I’m so excited to share this with you all! As regular readers will be well aware, The Ferry House wedding venue in Kent is a member of English Wedding and listed in our wedding supplier directory. They reached out to one of their favourite wedding suppliers, Chris Blackledge Photography, to ask him all about their venue! It’s a brilliant read – and wonderful to learn about a place from the perspective of a wedding photographer. (Of course we’ve got some amazing photos from Chris to share with you too!)
Chris shot his first wedding at the Ferry House back in 2016 and the next was in 2017. He says, “from that point on I have had an amazing relationship with the team there. I remember being invited along to a attend a wedding showcase at the Ferry House in 2018 and my diary quite simply filled up with bookings from their couples, from then on I have loved every wedding I have been lucky enough to shoot there.”
What’s your favourite thing about The Ferry House?
Easy…..the team. I am very lucky to have shot weddings all over the country at some very amazing venues, but it is always a treat to get back to the Ferry House for another amazing day, that is for a large number of reasons but the team are what make this venue so special. A kind hearted family vibe across the board from the Weddings team through to the kitchen staff, front of house team, gardeners and everyone else. They welcome you with open arms and make any external vendors working experience an absolute joy……you’re made to feel like part of the team for the day.
What’s your favourite photo spot at the venue?
Something that is truly amazing about the Ferry House is the huge variety of photo spots, its difficult to pick one. The orchard is wonderful when the grass is long and the trees are full, the flower arch is always a winner when in bloom (definitely satisfies my need for symmetry in my imagery), it is easy to say a walk down to the estuary is the best spot for images so I have to mention it. The inside is as amazing as the outside so must be mentioned! Poor weather does not matter a jot when you have the rustic country pub vibe, window lit for some awesome indoor couples portraits 🙂
What’s your all time favourite image you’ve captured at The Ferry House?
OMG, probably an impossible one to answer! I could literally pick hundreds of moments that have put a smile on my face. I would have to pick a documentary moment over a posed portrait as that is my thing, that is what gives me the greatly pleasure to capture.
Let’s go with this….a moment from June 2023 when Joe married Jess. They chose to have their ceremony in the barn despite the weather being amazing, this made me happy as I LOVE the barn, the low light levels fits my style and elevates the feeling of real life because of it. The procession music started and Joe turned to see his daughter coming down the aisle towards him, he quickly turned back round to his brother/best man standing next to him with an expression on his face that spoke a thousand words. It was true emotion, a look of true love in a true moment and showed true vulnerability…..Joe’s brother put his hand on his shoulder for assurance and the word true was tattooed on his hand. Pictures like this, that tell stories like that, are what make me smile.
Is there anything you’d love to try at The Ferry House, that you haven’t before?
Having shot a huge number of weddings at the Ferry House I kind of have a style of image collection down to an art……however, that is always the challenge, how can I offer something new and fresh year after year. This year the challenge to myself is to utilise the pub area more when doing couples portraits. Every time I see the space I have ideas on what would look new and awesome. When the day and vibe feels right I will be jumping on that opportunity to test out my ideas.
What one tip would you give to couples who’ve booked The Ferry House for their wedding?
Take the advice of the weddings team, they are awesome, they know what they’re doing, and your day is in very safe hands. From a pictures perspective, again, take the advice of your photographer. Your photos should reflect the fun and enjoyment had on the day, your photographer should be able to advise and guide on what works great, what looks awesome and how to get the best pics from the day.
A little about Kent wedding photographer Chris Blackledge
How long have you been photographing weddings?
14 wonderful years.
What’s your favourite thing about being a wedding photographer?
Where on earth can I begin with this….On a professional and artistic level, I get to fulfil a life long dream to work in the creation of artistic material. I get to tell stories of the days in the lives of amazing people at the very best time in their lives. For a living I am invited to parties to celebrate happiness.
My love of photography started from my love of films, photographing weddings is a very close match to being a film maker as I get to tell very awesome stories.
Discover lots of gorgeous wedding place names at sale prices on Etsy this summer!
These lovely place names are from By Moon & Tide, all handwritten in calligraphy and on sale (also on Etsy) this August.
