Chandos House wedding | Stephanie + Gareth

Stephanie and Gareth’s Chandos House wedding a couple of weeks ago was full of love, warmth and giggles.  The giggles were mostly coming from Stephanie, although not far behind was her father’s more manly laughter.  During their getting ready they play-acted some of their father-daughter roles: walking down the aisle to a 1-2-3 beat, him kissing her on both cheeks (Mwah! Mwah!) and giving Stephanie’s hand to Gareth. Gareth simply beamed throughout the day.
I started with Stephanie in the latter stages of getting ready, while make up artist Melanie Crump was adding the finishing touches and putting on Stephanie’s veil.

Bride getting ready for wedding at Chandos House

Stephanie’s bridesmaids see her for the first time in her dress.

Chandos House wedding bridesmaids

Stephanie’s father has a last-minute traditional touch – a coin for her shoe – what a gallant gentleman he is.

Father of bride puts silver coin in bride's shoe

Stephanie and her bridesmaids pick up their bouquets from their layers of tissue …

bridal bouquet for wedding by Scarlet and Violet

… and after a last bit of lip gloss, we’re off.

Make-up artist Melanie Crump at Chandos HouseBride, her father and bridesmaids ready for wedding ceremony at Chandos House.Chandos House wedding ceremony - groom and best man waiting for bride

Chandos House wedding ceremony

Chandos House wedding ceremony - exchange of ringsChandos House wedding ceremony - bride and groom kissChandos House wedding ceremony - bride and groomChandos House wedding signing of register

Chandos House wedding - signing of register

At this point I should explain how much I love Chandos House – it’s incredibly pretty and the paintwork and other features have been kept in great repair.  The flowers were by Scarlet + Violet, which apparently did Kate Moss’ bouquet for her Gloucestershire wedding – and one of my favourite designers Celia Birtwell is also a fan. The floral arrangements, buttonholes and bouquets were perfect: the buttonholes exquisite and not too large, the bouquets looking generous without overpowering Stephanie and her bridesmaids and the arrangements around Chandos House were stunning and in balance with the colourful paintwork.

Stephanie and Gareth’s cake was from Cakes 4 Fun – and chosen after an arduous tasting session sampling orange, banana, cinnamon and chocolate. (One of the lesser-known hazards of being a wedding photographer is that chatting with clients about their plans can often make you hungry).

Cakes 4 Fun wedding cake at Chandos House

Now – back to Stephanie and Gareth – we took about 15 minutes for some portraits about Chandos House.

Chandos House wedding portrait of bride and groomChandos House wedding portrait of bride and groomChandos House wedding portrait of bride and groom

Chandos House bride and groom photo

All too soon, it was time for Stephanie and Gareth’s wedding breakfast – starting with a grand entrance.

Bride and groom enter Chandos House wedding breakfast.

Stephanie and Gareth had spent many hours putting together their detective themed table plan with a book from each of the featured authors on each table.

Chandos House reception details - table plan

Stephanie’s father had everyone in stitches with his speech.

Father of bride speech at Chandos House reception

Groom gives speech at Chandos House

Oaks Farm wedding | Michi + Chur

Michi and Chur’s Oaks Farm wedding was a really thoughtful day with a bringing together of European and Chinese customs and showing off Chur’s design talents and patience.
The day started with Michi getting ready at Oaks Farm in the cottage with her family and friends.

Oaks Farm wedding dress detailWedding veil or vail at Oaks Farm

Bride getting ready at Oaks Farm

Michi’s parents chose to sit calmly outside in the sunshine while most of the getting ready was going on.

Outside Oaks Farm cottageBride getting ready at Oaks Farm

Bride getting ready at Oaks Farm

Oaks Farm wedding bridal portraits

Oaks Farm bride and maid of honour

Meanwhile, in the Victorian barn, the harpist was practising Michi’s entrance music and Chur’s family were putting finishing touches to the floral arrangements.

Harpist plays Arrival of the Queen of Sheba from Solomon by Handel at Oaks Farm wedding

 

Oaks Farm wedding flowers

Everything was in place for the ceremony – a nervous groom and a nervous best man, who is also getting married this summer.

Oaks Farm wedding ceremonyOaks Farm wedding ceremonyOaks Farm wedding ceremonyOaks Farm wedding ceremonyOaks Farm wedding ceremony

After their ceremony, Michi and Chur went outside for confetti and family congratulations.

