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Couple hold hands by old wall for Islington Town Hall wedding photographers

Another lovely Islington Town Hall Wedding & Reception at The Albion

By Barnet Wedding Photographers, Wedding VenuesOne Comment

There was a lot of love in the air at this Islington Town Hall Wedding day. It was small and intimate, fun filled and loving and was covered by just myself David as the entire wedding party was just ten people. Carmen and Andy decided to invite their closest family and friends, and to make it an early 10am ceremony so they could enjoy a private lunch at one of my favourite north London gastro pubs The Albion on Thornhill Road Islington.

Couple hug in ornage doorway after Islington Town Hall wedding day

I got their early and was met by a guitar and flute player the couple had booked to play at their wedding ceremony. It was a lovely image for me to witness them practicing walking up and down the corridors in the town hall beforehand. Music was good too!

Small wedding ceremony at Islington Town Hall London

Carmen arrived first in a traditional London back cab so had to hide a for a while as Andy came next with his parents. The ceremony was emotional, and the couple had written their own vows to each other for a more personal feel.

Islington wedding couple by blue door Upper Street

After a traditional confetti thrown on the steps in front of the town hall the wedding party walked along Upper Street a nice winding route to The Albion. I used this time to photograph the couple in various spots along the way including Hoxley & Porter.

Couple kiss in corridor at their Islington Town Hall wedding

Islington has a lot of memories for me as I lived there for many years, ran a business on Essex Road, and two of my children were born there. Almost every street has a story attached, but I enjoy creating new moments and memories for brides and grooms in a photographic sense, and that also means I see familiar places a fresh each time.

Couple hold lamp post after Islington Town Hall Wedding image

The Albion itself is a great Georgian pub, in fact I like it so much that when I’m in the area I try and pop in. It has a fantastic walled beer garden at the back which is great for both eating and drinking, and I feel like I’m somewhere in southern Italy sat out there at times.

Islington wedding couple outside Hoxley & Porter Upper Street

Carmen and Andy had booked out the beautiful private dining room upstairs for lunch. Food and service was excellent of course, and I documented their speeches and cake cutting before waving them au revoir.

Wedding couple kiss in garden of Albion Pub Islington

Weddng couple kiss outside The Albion pub IslingtonBy David Green

Wedding couple inside Islington Town Hall

Bride enters ceremony room at Islington Town Hall weddingOther recent Islington weddings can be seen here:

Another great Islington Town Hall Wedding, then on to Hoxley & Porter and The Albion

Islington Town Hall Wedding & Peasant Pub Clerkenwell Reception

Islington Metal Works wedding day starting at Hampstead St Stephen’s church

Islington Town Hall Wedding

Wedding cake upstairs at The Albion reception

Wedding couple by sign in The Albion pub Islington

Shoreditch wedding photographers photo

Shoreditch Wedding Photographers. Claire & Jamie’s big day in East London.

By London Wedding Photographer, Wedding VenuesOne Comment

Being a Shoreditch wedding photographer, or for any area in London as we are, it allows you to document not just a couples special moment, but the history and cultural backdrop of the places you are in. In London most areas are constantly changing, especially in the east of the city and every time we return to places like Shoreditch, Hoxton, Hackney and the like for a wedding day we see businesses have changed, street art has come and gone, and some brand new funky places are there now to explore.

Wedding at Shoreditch Studios East London

When we met with Claire and Jamie in January to speak about their September wedding in the city, we knew they were people who wanted to put their very individual stamp on their big day. For some brides and grooms planning their wedding they are happy to follow a traditional template  and time frame, for others everything from locations, events to service wordings are personalised. I only have to look at my parents wedding album to see how much things have changed!

Wedding ceremony at Shoreditch church London

Claire decided to get ready for the day at a friends flat near Old Street tube station, and then get a cab to meet her bridesmaids and close friends at a hotel near the church. The ceremony was to be at Shoreditch’s most iconic and landmark church St Leonard’s.

Just married at Shoreditch church image

St Leonard’s Church is a dominant sight right on Shoreditch High Street that has stood since the year 1740. It is famous from the children’s nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons with the quote: “When I grow rich, say the bells of Shoreditch.” The church was used in 2010 for the BBC comedy series Rev, and a fair few famous people are buried in its churchyard too.

Shoreditch wedding photographers photo full crop version

Claire and Jamie’s lovely service was peppered with some great readings from friends and family, and during the signing of the register the best man and friends sang beautifully and hauntingly for us all to enjoy. I love the fact that these guys strapped a GoPro camera to the service microphone stand for some unusual close up video images of the couple during the service.

wedding couple shot messing around Shoreditch studios

After some quick family photos in the grounds of St Leonards the wedding party walked on mass to nearby Shoreditch Studios for the wedding breakfast and reception. We took some time alone with the couple to take some shots on route to the venue. We had only fifteen minutes but that’s not a problem for David and Joanna, we are used to that!

Wedding couple in Hackney Street

We started with some traditional shots by the church (shown at the end of this post) just to tick the boxes for those that would expect some, and then moved on to a more quirky and reportage style, which is what the couple wished for and valued most.

