Flash Masters

The most bizarre UK wedding traditions

• Neil Redfern & Helen Williams • Episode 63

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We have seen a lot of new members join Flash Masters this past month (thank you all - ...and a very warm welcome!) many of which are US based wedding photographers. So, to welcome our new members, we thought we would entertain you by talking you through some of the most bizarre UK wedding traditions, that you probably haven't heard of before.

But it's not all about the nuptials. This episode takes a candid turn as Helen shares her personal battle with procrastination and self-doubt, which nearly got the best of her when planning her off-camera flash workshops. Yet, with accountability as her newfound ally, Helen is publicly committing to not only setting those dates but also to guide you through the growth pains that accompany them. The addition of our crazy talented new ambassador, the US based wedding photographer Jason Vinson, to the conversation means you'll be privy to the insights of a master crafting his art through live streams and community engagement.

Wrapping things up, we invite you to join us in a light-hearted debate over what truly makes a wedding venue 'Epic'—is it the grandeur, the history, or the couple's unique touch? As we reflect on Toastmasters and chimney sweeps, we open the floor for you to weigh in. Be sure not to miss out on our members' zone where the discussions flourish and where over fifty hours of live stream content await to enrich your craft and spark those creative flames. So grab your favourite sweet from the cart, don a dashing hat if you must, and tune in for an episode that promises as much joy as a UK wedding dance floor.

Join us in the Flash Masters community:

Website: https://flashmasters.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flashmasters/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flash-masters

Flash Masters is hosted by:

Helen Williams: https://www.instagram.com/helenwilliamsphotography/
Neil Redfern: https://www.instagram.com/neilredfern/

Neil Redfern

Hi everybody, welcome to episode 63 of the Flash masters podcast, with me, neil Reffern and me, Helen Williams. And in today's episode we're going to be talking about weird and wacky UK wedding traditions.

Helen Williams

Oh, I've quite excited for this one.

Neil Redfern

Yeah, I've got them off, off the tintinette, as we would say, and we'll talk a bit later in the episode why we're doing that, because there is actually a bit of a reason behind it. But anyway, helen, have you been up to enlighten us?

Helen Williams

I've been continuing. I've been very busy with all of my mentoring in the past week, which has been really, really good.

Neil Redfern

Yeah, I'm right in thinking that you've got four mentoring clients at the moment and you've now done the first meeting with all of them.

Helen Williams

Yeah, it's been really really amazing.

Neil Redfern

Who's been the best? Who's been the worst? Don't joke, I'm joking, don't actually say who you're doing, what you've enjoyed it.

Helen Williams

Yeah, it's really challenging. It's fantastic to see different photographers in different stages of business, some who've been going two years, some who've been going 10. Yeah, it's been absolutely brilliant. And the more I'm doing it, the more I'm realising that I too need a mentor. Apart from who isn't you? Because you would be a fantastic mentor and you are. Except, like, when you tell me to do something is like yeah, it doesn't go.

Neil Redfern

No, it's not that you just get really angry.

Helen Williams

Don't tell me what to do.

Neil Redfern

Yeah, yeah, I would not even volunteer for that role. Whoever does. I need to have a chat with them first, just to warn them.

Helen Williams

I mean I podcast.

Neil Redfern

Helen is not always the same as frustrated Helen when something doesn't work well.

Helen Williams

Well, I don't think I need mentoring on how to use my Mac. That's what I, when I lose my, you know, really lose my rag. But yeah, I will say, in general, I'm not really a big fan of being told what to do. No but I know that I, like some of you know one of my mentors in particular is like I just really want the accountability and someone checking in with me and making sure I'm following what I'm setting out to do, and I was like oh, I need that myself.

Neil Redfern

I think that's a really, really good point. It's a bit like when you go to the gym and you if like with you you've got a PT, or when you were going to your thing recently, when you, you know you weigh yourself every week, even if you don't go in, even if you're not going. The fact that you're having to prove that you're doing well and by having these regular checkups, I think he's really, really powerful.

Helen Williams

Yeah, it's definitely something that I want to do. And it's something I need to do Because I also know that, you know, since the before the start of the year, I've had so many messages about an off camera flash workshop, and that's another thing. That's like coming soon, coming soon, and I've still not got around to it. And I thought, before I started today's mentoring session, I was like oh man.

Helen Williams

I, really I this isn't good, doesn't that, helen? Like you've got, I've got people once again going take my money please, and they're all signing up to the you know my website to get the information. It's like, why haven't you done it? And I think I need someone to give me that extra kick as well. So, yes, I'm looking for a mentor on a podcast.

Neil Redfern

Why haven't you done it? No good, actually, live on the podcast.

