Meet Lydia. She’s loud, funny, direct, very physically affectionate, loves a beer and teaches history to teenagers. Meet Sarah. A quick-witted, dry humoured pharmacist with a calm exterior and a very warm heart.

They got married yesterday at the West Mill wedding venue in Derby. Their Pride was everywhere - on their fingernails, in their flowers, on their order of the day, in the rainbow teddies they gave as favours to their younger guests, in the layers of their beautiful cake, and more. One of the things I love about LGBT weddings is that these couples are making their own traditions. They’re not bound by all the crap expectations that come with traditional weddings, which is amazing! As Lydia said during her speech, “when Sarah and I fell in love, gay marriage wasn’t legal. And now we’re so happy, and so proud.”

Sarah and Lydia made flowers their priority. In their own words, “we’re queer vegetarians, so the flowers are locally grown and colourful”. With these words they spoke directly to my happy hippy soul! Nottingham florist Elder and Wild did an amazing job of making natural, individual bouquets with a meadowy summer style, and filled various gin bottles around the venue (emptying the gin from the bottles was a key lockdown hobby, so I’m told). Sarah made old fashioned lockets to pop onto their bouquets, so they’d have their grandparents with them all day. The Wedding Room in Nottingham provided the dresses for both brides, and I love how they kept their dresses a secret from each other!

It was a day for love, really. That’s what it comes down to. Love of all kinds, from a hand held between friends to group hugs and a lifelong relationship to celebrate. I can’t say any more because I’m literally blubbing away thinking about it. So, on to the photos.

The Photos