In a year where I, David, have captured just under sixty weddings, my busiest ever year by the way, I’ve have absolutely loved being a Wotton House wedding photographer too. I did just the one wedding there in twelve months of great variety, but what a lovely day it was, with a really fantastic couple Katya and Matty. More of that later…

The other great side of doing a wedding at Wotton House is the really brilliant staff, from those that are there full time, to suppliers that come in for particular events i.e. toastmasters, videographers and of course photographers like me… 😉

HISTORY OF WOTTON HOUSE

Here’s a quick little bit of history of Wotton House, basically because I find that interesting, and I really like knowing the back story of the venues I work in. There has been a dwelling on the site since the 12th century, but the fabulous building we see today originates from 1704 and was built by Richard Grenville. For history nerds like myself you can read all about it on Wikipedia here: Wotton House – Wikipedia

From the moment I met Katya and Matty on Zoom I knew we were going to have a great day at Wotton, and we certainly did! Relaxed, fun loving, open minded and creative is just a few of the words I would use to describe this lovely couple.

On the day I arrived early, as I usually do, to look around and scout where the best light was for various parts of their photographic story. It doesn’t matter how often you shoot at a venue, it changes for what is possible depending on weather and direction of the light.

PREP ON THE DAY

Katya was getting ready in a lovely wood paneled space, while Matty got prepared with the boys in the bridal suite. This is a great time for shots but also to get a feel for the personalities and mood of the groomsmen and bridesmaids too. Katya had a bespoke handmade wedding dress by Worme (link here: Full Collection — WORME) and it was great that both the designers of the piece were there to assist as well. Super job too by Amanda White makeup during that prep @amandawhitemakeup

CEREMONY

The ceremony took place in The Old Library, a stunning vaulted space that really adds to the specialness of a Wotton House Wedding ceremony. After a heartfelt and humorous exchange of rings and vows the bride and groom left the room with their recessional to indoor confetti and applause.

RECEPTION

I was happy for them that the weather was rather glorious for the drinks reception in the Italian Gardens, and I took this time to do some quick couple portraits. Usually I try and average a time for this of about twenty minutes, with the couples agreement of course, because that gives them a chance to socialize themselves and also schedule and group shots they may have chosen. When I say quick, I mean working fast myself using all my fifteen plus years wedding photography experience and technique to get great shots and keep my couples relaxed, energized and happy. I never ask anyone to smile or do anything weird! We just naturally have a good time and that is always reflected in the end product. We didn’t visit the Grotto part of Wotton because the couple wanted to socialize during the reception too. Quite right!

A special mention here for Tim Lewis the Toastmaster who works regularly at Wotton House weddings, he’s a cut above the average and I can see why he is a busy man 🙂 @isleofwight_toastmaster

PARTY TIME!

Wedding breakfast, hilarious and heartfelt speeches and cutting of the cake all followed in what turned into an unforgettable evening.

Highlight for me was the couple’s first dance to John Travolta and Olivia Newton John’s song “Your the one that I want” from the iconic film ‘Grease.’ Great routine and moves from Katya and Matty really got the party stated in epic form.

I also managed to pull the couple away for five minutes for a couple of night shots outside and also Katya back into the Old Library where I used some creative triggered flash to get a few atmospheric shots, which once again took no longer than five minutes of so.

Once again a super day for all as a Wotton House Wedding Photographer!

GOOGLE REVIEW

I delivered over 1200 edited images to the couple, and here’s what they had to say in their Google review afterwards:

And here’s the text:

“HIRE THIS PHOTOGRAPHER FOR YOUR WEDDING!!! David was our wedding photographer and he was absolutely fabulous! Super professional, there was great communication leading up to the event and we felt so taken care of and reassured. David arrived early on the day to scout out the venue and capture all the decorations, and then when the wedding began he was so upbeat, he knew exactly how to make different groups of guests relax and smile/laugh for the photos and he seemed to somehow be everywhere all at once! We have been sent over a thousand stunning photos with each of our guests captured and it’s such an incredible gift! We are spoilt for choice! Seriously, I couldn’t recommend David enough as a wedding photographer. Look no further!”

LINKS

You can see lots of country estate and home counties weddings on our four galleries here:

Wedding Galleries One

Wedding Galleries 2

Wedding Galleries 3

Wedding Galleries 4

By David Green

We love a quirky wedding venue, almost as much as we enjoy a challenge. Especially a Clapton County Club Wedding in one of London’s great alternative and unique wedding spaces, and it perfectly complemented the vibe and values of brides D & M.

Clapton Country Club used to be a tram depot and all throughout its different spaces there’s was evidence of its former role. D & M told us they wanted photographers experienced with urban and quirky weddings and plenty of creativity when we originally spoke, and we were delighted to give them exactly what they wanted and then some 🙂 Not your home counties stately home big day for these two!

David had built a rapport with both through zoom and a very enjoyable engagement shoot in Shoreditch central London. Here’s a link to that shoot: Shoreditch Engagement Shoot, inner London photography

A new challenge for us as photographers was the fact that both brides were profoundly deaf, and so were ninety percent of the wedding guests plus the two videographers.

In truth, through communicating through a bit of universal sign language and skilled lip-reading on D & M’s behalf made everything a pleasure. In fact, I for one (David) hardly thought about it throughout the day, and it ultimately made no difference whatsoever, which is of course how it should be!

