Joanna & Aaron’s December wedding was at the very beautiful Hampton Court House next to Bushy park. It’s been a few years since my last wedding at HCH and I’d forgotten just how lovely this part of London is. This is a real jewel of a venue and a perfect location for a winter wedding like this one.
Wedding photography started with Joanna getting ready at the couple’s home in Shepherds Bush across London, I always love photographing the start of the day as it is a great way to get to know the key people, plus it makes captures some very special moments like when the father of the bride sees his daughter in her wedding dress. I then drove across London and parked at HCH before walking along the Thames to St Mary’s church in Hampton, here I caught up with Aaron who was looking great in a midnight blue dinner jacket suit, much like the one worn by James Bond in Skyfall. There was a bit of a union Jack theme going on with socks and umbrellas, although Aaron is an Aussie. Aaron’s two brothers took on the roll of ushers and wore blue bow ties.
Joanna arrived in a 1936 Rolls Royce with her father, I always feel privileged to see this part of the day as the wedding guests don’t get to see the bride arriving.
After the ceremony there was a sparkler exit and guests boarded a Routemaster bus back to Hampton Court House for the wedding reception. By now it was getting dark, a couple of Stags put in an appearance outside in Bushy park. Guests seated for dinner giving Joanna and Aaron a few private moments together before their grand entrance.
Photography finished with the dancing.
If you’d like fantastic images like this from your wedding I’ll let you in on a little secret, the couple make the moments, I just capture them. Other than the group photographs and those outside with the umbrellas, I haven’t set anything up here or allowed the couple to become camera aware, instead they have enjoyed their day together and I have captured these precious moments for them. That is the essence of documentary wedding photography.
You can also see another Hampton Court House wedding by clicking here.