, but I got new bookings too from brides and grooms who could afford to do something more glam due to not having to cater for as many. My first post-covid wedding took place between Tina and Clairewyn at The Star Inn where they turned everything on it’s head just to represent the times they were tying-the-not in and had canapés and champagne before their ceremony, it was a wonderful day, getting to see people enjoying one another company once more, be it from afar, it was just like the start of a new chapter- happiness again. I got to see couples reinventing their day after that! Rebecca and Iain enjoyed afternoon tea in the grounds of the Church... Rachel and Karl planned their wedding in weeks and enjoyed a meal with their family around what looked like a medieval banquet table. Sandy and Graham had a beautiful church service, they listened to hymns instead of singing them and then got caterers to deliver a meal for their immediate family, I couldn’t photograph this as it was in their home. Sophie and Morgan, shaved their 40 guests down to 15 and enjoyed time with them at their venue, they did quizzes and designed linen square so they can make it in to a patchwork quilt. Hannah and George moved their wedding forwards fro the end of November to the day before Lockdown 2, they enjoyed games and live music as they are all very gifted and took in in turns to play the piano. They live-streamed their wedding service and video-called guests who were unable to attend. Kelly and Steven enjoyed getting married in there dream venue with delicious food and drink after planning their day in just weeks. Hannah and Tony planned their wedding in days after being given a wildcard date off the registry office, they said their I dos and then went for a meal with their witnesses afterwards. My point is, it may not have been what they’d planned, but they achieve their ultimate goal, to be man and wife or wife and wife. They enjoyed every minute, had time to chat and laugh with their guests and none of them felt their day had been impacted for the worse. There were no rules or expectations just people, happy to be in each others company. The venues dealt with the scenario perfectly too, ok, they looked different, but not for the worse, 2020 will be a year that goes down in history, these weddings will be talked about in the future they’ll be used as examples of what we had to do to get by and protect the ones we love. The sacrifices we made to save others. My business my have been effected by the covid ways, but the time made way for me to spread my wings in other areas of photography, that have interested me in a longtime too. I launched an equine side to my business and bought my own equine friend too!! This has all been very exciting. For those of you who haven’t met April, here she is, she’s 2 years and 8 months now, she’s a Welsh Sectioned D and was wild living on the Welsh mountains, until June last year. We’ve met some challenges over the last few months with her; however, at the moment we’re making steady progress, she’s stopped launching herself at me and trying to kick and bite, as I walk her in and out of the field. Haha 😂 We can now pick all her feet up properly, saddle and bridle her; plus, this week it would seem I've managed to crack lunging and last Saturday Natalie sat on her back for the first time. We are looking forward to backing her properly this Easter. I’m enjoying learning as we go and watching tutorials in natural horsemanship ways. I will keep you updated on My April and her progress. I also worked LOTS in my local community, making some awesome connections with other small, local businesses during my advent calendar project and Malton blog that I started before lockdown 1, because of which I now have some very exciting projects to look forwards too this year. It’s going to be great to feel part of a team again, whilst working with them. So all in all, 2020 wasn’t a total waste of time, I met some amazing people, made great connections, expended my businesses horizons and I gained two work mates too. Lewis and Natalie have been working from home, they have been fantastic working super hard as have their teachers! I hope 2021 is a little smoother ride nevertheless. Check out my packages for family photo sessions, weddings, equine shoots and commercial photography, if you're a local business who would like me to work with you on a more regular basis, I offer a reduced rate too, so get in touch.

