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Big Day Weddings

David and Joanna Green are Time Out recommended, award winning fulltime London wedding photographers. Mum and dad to four wonderful children and three family dogs. Lovers of all things photographic and wedding related. Covering Greater London and destination weddings in the UK and Europe.

wedding couple kiss in London Islington doorway

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

By London Wedding Photographer, Wedding Venues3 Comments

Sometimes but not always for a smaller and more intimate wedding just one of us will photograph the special day. Usually that’s myself, David, while Joanna has a day off! I really enjoyed working with and photographing the thirteen people involved in this great Islington Town Hall wedding.

Faded wedding photo at the entrance of Hoxley and Porter

Francesca and Stuart the bride and groom had communicated with me only via email, which happens occasionally, as we usually try and meet people face to face at some point before the big day. However it’s not always possible, and it’s certainly not a necessity.

Groomsmen chat on the steps of Islington town hall
Couple with balloons on Upper Street crossing at Islington Town Hall wedding

Photo of exchanging of wedding rings at Islington Town Hall

What that meant was the first photographs I would take would be the first time I had seen either of these good people. The minute I saw Stu walking towards the Town Hall with his groomsmen, with a broad grin on his face when I waved to him, I knew we would all get on well. It was the same feeling I had when I saw Francesca arrive in her London wedding taxi.

Bride and groom hold wedding balloons Londons Islington borough

Unusually for a wedding at Islington Town Hall we all had to access the building from an entrance on a side street. That day (it was a Tuesday) Kate Middleton the Princess of Cambridge was also visiting the building at the same time for a charity engagement. Although I tried to walk through the front entrance and question Kate on why she didn’t book us for the Royal wedding, security and MI5 agents were having non of it! We all imagined and hoped for a scenario where Kate would mistakenly walk through the wrong door into the wedding ceremony, then we could either politely chuck her out, or invite her for an impromptu snap with the couple.

Final kiss at Islington wedding ceremony

As this was a celebration for Francesca and Stu with closest friends and family, the wedding ceremony itself was held in the Lord Mayors Parlour, one of my favourite wood panelled rooms in Islington. It felt a privilege to document such a love filled and intimate ceremony. Afterwards everyone made sure the couple were absolutely showered in confetti, I know, I was picking it out of Stu’s hair hours later! By this time though, both Elvis and Kate Middleton had left the building…

image of wedding party throwing confetti atIslington Town Hall

We all walked together the short distance to their first reception venue the atmospheric Hoxley and Porter on Upper Street. Now as I remember this place used to be called the Grand Union Bar when I lived nearby, and with it’s bowed out front window it is a very recognisable part of Upper Street’s history.

Wedding_couple_holding_balloons_outside_Hoxley_and_Porter_in_Islington

It’s undergone a fantastic transformation for Hoxley and Porter into a kind of Orient Express look and ambience, very well done I must say, with fantastically friendly and attentive staff. While the wedding party enjoyed bubbly and nibbles I snuck away with Francesca and Stu for some couple shots around the immediate area of Upper Street.

Bride from Islington wedding at Hoxley and Porter

As you can see from some of these shots these guys really loved their balloons, which were also used to designate their special area in Hoxley and Porter. I risked life and limb, as I always do, to get a shot from the middle of the road of them crossing the street near the appropriately named Cross Street. I have quite a few plaster cast art pieces bought from a supplier who is sadly no longer there I noticed as I scanned around for familiar haunts. Not that I would go shopping in the middle of a wedding day!

Couple smile on stairs inside for Islington Town Hall wedding photographer

After Hoxley and Porter we all caught cabs to the nearby Albion on Thornhill Road, another gem in Islington from the Georgian era. As it was now dark the Albion was beautifully lit as a venue for their atmospheric second reception. The couple had their wedding cake on display and their evening wedding table ready for the feast and speeches to follow. All I saw was laughter, smiles, love and affection all day long from everyone there, and oh yes…balloons.

couple chat by tree and autumn leaves after their Islington wedding

I’ve put a couple of extra images at the end here for two reasons. The first, I love the fact in this particular image below that both bride and groom were both overcome with emotion at the same time, and they simultaneously reached for the hankies.

