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London Mandarin Oriental wedding photographer

Chinese President follows in the footsteps of London Wedding Photographers – Big Day Weddings

By London Wedding Photographer, Wedding VenuesNo Comments

It has been very interesting for us both as we sit here editing our latest London wedding today, to watch the coverage in the background of Xi Jinping’s state visit to the capital. It feels almost like the Chinese president follows in the footsteps of London wedding photographers Big Day Weddings! Firstly he is staying at ther London Mandarin Oriental Hotel where very recently we photographed a lovely intimate wedding. That’s the featured image here on this post.  On that particular day staff showed us the “Royal” entrance at the back of the hotel where royalty and visiting dignatories could enter and exit. This was featured on BBC news coverage and included here are a couple of shots of that very entrance that Xi Jinping has been using. The only difference is that for these visits they construct a temporary overhead structure by the distinctive black gates. It was the Chinese who requested previously to move the nearby lamp post to the side, as it kept getting in the way on this drop off and in point! Also we see the red carpet at the Mandarin Oriental was rolled out,  photo included, from our wedding coverage, and apparently this is the same one used for all such high profile visits and weddings. So we treaded that carpet first before Mr Jinping. Read about it here: London Mandarin Oriental Wedding Photography

Newly weds walk through Hyde Park gates

laying the red carpet at Mandarin Oriental Hotel

Secondly a lot of the action is taking place at Horse Guards parade, which is a where we frequently photograph when wedding couples spend sone time alone with us for some extra memorable shots, away from the wedding party and reception. There’s an example image from Aishe and Habib’s lovely day below.

Love at horse guards parade photo

Finally we see that the Chinese president is also going to visit Imperial College London, and it was only days ago that we photographed Nicki and Stephen’s big day in Imperial’s premier event venue 58 Princes Gate, which you can read about on the blog here: London Kensington Wedding Photographers There’s a shot from the venue below as well. That’s one of the great perks of photographing central London weddings in that we get to work at tremendous venues, and also access areas not normally available to the general public.

Kensington wedding photographers

You can read and watch constantly updated coverage of the Chinese president’s state visit on the BBC News website linked here: BBC News coverage of Chinese President’s London state visit

By David Green

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Kensington wedding photographers

London Kensington Wedding Photographers at 58 Princes Gate

By London Wedding Photographer, Wedding VenuesNo Comments

wedding ceremony at Princes Gate Kensngton London photo

To say that Nicki and Stephen are energetic and busy people is an understatement. They contacted us as London Kensington wedding photographers to arrange an informal initial meeting, and suggested we get together after they had run the Regents Park Grand Prix 10k race.

Wedding couple toast on bench outside Victoria and Albert Museum

We rescheduled when we decided they both might be a bit too sweaty! Straight away we knew these guys would have a fun characterful and action packed wedding. Without giving too much away when Stephen saw a photo of Nicki dressed as Lara Croft and she saw an image of him skiing bare chested, they knew they just had to meet! Scouring the city for an intimate but classy London wedding venue they decided upon the very lovely 58 Princes Gate right in the heart of South Kensington, near the Science, Natural History and V&A Museums, and just round the corner from the Royal Albert Hall.

bride walks down aisle Kensington wedding

Such a great area, one that many parents like myself and Joanna know only too well from endless trips with the kids to the various iconic south Kensington emporiums of culture.

The day started with documenting Nicki’s getting ready preparations at 58 Princes Gate, while Stephen travelled energetically here and there and finally to the venue, with all the last minute details now taken care of.

wedding couple by Science museum south Kensington London image

This impressive venue the backdrop to their big day was once a private house, but is now a fantastic event venue owned by Imperial College London.

wedding couple pose on steps in London's Kensington

Nicki and her father climbed the classic stairway up to the ballroom where the wedding ceremony was to be held in front of close friends and family. An emotional and very loving ceremony was followed by drinks and nibbles for the guests. After a little while Nicki and Stephen snuck away with myself and Joanna, and took some time around the area to shoot a variety of couple shots. We know the locale of course, but we love to just see what a couple’s mood is, and also what takes our fancy on the day to determine our shots.