Helen Williams

Well, I've just been busy doing other things. I haven't sort of prioritized it and I will say, going off on a totally different tangent, in Amber Henry's, she's got an amazing Facebook group just for for females who flash, and there was just a post in there. It was just not like a meme, you know, and you just basically put text over a background to make it like a graphic, but it was all about sort of being scared to fulfill your potential and being scared to show who you can be, and I that kind of resonated with me and at the moment it's just fear holding me back. But it makes no sense because I've ran these workshops before. I've run workshops since 2018. I don't know why I'm holding myself back right now when I need to just carry on pushing through. Sorry, that got deep.

Neil Redfern

It did. This was not in the show notes, no it wasn't.

Helen Williams

I like it, though, sorry. Should I be careful? Keep your light? No, no, it's good. It's very honest of you.

Neil Redfern

I would love you to do these off your, off your own back, because I know that you'd enjoy it. I know you're very good at it and I know that other people would love to be part of it. I can only keep on saying the same thing. Just do it, just get it done.

Helen Williams

I think it's just another strand of my imposter syndrome. You know, once again yeah, it was a drone holding me back for posted online that I have people signing up to my mailing list emailing me going have you got any dates yet? Let's go, let's go. And it's only myself holding myself back again. It's a bit crazy, but I'm go, I will do it, and I have said to myself that by the end of this week the dates will be in place and I'm going to start.

Neil Redfern

you know by the end of that means by the time that the next podcast is live. Yes, then I will have a day for my camera. Well, let's hold you to that.

Helen Williams

It's not like this has become my mentoring session.

Neil Redfern

No, I'm just saying you've just made a pledge live we're not. Live he's recorded, but live on the podcast that this time next week we'll be talking about your new flush workshops.

Helen Williams

Yes, and let yes it will happen. Right, there we go.

Neil Redfern

That's that's legally binding by the podcast code.

Helen Williams

But I'm having flashbacks at this time last year when I was like I will finish my website.

Neil Redfern

I know I've heard it all before.

Helen Williams

And then three, four, five months later I did it, but no, I'll say Marty did it.

Neil Redfern

Well, marty did it, marty did do it.

Helen Williams

I got someone to do it.

Neil Redfern

You sat there and watched it being done.

Helen Williams

I did and gave some very enthusiastic, you know, cheerleading. No, I just yeah, I will get it done, that's it.

Neil Redfern

Well, well done on your mentor in any way that has happened.

Helen Williams

Yes, my mentoring has happened. Next phase of education is will be done in the next week. Right, that was a whole load of stuff that wasn't on the show notes. So, neil, what have you been doing for the last week?

Neil Redfern

Apart from editing my new year's Eve wedding, which he's almost done now and I'm actually very, very pleased with it, I have put another date in the diary. I have launched shine three, the third install of my shine workshop. No, that's wrong.

Helen Williams

That was a really weird key. Don't be, you're looking to delete this bit.

Neil Redfern

I was going to stop the recording.

Helen Williams

Honestly, he's scrolling back.

Neil Redfern

It's like you don't like to say shine, I'd say let it shine.

Helen Williams

There you go, perfect.

Wedding Photography Workshop and Updates

Neil Redfern

Either way. Yes, I've launched the third of my shine workshop, so I did two last. I want to say October it might be November last year, anyway, late last year and I love them both. This is my three day wedding photography workshop, so not just flash. I tried to cover as much as I can, all things wedding photography, including mindset, including editing. Obviously, we're open books for three whole days and I loved it. I absolutely loved it.

Neil Redfern

I spoke about this on the podcast before we actually did an episode where we spoke about how those workshops went, so I was very, very keen to get another date in the diary and I've now done so. It's going to be this April. Places went on sale the time that we were recording this podcast, three days ago, and there are 12 places available and there's only one left, which is amazing. I can never thank people enough for putting their trust and their investment in me. It's always such a huge honor, because this isn't. You know that.

Neil Redfern

I'll be honest, this isn't a cheap thing and I want it to be. I want it to be a price point where it allows me to put in so much content and get you know the models. All that stuff make it all as good as it can be. The venue is incredible. So, yeah, we're trying to put on everything to make these as good as they can be and I'm just very, very excited. So, yeah, one place left and the group is really good and fortunate that a number of well, everybody's actually joined on so far is a member of my Patreon, because that's the only place I put the places you can really book on if you are a member of my Patreon. And yeah, it's gone really, really well and I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone and you'll be there taking a leading role again.

Helen Williams

Well, what can I say here? To bring some pizzazz.

