Monday, February 16, 2009 | London wedding
Jayne and Andrew had their Barbican Centre wedding on Valentine’s Day – and how fitting seeing them together. I started the day at their home, where Jayne was getting ready. As soon as I arrived, she popped on her dress and we had about half an hour for portraits, which was brilliant. She looked absolutely stunning.
Jayne’s parents arrived – and she had a quick preview of her father’s speech alongside some snacks from Euphorium Bakery, one of my favourite London bakeries and worryingly close to Islington Register Office.
Then it was off to the Barbican‘s conservatory, where a very dapper Andrew was waiting.
Groom and best man in position with his family – check!
Rings ready for the ceremony – check!
One stunning bride – check!
Jayne and Andrew had organised some special touches for their day … a chocolate cake (Andrew’s flavour choice) …
… and a string quartet …
which attracted at least one young fan.
After some family portraits, a large number of guests were keen to throw confetti, so I used an upper level for many of them to stand on, giving them a good place from which to throw.
I finished taking photographs after dark, when the Barbican’s coloured lighting had been switched on and storm lanterns and fairy lights that Jayne and Andrew’s friends had placed around the conservatory came into play more strongly.
Sunday, June 22, 2008 | Wedding
Suzanne and Rob chose the summer solstice for their Woolley Grange wedding yesterday, in a midsummer themed day of celebration with close friends & family. Despite the weather being inappropriately rainy and blustery, the atmosphere of the day was amazing.
Suzanne and Rob had arranged a pink and blue tent for their ceremony, with their flower maidens sprinking rose petals ahead of Suzanne entering the ceremony with her mother. Their ceremony included everyone singing Morning has Broken and What a Wonderful World, and Rob made promises to Suzanne’s daughter Cordelia about caring for her, before she read an extract from The Velveteen Rabbit.
After a few drinks, the party sat down to for a celebration banquet of many courses on a long table set inside another tent. Woolley Grange’s Claire makes final touches to the table settings and a wonderful summery detail – an Emma Bridgewater customised jug.
In between each one, guest names were selected, with each person doing a ‘turn’. They had been ‘warned’ ahead of time this would be happening – some spoke a few words about Suzanne and Rob, some sang and others read poems and played musical instruments. One friend brought his electronic keyboard and played a beautiful piano piece – it was only when he sat down that he mentioned he had composed it especially for the day.
Rob & Suzanne and I ducked out between courses & the rain to catch some photographs of them in the grounds and in their wedding tent. I asked if they would like to dance, and they did so, with Suzanne serenading The Water Is Wide to Rob. It seemed especially fitting, since Rob had earlier sung to Suzanne during the banqueet, after having practised for several months.
When I left at 9pm, the weekend of celebrations, which had started with a cricket match (complete with glassware trophy) on the Friday was in full swing. Staff had lit a fire in the main lounge, a cheese course, coffee and wedding cake were ready and I can only imagine how long the partying continued.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 | London wedding, Wedding, Westminster Register Office
Hibiscus flowers coloured the champagne today of Lisa and Alan to celebrate their wedding. They arrived at Westminster Register Office ready for their morning ceremony ahead of time. Lisa’s dress was made by her friend Allison Rodger and looked stunning. Her orchid bouquet was arranged by her sister-in-law Marion and she had iced a cake with wonderful details – just right for their eight guests and themselves at the Reform Club, where Alan has been a member for more than 20 years.
When head registrar Alison Cathcart handed over the wedding certificate to Lisa, she said she had something for Alan too … Lisa’s bouquet, which had been next to the register for its signing (not quite what he was expecting!)
Once outside, their family and friends threw heart-shaped confetti, with Lisa’s brother David waiting to check the wind direction before throwing his handful so it exactly hit the couple. We photographed some portraits including the girls and the boys.
Lisa, Alan and their guests travelled to the Reform Club in a limo.
Once there, everyone was offered a very special drink: Lisa had found bottled hibiscus flowers which were placed in the bottom of the glasses, ready for champagne. When the drink was added, it turned pink and made the flower uncurl.
Lisa, Alan and their guests had their wedding breakfast in a room with an eclectic mix of books.
Sunday, June 17, 2007 | Islington Town Hall, Wedding
Mayumi looked totally stunning in her ivory gown and veil at Islington Register Office. What started out as a dull day weather-wise just got brighter during their ceremony, so they had startling sunshine for confetti throwing on the steps afterwards and their Routemaster bus for the journey into Soho for their reception. Nick was as excited as a groom could be and his mum couldn’t stop beaming. Awwww – what a fabulous Saturday afternoon.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006 | London wedding, Wedding, Westminster Register Office
Rachel & Philip married with two of their best friends as witnesses on Thursday at Westminster Register Office’s Blue Room. They continued their celebrations with champagne at the Berkeley Hotel’s Blue Bar, where I left them. Despite rain all week and Thursday morning, the sun cleared for their ceremony and there were fabulously blue skies later in the afternoon. It was such a privilege to be part of an intimate ceremony, putting on record their vows and celebrations. Their best man did a great job keeping their rings safe and presenting them at the right time.
Earlier in the week, when I moved into my place, the rain meant a rainbow over the view from my balcony – Greenwich’s Dome with its yellow supports on the left, to the Observatory on the hill to the right. I took it as a great omen – the first hour in my new home and studio, sipping a G&T, and I get this view!