Wedding reception at Shoreditch Studios

Shoreditch studio is an event space we were already familiar with, and it really is a blank canvas for couples that want to superimpose their characters and wedding vision on to it. It has two large areas and an outside space converted from railway arches.

Wedding couple in grounds os Shoreditch church

Here was the venue for wedding speeches, wining and dining and dancing a plenty. There’s a photo here for my own amusement as much as anything, of some of the wedding party’s reaction as I fell over some hidden furniture. I managed to take this shot just as I hit the floor. I was not injured thankfully!

group shot at Shoreditch studios venue

For some more tastes of a few of London’s East End weddings we have photographed recently, take a look at a couple of related posts here:  Aldgate Wedding Toynbee Hall in London’s East End  and Hackney and Hoxton wedding for Carly and Jim

By David Green

Blackheath & Canary Wharf London Wedding Photographers

By London Wedding Photographer, Wedding VenuesOne Comment

So what does a groom do while he waits for his bride to be at the church? Well if it’s a sunny day in August, and his church is All Saints in Blackheath, then he hangs around the ice cream van that has parked itself bang in front of the matrimonial church! We’ll give the Rossi ice cream dynasty points for entrepreneurship, actually we did have quite a bit of fun with those guys in the end, and a few of the wedding party were pretty grateful for a cold treat after the service.

Laughter at Canary Wharf London wedding

The lovely Julie and Sean (yes they are that likeable) wanted to get married at the church right by the bench in the park where they first got together as a couple. We’re assuming that was with a bit of kissing and canoodling. Very romantic idea though, and there’s a photo here towards the end of the post of the two as a newly married couple on the very same bench after the service at All Saints’ Blackheath.

First look between couple at All Saints Blackheath

After covering Julie’s preparations at her parents’ house nearby, we shot off to the church to capture Jamie’s meet and greet of all their many many friends and family – such a popular couple. The church itself dates from 1857 and is much loved by the locals and is a dominant part of the skyline of Blackheath.  A lovely service followed, with plenty of laughter and quite a few tears shed for good measure.

Wedding at the Parlour Bar London

All Saints Blackheath confetti shot

After a group photo of everyone on the steps, and a joyous confetti throw on the heath itself, it was everyone off to Canada Square in Canary Wharf. This was the final destination and the location of the reception venue The Parlour Bar. A great entertaining space in a chic industrial setting with super friendly and efficient staff – with a special mention of Ella as hostess for the evening.

Bride and Groom stood in Canary Wharf photo

The couple and guests were serenaded by an accordionist and live singer, and after a little while Julie and Sean went off with myself and Joanna around Canary Wharf for some couple photos, a very small selection shown here. In fact it’s always a compromise with what gets showcased in a blog post, because there are so many images with so much variety to choose from. Anyway we all had a good time.

wedding couple pose at Canada square Canary Wharf

Bride posing at Canary Wharf London wedding image

Great Parlour Bar food followed,  with speeches, cake cutting and a good live band to round off a fantastic day. Julie and Sean’s dancing was pretty good too!

wedding couple sat on bench Blackheath London

That’s all folks – from some people’s favourite London wedding photographers…

Blackheath wedding photographers image

Take a look at the many stories and images on our blog, and also our dedicated wedding galleries here: Wedding Galleries

The Parlour Bar London's Canary Wharf

By David Green

wedding_confetti_inside_London_Hotel

Grovefield House Wedding

By London Wedding Photographer, Wedding VenuesOne Comment

Windsor versus London

London wedding couple in a frame

So where were you on Valentine’s day, and how did you spend the time? Well Joanna and I spent this traditional twenty four hours devoted to lovebirds, photographing two incurable romantics tying the knot at their Grovefield House wedding. We knew three years ago looking at dates ahead in the diary, that Valentine’s Day falling on a Saturday would be one that would be busy for us. No time for an amour fuelled meal alone for David and Joanna…Good job we love what we do, and what a better way to fill this February the 14th than with a London wedding. We say London wedding but strictly speaking this was Windsor. Well if it is good enough for the queen then that does us just fine, and we did take in a scenic trip around that traditional test of a photographers patience and planning, the joyous M25.

first dance Grovefield House wedding

Yes it rained, but nothing could dampen the spirits at this fun filled day for Laura and Luke at Grovefield House. It did mean however we made a rather pretty mess in reception throwing confetti as the bride and groom came out of the main lift. I did feel a little guilty later when every time I passed through reception afterwards staff were still sweeping away bits of confetti. I couldn’t bring myself to confess it was the photographer’s idea, but I did apologise with a smile, however, staff were great and understanding throughout the big day. Grovefield House itself is Victorian in origin and is set in seven acres of land close to Burnham Beeches. It was once the country retreat of John Fuller of the brewing family fame. The hotel itself has forty bedrooms and of course is licenced for civil wedding ceremonies. They can cater for up to 180 guests, and if you take one of their packages you have your own dedicated wedding coordinator to work with. Take a look at their website here: Grovefield House website