Neil Redfern

Exactly. So yeah, there's been a few tweaks that I'm going to do to the workshop. I won't get into all now, but yeah, that's what. That's been taking up a lot of my time over the past few days, but yeah, I'm really excited and thank you everyone if you are listening to this who has booked on. I absolutely promise you that I will do all I can, and Helen will be, to deliver the best learning experience I can. I never take these things lightly. I'm always overwhelmed when people choose to book onto one of my workshops. So I see it as a huge, huge responsibility really, and from now until April, I'm going to be putting things in place to make sure that it can be the best that it can be. So, yeah, very, very excited for that. That's going to be in April, oh what's in here, let it shine.

Helen Williams

Thank you, beautiful.

Neil Redfern

I also wanted to, in the show notes, got a bit of an update here about the photography show, because people have been very, very keen. We've had people knocking down the door, sending an email, sending DMs. No one has done about. Have we got access to the photography show? Because in the last episode we were both refused but and they told us that we were not members of the photography trade.

Helen Williams

So could not attend.

Neil Redfern

We're not 10 for free anyway.

Helen Williams

No, it turns out dirty flash. It is not a trade show title.

Neil Redfern

Yeah, so I say it's I. I'm sorry to not answering all these hundreds of messages we've had about whether we'll be there. But, helen, to the, actually no one's asked. But anyway, to those that may be curious, are we able to go? Have we managed to swing it round? We are going yeah, we put in another application, basically, and put the word photographer as our job title.

Helen Williams

Oh, I feel so sad. All I know is, if you listen to the last podcast, I originally applied and my job title put the dirty flasher, which they approved, but then immediately revoked that because I have the original approved email, I will be able to print out a badge that does still say the dirty flasher. So I'm going to go to the photography shop for talk. So I'm going to go to the photography show with my photographer boring badge and then I'm going to switch it on up as soon as I get inside.

Neil Redfern

Cool, good plan. So I will say if you are listening in the UK and you are interested in attending the photography show, when you put in your application, don't use a hilarious job title, as we did.

Helen Williams

No, it's good for years, yeah, years, before we got away with it, but no more. They seem to have lost their sense of humor.

Neil Redfern

Yeah, anyway, helen, do we have any flash masses news?

Helen Williams

Flash masses news. We have huge news although, to be honest, if you are a flash masses member you will know by now because we haven't once again stuck to our once a week podcast. No.

Neil Redfern

So this big, huge news has been out for two weeks now, and we put it everywhere. So, unfortunately, if you've not seen it already, then actually, why you listen to this? Probably not, so, yeah, anyway, what is the huge news that we've been putting out there for two weeks?

Helen Williams

We have a fantastic, incredible, superstar New ambassador, who is called Mr Jason Vinson.

Neil Redfern

Thank you so much, jason, for joining the flash masses team. We are truly honored to have someone of your skill, your magical abilities, joining the team. And yeah, it's a real honor. And it was amazing to have Jason on a live stream last week. I think I hosted that one and wow, I mean I already was aware of how talented Jason is. I've been following for a long time and we also had that the fortunate opportunity where Jason took us both out and we were models for him last year. So we're very aware of Jason's work. But when I was putting together first of all, like the social media announcements for us and just putting together a real and using his images, it was like, oh my, like this was I was in awe and I don't know what it is. But when he came onto the live stream and again, thank you, jason for this, I know that you know the members loved it, but there's something about seeing behind the scenes and finding out how images were taken, which I actually think elevates them to a whole new level.

Neil Redfern

Yeah, very much so, and that is exactly what it was like on Jason's stream. Some of his shots when he explained it maybe think oh, that seems so easy, but yet it looks so stunning, which is testament, I think, to Jason's skill. But also some of his shots were so complex. It's like his creative brain has come up with such trickery and even when he was breaking it down and showed behind the scenes images, I was still struggling to understand what he'd done. So it was like wow, I just wish I had his brain out when I'm shooting, because the way he's problem solving and critiquing himself as he goes and sometimes he might see something in a shot which he wasn't expecting to see He'll go with it. He'll try and push that then. It was fascinating to have on the stream. So, yeah, I loved it. And what I also was about that stream is that was our most viewed stream ever or to date.

Helen Williams

Yeah, it was fantastic.

Neil Redfern

Yeah, so everybody loved it.

Helen Williams

Yeah, I'm really pleased that we had lots of members on board for that one because it was absolutely incredible and like, yeah, genuine draw hitting the floor. What on earth? Moments from there, like I said, just from the behind the scenes to the situations, to how his brain works and explaining the progress of an image, was just incredible to watch. So, yeah, if any of our members didn't know who Jason was now, I'm sure he now has a huge new legion of fans. And don't forget anyone who is a Flash masters member who didn't see that. It is now live in the members area of the website under the video section.

Neil Redfern

Excellent. Do we have any other Flash masters news? Helen, I'm thinking in particular livestream news.