Bride and groom cry at Islington wedding ceremony

The second is for mirrorless camera lovers, as I decided to quickly experiment with a new toy the Fuji XT1 interchangeable lens camera. I put a prime lens on the 35mm 1.4 as this can literally see in the dark and gives a nice shallow depth of field at an aperture of 1.4. I brought two other main cameras – Canon’s, but it was nice to whip out the Fuji every now and then as it’s small, silent and therefore very discreet.

wedding couple hug and kiss at Islington town hall

newlyweds turn round for photo on Islington footpath

photo of Islington wedding bouquet on autumn leaves

Wedding lights and candles by mirror photo

You can read about another Islington wedding at the town hall just four days earlier here: Islington Town Hall Wedding Peasant Pub Clerkenwell Reception

And another from earlier in the year featured on our blog here: Islington Town Hall Wedding

To find out more about the Hoxley and Porter experience you can check out their website here: Hoxley & Porter

By David Green

 

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Photo of couple laughing at central London wedding

Islington Town Hall Wedding & Peasant Pub Clerkenwell Reception

By London Wedding Photographer, Wedding Venues3 Comments

We had got to know Nicky and Dan from our initial meeting of course, but also a little more in depth at a relaxed but fun engagement shoot in the Hertfordshire countryside at Trent Park. We knew how excited they were about their Islington Town Hall wedding and Peasant Pub Clerkenwell reception afterwards.

couple hold hands at Islington town hall

These two venues are incredibly popular at the moment. We ourselves as a combo have done them many times, but we are happy to report that no two wedding days have ever been the same, and all have been tremendously invigorating and action packed.

Wedding couple kiss in Islington town hall

This particular special day began with both myself and Joanna visiting Nicky as she got ready at The Hilton hotel by the Business Design Centre off Islington’s Upper Street. After a little while I tootled off to the Kings Head pub/theatre further down Upper Street to catch up with Dan and the boy’s and his family getting ready, in a traditional style that involved the consumption of various alcoholic beverages. It was interesting to recreate some posed shots for Dan and brother/best man Liam mirroring photographic moments from their childhood, hopefully the originals weren’t taken in a public house!

Another London confetti shot from Islington town hall

A sort walk later found everyone gathering at Islington Town Hall, with the wedding ceremony scheduled for the main council chamber inside, which is a rather grand and lovely place to marry.

wedding couple in love Clerkenwell London

Nicky arrived in a white ribbon decorated London black cab which I captured, while Joanna stayed inside the chamber documenting Dan’s interactions with friends and family. That’s the beauty of two wedding photographers.

photo taken in door way central London wedding day

After all the formalities, and some close family crying buckets, it was straight outside for the big confetti throw on the steps of the Town Hall. We always give couples the option of having the wedding party organise this themselves, or let myself and Joanna direct the proceedings. If it is the latter it will guarantee that iconic big confetti shot, and it’s also a good chance to entertain the crowd with some pre throwing banter to get them in the mood. Works every time!

Islington bride and groom by red London phone box

We kept one eye on the weather as showers seemed to be the order of the day, but I’m delighted to report these guys managed to squeeze all their significant moments in during the dry periods. A red London route master bus was waiting on hand to make two journeys to the perennially popular nearby reception venue of The Peasant Pub in Clerkenwell. Nick, Joel and the team were on hand and ever ready to make sure everyone was fed, watered and happy.

kissing near Peasant Pub London

While the wedding party enjoyed their complimentary drinks and nibbles at The Peasant, myself and Joanna went with the newlyweds around the surrounding streets for some fun and couple shots. We started in the rain and ended in the dry, photogenic umbrellas were on hand just in case, but we didn’t ultimately need them.

wedding reception at the Peasant pub Clerkenwell

After some socialising in the pub, everyone headed upstairs for the wedding breakfast and speeches. All went with a bang, before we rounded off the days coverage with cake cutting and some boogieing on down in the downstairs bar. A splendid day and evening in Islington and Clerkenwell was had by all.

Confetti thrown at Islington wedding

I put two confetti shots in here, because I have a confetti shot addiction….help me someone please.

kissing by the blue door Peasant pub Clerkenwell wedding shot

To read about some other Islington Town Hall weddings and receptions at The Peasant, take a look at these related post from earlier in the year:  Islington Town Hall Wedding and Peasant Pub weddings Clerkenwell

Here a review we received a short time later from Nicky and Dan on both Google Plus and Hitched:

“Thank you David and Joanna for our wonderful wedding photographs! We were drawn to the beautiful, quirky images on their website and are so pleased with our pictures, both from our engagement shoot and the wedding day itself. David and Joanna are both incredibly friendly and completely put us and our families at ease during the wedding day. They caught some lovely natural moments of our guests as well as some gorgeous posed portraits of us which is exactly what we were looking for. They delivered our photos to us really quickly after the wedding, the dvds were waiting on the doorstep when we returned from honeymoon, which was great. If you’re looking for a wedding photographer to capture your day, I would thoroughly recommend David and Joanna.”