Place names from L-R, top row first:
- Circular wedding place names with calligraphy, made in the UK from almond colour sustainable recycled card
- Ribbon wedding place names
- Natural green wedding place names with hand calligraphy, made in the UK from sustainable recycled card
- Elegant navy blue luxury wedding place names
- Elegant sage green wedding place names
- Modern slimline blush calligraphy wedding place names
- Vibrant yellow wedding place names
- Round green wedding place names with hand calligraphy, made in the UK from sustainable recycled card
- Pale earthy inspired calligraphy wedding place names
By Moon & Tide is my calligraphy studio, on the edge of the Lake District. I offer a professional service and smooth, speedy despatch for weddings. Every order is double checked, beautifully written and despatched by a Tracked service in plenty of time for your wedding day!
There are a lot of brand new calligraphy businesses out there. Some will be amazing, and some will be rushing orders, and making mistakes on letters and spellings. It’s really important to choose established wedding suppliers.
I’ve had a calligraphy service covering the UK for twenty years! I’ve written thousands of place names, wedding invitations and table plans for couples around the country. (And around the world!) Selected place names are on sale for August 2024. I also have some brand new wedding place cards in autumnal tones with peach, coral and mandarin, which I hope you’ll love!
Just tap the image to see all of these in my Etsy shop (or click to browse place cards here).
I’ve always liked to think of English Wedding as being at the heart of a little cobweb of links, helping wedding businesses. We all know that SEO is really important for showing up on Google search. Link building within your own website and blog is easy. Finding time to blog your wedding business is essential. Getting quality links from other websites is trickier.
I have my own wedding calligraphy business. I know it’s really hard to be brave and reach out to blogs and wedding magazines with guest post suggestions. For that reason, it’s really important to me that English Wedding offers guest blogging to all of our members.
If you’re new to wedding SEO and feeling baffled…
- You want to show up near the top of Google search, right?
- You need good quality links from as many other websites as possible
- Guest blogging (writing articles for other related websites) is how you do that
As an English Wedding member, you get multiple feature posts throughout the year. For example, a photographer who signs up with us as a silver member gets:
- A listing in our wedding supplier directory and dedicated page
- Up to 4 features on our blog
- As well as real weddings or styled photoshoots
That’s potentially a LOT of links back to their website. Used carefully, those links can go to their own blog posts, different pages of their website (testimonial pages, about pages, packages…) and even their features on other wedding blogs.
I’ve created a little planner for English Wedding members to use, as a reminder to make the most of all of their feature opportunities. It’s exclusive to our members, so if you would like a peek why not apply for membership today?
Please read through the membership information below. (Tap to read)
We choose members for English Wedding personally: we like to know you a little, be familiar with your work (via your website or instagram) and understand what makes you special. Do follow us on instagram so we can get to know you better!
How to join English Wedding
It’s SO easy. When you’re ready to join English Wedding, complete our quick membership application form. We’ll be in touch!
Time, consistency and authenticity – and not being afraid to say it how it is!
When was the last time any online article came up with the goods right at the start?!
I thought I’d make it easy for you – the secret to wedding business blogging is time, consistency and authenticity.
If you can stick around another couple of minutes I’ll explain why!
Making time to blog your wedding business
“I don’t have time to blog” is a major black to most wedding businesses. We are BUSY – like, crazy busy. And at certain times of the year we barely have time to blink.
So time management is crucial – and making time to blog is important.
For you that could mean a weekly half hour slot in your calendar where you blog, no matter what. (For me it’s an hour on Monday mornings. I stick to it and I’m pretty proud of that!)
Or it could mean you spend one afternoon each month, writing 4 blog posts to cover that month.
If your business is really seasonal and you know summer is impossible, write your blogs in January. 12 hours = 12 blog posts = 1 for each month. Time yourself, limit each one to an hour’s writing time, and schedule them to publish through the year. Advice blogs don’t date: think “how to get your wedding day timings right” or “managing wedding planning stress for couples with anxiety” – super helpful content for any time of year.
Consistently blogging for your wedding business
Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash
Consistency makes blogging easier for you, and is helpful for your readers. Couples who’ve booked you will become familiar with your blogging schedule and wait for the next instalment. Having a blogging routine is much better than going quiet… turning up regularly is reassuring for your clients and good for Google too!
