Love stories don't arrive in one piece. They begin with a question, move on to a ceremony and then keep going through every anniversary that follows. I'm Leon, and since 2023 I've helped couples in North Wales through each of those chapters, as a celebrant and photographer.
This guide gathers my best advice in one place, whichever stage you're at.
If You're Thinking of Proposing
Photo: Velela, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
A proposal is over in a minute, but you can spend weeks planning it. If you'd like to see how I approach it, a guided proposal starts with a love letter, which I read aloud to your partner just before you propose. I don't photograph the letter being read, so that moment stays yours alone. Everything after it is photographed.
Where Two Bloom has plenty to help you get started:
A guided proposal is £695. You can read about it on my guided proposals page.
If You're Planning an Elopement
Photo: Llywelyn2000, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
An elopement can be as simple or as full as you like. I write your ceremony from scratch, photograph your day and film it, and you're looked after by one person from the first conversation to the final album. A half day elopement starts at £3,250 and a full day starts at £4,950.
These Elope with Leon posts answer the questions I'm asked most:
If you're curious about how I manage to be both celebrant and photographer, my post on what's in my camera bag and ceremony folder shows what I set up before a ceremony.
If You're Already Married
Photo: Richard Banton, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Twilight Ceremonies is for married couples who'd like to celebrate in the summer months, under a glowing sunset. You can choose a Renewal of Vows or a Milestone Ceremony, both from £450, or a Couples Sunset Shoot from £95. Season I is taking bookings for summer 2027.
Start with these:
If You Want to Understand the Basics
There are a few questions that sit underneath all three stages. My post on what a celebrant actually does explains the role, and camera-shy couples and candid photography explains how I photograph people who dislike posing. If you're wondering about the legal side, my overview of weddings law reform in England and Wales looks at the proposals that have been consulted on so far.
Why It Helps to Have One Person
Planning a love story usually means dealing with several different suppliers, and that's when details slip through the gaps. With me, it's one person from the first conversation onwards, so the person who listens to your story is also the person who writes your words, reads them aloud and photographs the day. I've explained what that means in practice in the perks of one celebrant and photographer.
It also means your story carries forward. A proposal becomes the first chapter of your Love Story Album, an elopement can become the second, and an anniversary ceremony the third. You can begin with whichever chapter you're on now, and the others will be there when you're ready.
Where Your Story Is Kept
Your photographs don't get sent off and forgotten. Each experience adds a chapter to your Love Story Album, which lives online and as a printed album, with the Love Story Registry included. Photographs arrive within 4 weeks, and videos arrive within 8 weeks.
If you'd like to know more, my posts on what a Love Story Album is and the Love Story Registry explain how each one works.
Choosing Where to Begin
Not sure which page of the story you're on? My plan your experience page is the easiest place to start, and my love stories show how real couples' days have turned out. Or read why choose me to find out how I work.
Whichever chapter you're writing next, I'd be glad to help you tell it.