another wedding pose from London couple image

By David Green

Couple pose head to head at Islington wedding

bride and groom laugh by Clerkenwell railings London

 

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wedding couple by chandelier Hendon Hall London

Hendon Hall Hotel Wedding North London

By Barnet Wedding Photographers, London Wedding Photographer, Wedding VenuesNo Comments

To photograph a Hendon Hall wedding is also a chance to immerse yourself in one of England’s greatest sporting achievements. By that I mean the World Cup win of 1966, led by Captain Bobby Moore and his team of now household names. It was the Hendon Hall hotel that Alf Ramsey and the England camp decided to use as a base to stay for the team, and also a training ground between matches. Conveniently placed it was just a short skip and a jump to the old twin towers of Wembley Stadium. That training ground is now tarmaced over as the car park that your wedding guests will leave their vehicles on to be a part of your big day! It’s a fantastic bit of history that acts as a nice backdrop to any wedding day celebrated at this popular venue.

Confetti shot at Hendon Hall London

Personally we have photographed at Hendon Hall many times. You have a choice of venues for your wedding ceremony from one of the Georgian rooms in the main house itself, to their dedicated function room the Pembroke Suite, adjoining the Hall for a larger gathering. There is also an extra bar attached to this where your guests can chat and drink between courses or when the room is being turned around. Of course in the main house there is a restauarant, bar, terrace and gardens for socialising and photography. Featured here on the blog post image is a shot from Laura and Colin’s special day at Hendon Hall, and this image is taken in the Georgian part of the hotel at the top of the main stairs using one of our specialist spotlights. The image above is one from their confetti shower on the back lawns of the house. I love this moment shown below in the Pembroke where Colin full of emotion on seeing Laura walk down the aisle, has a reassuring hand suddenly placed on his shoulder by his best man.

Wedding ceremony at Hendon Hall Hotel

Also featured is one of my favourite images from past weddings here in the Pembroke Suite, as the bride and groom made their grand entrance for the wedding breakfast dressed in a gangsta style throwing money around personalised with their faces on the dollar bills. I never dared ask the groom what he really did for a living!

Hendon Hall wedding photo

For convenience here’s some of the capacities of Hendon Hall Hotel for weddings: Pembroke Suite, Ceremony: 300 Dining: 180, Reception: 250. Hogarth,  Ceremony: 40 Dining: 40 Reception: 50. Sheridan,   Ceremony: 40 Dining: 30 Reception: 40.  Johnson, Ceremony: 25  Dining: 20 Reception: 20. As you can see a room and space pretty much for every size of occasion.

By David Green

 

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wedding couple celebrate in rain Leez Priory

Leez Priory Wedding Photographers. The French Connection.

By Barnet Wedding Photographers, London Wedding Photographer, Wedding VenuesNo Comments

The question is quite simply, who wouldn’t love a wedding at Leez Priory? It has everything, from a rich history, stellar good looks, and a proven track record as a very very popular venue.

wedding_disguises_at_Leez_Priory_essex

As previous Leez Priory wedding photographers we knew what we were talking about when we first met Marie and Xavier to hear about their plans for their special day. The difference with these lovebirds compared to previous couples we had photographed at this premier Essex venue, was  that they were both French, and basically everyone attending the wedding day would be French too. Sacré bleu!

Outside wedding at Leez Priory bride approaching photo

Not a problem as we regularly photograph weddings across the channel in France, and it was interesting to experience our Gallic neighbours and friends here in the UK. The whole idea was to have a very English celebration as a great experience for their friends and family.

confetti throw at Leez Priory wedding ceremony

aerial confetti shot taken at Leez Priory in Essex

Weather permitting the wedding ceremony would be outside in front of the Priory’s Great Tower followed by English high tea, croquet and other games.

London wedding photographers Big Day Weddings image

Well although the weather forecast threatened to put a damper on the days plans I’m happy to report apart from a couple of quick showers everything went ahead as planned. That’s also a point I always make to potential wedding couples, that it is not worth worrying about the weather as one, it probably won’t rain ALL day, and two, shots with umbrellas can look fantastic anyway.

wedding couple kiss under arch at Leez Priory

The day began with both Marie and Xavier getting ready separately at Leez Priory, and naturally we documented the fun and the frolics of that essential part of their story. Check out the shot later in the post of the boys multi tasking with their shirts and cuffs in one of the dedicated outbuildings. The weather was holding so the guests gathered outside in the shadow of the Great Tower for Marie’s grand entrance. And what an entrance is was, across the majestic lawns to her husband in waiting. We took some images of this and the ceremony and confetti from an upstairs bedroom window too, for a more birds eye view and memory of the day.

sunset wedding couple shot at Leez Priory

Interestingly the Great Tower and other areas at Leez were the first in England to be granted a civil licence, including underneath it’s arch, which is where Marie and Xavier chose to wed.

groomsmen get ready before the wedding

While the guests drank champagne and enjoyed their complimentary nibbles we went off with the couple for a while around the grounds. For our shots we had an interesting mix of weather in a short time. It rained, it stopped and then the sun came out too, which meant we could have even more variety to our shots. We love an umbrella wedding photo!

