A LONDON CITY AND THAMES RIVER WEDDING
AFTER A BONKERS WEEK OF TRAVEL, SHOOTS AND WEDDINGS, THE BLOG IS BACK. AND SANDY & KATIE HAVE PROVIDED US WITH A BUMPER PACKED DAY OF INCREDIBLE LONDON SETTINGS TO POUR OUR EYES OVER! WITH EVERYTHING FROM GLINTING HIDDEN CHAPELS TO A BOAT ALONG THE THAMES, THIS WEDDING WAS QUITE A WHIRLWIND TO KEEP UP WITH. AND WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THESE GUYS AT SUNSET ON THE BOAT. BE SURE TO SCROLL THROUGH TO THE END, TO SEE THEM SAILING THROUGH THE LONDON SKYLINE...
Important Note- Should any suppliers wish to use or share these photos, please contact me directly at gemma@thewardettestudio.com. Any unauthorised commercial use of these images is in breach of copyright. Any personal use of these images must be fully credited to The Wardette Studio, with no cropping of logo.
The Fitzrovia Chapel, tucked away between some contemporary high rises, was quite the hidden gem. I had never heard of this place before, and when I visited for a recce, assumed I had the wrong address. Turning the corner into the square, you find an unassuming little red brick building, nestled under some trees. Once you open the door and walk in though,
YOUR BREATH IS QUITE LITERALLY, SNAPPED FROM YOUR MOUTH.
The vision that greets you is so unexpected. It is both grand in style and detail, but small and intimate in size. Little light gets in to this space, but the gold mosaics which swathe across the entire ceiling, glint and glisten where they can. Although this is not classed as a sacred space (once a hospital chapel to be used by those of all faiths), it has everything one could want from a place of reflection and ceremony.
Talk about venue goals. Although from a shooting perspective, one would love more light, you can't really argue with it's character and atmosphere.
IT'S LIKE YOU'VE WALKED INTO A MOVIE SET, AND YOU CAN'T BELIEVE ITS REAL.
My favourite moment in this venue, was when the stunning bride, Katie, walked up the aisle on her brother's arm.
SHOOTING ON MY LONG LENS, I COULD SEE HER HOLDING BACK THE TEARS.
Just a second before Sandy turned around, a tear escaped and once they made eye contact her face broke out into a huge smile and laugh.. Through laughter and tears, struggling to hold it together, she said "I made it". That moment, for me, encapsulated Sandy & Katie; heartfelt with tonnes of emotion, but always making each other laugh through. I was knelt on one knee trying to keep my lens steady, welling up.
Another favourite moment, was something I caught on the fly. Their Wedding breakfast and reception was held on the Silver Barracuda, which sailed up and down the Thames during sunset and into the night. As they crossed the walkway from the main road to the river, they stopped for a moment to talk;
THE LOW SUNLIGHT HANGING BEHIND THE LONDON SKYLINE, AND THE WIND PULLING AROUND THE HEM OF HER DRESS.
Here, the gorgeous colour of Katie's red hair seemed to shine, and as always, Sandy's whispers made them laugh.
London weddings are ace for so many reasons, but for me it's how every single one is different. With so much choice, couples can genuinely pick out their own style and have some flexibility in their schedule. It might be an exhausting day for those shooting, but my god do we love the visual treats we get given in return.
Thanks so much to Sandy and Katie for trusting me to capture such an incredible day. And also huge props to Delicate Motion for shooting video alongside me. Team work makes the dream work buddy :) I cannot wait to see the results!
GWx