After purchasing our local scoop and weigh shop, Scoops, in May 2019, Sally has had more than her fair share of obstacles and hurdles to over-come since: what with the pandemic lurking everywhere we move, things have not been simple. Not only has Scoops been offering these new services, they’re keen to help our most epic challenge to date: Save Our Planet. Sally encourages customers to bring in reusable containers, to refill with the ingredients that are needed, plus she’s also swapped as much packaging as possible for plastic-free. She’s proud to say she sources her products as locally as possible too, cutting down of the 'air-miles' and fuel used to transport produce from further afield. This goes with out saying, that Scoops was the only place you could buy every type of flour from, at the height of the pandemic due to Sally choosing to use a local mill in Driffield. So what does Scoops have to offer? Well, maybe the easier question would be what doesn’t it sell. With 1000s of dried ingredients under their roof from herbs and spices, to condiments and coffee, there’s anything you can image that comes in tins, bottles and paper bags. Along with Sally promoting local produce such as, pasta, coffee, flour, biscuits and oils she’s started putting baking and dinner bags/packs together as well to help inspire and entertain us during these challenging times. If you haven’t made your Christmas cake yet, I can recommend these amazing packs here... All you need to add is the eggs, butter and some fresh zest, the instructions and everything else is there waiting to be used. It’s "Stir Up Sunday" tomorrow so you could get down there and grab a bag just in time. My friend told me she’s used one of the dinner packs for a vegan tagine, something she would have never usually tried, she told me it can with literally everything she needed, a cute little pack of spices, the vegetables (sources locally from Paleys) a tin of chickpeas and and tomatoes and even the stock cube too. I also know that the store stocks diet friendly alternatives too, so if you’re gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian or vegan you’ll still find something nice to nibble…

I met this couple around 18 months ago, when they won a competition I was holding for a free engagement session. They were my winners! Who knew what lay ahead though, we met at sunrise for the engagement session at Dalby Forest and chatted about their plans. They were excited to have just booked a local venue and the church, there were big plans, plans for a huge wedding, with lots of food, friends and dancing. It wasn't to be though, their venue announced earlier this year, that it was closing it's doors, after being badly effected by Covid, all pre booked weddings would be cancelled there. Be that as it may, this didn't put them off, they simply began to look at other options, rising above the times and making to most of everything they were allowed to do. After booking Birdsall House as their new venue of choice, they set about planning the wedding again. Throughout, they kept as positive as they could despite the uncertainly, planning for 30 and all of the first lot of restrictions. Then with only weeks to go the government dropped the guest limit to just 15. Some might have been put off, I had many the postponement after this news, but not Hannah and George, all they wanted was to become husband and wife. So they made sacrifices and some really tough decisions, reducing their wedding party to just the 15 they were now allowed. They'd jumped through every hoop they could, yet with just 3 weeks to go Boris announce that England would be going in to another national lockdown. Who could have written it? Hannah and I were in touch immediately and in just a few hours the couple had secured, the church, the venue, the caterers, the dress, the car, flowers and the rest of it (including myself) for that Wednesday which by then was just 72 hours away. Now, with nothing (hopefully) going to scupper their plans, they frantically began sorting everything else out. And my goodness Hannah and George, you did just that, what a fabulous day! After Hannah got ready at her parent's home, where she and George had been living throughout lockdown, they were collected by Howard, in the beautiful vintage car, for the journey to the church. The weather was perfect, Hannah looked stunning and everything was going just perfectly, with her family and two bridesmaids in tow, they were actually heading to the church to do what they've been so determined to do. At St Peter's Church, in Norton, George had been waiting patiently for his beautiful bride to arrive. The church looked so different, with just a few chairs dotted in clusters for the guests to sit in their households it had been really well thought out. They didn't stop here though, they wanted everyone to witness the beginning of their next chapter, so George and his best man had careful set up a zoom meeting with friends and family so they could all join in too. After the service which was lead by a close family friend , we all headed back to Birdsall House for photos, canapés, champagne and some delicious food, we stopped at the entrance of the grounds for some photos first as being a Covid wedding with less guest we had more time to do so... The couple were met by 13 "paps" at the entrance, they were eager to congratulate to couple and get a few photos before sitting down to the meal. They cleverly spread the meal out by enjoying a speech after each course. There was also live music played by Hannah's brother, George's Dad and pretty much everyone that was there, this lot are a talented bunch! This was rounded off with more speeches, the cake cutting and lots of laughter... A perfect day in the end, congratulations Mr and Rowell, you did it! Credits to: Photography: Anoif Photography Venue: Birdsall House The Dress: Blue Bow Bridal Company Flowers: The Topiary Tree, Malton Hair: Food: At the Dinner Party, Dan Graham