Bride gets ready at Leez Priory

Family and friends photos on the lawn followed along with some impromptu croquet playing. It felt all day long that we were a great fit for this particular English and French wedding day fusion. The couple’s friends and family were exuberant fun loving people, and it was great to see so much love and laughter on display.

The wedding breakfast was hosted in the Great Hall, with as usual fantastic fayre from the Leez Priory catering and events team. Special mention to these guys, as they really are very good at what they do and make the day run so smoothly, not just for the wedding party, but folks like us behind the scenes too. Thank you, it’s appreciated!

Wedding couple photo in the grounds of Leez Priory

After the customary speeches and toasts it was time to go downstairs for the cake cutting and then some serious dancing the night away.

Leez Priory itself was originally founded in 1220 as an Augustinian Priory, and lasted in that incarnation for a full three hundred years. Sir Richard Rich built his own magnificent house on the grounds as Earl of Warwick, and this became much of the Leez Priory we see and know today.

Leez as previously mentioned was the first venue of its kind to be granted a license for civil wedding ceremonies, and these can be under the Carriageway or Tower arch, and also the Great Hall and Coach House. Whichever one you choose you will be guaranteed a day to remember at one of the UK’s best traditional wedding venues.

To read about some of our other Leez Priory wedding days take a look at this related post: Leez Priory Wedding Photographers

Bonjour and au revoir.

By David Green

 

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Wedding recessional photo Offley Place

Offley Place wedding photography. It’s not London, it’s the Hertfordshire Bedfordshire border.

By Barnet Wedding Photographers, London Wedding Photographer, Wedding VenuesOne Comment

It’s good to get out of town, and there are some real gems in the countryside around London for celebrating your big day. Offley Place wedding photography is always a pleasure to do as the staff and venue are both top notch, and everything is geared to making the day fun and memorable. There is a fantastic large conservatory to hold a civil ceremony in, and we used a photo of this as our featured image on the blog post. The Offley Place wedding in Hertfordshire featured here was between Natalie and Paul, and it was a love filled day with every detail planned to perfection by Natalie. We’re sure Paul had a hand in something somewhere!

Groom and best man at London wedding photo

The day started with myself and Joanna documenting the couple’s preparations as both were getting ready at Offley Place. Joanna kept close but discreetly by Natalie, while I flitted between bride and groom Paul and his best man’s pre ceremony rituals.

wedding couple on bench at Offley Place Hertfordshire

I love seeing the different sides of the story of the day unfold this way, and the beauty of two photographers is being able to capture the moments that either bride or groom don’t get to witness at the time.

wedding ceremony at Offley Place

It is all about telling the story and telling it well. That to me is the greatest reason for investing in a really good photographer, and good investments always reap good returns to use financial speak.

couple kiss at the gates of Offley Place Hertfordshire

Light poured into the conservatory to illuminate Natalie and her fathers walk down the aisle, followed by a lovely heartfelt ceremony. After all the legal formalities were completed everybody gathered at the front entrance to Offley Place to throw confetti and petals as the couple walked between them.

wedding heart behind London bride

While guests enjoyed complimentary drinks and nibbles, myself and Joanna took some time around the grounds to take a mix of quirky, traditional and memorable moments with the couple. We had spoken at length before the big day about mood style and the type of shots that Paul and Natalie valued. Naturally we have our own ideas and creativity, but we always encourage couples to send us examples of shots and approaches they particularly like so that we can try and work those into the day too. After all we are in the service industry and it is the couples day first and foremost, not ours!

couple under veil Offley wedding

We made time for some more formal family and friends photos which fitted in nicely and right on schedule before the wedding breakfast began in the conservatory. We say wedding breakfast but it was more of an executive high tea which was all beautifully laid out and presented. The meal ended with the couple cutting their wedding cake.

wedding couple in London photograph

image of love sign at Offley Place

All in all a splendid day of Offley Place wedding photography.

Offley Place wedding photography

For more Hertfordshire themed photography take a look at this post on the blog: Fanhams Hall Wedding Photographers  

Or check out some more Hertfordshire and of course London wedding images here: Wedding Galleries   

By David Green

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