In fact, it is quite possibly one of the most epic locations there is in the UK; quite simply stunning. If you can’t get a good photo here then you don’t deserve to be a photographer! Seriously – hang up your camera. Put it down. Give it up. It’s not worth it. So obviously I was a little apprehensive at the start of the day, faced by such a dramatic location – would I too be banished? Forced to hang up my camera and quit? Luckily, from the moment I met an incredibly chilled out Vi in her hotel room, I knew that I didn’t have to worry, and, well I’ll let you judge if I’m allowed to keep my job!

Vi and Alistair’s wedding would prove, like the location, to have a touch of Hollywood sparkle to it. Aside from the filmic backdrop, I know Vi through a set-dresser friend, Naomi, who once took my poodle to the set of “Kick Ass 2” and who was providing the decorations on the day, and of course Vi and Al’s relationship itself could have come right from the plot of a Hollywood romance. Vi, originally from Vietnam, finally marrying her sweetheart, Al, whom she had met through Cancer Research where they both work as scientists.

On the morning of the wedding I arrived to plenty of fun and excitement. Vi (seriously chilled out and happy to go with the flow) was happily preparing herself with her two bridesmaids, one of whom towered over me in her heels at 6ft 2” and the other who worked in events and knew how to handle everything! Plenty of champagne was drunk, some dropped and much hilarity was had attempting to steam one of the bridesmaid’s dresses in the shower at the last minute!

Thanks to the Naval College being open to the public until the late afternoon, Vi and Alistair’s wedding was scheduled for 4.30pm and the couple decided to make use of the time before by doing a first look at the College at around 2.30pm, hoping to grab some nice shots before the wedding began in earnest. Al was already at the venue with my second photographer Tom, and when I arrived with the girls it was wonderful to see the look on his face as Vi snuck up behind him and surprised him in her dress – I’m sure he would fervently deny it, but I’m certain there was a tear brewing in his eye!

The couple then had a lovely chance to chill out together as the guests arrived, the excitement building in a steady but confident manner as they both waited, side-by-side, for the appointed hour to arrive. Eventually it was time for the ceremony in the Painted Hall, quite possibly one of the most beautiful venues in the world, which has recently re-opened after extensive renovation work. Vi and Al read their own vows, rings were exchanged and the sun even managed to break out as we left the hall for a few minutes outside. There were a lot of children among the wedding guests and the extensive lawns and dash of sunshine proved too much of a temptation as they tore around, playing on the grass and wreaking havoc before dinner.

Dinner was filled with beautiful speeches and the whole venue was decorated in gorgeous flowers, put together by Naomi, the set-dresser. She had had everyone collecting glass bottles and scrubbing them clean for months before the big day in order to fill them with flowers, and serious competition had emerged in order to establish who had the best method of removing the sticky labels!

Vi and Alistair are about to embark on the first stage of their honeymoon, a “mini-moon” around Europe, before the couple take a larger “maxi-moon” travelling through South America later in the year – I wish them all the best and lots and lots of love!

Dress: Justin Alexander Make-up: James Adisai Flowers: Naomi Moore Band: Plush Monkey Wedding Stationary and Art: Hannah Cornock Venue: Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich Second Photographers: Tom Archer and Katerina Nikitina

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More adventures soon,
Alex

This was another shoot with an international theme, as Svetlana is originally from Russia (her brilliant blue eyes giving that away instantly) and Andrew is Australian, fulfilling the stereotype by being distinctly displeased at the fact that one pub we took respite in had no ale to offer! Andrew is also something of a photography enthusiast, allowing for plenty of geeky tech conversations over the course of the afternoon!

Typically the sky started to cloud over the moment that our shoot was scheduled to start, the sun having stayed out just long enough to bathe the last few runners completing the marathon course. The streets of Greenwich were as beautiful as ever, however, and we spent quite a while just basking in the fantastic architecture available to us – getting some lovely shots around the steps and pillars of the Renaissance buildings in the Old Royal Naval College, and making the most of the epic backdrop that is the Cutty Sark. We even popped into Greenwich market as it was closing to try our hand at some magic tricks and snatch a few shots in the doorway of one of the little shops.