This is my latest venture and newest addition to my little business, if there's one thing that C-19 has done, it's made us stop. It's made us have to be creative and think a little more for ourselves, I've spent the last 5 years of my life with my head well and truly fixated on the wedding industry. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with this, I love what I do. Nevertheless, when you're knee deep in editing, you get very little time to think about others parts of the business and the different paths you could venture down now and again. This has given me time, when we were allowed again, to get back in one the other place I love to be-the saddle. Honestly, there's no place quite like it. It's a place where all of your worries and insecurities disappear, vanishing in to thin air for that time being. Of late this has been rather useful, your can spend A LOT of time fretting at the moment, otherwise. When I was younger, I spent many an hour in the saddle: gymkhana'ing, doing pony club, cross country, hacking out and participating in to odd one day event and I loved it. The faster the better, having children has turned me in to somewhat of a wuss though, I'm sad to say. Haha But I still love a ride out on Frankie whenever I can, usually in the company of Natalie and Harley, sometimes Mum too. My my deep-rooted love and passion for these four legged creatures goes way back as you can probably tell. I used to spend hours drawing and painting them as a teenager- when you had time on your hands to just do as you wanted. I also did my first photography college project using Harley as a model. So it seemed fitted to use him and Natalie as models. This would be getting on for about 17 years ago, he's greyed up around the eyes since then, but he's still incredible handsome. Anyone who has a horse will understand, a horse is not just a horse, there is a bond there. There is an undeniable trust between horse and rider, anyone who has this or has experienced this will know how lucky and incredible you will feel to be in this place. A horse can read you and you can read them, the twitch of an ear the stamp of a foot and you know what they mean. Their spirits are calming and therapeutic, there's no place quite like being on the back of your horse.  There's a bond, a strong one, which is really quite something to photograph I'm finding out. From today I am introducing two equine packages: Willow-Water Cherokee (Mum's first Morgan horse, who I adored!) and Arpeggio's Rising Star- my first Morgan, who I am now fortunate enough to be riding again. Please see below: I am also going to be giving the first 5 people to book on to either of the packages a FREE print pack containing 12, 7x5" lustre prints ready for framing. So don't waste anytime, get in touch to secure you booking I will be free both midweek and weekends for now.

On the 2nd of May I did my first doorstep session with some of my favourite people in the world, it was the first time since the March-Lockdown that I’d photographed another family and I was really nervous. Partly because I wasn’t sure if I was strictly allowed or not, and partly due to this being a new way of capturing people for me: I don’t spend my time arranging people neatly in front of doors usually! Haha It was Ryan’s Birthday and we were taking his present to leave of the doorstep, so I took my camera along too. Both Brooke and Ryan had got a bunny each just before lockdown, they’d introduced them to us over a Skype call; nevertheless, they were eager to share them in real life too, so of course they joined the photo shoot! This session became the first of many. I’ve loved photographing families on their doorsteps and in their gardens. (Only after permission was give by the Government to enter a garden, of course.) I began doing these sessions like a bag of nerves and now I feel I’ve become braver! By this I don’t mean I’m getting closer to people, I’m just pushing my kit and using it to it’s full potential. Seriously, I must change my lens’ about 101 times during a 15 min (ish) session. I honestly feel these sessions have improved my photography skills or maybe they’ve made me look at things differently? Before I would always look for the best location or the prettiest background and I’d choose to have people in or out of the direct sunlight. Just like you can’t move mountains you can’t move someone’s from door either and when you’re planning around a baby and their nap time you just can’t be that fussy! So I’ve had to go with it… Direct, harsh sunlight and grey, windy days have become my friends. Yes, if you wanted the “perfect photographically balanced” photo with just the right amounts of shadows and highlights and perfectly positioned hair then your going to struggle and maybe my style isn’t for you, but I’ve become to see these “flaws” as atmosphere, character and personality, after all, I want to capture people during what has been one of the most challenging times we’ll ever (hopefully) have to face in our lifetimes! These portraits should be full of character and charisma and should represent the times we are and have lived through do far, so if you’ve spent your days in joggers and a string vest or jumping on the trampoline like crazy people then that’s what you should be doing in your photos! So far I’ve raised £100 for the NHS with the help of you lovelies! Before the trend of doorstep photos fizzles out, I’m planning on doing them until the end of June. For each session booked I will donate £5 to the NHS too. I’m happy to do them weekdays, weeknights and weekends so please get in touch! Couples, families, newborn babies, rabbits, dogs, guineapigs OK, I think you get it! You’re all welcome. Each slot last for around 15 minutes, you get 5 digital images include in the price with full printing rights. If you’d like more that’s fine they’re only £5 each extra (less than a Gin and Tonic!) Don’t let this time pass without a souvenir, do if for the children and future generations to look back on. Book your slot now!

