Lucy and Claudio
7th September 2020│Frensham Ponds
Instagram: @lucyrockall @claudio_iannella│Photos: Photos From Sophie
Highschool sweethearts Lucy & Claudio are due to tie the knot this May at the beautiful Millbridge Court in Surrey. They opted to have their pre wedding shoot close by at Fensham Ponds, and it was the ideal location for their romantic woodland shoot, the sun beaming through the trees really made for a perfect backdrop. Bride to be Lucy tells us all about their lovely engagement story, and why they thought an engagement shoot was a must-have!
Why did you decide to have a pre-wedding shoot?
I have read a lot about pre wedding shoots and I felt it was important to have one not only so we could get used to being in front of the camera but so we could build a relationship with our photographer. We also wanted to have a pre wedding shoot so that we can use some of the photos at the wedding and within our wedding website.
How did you meet and how long have you been together?
Claudio and I met at Sixth form, Claudio was in the year above me at high school but chose to repeat the first year of sixth form so we ended up being in the same geography class. The first time I really remember us talking was when Claudio asked to use my pencil sharpener and the rest is history. We are from the generation of MSN so before we started officially going out we would spend hours talking online. We have now been together nearly 12 and half years, we are hopefully going to marry on our 13th year of being together on the 16th May.
Tell us your proposal story...
Claudio took me on a surprise holiday for my birthday at the end of November in 2018. A very close friend of ours lives in Germany so on the morning of the proposal she surprised me at our apartment. The three of us drove to Neuschwanstein castle which I thought was just a day out but it became one of the best days of my life. Claudio and Franzi jumped over a fence so we could take some photos of us with the castle in the background but little did I know that instead of Franzi taking photos she was filming and Claudio got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! I was so shocked and couldn’t stop crying! It was so perfectly planned out and I found out after that Franzi had in fact been to the castle a few weeks before to find Claudio the perfect spot to propose.
Why did you choose the shoot location:
We chose our shoot location because it is very close to our wedding venue and we knew Sophie had done a couple of shoots before in that location.
Did you find the shoot helpful for helping you feel more prepared for the wedding day?
Absolutely, we are now so thrilled that we chose Sophie to be our wedding photographer. It’s helped us understand how Sophie works and has given us an idea of poses that would work well for the wedding day.
Did you feel nervous behind the camera?
I felt nervous before the shoot but once Sophie started to click away and Claudio made me feel relaxed in front of the camera it became natural. We have done a professional shoot before but that was many years ago and in a studio so this was different and we were much younger.
Would you recommend that other couples have an engagement shoot?
100%, I would say if you are nervous about being in front of the camera or have never done anything like this then I would definitely recommend it. Also it’s a great way to build a relationship with your photographer as they are probably going to take some of the most important photos of your life.
Did your photographer give you any tips before the shoot?
The most important rule was to relax and enjoy each others company. We kept talking to each other so there weren’t any pauses in the flow of the moment. On the day of the shoot the weather wasn’t looking great, but Sophie reassured us that grey skies aren’t always bad! You can play around with the lighting and it really shows how beautiful the sky can be.
What advice would you give to other couples who do plan to have a pre-wedding shoot?
Plan your location! Have a few spots in case something happens and you can’t get to your chosen spot. We planned on going in the pond but due to the time of year, the water wasn’t pleasant but we adapted to the situation and had fun elsewhere.
What is your favourite photo from the shoot?
The golden hour shot. The light came through the trees and Claudio picked me up effortlessly and the moment was magical. At that moment the sun came out and just filled the forest with sunlight. We took our moment and Sophie captured it forever.
Were there any stand out moments in the shoot?
Claudio insisted on being picked up and we made it up to one leg being in my arms but we didn’t make it any further as he soon realised he was too big! Sophie luckily captured the moment and we laugh every time we see the photo.
Tell us about your wedding plans!
We haven’t had to postpone our wedding due to Covid-19, but we are aware that we might have to push the date back to later in the year as things are uncertain. We hope to have a wedding of 60+ guests incorporating our love of travel into the theme.
Do you plan to incorporate any of the photos into your wedding?
Yes we plan to use some of the photos on our wedding website and potentially use a couple within our guest book.
What are you most looking forward to about the wedding date?
When I asked Claudio this question, his first answer was of course the wedding breakfast (classic Italian always thinking about his food). We are both looking forward to our first dance and finally getting to see Lucy in her wedding dress.
What has been your favourite part of wedding planning so far?
For me it was asking my closest friends to be my bridesmaids and my sister to be my maid of honour. I made them all ‘will you be my bridesmaid?’ boxes which included photos and gifts. For Claudio it was choosing the venue as we saw a few on the same day and he was blown away when we came to Millbridge Court.
Photography by Photos From Sophie│www.photosfromsophie.co.uk│ Instagram: @photosfromsophie
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