Big Day Weddings

To say that 2020 to 2021 were challenging years for the world as a whole is of course obvious and a bit of an understatement. The wedding industry like most others was challenged and had to adapt too. We thought it would be a good idea to show what a “socially distanced” wedding looks like for a number of reasons, the main one being to showcase that the the joy, love and uniqueness of a big day, though smaller in scale, is absolutely undiminished!

David was the busiest last year, sometimes capturing four weddings a week. Although the first three months were well booked with “normal” size and timeline weddings, come March we all had to massively adapt. Many couples understandably moved their dates, but many others decided to press ahead when they could and scale back their plans.

Featured here are one such couple Rebecca and Matt, who’s original grand plan was a ceremony in the lovely All Souls church next to the BBC in London, followed by a shoot as newly weds around some central city sights, and then on to a large reception at Crypt on the Green in Clerkenwell. A long planned fusion of American and English families coming together in the capital where the couple met. As ultimate reality would have it, it was 15 souls at All Souls, and a restaurant dinner afterwards, with an amount of Zoom, and some recorded video messages too.

I’m just delighted it went ahead and I was able to be part of an intimate heartfelt and memorable event. As you can see from Rebecca’s arrival it was a mask on mask off affair. Thankfully once things were underway  both bride groom  and clergy were exempt. I was lucky enough to do twelve such socially distanced weddings and this was pretty much the norm, but absolutely non were any the less for it. I particularly like the two shots below where you can see Matt going from happy and excited to overwhelmed when he first sees his wife to be walking down the aisle towards him.

There was so much emotion and love in the room it was palpable 🙂

When there was some live guitar and singing interludes I snuck quietly up on the balcony, to get the kind of wider shot you can see below.

We take a lot of shots by the way, all with a purpose, and all of which we give to our couples after editing. Back to the ceremony, one of my favourite parts was where a family friend performed magic tricks which he’d taught himself especially for the wedding. Very unusual end to the ceremony, and very entertaining too.

By the time the register was signed and Rebecca and Matt walked back down the aisle it was dark outside. Still I’m very experienced with winter weddings, and I was very happy with our confetti shots, family groups and the five minutes or so I had to grab some couple shots outside. A bit less time than the hour we had had originally planned though!

All in all a lovely time, and I’m sure the start of a wonderful life for these two guys together.

By David Green

While the year 2020 is going to be remembered for many many reasons, photography-wise there were some lovely wedding moments we were still able to capture. Some of them were small and intimate, some at the beginning of the year were large and boisterous, still others were socially distanced, but nonetheless all fabulous affairs in their own right.

Towards the beginning of 2020 we were delighted to photograph Catherine and Joe’s Zetter Town House wedding in Clerkenwell, followed by a a blessing ceremony in Smithfield’s fantastic St Bart’s Brewery, and then a reception there afterwards.

We have worked at the Zetter many times, in fact there are two of these great hotels in Clerkenwell central London. One is an original Georgian Town House built next to historic St John’s Square,  and the other is a modern version known simply as the Zetter Hotel built directly onto Clerkenwell Road Farringdon itself. It too is a brilliant and quirky hotel that we have photographed bride and groom’s wedding morning preparations on countless occasions over the last twelve years. This time it was groom Joe at the newer building and bride Catherine in the intimate Georgian splendour of the Town House.

The legal ceremony was downstairs at the Zetter Town House in what it known as “The Games Room.” It’s an intimate space and was perfect suited to the couple’s plan for a close family only ceremony and subsequent lunch. The more public blessing ceremony and reception for a large crowd of friends and family was well served by the large St Bart’s Brewery at the edge of Smithfield market.

We had a fun time with new bride and groom around the streets of Clerkenwell doing a variety of couple shots before the reception and the short walk to old Smithfield.

Catherine took time back at the hotel to change into a different outfit for the blessing and reception, while Joe busied himself on a meet and greet at the St Bart’s reception venue. St Bart’s is of course a short way of saying Saint Bartholomew’s.

The blessing ceremony itself was hosted by a chaplain from nearby St Bart’s Hospital, and was an emotional yet joyous affair followed by the party of all parties to see out a tremendous wedding day in a very historic part of central London. Definitely a highlight of 2020 for us.

By David Green