A celebration of colour and art, this is one of describing what Beccy and Dan’s day looked like…It was a day like no other they broke all the traditions: Christmas songs in June; getting ready together and even walking to the registry office as a couple. When we first got together to chat through their plans for their wedding day a few weeks before the wedding, they told me about what they’d been up to so far. With the wedding venue being a blank canvas for couples to do as they please, they’d been really busy! Beccy works in the Art department at York College, so there’s no the wonder their day came together so well. With giant moons and flowers, glitter galore, handmade head dressings and a mirage of colourful country flowers, Deepdale Farm Weddings looked unreal, in the best way possible! Not only did the venue look good, so did the Bride and Groom, Beccy had found her dress in a charity shop and had reinvented it, adding colourful badges and motifs, the dress was almost like a piece of art that represented every corner of Beccy’s personality. Dan, I’m sure you guessed went down a slightly less conventional route too, with his bright and highly patterned shirt, jeans and leopard print converse! Their dress code was to be comfortable and their day was as informal as any wedding affair could be, with a Fish & Chips wedding breakfast straight from the van, followed by a Pork Pie wedding cake, lashings of cheese, biscuits and pickles for the night guests. When it came to choosing the venue, they knew the most important thing to them was to have a blank canvas they didn’t want a traditional wedding venue, they wanted their day to be a true testament to them both. They wanted to DIY as much of the décor as humanly possible, be in beautiful surroundings and eat what they love to eat the most without anyone specifying this for them. Deepdale was the perfect place for this! Set in the stunning countryside, just below Hutton-le-hole, with two hosts who just want their couples express themselves and to be able to enjoy their surrounding. When creating a DIY wedding it’s important to be organised, Beccy and Dan shared some tips with me… “We started planning almost as soon as we got engaged and had the venue booked within a couple of months. We used a free wedding planner spreadsheet we found online, and because we had a strict budget (and knew if we weren’t careful we’d spend wildly!) that was a godsend. From start to finish it was 17 months of planning, gathering and making and we still; l ran out of time for some of the things we wanted to do. We roped in our parents, brother and sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends to help us get everything ready. Beccy’s mum made the huge paper flowers, the moon ‘photobooth’, the signs, all the crowns and most of the fancy dress. Beccy’s gran sewed superhero capes. Everyone was on the lookout for brightly coloured glass and travel games for the tables (which were borrowed from Dan’s mum). Beccy refashioned her wedding dress from one she found in Sue Ryder for £26 and sewed blankets and quilts so the hay bales wouldn’t be scratchy. For two days before the wedding it was all hands on deck stapling, swaging and laying the tables.” They chose wedding suppliers offline for the food, flowers and chairs everything else they made, borrowed or sourced from charity shops. For their DIY inspiration, they researched wedding blogs like “Rock my Wedding” and created numerous mood boards on Pinterest along with just making things up as they went along, this is why I think their day looked so good. How did the planning work? Who helped? How long did it take to plan? How did they organise & schedule? Any fears or worries about the day? Rain! And yes it did rain, but it didn’t matter in the end. A sign of good luck I hear... For Dan it was the wedding dance but a few dancing lessons alleviated that fear.. a tad. Also our wedding playlist (that took months to perfect) was let says an eclectic mix, ranging from King Gizzard and the Lizzard Wizzard to Ben Folds Five. Things you wish you didn't do or wish you had? Delegate more! When you’re doing a DIY wedding, it’s really easy to fall into the trap of thinking you have to do everything yourselves and you really don’t. On the day we spent a little too much time organising things and we wish we had spent that time just enjoying it. Advice for future couples? If you’re doing a DIY wedding start planning and making really early. Don’t underestimate just how long