Helen Williams

Yes, we do. We have another livestream coming up. Of course, we've always got live streams. We've got a lot coming up.

Neil Redfern

We're not going to talk about them all. Just go to flashmastersco, look on the homepage. You'll see the list, but we just wanted to give the next one a shout out, because it will be out in just a few days.

Helen Williams

Yes, we are joined by Moira la Plant, who's going to be taking us through finding your ideal clients and branding. And obviously we know Moira as an incredibly talented photographer. But she's not just that. She calls herself a Jane of all trades. But, yes, it sort of like oh, what do you say in America? Like Super power, super power. No, when you go to university and you study Specialism, here's a major. Her major is in marketing and things like that. That's where her whole background is, before becoming a photographer as well. So we're going to be delving into that genius marketing brain and she's going to be sharing as much as she knows on a live stream. So, yeah, very excited.

Neil Redfern

Yeah, and thank you in advance, borough, for that, and I think it's really important just to note there that not all our live streams certainly coming up are photography related. We're now putting on live streams that are all targeted to help you with your business in lots of different ways. If you look at the live stream schedule we have in 2024, you'll see that there are a lot of live streams already in the diary that are not non-photography, but they're not just how I shot it streamed. They are aimed to help you in all aspects of running a successful photography business. And what better way to kick off those than with my talk about marketing and branding? Because it is essential potentially, I would say, even more important than knowing how to use a camera knowing how to market yourself.

Neil Redfern

Well, is huge.

Helen Williams

Yeah, definitely, and I think you know, as on someone who has been taking on the mentoring clients, that is something we talk about quite in depth.

Helen Williams

And I think it's something we all need help with or could do with some more help and thought and not just something as well. This is something I want to go back to. I did something very similar in terms of having a business coach at the start who was special you know, specialises in marketing and finding your ideal client and I did that right at the start of finding my business and I now know that sort of 10 years on, I need to completely redo that now. So I think it's something, regardless of where you are in terms of your photography career whether you're new and starting out or someone who's very established it's always a really good thing to go back to and look through, because as we progress through our photography careers, we sometimes want different clients or we want to have more high end clients, or things around us have changed in the way we want to market to people.

Neil Redfern

Well, just trying to find the right client for you now, like trying to find your people. Do you think I need a coach?

Helen Williams

Yeah, the card's fine for me. Most of the time I think, oh, I did still actually chuckle yeah.

Neil Redfern

No, that's. That's going to be a really, really interesting stream. I can't wait for that one that you're hosting, that one, so you are more of a stream. Buckle up everyone. Could be a long one.

Helen Williams

No, not at all. I think we might just still both do it with some fizz.

Neil Redfern

So one of the things that we just mentioned is on our last live stream with Jason and again, thank you, Jason, Love that stream. We had more viewers than we ever have on one of our member live streams and one of the reasons for that not only because it was Jason, Vinson, but we also had a huge number of new members in January. So thank you everyone. From Helen and I, a big welcome to the Flash Masters community. We are so proud to have you as a member and we're going to do all that and we'll do all we can to make sure that you get lots of value for in your membership.

Neil Redfern

But most of those members, Helen, I'm saying like you don't know. You already do know In terms of their niche they are based in the US and they are wedding photographers. So I thought, as a way of welcoming our transatlantic new friends from the Americas, all the way from the Americas, the people are listening for the first time. That's going to mean anything, but yeah, it's a podcast in joke. I'm sure that will come up on the moral live stream.

Helen Williams

Yes, we'll cover it again.

Neil Redfern

But I thought, as a way of welcoming our new members, we could maybe talk about some of the stranger traditions that we have at UK weddings, because they may not be aware and, to be honest, it was also just an idea of trying to put a subject in the title of the podcast, so I haven't been able to come up with these myself because I was too lazy. But I did go on to the Huffington Post and found an article entitled 10 weird and wonderful ways UK weddings are different from US weddings.

Helen Williams

So we literally just ripping off a Huffington Post article.

Neil Redfern

Yes, but you've not seen this article, so I'm going to read them out and just see what you think.

Helen Williams

Yeah, because before we started saying howdy to our American cousins before we started, I was like are you going to share them?

Unique Traditions in UK Weddings

Neil Redfern

Neil was like no, I was well, that'd be rubbish if you already have read them. Ok so it's just see if you agree with them or not. We've got 10 here, OK let's see. Ok, so again, not my words, the words of Huffington Post. No, but I don't think it's in any particular order and I also don't think it's very specific to the UK. But never mind. Number one, stormy Weather is a feature.

Neil Redfern

Well he just say, rain in the UK is a given, and talented wedding photographers don't just deal with it, they celebrate it with artificial lighting, stormy skies and water reflections Poor word in here Make for spectacular fine art wedding photos.

