On Saturday I joined Beccy & Rob to photograph their RAF wedding at The Honourable Artillery Company in London!
I hope you enjoy our the story of this special day!
I do enjoy a London wedding. The Big Smoke has such a distinctive look, so I like to make it a bit of a character in the story.
I joined Beccy & team bride in ‘The City’ – London’s business district; usually buzzing with workers midweek, but often strangely quiet on weekends!
The girls were getting ready at Apex London Wall boutique hotel.
Here’s our cheerful bride-to-be having a giggle with mum, shortly before receiving a well-wishing champagne gift from a pal…
Beccy’s silk & lace gown suited her down to the ground
I know Beccy from our time studying Psychology at The University of Nottingham (…what feels like an awful long time ago!). We were great pals and she’s one of the few from the course I’ve kept in touch with, so it was a pleasure to be asked along to join her ad Rob to photograph their big day.
Loving the Gypsophila bouquets! It’s also known as babies breath, and has a whimsical, unaffected and fun quality to it.
Shoe choice say a lot about a bride!
You can see why we kept in touch…
Facebook sarcasm that make amused Becs: “Pilot uniforms are the worst… totally sucks that I am off to a wedding full of dull-looking RAF men… Life is such a bore!”
Beautiful hair & makeup by Nicky Lissner
A little detail shot of the jewellery, perfume & parasol on Beccy’s furry shawl, in case it turned cold.
(In fact, while it was nicely mild for October, the forecast was pretty ominous – so there was a chance the parasol might be called on!)
Beccy told me that Rob had bought her this perfume as a wedding gift. He’d asked her if he could buy her a new perfume, and Beccy and he decided that a new scent would forever remind her of this day. A sweet idea eh?
Meanwhile, across London…
…over the Millennium footbridge…
…Clare headed to join Rob & his boys…
…for brunch at Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa Restaurant – overlooking St Paul’s Cathedrafl & specialising in ribs, steaks & burgers – even for breakfast.
Nom nom nom.
We’d joined Beccy & Rob in London for the pre-wed a month or so back and went out for dinner with them to a fun Swedish place and they’re as into dining out as we are!
The best man checked Beccy’s ring was on hand, then the chaps got stuck into the fizz…
…and the burgers!
Anywhere that garnishes their bloody mary with a rasher of bacon & a gherkin is good with me!
Afterwards, Clare took a few team shots in front of St Paul’s Cathedral. The dress uniforms always look amazing.
Then they took a slightly surreal bus ride down the Strand in full blues to the pub in the city of Westminster
The ceremony was taking place in the central church of the Royal Air Force, St Clement Danes, dating back to 1682 and designed by Sir Christopher Wren!
It’s the church featured in the nursery rhyme ‘Oranges and Lemons’ and the tune is indeed played by the bells of St Clements!
Inside, it’s full of brilliant RAF history & memorabilia, and the wide aisle features the crests of all the different RAF squadrons. I believe this 5th is Rob’s!
Meanwhile…
This is one of my fave images of the day, with Beccy taking a moment to check out her engagement ring on the other hand, clearing space for the wedding band.
One beautiful bride, ready to play!
Aww. I like this little moment with one proud father.
Beccy & Rob’s landlord had kindly offered to chauffeur them around London in his fancy Lexus
At the end of the Aisle waited a slightly nervous groom…
Beccy & Rob are both super musical; Beccy playing the cello brilliantly and Rob the trumpet in his military brass band, who accompanied the organ during the service.
It’s great that the vicar David let me stand quietly in the front corner of this grand church to see the ceremony from the front
Rob’s dad Charles, a military padre, was honoured to conduct his son’s marriage ceremony.
While the registers were signed, a groups of Beccy’s musical pals filled the church with some beautiful harmonies.
This is the 2nd military wedding I’ve photographed this year, and I love the traditions involved. Particularly the guard of honour!
Knowing Rob’s not majorly into his PDA‘s, his boys wouldn’t let them out out until they’ve done a spot of public smooching!
Without a great deal of confetti left over after the guard of honour, the gang still made a little confetti shot happen!
It was great that the weather had cleared for a few quick family groups
If you ask me, all weddings should have a sword party.
Then, played off to an impromptu brass rendition of ‘The Great Escape’, Beccy & Rob headed off into London to the afternoon reception…
…hosted at the Honourable Artillery Company Head Quarters! It’s quite unlike any other London City venue; a magnificent Georgian house set in a five acre garden, hidden away in a quiet location just a couple of minutes walk from Moorgate.
The Honourable Artillery Company are the oldest regiment in the British Army and still maintain an active regiment as a core part of today’s Territorial Army.
The 5 acres of garden are often used for rugby through the season, and is apparently the most expensive sports grounds by land value in the UK!
As guests arrived, the newlyweds and I did a quick round of portraits around the grounds
It would be wrong not to have had a bit of fun with the sword…
This is my fave portrait of the day.
A month back I’d met these guys for lunch & a few drinks in Borough Market, and we’d taken a lovely stroll around Bankside to shoot some practice portraits.
They really helped in getting these guys used to the PDA’s required (!) for these lovely portraits. (You can check out the pre-wedding shoot on the blog here)
Afterwards, they got involved in the mingles and joined their guests for drinks and canapés
Knowing Beccy, it was all the more amusing to see this montage of embarrassing teenage photos!
Upstairs, the Long Room was all dressed for the wedding breakfast meal
We sat down (on the Nottingham table!) and joined the guests for what was a delicious meal indeed! It was great to catch up with a few old Psychology coursemates.
Speeches after dinner were great fun.
Always fun hearing the groom being publicly shamed by his superior officer! 😉
After dinner the cake (impressively made by a pal who’d apparently never made a wedding cake before!!) was officially cut with the sword!
Then the evening’s entertainers, JazzBomb, fired up the party, and we downed camera’s and enjoyed a celebratory drink with the revellers.
It was so lovely to see a dear pal getting married and having the time of her life!
Thank you guys for asking us along to photograph your big day, and here’s hoping you have a marvellous life together at man & wife!
x Barnaby & Clare x