it takes. Also don’t underestimate the amount of space wedding stuff takes up in your house (and probably other peoples too!) so be prepared to live with it for months before the big day. Make a really good itinerary so you don’t forget anything. We’re finding things in cupboards now that we had bought for the wedding and just forgotten because towards the end it gets so hectic. For more tips on DIY weddings and ways to keep them eco friendly, check out this awesome blog I found the John put together! Credits: Venue: Deepdale Farm Weddings Food: Mobile fish and chips of Pickering and Appleton’s butchers. The dress: DIY Charity Shop Dan’s outfit: Jeans from Primark, Shoes from Converse, Shirt from Tesco (although I'd bought about 10 and picked one on the day) and Jacket from Zara and Bex hand stitched me on my beloved Derby County patch. The Rings: Beccy’s friend Ellie Crosby designed and made the wedding rings. Flowers: DIY but sources from Pickers at Moor Monkton is the local flower farm we used. It was important to us that the flowers were brightly coloured, seasonal and produced in a way that was kind to the environment. Sally got what we wanted straight away and was FANATASTIC. Beccy cried when she picked them up! Photography: Anoif Photography

A sentimental purchase some might say and others would think it was just meant to be, it wasn’t until around a month a go, whilst out walking the dog when I discovered Davina had decided to take a career change from midwifery to store manager, owner and business planner. After spotting this little shop on the market earlier this year Davina decided to just simply go for it! Making a move from her current career: This seemed like fate though. Her father had purchased this shop way back in 1980 and Davina can recall some good times there, it was where her working life began too, when she was old enough, she enjoyed working here on Saturdays as a teenager. The shop had remained in the family until fairly recently; when Ian decided to sell up, contemplating retirement, letting the business go. Davina is proud to bring the business back to the family, completing the sale only a few days after Lockdown was announced, it wasn’t the perfect time to be venturing in to the retail world; nevertheless, Davina and Julie (Davina's one member of staff) are making a cracking go at it. Davina told me how she’s had a steep learning curve over the last few months, not only has she had the lockdown to contend with and home schooling her three children, she’s also had to learn the ins and outs of running a business! Along with her small team of one- Julie. Davina told me how she couldn't have done it with out Juile, who works 2 days a week, as a shop assistant. Julie has passion rooted in natural medicine and healing, which means she brings such wise knowledge to the shop. Davinea say's, "We make a brilliant team and I have found a friend that has such a positive influence on my life as well as the best colleague." It's so refreshing to hear employers speak so highly of their staff. Davina has great plans for this little shop and has already made extensive changes to the premises; the interior and exterior are unrecognisable. The shop is no longer just a health food store, it’s a haven for those of us that care about our health and environment, with a vast variety of Organic delicacies up for grabs, it’s like a old fashioned sweet shop, but full of all kinds of dried food from lentils and pulses to a medley of cereals! There’s even Kilner jars full with Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar for you to refill your bottle with along with washing detergent, shampoo and conditioners. They now stock a full range of the latest CBD Oil products too, which are becoming more and more popular with nation for treating many different ailments. What’s more Davina is offering a same day free delivery service within the local community and I believe a once weekly service to Scarborough and York, she’s recognised the current situation and has already began to bend to meet everyone’s needs. “People are safest at home,” say’s Davina, who is also only allowing 2 customers in the shop at one given time, to protect our society. We are facing challenging times at the moment, but yet again another Malton business prevails! If we can get through this standing everyone, we’re doing all right! Check out Davina’s FB Page and website https://www.thebeechamweigh.com Send her a message if you need something or pick up the phone!