Avoid burnout by having a regular pattern for blogging. Follow our advice on making time to blog your business and establish a routine. That way even if you’re blitzing your blog for the year while you’re snowed in in February, you’ll look as though you’re turning up consistently all year round!
Remember, as you work on weddings through the year you can always chuck in another blog here and there to show off the beautiful photos!
Blogging with authenticity
So I thought I’d have a little go with ChatGPT to see if it helped with these blog posts. It absolutely didn’t – I’ve deleted everything it told me to write!
Turns out, AI likes dull blogs. And I didn’t want to churn out a load of advice that’s all over the internet already. I wanted to share genuine advice from my personal experience of writing a wedding blog, and that’s what I’ve done.
I was listening to the Love My Dress podcast yesterday, and smiling at how often Emma from Miss Bush Bridal uses the word ‘bullshit’. She’s refreshingly honest and authentic, says it how it is and is utterly engaging to listen to.
That’s how you stand out from the crowd when you’re blogging for your wedding business. Have the confidence to be you. Use the words you’d use in a client meeting – don’t be overly formal, perhaps don’t use all your favourite swears – but don’t sanitise yourself to please people.
Be you, be honest, and your wedding business blog will be interesting and funny, engaging and stand out from the crowd.
Struggling to find the time or motivation to blog your wedding business?
I can help.
Hi – I’m Claire, and I’m the editor of English Wedding.
Blogging about weddings is what I do, and I can help you do the same!
To chat about guest blogging here, or to ask me about writing blogs for your business, email contactenglishwedding@gmail.com
Header image by Sincerely Media on Unsplash
Using niche keywords and phrases are the secret to blogging your wedding business well. Blogging is all about getting to the top of Google, and in every area of the wedding industry the competition is strong! If you want to appear on the first page of Google for people looking for a ‘UK wedding photographer’ you’ll need to invest heavily in SEO and they might not even book you because hey, you’re in Cornwall and they’re in Durham.
What is a keyword?
For anyone with a brand new wedding business: a keyword is a word couples might type into a search engine. “Your” keywords will be the ones that could lead to you – e.g. wedding stationery. It’s really simple.
Where to start with wedding blogging and keywords
Think about who you want to find you. That couple searching Google for your wedding service, in your area might type in any of these phrases:
- Hazel Gap barn wedding photographer
- Alternative wedding photographer in Devon
- Female fine art wedding photographer Hereford
- Mid price wedding flowers Barnstaple
- Minimal style wedding cake near Wrexham
Images in this blog are by Cornwall wedding photographer Hannah Timm Photography. Tap to see Zoe & Freddie’s Cow Shed elopment
SEO for wedding businesses is simple:
Here’s the whole SEO thing in a nutshell, if you’ve ever found it a bit intimidating:
- People are searching on Google.
- You have to guess what words they’re typing in the search box, then use those words on your website.
- You have to use those words in all the right places, often and interestingly!
There are a few more tips and tricks to optimising keywords for your wedding business:
Piggyback your local venues – key search terms often include a venue name. Couples book venues first, then start searching for all their other suppliers. And yes, they will often type the venue name in when they’re looking online.
Using exact keywords is your starter for ten.
Adding in similar keywords will help you even more – so someone looking for ‘wedding flowers at Cripps barn’ might actually have in their mind that they want an organic grower florist in the Cotswolds area. ‘Cotswolds grower florist’ could slot nicely into your blog posts!
The wedding blog for SEO
I want to give you a little confidence that using keywords works.
English Wedding has been a top blog for over a decade because people find us on Google.
Every blog I write includes keywords and backlinks to help English Wedding members. If you look at Caitlin & Hanna’s Willow Grange Farm wedding you’ll see I’ve used a keyword link for Damien Vickers Photography. This wedding planning advice post uses plenty of keywords and links back to other parts of our busy wedding blog.
English Wedding is popular with SEO companies working with wedding brands, and many photographers and suppliers find us through their marketing agencies, simply because we’re really good at using our blog to support and boost our members’ online marketing!