Family throws wedding confettiGroom's grandmother congratulates groom at weddingGroom and mother at Oaks Farm weddingGrandfather congratulates groom on marriageGrandfather congratulates bride on marriageChur’s Hong Kong family heritage came into play as he and Michi took part in a traditional Chinese tea ceremony.  In this, the couple show their respect for their elders by serving tea to their parents and grandparents.  It’s also a time for the older generations to give gifts – traditionally in red embellished envelopes and sometimes precious items – in this case a necklace and bracelet for Michi.

Chinese tea ceremony at Oaks FarmChinese tea ceremony at weddingChinese tea ceremony at weddingChinese tea ceremony at weddingChur’s mother mentioned at this point that she would like a grandchild – and a few seconds later, this wish expanded into wanting perhaps four grandchildren – hence Michi’s giggles.

Chinese tea ceremony at weddingChinese tea ceremony at weddingChinese tea ceremony at weddingChinese tea ceremony at wedding

Another of the Chinese traditions at Michi and Chur’s wedding was a red tablelcoth that guests signed as well as a more traditional message book.

Red Chinese tablecloth for signing at Oaks Farm wedding

Michi and Chur took time out for champagne and chatting to their guests while I captured reportage photographs of their family and friends. Some of the youngest guests were especially keen on the garden games that had been organised for them.

Wedding guests play in grounds.Wedding guests play garden games at wedding reception.

Michi’s mother had made endless metres of bunting for the wedding, using many materials that were familiar from her childhood.  It was strung around the Oaks Farm grounds for drinks and the orangery throughout the day.

Home-made bunting strung around wedding reception in garden.Wedding guest father and baby

We spent about 20 minutes around Oaks Farm for some wedding portraits.

Oaks Farm wedding portraits of bride and groom Oaks Farm wedding portrait groom Oaks Farm wedding portrait of brideOaks Farm wedding portraits of bride and groom Oaks Farm wedding portraits of bride and groom Bride and groom wedding portraits at Oaks Farm

Michi and Chur had spent countless hours working on their details, including a birdy table plan and using a combination of circus-style fonts for signage. Table names had a theme of childhood desserts.

Circus fonts on wedding signs

Chur’s mother put together this array of cakes and wedding cupcakes – teaching herself how to cook and decorate them especially for the occasion.

Home-made wedding cupcakes at Oaks Farm, Surrey

The day had its speeches before the wedding breakfast.

Father of the bride speech at Oaks Farm.Father of the bride speech at Oaks Farm.Father of the bride speech at Oaks Farm.Father of the bride speech at Oaks Farm.

Throughout the meal, Michi’s father kept a close eye on his sleeping grand-daughter.

Grandfather watches over grand-daughter

Chur jokes with his friends – he had written the Chinese part of his speech phonetically so he could read it easily.

Grooms chats with friends

The day was also Chur’s father’s 60th birthday – so it was time for more cake.

Oaks Farm birthday celebrations

Michi’s brother and sister-in-law sang “More than Words” as their contribution to the day.

Brother sings wedding song to bride and groomBrother congratulates bride and groom on marriage.

Star of the Sea Church wedding | Louise + Charlie

When Louise and Charlie planned their Star of the Sea Church wedding in Greenwich, they chose a red and white Christmas theme, but could not have imagined how much snow would fall, in keeping with the ‘white’ part of the theme.

Devonport House

Louise started her day getting ready with her family and bridesmaids at Devonport House, just a short distance from the church. Louise’s red rose bouquet was by Rachel Morgan Wedding Flowers. And her fascinator was by talented milliner and similarly named Rachel Trevor-Morgan.

Devonport House wedding preparations: wedding shoes ready for the big day by Star of the Sea Church wedding photographer Rebecca Portsmouth
Devonport House wedding preparations: a bridal gown waits ready for the bride to step into it
Devonport House wedding preparations: a bridal bouquet of red roses awaits a snowy wedding day
Devonport House wedding preparations - the finishing touches of shoes during the getting ready
Devonport House wedding preparations: the bride in her customised towelling dressing gown has her make-up done
Devonport House wedding preparations - a bride has the finishing touches done to her make-up
Devonport House wedding preparations - a bridesmaid finishes getting ready
Devonport House wedding preparations - a bride has her headpiece with net attached as a finishing touch

Star of the Sea Church

A 15-minute snowstorm (OK, a blizzard, in Greenwich terms) had Charlie sheltering under an umbrella outside Our Ladye Star of the Sea Church so he didn’t get too wet or cold and ushers busy with brooms, clearing snow from the steps.