A few coffee/pint breaks to refuel and save the feet of the Bride-to-be, allowed for some more intimate shots of the couple simply enjoying each other’s company, and as dusk descended we headed to Chelsea in search of a beautiful backdrop to play with…

We found it in the form of the fantastically lit Albert Bridge, which, with its fairy-light-like illuminations and merry-go-round-esque colour scheme, made a great place to end the day.

Hope you like them guys and can’t wait for your wedding next month!

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More adventures soon,
Alex

Anyway thanks for coming along guys can’t wait for your weddings (yes plural) next month!

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More adventures soon,
Alex

I first met Nuwan about eight years ago in the Cambridge University Officers Training Corps (CUOTC). It was a fun time, it was an interesting time, and we both went through an awful lot of highs and lows together. So it was particularly special to be at the wedding of such a friend. The wedding itself was also pretty special because it was such an international affair. Adela’s parents are actually missionaries now living in San Francisco, but Adela was brought up mainly in the Congo. Nuwan, on the other hand, has Sri Lankan parents, whose house I was actually lucky enough to visit after Laura and Ken’s wedding back in January. (But that’s another story – involving a dark night, some seriously good food, and a dog!) Needless to say though the hospitality and friendship I received there provided a hint of the warmth and welcome that I would feel being present at their wedding.

Adela and Nuwan actually met through mutual church friends and, after bumping into each other a few times at social events, cemented their relationship with Adela volunteering to join Nuwan for an early morning run. Not your usual first date but hey!

The day started at the Country Ways Holiday Cottages where they were, rather unusually, both getting ready in cottages with an adjoining wall. With the sun shining the countryside all around us was looking damned gorgeous, and it was great to be greeted by Adela’s parents and almost immediately be on first name terms with everyone.

Adela spent plenty of time enjoying the preparations and a few glasses of champagne, while her bridesmaids pondered over what to write as a special message to the Bride, with each of them leaving her a few words on the bottom of her shoes. Over in the other cottage, the men were also enjoying the preparations, despite having to dress twice – the second time after they realised that they had all forgotten to shave! And there was just time for a few quick photos in the sunshine before they headed on to the church.

Finally Adela came to put on her beautiful, and heavily anticipated, Vera Wang wedding dress, (which had had to be carefully carried through customs by a distant relative after the dress had shipped to her parent’s house in San Francisco!) and we made our way, in convoy, to church.

Both the church and the town hall for their reception had been lovingly decked out with flowers by Adela’s bridesmaids and the ceremony was long and lovely, filled with readings and kind words and with people popping up everywhere to contribute to the occasion. It was wonderful to see how much Adela and Nuwan, who had actually met through the church, enjoyed this part of their wedding.

After the ceremony it was time to grab a few group shots, with a last minute decision to scale the church bell tower to gain the prefect photograph resulting in some pretty precarious moments as I tried to juggle camera, phone and equipment – simultaneously checking out the state of the roof for the vicar who hadn’t dared clamber up there in years! There’s no end to the things I’ll do to get that perfect shot…

After a few more shots on a bridge, we arrived at the town hall, which along with the flowers, had been decked out in bunting made from maps of the world – continuing the international/travel theme. The evening ended with some fantastic speeches and an amazingly well choreographed first dance – Nuwan impressing us all with moves we never knew he had!

To continue the international flavour, Adela and Nuwan shall only be returning to the country for one day after their honeymoon in the Seychelles, as they shall be moving to Jordan to start a new life together – we wish them well!

…And here are the photographs – as always – let me know what you think!

