Shrewsbury wedding saved after photographer runs off with couple's money

And for a Shrewsbury couple, when the photographer they booked ran off with their money, they feared they would have no professional record of their special day.

But after hearing about their plight a wedding photography company from Castlefields came to their aid.

Caroline Bloor, of JOL Photography, said: "The groom rang us on Wednesday and the wedding was on the following Saturday - he was in a terrible state and blamed himself.

"He told us what had happened and sounded so upset that we agreed to help them – they are a lovely couple and were in such a desperate situation we felt we had to help.

"We did charge a small fee for our work, but it was much less than we would usually work for."

Bride and groom Sadie and Daniel, from Harlescott, booked a photographer from an impressive looking website after they were offered a deal that sounded fantastic value.

Caroline said the couple paid £500 to the photographer and once the last payment was made he simply disappeared.

She said: "His website vanished and none of the mobile numbers the couple had were answered - they quickly realised what had happened.

"Then they tried to find photographers who could do it at such short notice - luckily we had the weekend free, amazingly it was our only free weekend this year."

James Bloor and his wife Caroline have been operating JOL Photography for five years and said that couples do need to take care when booking a wedding photographer.

She said: "They really do need to research the photographer before they make a booking.

"Reading comments about the photographer on social media and checking recommendations is the best way.

"Couples will always try to save money where they can with weddings, but if something sounds too good to be true then sadly it might well be."