After the ceremony itself, the registrars suggested that Anton bring his bride over to the table where they would sign the register – a suggestion he took literally.

Maria, Anton and their guests went a few minutes down the road to Orrery, also in Marylebone for lunch and we took some time out for portraits.

Maria and Anton’s friends had baked a beautiful loaf for them to have with salt and vodka to start their married life.

Vicki and her father arrive at Westminster Register Office.

Once Vicki had gone through checks with the registrars, Dave was waiting.

Luckily, when Dave was getting ready, he put two hankies in his pockets.

When we arrived at the Paddington Novotel, Vicki’s niece took her job as flowergirl to include helping Vicki with her veil during the drinks reception.

After Vicki and Dave had spent some time with their guests, we went outside for some portraits.  It was a tad windy.

We came back inside the hotel and I stole Vicki away for a portrait with this hot pink paintwork.

Dave’s son Jack was very popular with some of his new and younger relatives.  This little girl kept following him around the hotel, imitating his every move.

The bus then took us all to The Guildford, a Greenwich brasserie close to Raelene and Kevin’s (and my) home. After canapes and Pimms in the sunshine, I took Raelene in the street just outside The Guildford for some portraits. Kevin joined us for a few more before it was time for them to sit down for dinner.

I met them at the Landmark Hotel, where they were getting ready. Charlotte wore a stylish black and white dress and jacket.

Christopher looked smart as he distributed champagne to family and friends.

Buttonholes were handed out, which matched Charlotte’s bouquet.



And then some family portraits … starting with Christopher and his mum Johanna.

Christopher and his dad Brian.

And then Charlotte and her mother Kay, who had a major hand in organising the day.

We crossed the road to Marylebone Old Town Hall for their ceremony, complete with dots of light snow. Charlotte and Christopher welcomed their guests at the door of the register office. While Charlotte found part of the ceremony hilarious – which hand does the ring go on again? – Kay and Johanna were a tad emotional.



After the ceremony, guests piled onto a Routemaster bus with Andrew, a guide, who gave passengers a hugely detailed history of the journey we took from Baker Street to the Prospect of Whitby, in Wapping. Apparently London has four Cathedrals, of which St Paul’s is one, and the Tower of London now has 23 towers.

When we arrived at the Prospect, it was very familiar territory, as I used to live about 100 metres from the pub – and seemingly nothing has changed. We took advantage of a lit sculpture outside the nearby Wapping Project for a portrait of Charlotte & Christopher before they went into the warm. Andrew the guide, meanwhile visited WP, a former hydraulic pumping station, which he thinks used to provide power for such things as lifting curtins in the West End theatres.


Charlotte & Christopher overlooking the Thames, with a fog-covered Canary Wharf in the background. Just off the balcony is a hangman’s noose, referencing the Prospect’s quite bloodthirsty history.


After drinks, nibbles and lots of chatting, there were some speeches, before I finished, leaving the group to hop on the Routemaster again & head off for a three-course meal and the remainder of the evening.

One of the most wonderful things about photographing a wedding is the opportunity to capture the joining of two families and the generations and friends around them.






It’s great when, despite no shared language except smiles, this young woman understood where I wanted to shoot this portrait.

And some family portraits.