Helen Williams

Interesting. Well, it does rain a lot, but I wouldn't say the rain is a given. I think that's a little like A bit harsh. Yeah, a bit stereotypical Architect no.

Neil Redfern

Well, I mean, obviously our experience is very much in UK weddings. I can't read. I mean, I did photograph a wedding in Florida once, although I never did that immigration or listening, but I've not really got any experience of shooting in the US, so I don't know whether Stormy Feature is a weather is a. So I don't know whether Stormy Weather is a feature of UK weddings more so than the US, I imagine.

Helen Williams

You know we don't have hurricanes, typhoons, that's what I'm thinking they get I'm sure to get this one for all I know of what I know from speaking to our friends over in the US, I think they get much worse storms than we do. It might be, you know, drizzly and gray over here on the whole, but I don't think we have like great storms. I've been to America twice and on the second time I had to survive Hurricane Irma. So while I don't know what that says maybe I was just unlucky but I'm pretty sure the Americas have worse storms than we do.

Neil Redfern

Yeah, I mean, I don't think this has been fact checked. But number two I have to go to bleep out the last word of this and I'm going to give you three guesses and I guarantee you will not get it. Oh OK, let's do it. So this is number two. They throw flower petals instead of. I think flower petals means basically confetti. Yeah instead of they throw flower petals. Now I'm assuming Rice. No, oh, I'm assuming. In the US, people are probably shouting at their radios computers.

Helen Williams

I pod, I pod. Have we come back 20, 20 years?

Neil Redfern

People are shouting out what this word is in the US, because I'm assuming it must be popular there. But no, you're not going to get it. Throwing shoes no, In the UK they throw flower petals instead of bird seed. Birdseed there you go. Birdseed is great, say the Huffins and Posts, but not nearly as pretty as flower petals. Birdseed the birds might not help you clean up, but a shower of colour adds something truly special to your wedding photos.

Helen Williams

Oh, I had no clue that throwing birdseed was even a thing.

Neil Redfern

I never heard of that. So there you go. If you're listening in the US and you're a fan of birdseed, we don't use that. No, never hear of it. That's how crazy we are. We throw flower petals, although usually it's just little bits of paper confetti.

Helen Williams

Yeah, yeah, it's not often rose petals there you go.

Neil Redfern

I think we're all learning something here.

Helen Williams

Birdseed Interesting.

Neil Redfern

Maybe to think of that Peter K joke and I want to know this about when he hears Duffy Mercy. Birdseed yeah what is it? What is the actual song?

Helen Williams

You got me begging you for mercy.

Neil Redfern

Begging you for birdseed. Oh, there you go, I'm not really sure, gallip bread Right Number three, I don't know if anyone would have ever, because he had a feet of K? No, no, they definitely haven't. Oh, dear Number three kilts are common. I think that's fair.

Helen Williams

In the UK?

Neil Redfern

Yes, UK weddings. That's what it's all about.

Helen Williams

Well, consider, and I've done, probably you don't, it doesn't?

Neil Redfern

have to just be a Scottish wedding, though, does it?

Helen Williams

Well, no, but I still. I think it's common. I think I've probably done about 600 weddings and I've probably had less than 10 wearing kilts.

Neil Redfern

It doesn't actually say common, it's just 10 weird and wonderful ways UK weddings are different.

Helen Williams

Oh, OK then. So yeah, I think kilts are fairly common.

Neil Redfern

I would say one in four weddings will have a kilts just from a Scottish guest.

Helen Williams

OK, a kilts?

Neil Redfern

OK, yeah, so yeah, and I don't think the room is always true. I've seen examples where it is true. Oh, trust me.

Helen Williams

I've seen some. I have some actual examples of the no underwear being very true.

Neil Redfern

The more exciting thing I find about kilts is not that, oh, they aren't they. It's that a company in them often is a knife on a sock.

Helen Williams

A knife on the sock?

Neil Redfern

Yes, you don't see a lot of kilts here in the US, but traditional Scottish tartans are a much more common sight in the UK. Let me just check this Scottish kilts.

Helen Williams

They're for sparring the knife, oh, the knife in the sock, oh, of course. I thought, you said yeah, yeah, sorry, I was thinking rude things about. These are socks.

Neil Redfern

It's called a skiing dub. Open house ski and do. A skiing do is a ceremonial stabbing knife with a fixed blade. There you go A stabbing knife, that's one with a kilts. Yeah, oh, don't think I've ever said that in the podcast before.

Helen Williams

Yeah, I wonder whether we're going to. If AI listens to this and be like no, they're inciting violence, we'll get rid of this podcast.

