It always feels a great privilege to be a St Paul’s Cathedral wedding photographer. Although I’ve worked on many big days there, it always feels exciting and almost overwhelming. The architecture, the scale, and the majesty are almost unprecedented anywhere in the world. My attitude, of course, wherever the location is, is that I have to do this day and the couple justice. But when it’s a place as famous as this, in many ways I feel it even more keenly!
Wedding Prep at Leonardo’s
As is often the case, prep started nearby at the Leonardo Hotel. It’s a great venue itself, just round the corner, full of glass and steel, with spectacular views from its bars and cafe. It’s pretty nice too when your hotel room has a view of the St Paul’s Dome on top.
For A and A’s big day, coming over from Holland for the occasion. This is where it started for our bride. A’s dad was an OBE award winner, which entitles her and the family, should they so wish, to be married at St Paul’s in the OBE Chapel.
Photography and Video
This particular day I was also working with our preferred videographer, Rory. We divided our time between Leonardo Hotel’s preparations and the groom’s meet-and-greet outside St Paul’s. We certainly got our steps in for the day, jogging between the two!
One of the things I really love about working at St Paul’s as a wedding photographer are the journeys in for the bride. It means crossing a busy London street with your wedding party and usually this provokes cheering and applause from any passing visitors and people just going about their business. They know where you’re going. You know where you’re going and it does feel really special!
As a bride, walking into St Paul’s, guided by not just your photographer but the verger, passing under the dome and the incredible statues, windows, and architecture, can’t help but give you a sense of occasion and anticipation.
Wedding Ceremony
A and A had arranged the most amazing choral music for the processional, recessional, and at various parts of the ceremony. A very wise choice to have Rory capture that both sonically and visually too.
After the St Paul’s Cathedral wedding ceremony we had some brief family photos under the incredible world-famous dome. Then the whole wedding party went to the front of the cathedral, to the incredible steps, and had various group shots and a very dramatic bouquet toss.
First St Paul’s Wedding Reception
After this after this it was time for the first of two wedding receptions, starting in the Wren Suite within the cathedral for canapes and champagne. Then on to speeches and cake cutting. That was pretty funny and memorable, with the bride and groom using an absolutely massive sword to cut the cake.
The second reception was scheduled for the Leonardo Hotel across the road.
Couple Shoot
At this point Ana, Rory, and I went for our couple shoot. We used various parts of the front of St Paul’s Cathedral and then went to one of our favourite spots, St Dunstan in the East. St Dunstan’s is a fantastic ruined church. It is ruined because it was bombed in the Second World War and rather than demolish it, it was decided to turn it into a public space and park. From there we made our way slowly back to the Leonardo Hotel, stopping by traditional London red phone boxes and grabbing some walking shots as we went along. Oh yes and a little trip towards the Millennium Bridge for some back views of the cathedral.
Leonardo Hotel Reception
On to the second reception and it was time to capture more guest interaction (always very important) and also the first dance and father-daughter dance. Rory and I stayed long enough to make sure that we got some of the party atmosphere with general boogieing on down too.
On my way home I reflected again on what a privilege it was to be a St Paul’s Cathedral wedding photographer and I wondered how many people had done it as many times as myself. Thank you A & A for a truly fantastic day. I sent this lovely couple 12oo edited images of the day a few weeks later 🙂
By David Green
Here’s Rory’s Highlight Video. The couple also received: Full Ceremony, Full Speeches, Cake Cut, Bouquet Toss, First Dance, Father & Daughter Dance, and a bonus music slideshow video from David of all his edited images.