This week I made some very delicious cupcakes, they had a nice moist texture and a light vanilla sponge, inside them they contained chocolate chips, on the top they had vanilla icing and a chocolate bunny, they might not be healthy, but it’s sure worth it! First things first, I turned the oven on to 160 degrees, (Non-fan ovens 180 degrees!) after the oven was turned on I lined my cupcake tin: The next time we went shopping there were still no bun cases, so we got some baking-paper and cut it in to perfect squares! (Yet again they worked well!) After that, I took the butter and the sugar, I placed it in a big bowl and then beat it with a whisk until it went light and fluffy! After, I took the vanilla extract (you can use vanilla paste if you wish :-) ) and the eggs, I added them to the mix and then whisked it again. When the mixture was smooth, I then added the flour and mixed again and again-until combined! :] When the mixture looked smooth, I added the chopped up chocolate to the mix, you can also use bought chocolate chips too! In the recipe it didn’t have chocolate chips in but I used 100g to make it even more tasty!!! As the mixture was finished I put it in to the GIRL MADE bun cases ;) When they all looked even, I put them in the oven for 20-25 mins, even though the recipe said 18mins it was not enough to make them perfect!!! For the cupcakes 175 g margarine 175 g caster sugar 2 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste 3 eggs 175 g self-raising flour 1. Preheat the oven to 160ºC (fan assisted, 180ºC non fan) and line a cupcake tin with paper liners 2. Beat the butter and sugar together for roughly 5 minutes until light and fluffy 3. Add the vanilla extract and eggs and mix again 4. Add the flour and mix until it is combined. Spoon into 12 cupcake cases filling each 2/3 full 5. Bake in the oven for 16-18 minutes. Check they are cooked by piercing them with a cocktail stick, if the stick comes out clean they are cooked 6. Leave on a wire rack to cool completely Whilst they were cooling I made the butter icing!! I started off by beating the butter in a bowl with a whisk, when it was smooth and looked creamy I added the icing sugar! Top Tip: Put a towel over the bowl so then all of the icing sugar doesn’t go everywhere!!!! I added the milk gradually whilst still mixing so it was smooth but still thick.....when the buns where set I carefully pumped the icing on (the first few were a little messy.....oh well :o) Last but definitely not least the bunnies were placed elegantly ;] on top!!! For the buttercream 140 g unsalted butter softened 280 g icing sugar 1-2 tbsp milk 1.Once the cakes have cooled completely, make the buttercream. Start by beating the softened butter for a minute or two 2.Add in the icing sugar and beat until mixed. Gradually add the milk a little at a time until you get a smooth but still quite thick consistency 3.Spoon the buttercream into a piping bag and pipe onto the cupcakes. Finish with any decorations

Fun, yes, fabulous, yes (the Bride is nothing but) and Flamboyant? YES!! Oh, my, days...The party at Lydia and Liam's wedding was mental! Good mental of course, I'll reveal why and how later. Honestly though, I was particularly excited about this wedding after spending the past 3 years working closely with Lydia at Malton Primary, I'd heard about all the details 1st hand and had been closely involved with certain aspects from the beginning of this couples wedding planning journey... The all time big question...How did they choose their venue? It was suggested to Lydia by her friend who had seen pictures of it on Instagram. I remember her telling me the story of her first visit very clearly, we laughed a lot as Lydia made it sound like an old people's home! When she went to visit first of all Lydia was with her mum. It was an hour away from where Liam and Lydia lived so she wasn’t sure it was right for them as she was concerned about their guests having to travel so far, because of this, she actually didn’t invite Liam. When she pulled up outside she realised straight away it was a caravan/ chalet park and even thought about turning straight back to a local pub they'd seen for lunch instead of looking around. It was her Mum who convinced her to give it a go... When they went inside they met Angela, Lydia warmed to her right away, she was so lovely- really organised and talkative. She showed them around and to Lydia's surprise, the hall was beautiful! She also showed them the rooms their families could stay in, the ground and a pond nearby. Everything was beautifully simple. She thought then it could be the venue for them but there were 2 things she wanted to check: 1. That I would be able to get some lovely groups photos without caravans in the backgrounds. 