DOCUMENTARY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

As a documentary wedding photographer, I’ve been fortunate to photograph weddings from St Katherine’s Dock in London’s heart to picture-perfect country estates in Surrey and even destinations weddings overseas. I love couples who incorporate their unique personalities into their wedding day, with an emphasis on the fun, and the people attending. I aim to capture all the moments between you as a couple, and the moments between the people who you love so much. Capturing not just how it looked, but how it felt.

Whether set in idyllic country or city locations, weddings are choc full of charming and quirky traditions. Here are some ideas for incorporating them into your day:

A white dress wedding: brides have worn white – or variations of – for almost 200 years. A white wedding gown has long been associated with the bride’s ‘purity’ but white gowns became fashionable for their links with wealth and ostentation – only the truly rich could afford to keep such a garment clean! The colour was further popularised by Queen Victoria who wore a white lace gown to wed Albert in 1840. A white weddings usually involve a short walk to the wedding location and, weather permitting, outdoor photography. To keep your dress pristine, invest in a bridal petticoat which will lift the hem slightly so it doesn’t catch. Also, if it’s rainy ask your bridesmaids to lift the back slightly until you’re safely indoors.

The ceremony: Weddings in the UK start with a ceremony at a church or other licensed wedding venue, such as a hotel, historic home, marquee, or garden. You must recite certain statutory vows during the ceremony which make the marriage legal. While it isn’t possible to change the official vows, you can personalise a church wedding with readings, poetry or by choosing to say a few special words to each other.

The wedding cake: The wedding cake was traditionally a good luck token and centuries ago, when sugar wasn’t available, was made of bread or pastry. A traditional wedding cake comprises several tiers of white frosted fruitcake. However, today’s wedding cakes come in all shapes and sizes, including cupcake towers or tiers of fancy cheese.  Although it’s down to personal preference, the wedding cake is usually cut in the time after the wedding meal and speeches and before the reception party gets underway.

The Reception: The Wedding Breakfast (or wedding meal) is typically followed the reception – a fun party which goes on to around midnight and sometimes later.

If you’re planning a white wedding, as a top London and Surrey wedding photographer I’d love to hear about your plans and how I can help you achieve timeless, natural wedding photos.

To check my availability or arrange to meet over a drink and cake, please contact me here.