Tuesday, April 1, 2014 | Christening
I wanted to share with you a Holy Trinity Christening photography book which has just gone out to clients. Tiffany’s parents arranged her Christening at Holy Trinity and St Saviour on Sloane Street, knowing it was opposite the jewellery store of the same name.
The book’s cover is a photograph of her second outfit for the day – a gold-bodiced dress and matching shoes, which she wore for the reception, after being dressed in a white Christening gown for the service itself. The lovely and personal service was by Rev. Rob Gillion, who was exceptionally kind to Tiffany and her family, making her giggle and laugh throughout.
I love the candle-lighting part of a Christening – it’s symbolic and beautiful.
After the Holy Trinity Christening and Tiffany had received her Certificate of Baptism, we went outside for some family group portraits in front of Holy Trinity’s beautiful architecture designed by John Dando Sedding.
Tiffany’s family couldn’t resist walking across the road to Tiffany and Co. for photographs outside the store. While we were there, two staff members came outside to present a bottle of champagne in celebration.
One of the things I love to do at a Christening, is get a portrait of the parents together by themselves. I also photograph details such as the shoes, cake or carefully-chosen accessories.
Here the family is at the Le Chinois Restaurant at the Millennium Hotel on Sloane Street, during the celebratory meal. Tiffany sits on her father’s knee, sharing his food as she does when the family has its evening meal at home. Their celebration ends the 20-spread book, which Tiffany’s family had made in a 12×12″ size.
Monday, January 6, 2014 | Christening
I wanted to share the Greek Orthodox Christening book from Nicholas’ Christening at Christ the Saviour Church in Welling. It tells the story of the day so well and includes all the details that his mother and family arranged as well as formal portraits of the godparents and family. The cover has a classic, white theme chosen by Nicholas’ mother Cleo featuring his Christening clothes and cross.
It starts with details of Christ the Saviour church, including its carved wooden chairs, the greenery surrounding it in Welling and the priest preparing for the Christening, then switches to the family arriving. 
Here is Nicholas’ special clothes – those he will be Christened in and which will absorb the oil he is anointed with – then those he will wear afterwards. On the right is a portrait of him and his mother Cleo before the Christening started.
Here are a few pages from the Christening itself featuring the godparents and Nicholas being put into the font, filled with warm water.
The book then switches to the reception, hosted at Cleo’s parents home, where she had been preparing for days. Cleo had a turtle theme with a large turtle cake as the feature and a selection of cupcakes with miniature turtles on the top of their icing. Turtle mugs and jars with turtle charms were given away as favours.
The remainder of the book had black and white reportage photographs of the Christening celebrations and ended with some of the family groups.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013 | Register Office, Wedding, Westminster Register Office
Emine and Richard’s wedding at Westminster Register Office and the Roosevelt Room wedding reception at Brown’s Hotel was a beautiful and classic day. Emine chose a tea rose dress with gold shoes, a ribbon headband and roses from Scarlet and Violet.
Richard may have been more nervous than a typical groom; this was the first wedding he had ever attended.
Married! Now, time for photos, lots of photos!
Some family congratulations and then confetti.
Emine and Richard headed in a London black cab to Brown’s Hotel, giving them time to look at their shiny wedding rings.
Friends were waiting to congratulate them outside Brown’s.
Emine and Richard’s wedding reception was in one of Brown’s private dining rooms – the mirrored and classic Roosevelt Room, named after former American President Theodore Roosevelt, who first stayed at Brown’s for his marriage to Edith Carow. 
Emine had arranged iced biscuits by Biscuiteers as her wedding favours. 
And flowers by Scarlet and Violet decorated the table and mantlepiece.
We took some portraits of Richard and his mates … and Emine and her mother.
Guests were having a rather lovely time with champagne before they sat for the wedding breakfast. 
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 | London wedding, Register Office, Wedding, Westminster Register Office
The London register office wedding of Anita and Christian at Westminster’s Yellow Room and Duke of Wellington‘s private room was a relaxed event. They arrived at Old Marylebone Town Hall together in a London black cab giggling and kissing.
Anita and Christian love the Old Marylebone Town Hall and wanted their wedding photographs to reflect this. I photographed the architecture as they were checking their details with the registrar.
Their ceremony started with Christian having to list Anita’s many Christian names. He got them right!
Their families were beaming at this point. 
Who has the rings? Is that a Vulcan salute?
I now declare you husband and wife! Have you ever seen a bride look as pleased as this?
Happy chats after Anita and Christian’s London register office wedding in the Yellow Room. 
We walked to the Duke of Wellington a couple of blocks away.
Anita and Christian posed for some portraits on the way. I love the way London’s architecture changes so much in such a short distance, while walking to their Duke of Wellington wedding reception.
Guests drank Pimms and beer.
Anita and Christian’s rings with a tulip from Anita’s bouquet. 
Vintage handkerchiefs, tiny clothes pegs and photos decorated Anita and Christian’s wedding breakfast table. 
The Duke of Wellington’s private room, overlooking St Mary’s Church: after everyone had sat down, I left them to settle in for the wedding breakfast. Congratulations Anita and Christian! 
Tuesday, January 22, 2013 | London wedding, Register Office, Westminster Register Office
I want to share the Westminster Register Office wedding of Karen, Matt and their two sons at Old Marylebone Town Hall. They travelled from Norfolk to have their ceremony and celebrate with afternoon tea and all looked fabulous. The guys had their best cufflinks on and they brought a toy owl called George with them from Karen’s work, which travels to different occasions – apparently this was George’s first wedding.
While Karen was with the registrars, the small guys figured out where they were going to sit and checked they had the rings. They were so excited to be handing over the rings and seeing their mother in such a beautiful dress.
There was a first with Karen and Matt’s wedding – a high five – first with each other and then with the boys.
While Karen, Matth and their witnesses were signing the register the boys had an important job to do – last-minute checks on a reading of The Owl and the Pussycat.
Don’t you love youthful enthusiasm!
The family then headed off for afternoon tea to celebrate.
Karen and Matt let me know when they had seen their photographs: “They’re stunning and really capture the fun and informality. The boys look gorgeous and again you have captured their characters”. It was a huge pleasure to be part of such a happy day.