Preparation Venue: Country Ways Holiday Cottages Ceremony Venue: St Michael’s Parish Church Reception Venue: Assembly Rooms, Town Hall, South Molton Dress: Vera Wang

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More adventures soon,
Alex

Wandering through the flurry of white flakes on my way to the Varsity Hotel where the Bride was getting ready, it was already clear that the Scandinavian-esque snow and ice were going to feature heavily in the images of the day. In the hotel the excitement and air of adventure was fuelled by the sight of the streets outside becoming more and more idyllic, as Hilde and her assortment of bridesmaids from all four corners of the globe (one of whom braved the weather to make an emergency umbrella-dash!) prepared themselves for the trip to Trinity.

At the College we just had time for a few quick photos in the snow, nipping in and out of the warm to brave the weather, while we waited for what turned out to be a rather fun ceremony, conducted by the Trinity chaplain Paul, and the traditional drinks and canapés. As well as some great shots of Hilde, Graham and their bridesmaids and groomsmen on the College steps, I couldn’t resist dragging the entire wedding outside to capture a big group shot of everyone in the snow, before the three-course dinner in Trinity’s beautiful Hall and some fantastic candlelit speeches.

Finally, the party moved to the Michaelhouse Café on Trinity Street, where the Bride and Groom took the occasional respite from the heat of the celebrations for a few more sneaky shots in the snow. King’s College Chapel made a particularly impressive backdrop for some dramatic images of the new husband and wife in the winter-y weather. The perfect end to this particular Cambridge fairy-tale!

Anyway, here are the photographs, as always – let me know what you think via the comments section!

Dress: The Tailor’s Cat Make-up: Lucy Ridley Bridal Preparation Venue: The Varsity Hotel and Spa Ceremony Venue: Trinity College, Cambridge Reception Venue: Michaelhouse Café

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More (slightly warmer) adventures soon,
Alex

So it came to be, on one very cold and wintery day, a couple very much in love began a mini adventure around London…

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More adventures soon,
Alex

Supported by her bridesmaids and ebullient man of honour, RJ, Brooke left the Andaz hotel in a classic London taxi (albeit a white one specially booked for the occasion!) for the ceremony at Old Marylebone Town Hall, which was full of tears of sniffles, mainly from Brooke who was adamant they were the result of a cold!

Running short on time before the reception thanks to a transport malfunction, we rushed off to Leadenhall Market, which proved to be a great backdrop for some cool shots with the wedding party, and then back to the Andaz where we took some more in an awesome old Masonic Temple discovered during renovation work at the hotel. (See the photos for some of the amazing architecture!) The venue’s huge spiral staircase also turned out to be a fun location for some shots of the newly weds.

After dinner and the speeches, which were entertainingly MC-d by one of the groomsmen, the long-awaited party finally began, with the guests making the most of the crazy Polaroid photo booth that Brooke and Kieran had planned to capture the evening. Although of course, in best style, my vintage 1960s Polaroid struggled to a brave end three-quarters of the way through the evening, meaning an unplanned return to the digital medium, but not before we had captured some cool action shots of friends and family enjoying the party!

The evening had some great, unexpected editions too in the form of hundreds of macaroons, all in crazy flavours, and an amazing wedding cake made of cheese – a first for me!

Anyway, enough from the photographer! Here are the photos and as always let me know what you think in the comments section!

Suit: Hugo Boss Dress: Vera Wang Shoes: Jimmy Choo Flowers: Marianne at Sweet Pea Floral Designs Wedding Cake: Leadenhall Market Macaroons: Ladurée Ceremony Venue: Old Marylebone Town Hall Reception Venue: 1901 Restaurant and Wine Bar at the Andaz Hotel

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More soon,
Alex

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More adventures soon,
Alex

I have to admit this is the first wedding where I started and ended the day in the pool. Laura even jumped in with her dress on. So much fun and we all needed to cool down after the mad rush in the midday sun.

Hit the link for more photos. Probably one of my favorite weddings ever inside!

Alex

Here’s a quick one from the day. Stay tuned, lots more to come soon!

EDIT: Lots more added hit the link to see more!

Alex