Kissing after wedding outside Kensington tube station

We could photograph a wedding here every single day of the week, but we know for sure that with this planned but free form approach that we take, every wedding shot would still remain fresh and unique no matter how many times we visited.

climbing Princes Gate stairs for London wedding ceremony image

London wedding photography featured here in this post shows the moment Nikki sees Stephen as she comes down the aisle at Princes Gate. The first kiss after the two are married in the ballroom. Toasting with champagne sat outside the Victoria and Albert Museum. Some randomly grand gates and steps we found, and a good old fashined romantic kiss outside South Kensington tube station frozen in time as people rushed around the couple oblivious. Oh yes and an impromptu stop at an ice cream van, Nikki waiting in her bridal prep room, and walking along a first floor corridor lit by a spotlight from my good self.

Kensington bride waits for groom to arrive

Great day, great couple, now either book us or tell your friends. The End.

London Kensington wedding collage

Actually there’s more, take a look at a similar sized venue post here, it’s also where Kate Middleton stayed before the Royal Wedding: Goring Hotel Wedding Photographers
And a small intimate wedding done recently around the corner in Knightsbridge here: London Mandarin Oriental Wedding Photography

Entrance at 58 Princes Gate Kensington photo

 

By David Green

Love3
wedding couple first dance confetti cannon photo

Our favourite London wedding suppliers of 2015 so far….

By London Wedding Photographer, Wedding VenuesNo Comments

It’s been a busy and great year so far, we’ve had the chance to work with so many fantastic couples and in so many great venues in and around London. We have photographed overseas for some destination weddings in Europe too, so it has been an action packed time all round!

This is the time of year now when many couples begin to look in earnest for their London and Home Counties wedding suppliers, and we thought we would give our experiences of some of the best people we have had the pleasure to work alongside in the past ten months or so.

We will keep it at two categories for this particular blog post, and those are videographers and cinematographers and wedding DJ’s. That sounds like three categories but its just that we never know what to call video people these days, filmmakers, yes that will do! Ok so DJ’s and filmmakers it is then.

We would say right from the start that ANY of these good folks would probably be a great fit for anyone’s wedding day. There are many fantastic suppliers out there, these guys just happen to be ones that we have worked with and found to be a “cut above.”

By the time bride and grooms to be meet with us, many have chosen their film makers and DJ’s, but a large amount have not. We would suggest meeting in person any London wedding supplier that you are potentially interested in to see if their personality suits you and your wedding day.

In no particular order then is one of two film makers we regularly recommend. This is John De Rienzo of De Rienzo Films.

John is a multi award winning film maker winning eight awards alone since 2007. He is one of the original wave of wedding cinematographers much copied by others newer to the genre. He invests heavily in new equipment and techniques and you can check out his website here: De Rienzo Films

Here’s a wedding we shot together recently: Landmark Hotel wedding photographer

Landmark Hotel wedding photographer

And here is a recent sample movie of his: De Rienzo Sample Film

Another film maker we were very impressed with is Martin Family of Special Occasion Video Productions, website: Special Occasion Videos  He’s a very busy  and popular man.

We worked together on this wedding at the London Gherkin and also The Dorchester Hotel: Gherkin Wedding Photographer

London Gherkin wedding kiss black and white image

Here is his film of that day: Gherkin Wedding Film

Ok now it is time for our wedding DJ recommendations, and once again it will be just a matter of taste as to which of these three would best suit a particular wedding day. All three are great “people” people. All three are well ahead of the crowd and have the best sound and lighting equipment out there. All have won awards, and all of them will make your day and evening memorable for all the right reasons! It may just be a matter of finding which one of them would be available on the date of your special day as they are all in great demand, and booking well ahead is advised.

Have a real dig around on their websites, meet them, and then get excited if you manage to be able to book one of them. Don’t even think about sticking an iPhone into a docking station for your wedding day, seriously it’s like ordering your wedding dress from a pound shop (no offence Pound Shop….) These guys are memory makers for your once and only big day.

So in no particular order, we have Terry Lewis, here’s his site: DJ Terry Lewis

Here’s a wedding we did with Terry: Bush Hill Park Wedding 

Mark Van Den Berg of Mighty Fine Entertainment. Website here: Mighty Fine Entertainment

Here’s a Camden wedding we did with Mark recently: Camden Wedding Photographers

Barney Grossman of Party Events Unlimited, website here: Party Events Unlimited

Here’s an Enfield wedding we did recently with Barney: Enfield Wedding at Royal Chace Hotel

So there we are, some of our very favourite London wedding suppliers of 2015. If your wedding is further afield that’s no problem, as all of these in demand people travel, some of them all over the world. Thumbs up for John, Martin, Terry, Mark and Barney we know they are going to have a great 2016!

