I retired and thought I didn't just wish to hang around having no particular satisfaction at the end of a day. A friend of mine had a brother who had just started out as a wedding photographer. He really required someone to be a dogsbody, setting up the groups, having the equipment ready and acting as when he was taking the bride and maids pre-wedding photographs as they were getting ready.
As we were not to busy at first he allowed me to start taking a few photos of the guests as they arrived. It did take some training, to get them in focus and not cutting off their heads, but in time I became fairly accomplished.
There came a time as he became busier that we had two bookings at the same time, one booked at the church and another fitted in at a registry office.
I was on my own at last. Off to the office and awaiting. The bride turned up on her own. It was a very quiet do, so she had no bridesmaids. I was quite glad as little kids are a bit of a pain to keep still and not get dirty. The time was running out, as the registrar had another wedding in half an hour, so I asked the bride where her future husband might be and she said, 'Oh he and his mates went off to the pub down the road an hour ago.'
I tried the mobile phone and no reply so I got her to sit tight and run down to the pub. I wasn't going to have a cancellation of my first wedding and was prepared to drag them out if need be.
Well that is practically what I had to do. The bridegroom was a bit nervous apparently so the boys had been filling him with whiskey.
If I was the bride I would have dropped him there and then but saw under her bouquet was a lively little lump and this was probably now or never.
I took most of the film with them leaning against an old oak tree as I wasn't sure which would fall down first, him full of alcohol and her with other liquid breaking.
David rushed over after completing his wedding, just as we got the couple into the car on their way to the hospital but the pictures when developed turned out really well.
'Congratulations,' he said, 'Well you can do all the registry office calls now.' but I thought maybe I was happier being the dogsbody, at least you only had to worry if the mums hat was pinned on ok, the groom had the buttonhole to the correct side and the little perishers of maids and boys didn't wreck the joint.