Neil Redfern

Yeah, if you are listening, mr Bort, I'm just talking about UK wedding traditions. Ok, number four this one is true, although I don't know if they've thrown the word London in here, not really sure why, but they hire London buses. We do love a bus and it made me think I wonder in US weddings, how do guests get around, because they don't have the big red buses that we have?

Helen Williams

They've got yellow school buses. I'm not sure if they use for transportation, though.

Neil Redfern

But yes. So when you had to get an entire wedding party from point A to point B, what better mode of transportation than the iconic London bus?

Helen Williams

Yeah, I've definitely had those outside of London.

Neil Redfern

Yeah, it is a very common thing and it is always to do with just moving guests around, and oftentimes what makes it very tricky for us is couples would like a photograph as I would. I get it of people on the bus and it makes it mean what do we do with our cars? It's a bit faffy, but yeah, that is true, we do often have buses. I'm going to say one in three weddings will have some sort of bus if it's in two different different, maybe not one in three, one in one in four.

Helen Williams

Yeah, it is quite popular, especially if you go in between church and a venue so that people don't have to drive. I'm wondering what the we don't know that.

Neil Redfern

Yeah, we don't know.

Helen Williams

Someone tell us how do you transport, you know, 60, 70 guests in America, please.

Neil Redfern

Who knows it's?

Helen Williams

probably still a bus.

Neil Redfern

Number five and the silver sixth-pence in her shoe. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue is familiar, but did you know there's more? The poem goes on and the silver sixth-pence for her shoe. It's tradition that dates back to the 16th century. The coin placed in the bride's left shoe was part of the dowry and considered good luck for the new couple. There you go. That is a very, very common thing actually. Yeah, except when you've got the boutons. I know that they don't have them.

Helen Williams

No, they don't. But there is a particular shoe designer, Charlotte Mills, and in some of her shoes they have them built into the soul, Because really walking around with a coin in your shoe isn't very comfortable.

Neil Redfern

Yeah, there's that little gas put out.

Helen Williams

Yeah, they actually have some with the sixth-pence sort of built in, so it's all done and they.

Neil Redfern

Excellent Shout out to Charlotte Mills. Charlotte Mills, I think.

Helen Williams

Maybe I should have fact-checked that too, but I don't. I've lost a lot of it.

Neil Redfern

I think I may be am wrong, but I'm thinking most of these will be traditions in the US as well. But there you go.

Helen Williams

So this could be like welcome.

Neil Redfern

American Well again.

Helen Williams

Let us tell you some really random things that you also have at weddings.

Neil Redfern

Yes, but this is not my words. This is the words of Hoffinson Post Right. Ok, so I am immune to the backlash that may happen.

Helen Williams

And also their amazing journalism.

UK Wedding Traditions and Preferences

Neil Redfern

Exactly Number six. They as in. We take sweets very seriously and that I would agree with. Again, I would have thought it was a worldwide wedding tradition, but we have sweetie tables at most of our weddings. The Hoffinson Post goes on to say we may share a love for high, we may share a love for sky-high wedding cakes, but UK weddings often go. But UK weddings often go above and beyond by featuring a table laden with desserts of all kinds, baked goods, jars of candy and even ice cream carts are common.

Helen Williams

Baked goods. Baked goods, I don't know, I don't know Greg's would be good, Peter Kay and Greg's.

Neil Redfern

this is very northern centric.

Helen Williams

It is.

Neil Redfern

Yeah, Well I, we do have sweetie carts. We do and they do often help photographers going. I think through those.

Helen Williams

Those long hours? What would you usually steal from a sweetie cart? What do you go for? The sugary cola bottle?

Neil Redfern

Oh, it makes my. Even now my mouth is watering. Oh yeah, I should cola bottle with sugar on it.

Helen Williams

Oh, right, yeah, what would you go to it?

Neil Redfern

would not be that paper.

Helen Williams

Flying saucers. Oh, it's horrible. Oh, I agree Like.

Neil Redfern

This paper.

Helen Williams

Yeah, I don't understand how people eat flying saucers Absolutely disgusting.

Neil Redfern

I'm a big fan of the long worm and the sweets. No, the long worm thing I I'm a fan of.

Helen Williams

The long worm.

Neil Redfern

Yeah, what's your favourite. You know which one? I mean A snake.

Helen Williams

Right, okay, I really like black jacks because I really like the taste of licorice.

Neil Redfern

Also got paper on it bit fiddly.

Helen Williams

I also like. They're also very cheap and probably not great quality, but I really enjoy. Like the rainbow chocolates. It's white chocolate and it's got like different coloured, like sprinkles on top.

Neil Redfern

Oh yeah, it's like very light. It's not chocolate as such, I'm thinking.

