I love a London wedding and even more so when you move around from one venue to another as it creates so many more photo
opportunities and I love the movement you can get with these kinds of images too.
I met my lovely brides at the London Bridge Hotel where they were getting ready, towards the the end of their prep. They left their bridal party finishing off while the three of us walked across to Borough Market to do their portrait session.
They were having their wedding ceremony at Roast Restaurant in Borough Market and then drinks and a meal afterwards. They had decided that they wanted to do their portrait session before the ceremony to get them out of the way so that they could relax and spend the whole the day just having fun with their friends and family and not having to interrupt the day to do various ‘traditional’ formalities.
Formal photos and portraits before the ceremony!!? Oh my!
After their portrait session we headed up to the restaurant so that the ladies could check over things before their immediate family and bridesmaids arrived.
We then did the formal group shots before the rest of their guests started to arrive.
I absolutely loved that they did things this way – THEIR way!
Not only did it mean that they now could spend the entire day with their guests with no breaks having to grin inanely at the camera, it also meant I could REALLY get into taking documentary photos without having to spend half of my time organising people. Taking great wedding documentary images requires time, patience and observation – and often at weddings as photographers we aren’t really left with a huge amount of time where something ‘formal’ isn’t happening that we can take the time to ‘look for’ and ‘create’ really awesome documentary images.
These ladies totally had the right idea – in my opinion.
Their main aim was to have the BEST DAY EVER with their friends and family and forget that I was there essentially – and I couldn’t have been more pleased!
Boat Party on the Thames? Yes please!
After the ceremony at Roast Restaurant in Borough Market they had a drinks reception and canapés, then they had half of their speeches before sitting for the main meal. After the meal they had the rest of their speeches and then the ‘head’ of each table had to lead their table of guests out of the restaurant, through Borough Market to two waiting coaches.
The waiting coaches then drove us all to a pier along the Thames where we would all board the waiting Party Boat ………… sounds simple right?
Climbing walls – Standard.
Hahahahaha……….. the coach driver didn’t seem to really know where he was going, so after driving the wrong way along the Thames and eventually turning around he finally got us
close to the pier and boat but on the wrong side of the road! Cue some brilliant docu shots and I was in my element! Hehehehe
We all had to cross over the really busy Lower Thames Street onto a pavement that didn’t exist because there were road works on the other side, so after a very hairy crossing and traffic dodging along the side of the road works, we finally realised we would all have to climb down over the wall to reach the pier as there was no quick way around that anyone could see
and we HAD to be on the boat by a certain time as the boat had a timing slot to leave the Pier!
So, there was nothing for it – before we knew it, some of the fellas had hopped over and were starting to help the ladies over. I had to take my kit off and pass it over and then join the wedding party in being carried down the wall by some lovely male guests. The wedding guests loved this adventure! It was so funny and totally added to the memories of the day! It is certainly one of my most memorable weddings.
The important day should be fun and you have captured fun throughout in your exceptional photos your clients must be so pleased.