Star of the Sea Church wedding in the snow on Crooms Hill
Star of the Sea Church wedding where the groom Charlie shelters under a golfing umbrella from the snow
Star of the Sea Church in the snow - ushers welcome wedding guests with golfing umbrellas
The bride and her bridesmaids arrive for her Star of the Sea Church wedding in a red London Routemaster bus.
Ushers help the bride navigate Crooms Hill in the snow before her Star of the Sea Church wedding
Bride and her father in the doorway before her Star of the Sea Church wedding
A bride and her father enter her Star of the Sea Church wedding, flanked by ushers
Star of the Sea Church wedding ceremony - Crooms Hill Greenwich, otherwise known as Our Ladye Star of the Sea by Greenwich photographer Rebecca Portsmouth
The Our Ladye Star of the Sea wedding ceremony of Louise and Charlie by Greenwich photographer Rebecca Portsmouth
Star of the Sea Church wedding photographer Rebecca Portsmouth: a photo of Louise and Charlie leaving their winter wedding ceremony .

Louise and Charlie had arranged for a dog walker to bring along their boxer Lily for some photographs outside the church – very carefully, so Lily didn’t jump up on Louise’s dress.

The Routemaster vintage bus that Louise and Charlie had arranged to transport guests to their Trafalgar Tavern wedding reception backed down Crooms Hill beautifully without slipping in the snow and made its way carefully through Maritime Greenwich and past the Old Naval College.

Our Ladye Star of the Sea wedding photographer Rebecca Portsmouth shows photos of the ceremony of Louise and Charlie - outside with their dog and guests throwing confetti in Greenwich

While we had such crisp snow and clear skies, Louise, Charlie and I went for a walk along the river for some wedding portraits. We also sneaked a few couple portraits inside while guests were filing through to the Christmas-themed reception, complete with presents for the children.

The Trafalgar Tavern and Nelson in the snow
Bride and groom Louise + Charlie outside the Trafalgar Tavern in Greenwich on their snowy winter wedding day
Bride and groom Louise + Charlie walking along the Thames near the Trafalgar Tavern with the O2 of North Greenwich in the background, during their wedding portraits.
Bride and groom Louise + Charlie framed by the Old Royal Naval College (ORNC) Water Gate in the snow during their winter wedding portraits
Greenwich Old Royal Naval College (ORNC) winter wedding in the snow - Louise + Charlie with their red and white themed wedding (by Greenwich wedding photographer Rebecca Portsmouth)
Winter bride Louise on the stairs at the Trafalgar Tavern, with a white winter fur keeping her warm
Winter wedding celebrations with a Christmas Theme inside the Trafalgar Tavern, Greenwich
Winter wedding portraits of Louise + Charlie at the Trafalgar Tavern
The Trafalgar Tavern wedding venue in Greenwich lit up at night in winter, with snow on the ground.

Greek Orthodox Christening | Cathedral of St Sophia

I have just finished editing a Greek Orthodox Christening from last month and although don’t have permission to post photographs of the family, really wanted to share some images of the stunning Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St Sophia in Moscow Road, W2. I have worked there before and it’s dark – so tricky to photograph and definitely somewhere to use specialist equipment – the rich woodwork, mosaic tiles and precious metals and stones glint with a dull beauty. This collection includes perhaps my favourite photograph from 2010 – can you guess which one it is?

St Sophia's at Moscow Road, London W2 - Greek Orthodox Church St Sophia's Greek Orthodox Church London - venue of a Greek Orthodox Christening with traditional ceremony. St Sophia's Cathedral Moscow Road, London W2 - mosaic ceiling details including its dome. Carved wooden seating at St Sophia's, London W2. It is the venue for many London Greek Orthodox Christenings. The font fills with a hose for a Greek Orthodox Christening at St Sophia's in London, W2, Moscow Road. A white Christening layette awaits the baby in St Sophia's Cathedral, Moscow Road, London W2. Lit candles glowing in the dark at St Sophia's Greek Orthodox Church, West London. A priest holds a Christening cross gold necklace ready for a ceremony - St Sophia's Cathedral.