By David Green

 

 

 

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Camden wedding couple in London graphic

Camden Town Hall Wedding, then Bounce near Hatton Garden, and reception by Camden Lock

By London Wedding Photographer, Wedding VenuesNo Comments

When we first met Danielle and Chris we knew their wedding would be especially fun and interesting. Both had great personalities, which their wedding would reflect, and they really wanted to make their special day memorable, not just for themselves but also their guests. We think they were first attracted to myself and Joanna for our sense of fun and originality in our wedding shots, which we would describe as a mixture of documentary, fashion inspired and quirky. It is no coincidence that the couples we photograph look relaxed and happy in their images, if they didn’t we would definately blame the photographer!

wedding celebrations at Camden Town Hall

I secretly gave Danielle ten extra brownie points for coming from Yorkshire (just kidding) and was immediately prepared to overlook the fact that Chris was a life long West Ham fan (once again only kidding, so are some of my friends, oh well…)

couple laughing in Hatton Garden marriage pose

They told us that on the day of their wedding they would have a secret magical mystery tour for their guests before the reception. This would lead them to the Bounce venue in Holborn which was apparently the birthplace of the game Ping Pong, also known of course as table tennis.

Groomsmen before wedding ceremony in Camden Town Hall

The day began with Joanna documenting Danielle’s preparations at the Holiday Inn in Camden Lock, which was also to be the venue for the wedding breakfast and reception in the evening. I meanwhile hung out in the pub with Chris and the boys at O’Neills across the road from Camden Town Hall, as they prepared for the big day ahead. Tough life. I say prepared, because this seemed to involve the consuming of various drinks and generally having a good time, so wise men indeed then!

Bride walking down the aisle Camden wedding ceremony

We love Camden Town Hall weddings as we used to live nearby and two of our children’s births are registered there. It’s also a pretty nice venue to get hitched in. Danielle arrived in a fantastic vintage American car, the kind I could image Elvis travelling around in no problem.

Hatton Garden safety deposit wedding job 1

After the ceremony and some group photos the newly weds exited the town hall to a sea of bubbles, three times no less, I think it was a West Ham thing, and it was a great moment.

wedding couple on steps of Bleeding Heart Yard

A London route master bus was on hand to take the wedding party to Holborn and Bounce the ping pong venue, for a couple of hours of competitive table sporting fun.

wedding reception shot outside Bounce venue London

After a while we snuck off with Danielle and Chris to shoot some photos around Holborn and the Hatton Garden jewellery quarter round the corner. We couldn’t resist some images in front of the now infamous Hatton Garden Safety Deposit company, and then headed to Bleeding Heart Yard which I knew from taking Joanna on our anniversary there for a very nice French meal. Bleeding Heart Yard has a rather gruesome history, so maybe it’s best if I don’t mention it, and if the reader is interested then google will reveal all.

newly weds in front of London roller doors Camden

posing against wall on London wedding day

On your wedding day walking around the streets of London shows that Londoners love a wedding couple with all the congratulations and quips they give. One of my favourite moments from this walkabout was when a local Jewish jeweller humorously tried to sell Chris another couple of wedding rings, candid photo and Danielle’s reaction attached.

wedding fun in Hatton Garden

From Bounce the home of ping pong, everyone was transported to the Holiday Inn at Camden lock for a drinks reception, and then the wedding breakfast. DJ and MC duties were handled by excellent host Mark from Mighty Fine Entertainment, who also provided the illuminated Love letters. Check them out here, they are worth it: Mighty Fine Entertainment

couple in doorway Hatton Garden

I went to the top of the Holiday Inn and leaned over the balcony for the whole wedding party shot you can see below as everyone made their way to Camden Lock bridge which was fun. There were also plenty of close up versions too.

whole wedding party shot on Camden Lock bridge

The wedding crowd were a great lot, a good combination of North meets South that we particularly enjoyed being around.

Bride by Love sign light at Camden wedding Holiday Inn

laughter in a London alleyway photo

All in all a great day, and we wish Danielle and Chris and their families all the very best for the future.

couple by graffiti in Camden on their wedding day image

Here is a related wedding post from a nearby district earlier in the year: Islington Town Hall Wedding and see also: The Hatton Garden Wedding Job

You can take a look at some extra shots featured in our new Gallery Three on the Big Day Weddings website: Wedding Galleries 3

By David Green

 

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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

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