2. That the food was really good as that was extremely important to them. So for Lydia's second visit we went together and really, I couldn’t understand what she was so worried about, I didn't even see any old people and the caravans could be hidden easily, especially as we knew the foliage would have grown up by August. So Liam and Lydia visited together on their ‘one year to go’ with their parents. They sampled the menu and everything was delicious. The deal was sealed! I can vouch for this I ate there twice and was very impressed. Colour scheme – who chose it and the influence behind it? We didn’t really have a colour scheme as such! We just tried to tie in a few key things. The bridesmaid's dresses were pale/ dusty blue so I chose a few decorations to match. My step mum made some blue beaded birds to hand and my mum put blue on the cake. The invitations and other stationary were cream with lots of green leaves and plants. I made sure our bouquets and button holes were green with some pale pinks in too – just because I liked the flowers! Did it live up to their expectations? "Absolutely. Having people around you who are calm and prepared but also understanding that you may be stressed/ worried was invaluable. She answered emails quickly and efficiently. She had a folder so when we visited she had all of our emails and requests together in one place. We felt really well looked after. On the day she was really calm, came and visited both of us in the morning and wished us well. She popped in at different parts of the day to check how we were, made sure we always had drinks etc." What’s your favourite memory? After the ceremony we walked out to bagpipes and confetti. We hadn’t 100% planned what it would be like, just that a friend would play the bagpipes and the bridesmaids would hand out confetti. That was the first time we properly saw everyone who had come! And the afterwards we could mingle and chat. I felt calm as I was now married! I felt like nothing could go wrong and I could just enjoy my day. What’s Liam’s fondest moment? Just as I sat down after finishing my speech. I was so nervous beforehand; it was always in the back of my mind. Even as everyone was mingling outside and chatting, I was just running my speech over in my head. However, as soon as I sat down after finishing it was almost as if the day started then for me, all the pressure and anxiety left me and I could really enjoy myself. We originally planned on having the speeches after the meal, I’m so glad we changed them to before otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the food at all. Is there anything you felt went really well? We really took advantage of having such kind and thoughtful friends. Some friends made our invitations, some played music/ sung for us! Family made decorations; my mum made the cake. Other friends did beautiful readings and did our photography. We really felt so lucky to have everyone around us; and it helped our friends were so talented! Advice to couples who are planning... We got to a stage around 6 months before the wedding where we had enough key things in place to calm us. 6 months to go and we were saying ‘if we do nothing else the day will still go ahead and be lovely’. It was good to know that everything we did was just extra and not essential. Anything you wish you’d done differently? Yes! We made a snack table for guests to nibble but put it inside as we were worried about flies. It was barely touched as it was such a lovely day everyone was outside! Because I was there literally to the death of the party, I was there to capture all the epic dance moves too...The Bride and Groom about lifted the roof! Thanks for reading, if you're looking for a calm and relaxed wedding photographer please check out my portfolio and prices, I'll willingly travel too. For more tips on DIY weddings and ways to keep them eco friendly, check out this awesome blog I found the John put together! Venue: The Gamekeepers Inn, Grassington. Photography: Anoif Photography.

