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Islington wedding couple outside Upper Street pub image

Another great Islington Town Hall Wedding Day

By Barnet Wedding Photographers, London venues and events, London Wedding Photographer, Wedding VenuesNo Comments

It’s a London wedding icon, we’ve photographed there many many times, but no matter how often we visit it’s always a very special occasion. We are talking about Islington Town Hall, it’s our favourite, closely followed by Old Marylebone Town Hall and Chelsea. Ok there’s a little piece of our heart in Stoke Newington and Finsbury too!

Islington wedding couple at Coopers Yard Upper Street image

Islington Town Hall wedding couple pose by blue wall

Anyway on to S and J’s intimate wedding, a total of ten people amid some of this years restrictions that David photographed by himself. This was the legal part of their wedding in the UK with very close family only, to be followed by a celebration a few days later in Sicily.

Bride and groom pose outside Islington Fire Station on wedding day

S is from America and now working in the UK while J was English born and bred. Naturally we got on like the proverbial ‘house on fire’. It’s myself David writing the piece, and it’s no waffling exaggeration to say I absolutely love meeting new people and getting the best images, moments and reactions I can for their wedding day.

Islington Town Hall council chamber wedding ceremony

Exchange of rings Islington Town Hall wedding ceremony

For our time together the sun shone, but brighter than that were these two as the stars of their own romantic show. There’s something very special about being a professional guest with such an intimate wedding, and it’s critical that a photographer mirrors the personality and outlooks of the people they work with. It’s essential to get truly natural and relaxed shots. I love that these too were open minded for some creativity too.

Couple kiss by stairs Islington Town Hall wedding

Wedding couple kiss by window Islington Town Hall

The ceremony itself was in the grandest of spaces at Islington Town Hall: the Council Chamber, and even though there were only a few of us the love and enthusiasm of this wedding party more than filled the room. Afterwards we had ten minutes or so to take advantage of some of the locations this fantastic building has to offer. As usual we were looked after by wonderful registrars, many of whom I know personally now!

Islington wedding couple embrace by blue wall

As a former longtime resident of Islington I was able to take these guys to some of my favourite little spots afterwards. I particularly enjoyed their champagne reception at Fredericks restaurant near Angel Tube. It’s a place I’ve visited many times myself over the years.

Islington wedding couple in front of glass wall image

After that it was into cabs for an afternoon tea celebration at famous Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair. A splendid end to a splendid day.

Islington wedding day couple on the street

I’m showcasing some of my personal Islington favourites here. I was able to give the couple 800 edited images of the day telling its story in full for them to treasure and share.

Islington wedding couple outside Upper Street pub image

Here’s link to some of our other blogged Islington weddings:

Last ever Islington Town Hall Wedding before lockdown

Islington Town Hall Wedding Photographers, reception at Dead Dolls House

Another lovely Islington Town Hall Wedding & Reception at The Albion

Islington Metal Works wedding day starting at Hampstead& St Stephen church

By David Green

 

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Top 100 photographers badge Big Day Weddings

Another award to end 2021, thank you to all our couples and industry partners!

By Barnet Wedding Photographers, London venues and events, London Wedding PhotographersNo Comments

It’s always great to win an award even though we don’t actively enter many competitions. This is the third year in a row we’ve either won a national wedding award or appeared in a final.  Voted for by Your Perfect Wedding Photographer as best in the UK is  satisfying as it is one of the largest wedding portals out there.

In truth though, all the wedding awards in the world are meaningless unless that translates to a great experience for the people that work with us. When our couples come back to us delighted (and often leaving reviews) with their images and how we behaved with themselves and their guests on their wedding day, then that is the best award of all.

Have a read of our reviews on Google and other places to see people’s real world experiences of us for yourselves.

Google Reviews for Big Day Weddings

Feel free to get in touch to talk over any wedding plans you have. We are more than happy just to give advice and some inside knowledge of venues you may be thinking of, regardless of whatever your final decisions may be.

Wishing all a wonderful 2022!

David and Joanna

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Clapton Country Club wedding day two brides laugh image

Clapton Country Club Wedding photographers

By Barnet Wedding Photographers, London venues and events, London Wedding Photographer, Wedding VenuesNo Comments

We love a quirky wedding venue, almost as much as we enjoy a challenge. Clapton County Club is certainly one of London’s great alternative wedding spaces, and perfectly complemented the vibe and values of D & M.

Clapton Country Club wedding ceremony black and white image

Clapton Country Club used to be a tram depot and all throughout its different spaces there’s was evidence of its former role. D & M told us they wanted photographers experienced with urban and quirky weddings and plenty of creativity when we originally spoke, and we were delighted to give them exactly what they wanted and then some 🙂 Not your home counties stately home big day for these guys!

First kiss at Clapton Country Club wedding ceremony

Two brides at Clapton Country Club wedding London 2

David had built a rapport with both through zoom and a very enjoyable engagement shoot in Shoreditch central London. Here’s a link to that shoot: Shoreditch Engagement Shoot, inner London photography

Wedding recessional at Clapton Country Club London two brides

A new challenge for us as photographers was the fact that both brides were deaf and so were ninety percent of the wedding guests plus the two videographers.

Two brides laughing at Clapton CountryClub wedding in London

In truth, through communicating through a bit of universal sign language and skilled lip-reading on D & M’s behalf made everything a pleasure. In fact, I for one (David) hardly thought about it throughout the day and it ultimately made no difference whatsoever, which is of course how it should be!

Clapton Country Club confetti throw image LondonTwo brides black roller doors Clapton Country Club wedding London

Our day started with both brides getting ready in a lovely hired Airbnb loft space five minutes away from the venue.

