Friday, August 19, 2011 | London wedding
Amy and Luke’s wedding day started with their ceremony in Westminster Register Office’s Purple Room, moved onto a Routemaster bus and finished with dinner and their party at Camden Town’s Gilgamesh in Camden Lock, London.
The boys were first – checking in at Westminster Register Office’s reception – then checking the rings were in order.
Amy and her father go through paperwork with Westminster registrar Anna in the Lord Mayor’s Waiting Room.
Luke watches for Amy and her father entering the Purple Room.
A personalised reading from a friend.
One wedding ring – successfully delivered to the groom – give that best man a prize.
Now married, Amy and Luke head outdoors for confetti from their family and friends on the steps of Old Marylebone Town Hall.
We stopped off along the way for some family and couple portraits.
Arriving at Gilgamesh for drinks, an Asian banquet and speeches.
One of the younger guests was very keen to get the evening’s entertainment started, stealing the drumsticks of band Zagreb – friends of Amy and Luke.
These chaps were also getting ready to party and wanted to pose for portraits in Gilgamesh’s State Room.
Monday, July 25, 2011 | Surrey Wedding
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.
Michi’s parents chose to sit calmly outside in the sunshine while most of the getting ready was going on.
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.
Everything was in place for the ceremony – a nervous groom and a nervous best man, who is also getting married this summer.
After their ceremony, Michi and Chur went outside for confetti and family congratulations.
Chur’s Hong Kong family heritage came into play as he and Michi took part in a traditional Chinese tea ceremony. Â In this, the couple show their respect for their elders by serving tea to their parents and grandparents. Â 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.
Chur’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.
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.
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.
Michi’s mother had made endless metres of bunting for the wedding, using many materials that were familiar from her childhood. Â It was strung around the Oaks Farm grounds for drinks and the orangery throughout the day.
We spent about 20 minutes around Oaks Farm for some wedding portraits.
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.
Chur’s mother put together this array of cakes and wedding cupcakes – teaching herself how to cook and decorate them especially for the occasion.
The day had its speeches before the wedding breakfast.
Throughout the meal, Michi’s father kept a close eye on his sleeping grand-daughter.
Chur jokes with his friends – he had written the Chinese part of his speech phonetically so he could read it easily.
The day was also Chur’s father’s 60th birthday – so it was time for more cake.
Michi’s brother and sister-in-law sang “More than Words” as their contribution to the day.
Monday, August 23, 2010 | Wedding
Rebecca and Ty’s wedding at Bilsington Priory near Ashford in Kent was full of sunshine, children and animals. Â The day started with capturing some of the local characters including a very patient one-eyed cat (you’ll see why soon) which I think is called Orville.
I joined Rebecca, her mother and her daughters getting ready.
We went across to the Augustine Priory where Ty was waiting – a tad emotional – with the guests and lovely Kent registrars.
Rebecca’s mum had set up a surprise dove release for Rebecca, Ty and their daughter Coco.
Rebecca, Ty and myself took a few minutes for some portraits out of the bright sunlight, including a garden bench where Ty had proposed.
While they rejoined their guests for drinks, children were making the most of the gardens, including a tree-slung horse swing.
Coco took a huge liking to Orville and spent much of the reception cuddling him, although when he decided to make a bid for freedom, there was child carnage left in his wake.
Just as the sun was fading, the speeches and Rebecca and Ty’s first dance took place and I left them and their guests to celebrate.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010 | Surrey Wedding, Wedding
At Emily and Marz’s wedding on Saturday, there were so many children being utterly themselves that I wanted to give them their own post. All were charming, busy making new friends and exploring. It can also be fun working with them, aside from the reportage photographs. One of the little girls was eating a packet of raisins when we wanted to do a group photograph with her in it.  I offered to put the raisins on my head while I took the photograph so she could keep an eye on them – something she did with a rather suspicious look. By the time we came to take another group photograph with her in it, the raisins had gone, but the packet still went on my head. After it ‘fell off’ to get  her (& the adults) to laugh, she raced over and insisted “again, again”. And yes, we did.
