At our first meeting when Vicki and James told us they were getting married in Smithfield we were excited for them and for us too, as it has been a favourite area for Joanna and myself to wander round and discover for years on a day off, usually ending with lunch at the Barbican. As a Smithfield wedding photographer, if you know the area, you will be aware of its rich and varied history, and not always a pleasant one at that!
Although this early afternoon wedding was full of love and laughter, the area used to be along with Tyburn (near Marble Arch) the main area for public executions in days gone by! Among many famous people William Wallace met his end here, dramatised of course by the film Braveheart. On to lighter matters, for Vicki and James their day began and finished at the Andaz Hotel by Liverpool Street Station. More of that another day another blog post…
Joanna took a Routemaster bus to Smithfield with the groom and all the guests, while I (David) stayed with Vicki and the bridesmaids for the final preparations and then caught a cab to the wedding venue. The ceremony itself was held in the incredible and atmospheric Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great, also known as Great St Barts. It is one of the oldest practicing churches in England and the setting for the fourth wedding in the Hugh Grant and co film “Four Weddings and a Funeral.”
After the service and some requested formal/informal family photos the guests re boarded the Routemaster bus back to the Andaz, while we went for a short walk about with the newlyweds. Of course Smithfield is best known for its market through the centuries, and the present building and starting point for us was the Sir Horace Jones designed buildings of 1868. The rest of our time was spent walking, talking, photographing and laughing through the surrounding streets before we all got a cab together back to Liverpool Street.
Take a look at our related post for Devonshire Terrace here: Devonshire Terrace Wedding Photographer as it’s only moments away from the Andaz at Liverpool Street. If you fancy having a wedding ceremony to remember then check out the official website for the Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great, i.e Great St Barts here: Great St Barts
By David Green
Just got htis email through from Vicki and James: “Hi David and Joanna, the photos look amazing. Brought back all the emotion of the day, it was such a perfect day for both of us. It’s going to be hard to pick our favourites for the album.”
