Kensington and Chelsea
Samala & Jay
The world-famous Chelsea Registry office in one of London’s smartest boroughs has, over the years, played host to the marriage ceremonies of thousands. The Independent dubbed it ‘still one of the hippest places to get married.’
Which it probably is. From there you can go anywhere!
Based on the iconic King’s Road, the venue was also the setting for Sam and Jay’s Chelsea Wedding. It’s nice to be in London again. I do lots of country weddings and love the contrast between the urban backdrops and what I’m used to.
The ceremony was followed by a reception at The Phene, a clubhouse-style pub also in the heart of Chelsea and which can trace its heritage all the way back to the mid-1800s.
We also headed down the road to ward the Albert Bridge as it’s always nice there for photos.
Sam looked beautifully stylish in a long, white, sleeveless Riva Westenius dress with a dramatic V-shaped back.
The happiness of everyone involved was plain to see in the broad, unforced smiles that punctuated the whole day. It was a genuine delight to work with such a lovely couple, and to photograph a day that burst at the seams with joy in such an interesting venue.
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It was a real pleasure being a part of the Daniel and Lieve’s big day, which took place in the grounds of the luxurious and Victorian Gothic Oakley Court Hotel, Berkshire, which boasts unrivaled views of the River Thames. Even though the weather was overcast on the day, the bride shone brightly with her beautiful flowery dress and unique button bouquet. The groom looked suave in his blue suit, and complemented the bride’s bouquet perfectly with his buttonhole.
The hotel was the perfect angular backdrop to the initial artistic picture, where the balloons accompany the bride and groom – a fun shot that I feel encapsulates the couple’s energetic nature.
The hotel itself and its grounds easily live up to and even surpass the high expectation it had built up. With the hotel’s magnificent 35 acres of land gracefully scattered with beautifully bright flowers, seen pictured with the bride and groom, water features and most unique of all, carefully sculptured wooden animals, it is easy to see why Oakley Court has quickly become a highly sought after wedding venue. It’s one that I always take pleasure in shooting.
When I was really young I used to be that kid who’d be dragged around flea markets and antique shops looking at well loved teddy bears with bits of stuffing hanging out of them, old records and monkey moneyboxes.
When I was thinking about what to say of Hazel and Ashley’s wedding at South Farm this year that is what my mind cast back to. The level of detail, the things to see and to do reminded me of that time. This was further bolstered by the way South Farm is laid out, the Gypsy caravans , the Piglets, the sculptures and the gardens turned their wedding into a Photographers playground.
After their church ceremony, Hazel and Ashley went to South Farm for a blessing and their reception.
Here is Charlotte and Joel’s wedding from August. This lovely couple said their vows at St John the Baptist Church in Pinner, Middlesex before traveling to their reception at Latimer Place in Chesham.
Charlotte and Joel’s formals list was minimal, ( three group shots ) and this gave me a lot more time to be creative with flash and to have some fun with a Hadoken inspired shot.
Also new this year is that I’m adding a glossier studio look to my work for those who want it. I’ve always been a strong supporter of natural light photography and this in the mainstream is because flash is tricky to do right and do well.
‘I love cows’ was one of the first thing Georgina said to me over the phone when talking about her wedding. ‘My sister is painting cow table names and in the field next to the marquee all the cows will be there’.
Georgina and Will said their vows at St Mary’s in the picturesque village of Leckhampstead in Buckinghamshire. This was a big farm wedding with 180 guests so as you would expect the church was packed with a few of the guests standing.
Special mention goes to Sarah Spade, the Ukelele Lady who, along with two others provided great entertainment during the reception.
The last time (and the first time) I was at Old Luxters Barn it was in March and because it was cold and a little muddy we didn’t have the freedom to go to the vineyard or the woods across the road.
Rachel and Joeseph used the cottage opposite to get ready in and everything took place here.
As favors Joe brewed his own beer called ‘Hoppily Ever After’ and showed some images of the process from start to finish. It was strong stuff!
I enjoy traveling and covering venues new to me. Surrey and Sussex are my common haunts but I’ll jump at the chance to work further afield, so when I was asked to cover Mr and Mrs Eight’s wedding at the Stonehouse Court Hotel in the Cotswolds I was eager to do so.
What was also cute is that they had their 10 year old dog ‘Mouse’ with them for most of the day. As a dog owner too it’s an important thing for us because they’re like children too. I was forever looking out for mouse though and was often wandering off to make sure I knew where they had got to (which wasn’t far).
It was a great day and even though I’d not met Alicia and Tom before the day I felt as if I’d known them for years on arrival.
‘Our first date was at Costa’ was one of the things Sarah said to me during their engagement shoot last month. ‘They’re also making our wedding cake because of it’.
This was a very colourful and stylish wedding. I’m guessing, but I think Sarah’s dress was a Jenny Packham number which was very classic and vintage in design. Her flowers were a lovely mix of pinks and whites with feathers in (something I don’t often see) and this was a lovely contrast between the vibrant getting ready colours of the dressing gowns in the morning.
Once at Notley Abbey we took photos by the lake and then I was told about the hedge you can walk through…I always thought it was just a hedge but it’s more like a hedge with a tunnel and we had some photos there too.