Top tips for using keywords in wedding business blogging
Start with thorough keyword research. Identify the keywords and phrases potential customers are likely to use when searching for wedding services. Tools like Google Keyword Planner can help with this research.
Consider using a mix of broad keywords (e.g., “wedding photography”) and long-tail keywords (e.g., “affordable outdoor wedding photography in [your location]”).
Incorporate keywords in strategic locations on your website:
- page titles
- headers and subtitles
- at the start of your first paragraph
- in the file name of your images
- in “alt tags” for your images if you know how
It’s not just about keywords on your own wedding blog – try ours!
High quality back links from other websites are really valuable. Ask your wedding supplier friends if you can blog on their websites (guest blogging) or reach out to English Wedding with your guest blog ideas!
The process is simple: write a short, engaging and interesting blog post. Remember to include your keywords. Send it via email to contactenglishwedding@gmail.com and ask if we’ll feature it!
This is also why real weddings and styled shoots can be so brilliant – wedding blog features linking back to your site will show Google that you have an important site that other people are recommending!
Some wedding business keyword suggestions to get you started
Wedding photography:
[venue] wedding photographer
Wedding photographers in [county]
Female wedding photographer
Affordable wedding photography packages in the South East
Luxury wedding photographer for high-end events
Small and intimate wedding photography
Large and extravagant wedding photo coverage
Lgbtq friendly wedding photographer
Affordable wedding photographers near [town]
Natural wedding photography in London
Romantic beach wedding photography in [Location]
Barn wedding photographer with vintage style
Best candid wedding photographer for intimate weddings
Videography and wedding films:
Affordable drone wedding photography package
Drone videography for destination beach weddings
4K cinematic wedding videography in [Location]
Rustic wedding videographer with storytelling style
Same-day edit wedding video for elopements
Wedding catering:
Vegan wedding cakes in Hampshire
Gluten-free wedding catering for outdoor receptions
Farm-to-table wedding catering in [Location]
Cultural wedding catering for Indian weddings
BBQ wedding catering for rustic barn weddings
Wedding flowers:
Sustainably sourced wedding flowers with eco-friendly options
winter flowers for an Orchardleigh wedding
Wildflower wedding bouquets for boho brides
Dried flower wedding arrangements for rustic themes
Wedding planning:
Destination wedding planner for intimate elopements
Eco-friendly wedding planner focusing on sustainability
LGBTQ+ wedding planner near me
Multicultural wedding planner for diverse ceremonies
Adventure elopement planner for outdoor enthusiasts
Wedding Fashion:
Plus-size wedding dresses with custom fittings
Tailored suits for weddings
Alternative wedding attire Manchester
Vintage wedding dresses inspired by the 1920s
Sustainable wedding dresses made from eco-friendly materials
Wedding seamstress recommendations in Lincolnshire
Custom wedding dresses designed for modern brides
Wedding suit and waistcoat combos for 2024
Informal summer suit for a beach wedding
Bohemian wedding dresses for outdoor boho weddings
Bridal separates with pockets
Wedding Invitations:
Elegant wedding invitations with watercolor designs
Alternative invites painted by hand
Foil-stamped wedding invitations for a touch of luxury
Illustrated wedding invitations featuring custom portraits
Minimalist wedding invitations for contemporary couples
Rustic wedding invitations with wood and jute accents
Wedding Styling:
Rustic wedding prop hire for barn venues
Industrial wedding decor with a modern twist
Vintage wedding decor in Lancashire
Bohemian wedding styling with macramé and dreamcatchers
Beach wedding decor ideas for coastal celebrations
It would be impossible to list keywords for every kind of wedding business, but I hope you might be able to take some of these and apply them to your brand?
We’ve talked about why blogging can be so effective for your wedding business, and given you twenty tips to help you stay motivated to blog.
Tomorrow: what should you write on your wedding business blog?
Struggling to find the time or motivation to blog your wedding business?
I can help.
Hi – I’m Claire, and I’m the editor of English Wedding.
Blogging about weddings is what I do, and I can help you do the same!
To chat about guest blogging here, or to ask me about writing blogs for your business, email contactenglishwedding@gmail.com