Last weekend, bank holiday Friday in fact, my husband and I did our first Whisky tasting together, with James (of McMillans of Malton) and Craig (Paul John’s rep). What a top idea it was of James’ to arrange this super evening/event for people near and wide. Usually, James and his father, owners of McMillians of Malton, host their Whisky tasting evening with at Chapter Two in town; however, due to the times we’re going through they have been unable to do so. This hasn’t stopped James though; it’s just made him have to think of a more diverse way to deliver the experience of which the father-son team are extremely passionate about, so last Friday at 8pm we headed into the dinning room, seated ourselves in front of the laptop and hooked up to their live stream on Facebook- delivered via Malton Whisky Society. James and Craig then together talked us through each of the five samples we’d had delivered through the door the day before, I didn’t know what to expect as I’ve never been to one of their tasting sessions before, usually I’d be at home with the kids, so it was great to be able to join in. Craig talked us through the process of how the whisky was aged and put together and also he shared the similarities and differences of how the process worked out in Indian, which is where Paul Johns whisky distillery is based, compare to the UK climatised, distilleries which was fascinating. I had no idea that the whiskies matured much quicker with a hotter climate due to the evaporation process being sped up. They talked us through the notes and tones of the whiskies’ aromas and surprisingly (to me) you could taste exactly what James and Craig discussed! The people who were also involved in the tasting were able to ask Craig and James questions about the Whiskies in the comments panel of the FB window, which added a great atmosphere to the event, people were not only asking questions about the product they were also getting involved with good banter and humour throughout the hour. I could see there were people within the group that James was clearly familiar with, along with other clear friendships within the group, formed possibly by the past sessions they had attended. It’s great when we get a local business that’s passionate not only about their product but the community too. I would highly recommend James’ sessions and I do believe there is talk of more to come, so follow McMillans of Malton and Malton Whisky Society if you’d like to join in next time. James and his Dad's shop is based in Malton, North Yorkshire, they're recently moved to a new premises where they have more room to work and stock the Whiskies, Craft Gins, Beers, Spirits, Ciders and Wines that they are so passionate about. Both James and his Dad believe purchasing whiskies should be more of an experience rather than just walking in and walking out with a bottle; they have a very principled philosophy that everyone should be able to try before they buy, after all everyone has different preferences when it comes to this fine spirit. From this belief came the idea of tasting evenings, starting out with relaxed sessions originally at the Spotted Cow, now in Chapter two and from this MWS (Malton Whisky Society) was born, it’s formed from a group of individuals who enjoyed good company and quality whisky. James and his father’s earnest and passionate approach has lead to them cutting through the stigma and pretentiousness that sometimes are associated with Whisky as a perception. I very much look forwards to meeting James in person and capturing him in the shop when we are safe to do so again. Until then we'll just have to enjoy these online sessions and opt to purchase spirits form him online, James is delivering his produce so check out the website!

Yet another small business diversifying: Malton’s very own, passionate, apple-juicing duo has decided to keep everyone in full supply of their delicious nectar! Yorkshire Wolds Apple juice is made from 100% British fruit, it’s produced just ½ a mile from Norton, the juice is full of vitamins and goodness. It’s got no added sugar, water or preservatives either, plus it comes with a long shelf life so if you decide to buy a few bottles it’ll sit in the cupboard until you need it, it doesn’t need to be refrigerated until opened. This sweet juice is award winning, being placed 2nd in the national fruit show competition, plus it goes really well with gin as a replacement for the tonic! Perfect for a summer's evening. I can vouch for that! Before C-19 hit us all, Jane and John sold most of their juice directly to tearooms, (Betty's was one of them!) restaurants, bistros and local businesses; however, as you can imagine the virus has taken a massive hit on their regular way of trading. This is why they have decided to deliver the juice directly to your door for free, if you live within a 5 mile radius of Malton or within York’s inner ring road and you order a small crate of 12 bottles (just £40). Smaller orders and deliveries further afield are both possible too; please enquire to find out about the small delivery charge. Yorkshire Wolds Apple Juice deliver twice a week, to find out more Jane and John can be contacted either by their email ywa.enquiries@gmail.com or by phone 07779161780 Alternatively, orders can be placed directly on the website: www.yorkshirewoldsapplejuice.co.uk Please share, as they need to spread word of their new way of working. Photos by Anoif Photography Credits to: Yorkshire Wolds Apple Juice and Sloe Motion (Gin)