Helen Williams

It is, I'm thinking, a rainbow drop. Yeah, rainbow drops, no, but is that?

Neil Redfern

made out of like little papery type.

Helen Williams

Oh no, not those, no, no.

Neil Redfern

Yeah.

Helen Williams

No. Oh yeah. Rainbow drops yeah, that's totally different. Rainbow drops no, they're the same as flying saucers. They should never have been invented. Whoever likes them, you're just weird Like it's eating paper.

Neil Redfern

Exactly, exactly. But yeah, I agree, I think this chart is actually, I think this chart is actually cola bottles, proving the fact that we do take sweets very seriously.

Helen Williams

Yeah, and I'm not really a massive sweet person, but I will agree that a fizzy cola bottle is a very good choice. Oh, cherries, fizzy cherries, oh, anything that's like.

Neil Redfern

Tangfastic like Harry Bowls Tangfastics. Yeah, that is true, Harry Bowls is a great shout.

Helen Williams

Yeah, yeah, definitely the Tangfastic version.

Neil Redfern

Like Willie, I prefer chocolate, like Willy.

Helen Williams

You like Willy?

Neil Redfern

Yeah, I'm like Willy Wonka, I like chocolate. Number seven hats are really a thing. It's not just royal weddings. Guests in glorious hats are found at many UK weddings. When you're getting married at a castle, it's probably best to go all out. There you go.

Helen Williams

I'm just going to ask if you've ever wore a hat but I don't think it counts for you I wear my flat cap, although not a wedding.

Neil Redfern

No, I have shot the odd top hat wedding, but they're very rarely worn. Men just seem to hold them underneath their arms and I've only shot. I'm going to say five or less in 15 years.

Helen Williams

Yeah, I think they're an absolute waste of time, though, obviously, women wearing hats is very common, but I'm sure that's transatlantic. I don't know I get from that statement. Shouldn't have done more research, didn't we?

Neil Redfern

Yeah, but this bumper episode of welcoming our American cousins. She's a bit slapdash.

Helen Williams

Yeah, I think we're just looking a little bit ignorant and unknowledgeable, to be honest.

Neil Redfern

We're there, everyone. Don't worry to pay more for us, as it is for you.

Helen Williams

Quite a few ladies wear hats, usually mothers of the bride and groom. But I wouldn't really say beyond that there's that many hats.

Neil Redfern

Would you say, helen, hats are really a thing.

Helen Williams

No, I would say the fascinators, possibly other types of smaller heads Fascinating.

Neil Redfern

Yeah, yeah, who knows? But?

Helen Williams

a full on hat, not that many, and when you get them it's like, especially for family formals, it's a nightmare because then their face is darker. Anyway, I'm not a fan.

Neil Redfern

If you do want to wear a hat, I would recommend a flashmasses beanie. There you go, Okay. Number eight grooms are not afraid of color Silence. Whilst most US grooms don't predictively black, gray or white tuxes and limit color choices to complimentary cumberbunds and ties, UK grooms often opt for blues, greens, browns and the occasional tartan.

Helen Williams

I think I would agree with that. A lot of tweed recently as well, particularly in winter time.

Neil Redfern

Yes, I like a light tweed.

Helen Williams

Yeah, I enjoy a tweed. Enjoy a tweed. Yeah, I think I would agree with that. The original statement was like pardon, but I'm not sure in terms of comparisons, like the ratio of black tie weddings with the tuxedos, because I would say that probably a quarter or less of my weddings would be a tuxedo wedding. I do love a black tie but, yeah, I do think.

Neil Redfern

I think a blue suit is very common.

Helen Williams

A couple of years ago. I'm not sure if it's as common right now in 2024. But yeah, I'd say two or three years ago then a navy blue had been very common. I haven't looked into the trends for 2024 in the UK, but yeah, I certainly think that we I've had like burgundy suits, like a deep maroon red previously and, yeah, lots of different tweeds. That brings in greens and browns.

Neil Redfern

So Right, let's move on. This is boring me now, Okay two more to go.

Helen Williams

Two more, come on. We can get three of us together.

UK Weddings

Neil Redfern

We're holding our hand across the Atlantic. Number nine they as in we take our heritage on the road.

Helen Williams

A.

Neil Redfern

When this British couple decided on an island destination wedding in the Dominican Republic, they took their heritage with them. Did I mention that UK men don't shy away from colour they mentioned the photographer. Gaston Garcia sent me this wonderful shot of Union Jack shoes from a British wedding ceremony.

Helen Williams

Oh.

Neil Redfern

So in other words, if UK people get married abroad, they will take their traditions with them. I don't know. That's very like. I think they're struggling for 10. And they've just literally decided on anything.

Helen Williams

Isn't this number nine?