Our day started with both brides getting ready in a lovely hired Airbnb loft space five minutes away from the venue. Although they saw each one another on the morning, neither had seen the other in their respective wedding dresses, and it was a fantastic moment to document their first look and embrace in the loft.

A swift walk with cameras and equipment through the streets of Clapton lead us to the Country Club to get some establishing shots and into the wonderfully titled “Department of Life” which is used for wedding ceremonies. Full of urban chic and good looking well chosen tat 🙂

A great ceremony followed, with sign language interpreters so everyone totally understood, including D & M, what was being said by the registrars, interspersed with much love and laughter. A totally unique and moving half an hour or so.

When the big deed was finished and that magical first kiss as newly weds was done, we had a little time around the venue during the drinks reception to get some couple shots before some more structured pics of friends and family. Not forgetting of course an exuberant confetti throw in the road and yard space of the club. One thing to bear in mind if you are planning on booking this fantastic space, is that it is a working space with some other businesses around. That’s why we couldn’t get those cars out of some of our shots!

The Country Club’s largest internal area is called…wait for it…Clapton Country Club! In this chic industrial space D & M had their brilliant reception. It’s also used for ceremonies too if there’s more people than the Department of Life can hold, or the couple favour it. We’ve put some images of it shot from the balcony to give a sense of this excellent space.

Food, speeches, laughter and then a lovely first dance where D & M romantically signed the words to each other, set the tone for the rest of a fabulous evening. We particularly enjoyed their sparklers at dusk. But most of all we enjoyed working with a simply brilliant couple and lovely crowd of friends and family. It felt a privilege to be part of their very big day 🙂

Congratulations to the both of you, and thank you Clapton Country Club for your hospitality and professionalism throughout the day!!!

By David Green – The man, the myth, the legend. I just wrote that bit because I’m convinced everyone just looks at the pics rather than reads the words all the way to the end 😉

More posts about two brides? Here’s another, take a look:

Two fantastic brides marry at Essendon Country Park. Gay wedding photographers London since 2006 – London Wedding Photographer – Natural Wedding Photography (bigdayweddings.co.uk)

Another lovely Google review from an Essendon Country Club wedding day – London Wedding Photographer – Natural Wedding Photography (bigdayweddings.co.uk)

Chelsea Old Town Hall weddings have to one of our favourites in central London. Just as well as we have been there four times in the last five weeks alone! From ceremonies and wedding days of just four people, to forty five people, it’s been the usual blast on the famous Kings Road at this iconic venue for us.

For this particular day it was the meeting of two great cultures as well as their happy and exuberant families. A and D as we will call them were our fantastic bride and groom. A was of Persian descent and D’s heritage was Italian. David captured this wedding on his own, and as he has both Persian and Italian friends felt he had an extra insight into the dynamics involved.

We’ve also done quite a few full Persian and Italian weddings in their own rights so it was interesting to see this as a simple but lovely pure registry ceremony for a change, rather than the usual large and often lavish affairs these can often be.

Chelsea Old Town Hall is a very busy registry office, and most of it’s weddings are done in daylight. For this celebration it was wet, dark and windy. No problem though, over 14 years experience meant that absolutely non of that mattered, in fact in it’s own way it added to things.

David converted a lot of shots to black and white, though the couple got all the edited colour originals too, because he felt A and D had an almost 1960’s film star look so it seemed appropriate. In fact they were delighted with these and wrote him a glowing Google review afterwards.

After all, along with Old Marylebone Town Hall, Chelsea Old Town Hall is and has been thee glamour destination registry for countless film stars, musicians and public figures over the years. A quick look on Google will confirm that for you, and it’s an intersting read for wedding bores like ourselves!

After a laughter filled and pretty emotional ceremony, we all went out into the rain for that must have confetti shot on the steps of the town hall, before quickly going inside again! Although David was ready to do some couple shots with umbrellas in the rain, and a few sheltered places he knew, A and D decided they would like shots around the town hall instead. In the end we think a pretty good choice.

After that time for toasts, celebrations and reception eats at Diba further down the Kings Road.

Here’s a screenshot below of one of the reviews we received afterwards, this one posted straight on to Google:

Here is a link to a daytime Chelsea Old Town Hall wedding as well: Find a Chelsea Old Town Wedding Photographer today

Click the link for images AND the story of the day. Here’s some of those shots below:

Here is a link to another two wedding days at the town hall:

Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding with David

Wedding at Chelsea Old Town Hall with Laura and James

Although wedding season started in earnest in February for us, and before we head outwards to Islington for todays wedding, here’s a quick look towards what is coming from this years super couples.

As it says on our Wedding Galleries on the site here: Wedding Galleries  “From St Paul’s to San Tropez” we will be covering weddings at St Paul’s cathedral once again this year, and heading to sunny France for a few including another of our favourite “saints” St Tropez!

There’s also of course many Big Day’s starting in the capital’s iconic town hall’s of Islington, Marylebone and Chelsea and some beautiful churches too, followed by hotels, Victorian boozers and warehouse spaces for many fantastic planned receptions.

As usual we will doing a lovely selection of quirky venues, industrial chic, and manor houses and barns throughout the home counties, and some outdoor celebrations in the mix too.

Can’t wait! Some dates still free, so get in touch to find out which 🙂

David and Joanna