Two brides sitting at Clapton Country Club wedding reception

A swift walk with cameras and equipment through the streets of Clapton lead us to the Country Club to get some establishing shots and into the wonderfully titled “Department of Life” which is used for wedding ceremonies.

Entrance of two brides Clapton Country Club wedding reception

Clapton Country Club wedding reception venue London

A great ceremony followed with sign language interpreters so everyone totally understood, including D & M, what was being said by the registrars, interspersed with much love and laughter.

Two brides and sparklers at Clapton Country Club wedding

When the big deed was finished and that magical first kiss as married partners was done, we had a little time around the venue during the drinks reception to get some couple shots before some more structured pics of friends and family.

The Country Club’s largest internal area is called…wait for it…Clapton Country Club! In this chic industrial space D & M had their reception. It’s also used for ceremonies too if there’s more people than the Department of Life can hold, or the couple favour it.

We’ve put an image of it shot from the balcony to give a sense of this excellent space.

Food, speeches, laughter and then a lovely first dance where D & M romantically signed the words to each other, set the tone for the rest of a fabulous evening. Congratulations to the both of you, and thank you Clapton Country Club for your hospitality and professionalism throughout the day!!!

Clapton Country Club wedding day two brides laugh image

By David Green

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Bride and groom kiss by anchor Cutty Sark Greenwich wedding

Our 47th 5 STAR Google Wedding Review

By Barnet Wedding Photographers, London venues and events, London Wedding Photographers, Wedding VenuesNo Comments

It’s no exaggeration to say that at the moment we are waiting on about 15 reviews to come through! The problem is people are very busy, and actually getting a review onto Google without creating an account is not particularly easy, so lovely couples with the best of intentions often don’t get round to actually doing it. We remind them if they said they wanted to (just once) because we don’t want to be over pushy!

Anyway here’s a cut and paste from mighty Google itself of our 47th five star review, thanks to Joanna and Tom and their fabulous wedding day at Islington Town Hall, the Cutty Sark and an incredible hired private mansion in Eltham:

“From our initial conversation with David we knew he would be brilliant. He listened to all our ideas, made loads of helpful suggestions, had lots of local knowledge around the venue and good spots for photos, and filled us with confidence. On the day he was superb – he was chatty and friendly with our guests, made everyone feel very at ease and expertly arranged the group shots. He somehow managed to be everywhere at once and capture every moment of the day while also being completely unobtrusive and blending into the background. The photos themselves were wonderful; so many to choose from, natural and colourful and exactly like we wanted. We are so grateful to him for producing such beautiful photos, but also for being such a fun part of the day and cannot recommend his services highly enough!
Joanna & Tom
Response from the owner a week ago

Joanna and Tom, thank you so much for the goggle review! What a fabulous day we had at the most quirky and impressive private mansion I’ve ever seen, your glorious Council Chamber wedding at Islington Town Hall, and the wonderfully atmospheric Cutty Sark. Wishing you both health and happiness for many years to come.

Google review for Big Day Weddings London

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Shoreditch engagement shoot girls laugh by iron doors

Shoreditch Engagement Shoot, inner London photography

By Barnet Wedding Photographers, London venues and events, London Wedding Photographers, Wedding VenuesOne Comment

Well there’s only one thing David likes more than hanging around in a place like Shoreditch, and that is doing a Shoreditch Engagement Shoot!

Shoreditch engagement shoot couple stood by graffiti

Many times we have done a wedding in this most colourful of areas, and then had ten to twenty minutes to get some couple shots between the ceremony and reception. Here’s an example of that at Eight Club Moorgate: Eight Club Wedding in Moorgate and Shoreditch

Shoreditch-engagement shoot couple sat on steps together image

For this shoot I had about fifty minutes, what a luxury, and what a pleasure to work with M and D. This fantastic twosome are getting hitched at the lovely and funky Clapton Country club in August, and quite frankly I can’t wait.

Shoreditch engagement couple in front of large graffiti on black wall London

We started by meeting at Old Street tube station, at 6.30pm. Early evening is ofter best for the quality of light and also the fact that most people working in the city will have wandered home, or into a bar….

Shoreditch engagement shoot couple piggyback and laugh by graffiti

Even so, this is a really buzzing place with people, cycle and electrics scooters whizzing everywhere.

Shoreditch engagement shoot ladies by graffiti

I had a quick walk around before going to Old Street to check a few places I knew, and what has and hasn’t changed graffiti wise and to check whether there was any new scaffolding obscuring anything. Yes scaffolding, London never stops building and growing!

Couple show engagement rings in Shoreditch photo shoot

From our Zoom call earlier in the year I knew I had a great rapport with these guys, and this continued all the way through the shoot. M and D love all things urban and are also partial to any interesting graffiti. This is exactly what suits a Shoreditch engagement shoot.

Engagement couple in Shoreditch by Michaelangelo art display

Such fun finding places, creating reactions, and making use of different lighting and backdrops. Generally speaking I try and make engagement shoots discreet for the couple so that they can relax and feel unselfconscious, usually starting in places where very few people are around.

Couple hand in hand at Shoreditch engagement photo shoot

That’s virtually impossible in Shoreditch, though I did manage, but really these ladies were not  shy and just got into the energy and fun of the shoot.

Couple on steps at Shoreditch engagement shoot London

We celebrated a successful time with a cheeky beer afterwards at the Old Blue Last pub.

In fact for those interested I used the area behind and around the Old Blue Last extensively, plus two blocks away from Old Street Station to begin the session.

Next stop Clapton Country Club…

By David Green

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