Neil Redfern

Oh, that was yeah, that's what I mean, but they struggled for nine.

Helen Williams

Oh, they struggled for 10. So Union Jack shoes. They should be thrown in the pool, my advice.

Neil Redfern

I've been supposed just to do a top five. It's just a click baiting and you don't have to include things like they take their heritage on the road. And we've got one more to go. Do you want to guess what it could be?

Helen Williams

Um Toastmasters.

Neil Redfern

No, well, that will be better. It should include Toastmasters. That's a great shout. Thank you they should include what Drew Dodd told us about, which was a chimney sweep, yes, which is a bizarre tradition. I mean really bizarre. So we've got there you go. Huffington Post. You can update this article with those two, but number 10, according to the Huffington Post, is they as in we book Epic in italics venues.

Helen Williams

Oh well, I will agree there. You know we do talk quite frequently to uh, my real plan to do in our next live stream and my real likes to tell us about her local castle, which I think has been built like in the last 30 years or so.

Neil Redfern

We do love a castle.

Helen Williams

Yeah, we do have castles and we do have a lot of historic buildings to choose from, so I would agree with that there.

Neil Redfern

Ah, but historic does not equal Epic. Oh, how many venues would you say have? Every 10 weddings you shoot? How many would you re-describe as Epic, whatever that means? Oh, Depends, doesn't it? Because we could be looking at what some people describe as an Epic venue and because we're so used to it, we don't see it as that, Whereas it may be someone else who's never shot, maybe in this country before we do. Like you say, we have a lot of old buildings, often very cold, but we do have these big buildings that other people would propose. They'd say, oh wow, that's amazing, we just see them more. So we're not maybe quite as taken by them.

Helen Williams

No.

Neil Redfern

I would say one in every, one in every three or four. No, actually, that's no.

Helen Williams

I don't even know how you'd even come up with a figure for that.

Neil Redfern

I just know that if I was going to maybe shoot a wedding in warmer climbs, you know, or in the US, the whole thing would be epic.

Helen Williams

Yeah.

Neil Redfern

Wherever it is, because it's just so different. So oftentimes I think we just get attracted to difference.

Helen Williams

Yeah, 100% yeah.

Neil Redfern

So there we go. That is the rundown of the 10 weird and wonderful ways that UK weddings are different from US weddings. And that again is to welcome all of our new members who are waiting for photographers in the US. You look a little bit barra-telling.

Helen Williams

And they're now like what on earth have I joined? I've paid these two money. So yeah, guys, that was. Yeah, apologies, we have scraped the barrel there, but let's just blame Huffington Post.

Neil Redfern

But don't worry, to our all our new members, you have lots and lots of things to go at now because, if you've not done so already, if you have a look in our FlashMasters member zone, in particular the video section, there are now I don't know the number, we should really work this out maybe 30 live streams in there that you can watch back. All the ones we've done so far. They will total well, well over 50 hours. Now we have a full schedule coming up. Remember, if you are a member, please make sure you join the private members Facebook group, because that is where all the live streams take place when they are actually live, and that means if you join them live, you can obviously get involved, you can ask your questions and what I'm loving about the live streams it's always been the case, but it's more and more so now. It's just not only how many viewers we're now getting. As mentioned, we've now hit and I should say the stream before Jason, which was Ralph Cigarlic. He had also hit a previous high. So each stream is getting more and more people. But I just like seeing how well everybody gets on, like with the Ben Connery live stream. We've spoken about that as well. He's editing master class stream.

Neil Redfern

That was brilliant as well. I shouldn't laugh. It was brilliant. It was brilliant. But, yeah, we had a few technical issues, which makes it actually very memorable and funny, but that was amazing. And again, the banter, the laugh everyone was having on the live streams. It's just really nice to see. So, yeah, if you have joined and you're not a member of the Facebook group, please, please, make sure you join, because that is where a lot of the good stuff happens.

Helen Williams

That's where all the fun is.

Neil Redfern

Exactly, yeah, yeah, not on this podcast. No, Anyway, on that bombshell, I think we'll finish the podcast there, but thank you very much for listening. As always, if you would like to join us in the Flashmasters members, as always, if you would like to join us in the Flashmasters community, you can do so at flashmastersco. So, as always, thank you very, very much for listening. Alan, you look a bit embarrassed again, honestly.

Helen Williams

You've only got to say one more sentence, are you?

Neil Redfern

done. So yeah, if you would like to join us, you can do talk flashmastersco. Thank you very much again for listening and we will speak to you in the next one.

Helen Williams

And don't forget to keep flashing and listening to this podcast. I swear it gets better.

Neil Redfern

See you soon. Everyone Bye.

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Helen Williams

Co-host
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Neil Redfern

Co-host