The Gherkin wedding | Rachael and Charles

ST BARTHOLOMEW THE GREAT CEREMONY + THE GHERKIN WEDDING RECEPTION: Rachael and Charles recently married at St Bartholomew the Great at Smithfield, with a wedding reception at the Swiss Re building, known as The Gherkin. Rachael looked completely fabulous in pretty Louboutin heels and carefully sourced tiara, as well as a borrowed blue necklace. Their flower girls had distinctive patterned dresses from Little Eglantine (again, chosen by Rachael after much research) and as children arrived at the church, they were given personalised gift bags to keep them entertained throughout the service.Louboutin wedding shoes








After their service, where Reverend Dr Martin Dudley quoted from PG Wodehouse’s Jeeves & Wooster in his address, Rachael, Charles and their guests went to 30 St Mary Axe, otherwise known as The Gherkin.  Rachael and Charles travelled in a silver Phantom and their guests in a red Routemaster London bus.


The Gherkin wedding reception

When Rachael and Charles arrived at The Gherkin, they rose the final part of their 44-storey journey to the top floor in a glass lift.
The Gherkin wedding photos
The afternoon was very sunny and hazy – a beautiful summer afternoon with amazing views over London, snazzy nibbles and refreshing drinks, topped off with a string quartet (fittingly including the theme for Jeeves & Wooster).
The Gherkin reception

Simply decorated tables let the views do the talking
The Gherkin wedding tables

The mezzanine floor’s central floral decoration.
The Gherkin wedding flowers

A children’s disco in the late afternoon was an opportunity for parents to dance with their children, who had been playing in the creche, before they left for the evening.
The Gherkin wedding dancing

Views over London and the wedding breakfast.
The Gherkin wedding view over London at night

Sunset silhouette
The Gherkin bride and groom portrait

Stairs and more stairs.
The Gherkin bride descending staircase
Bride and groom on The Gherkin stairs wedding reception

The Gherkin wedding | Rachel + Danny

Rachel and Danny’s Gherkin wedding started with guests waiting in the sunshine to go inside for security checks. They were piped into the building at the appropriate time to reflect Danny’s Scottish roots.  Guests went to the 34th floor, where they changed lifts for the 39th.  Danny and the ushers were waiting at the top for guests.

The Gherkin - wedding guests waitingGherkin lift to weddingThe view from The Gherkin on a sunny dayWedding guests arrive at The Gherkin

Rachel, her mother and bridesmaids arrived on time in a black limousine.

Bride arrives in a black stretch limoBride arrives at The Gherkin for a wedding

Have you ever seen anyone look this happy?

Happy brides waits for wedding ceremony

The quick upward rise of the lifts can make your ears pop.

Bride arrives at The Gherkin weddingBride takes lift to The Gherkin weddingBride takes lift to The Gherkin weddingPoor Danny is a worried man.
Groom waits for bride at The Gherkin weddingGroom waits for bride at The Gherkin wedding

Rachel’s mother walked her down the aisle and lifted her veil.

Bride arrives at The Gherkin wedding ceremony with her motherWedding ceremony at The Gherkin

Danny’s usher Andy read A Lovely Love Story by Edward Monkton during the ceremony.

Usher reads A Lovely Love Story at a Gherkin wedding ceremonyGherkin wedding ceremony in City of LondonBride and groom kiss during wedding ceremonyBride and groom in wedding ceremonyBride and groom in wedding ceremony at The GherkinBride and groom smile at The Gherkin weddingBride and groom leave Gherkin weddingBride and groom leave wedding for receptionGherkin wedding reception with champagne and canapesWedding reception guests in the sunshine

We did a couple of group portraits after a champagne reception.

The Gherkin wedding reception group portraitsThe Gherkin wedding reception group portraitsTable details and menu at The Gherkin reception

For anyone who doesn’t like heights, you might want to look away for the next two photographs.

The wedding reception view from mezzanine floorThe Gherkin wedding reception view from mezzanine floor

I finished Rachel and Danny’s coverage at their meal, but couldn’t resist sneaking in a couple of extra portraits before I left.

Wedding portraitsThe Gherkin wedding portraits