Winter weddings aren’t as popular in this country as they are in others, but when there is a light dusting of frost (or even better snow) it creates such a mood. Jessica and Edward got such a frost for their church wedding in Surrey. When they woke up on the day, there was a thin blanket of frost coating everything, reflecting the light and creating a fairy-glow. It was quite magical. While the snow lay sleeping outside, inside Jessica and Edward were busy getting ready for their nuptials. We especially liked the instructions which Edward was trying to follow to fasten his tie! Inside, the church was warm, with flickering candles, and was buzzing with anticipation. When Jessica rode up in her beautiful classic car – it was the moment that everyone had been waiting for. The service was over before anyone knew it and soon they were back outside being showered in snow-like confetti.
Once at the reception, the room glittered like a snowflake. Candles flickered and their light was picked up and reflected by the silver ware, only to bounce off the lovely floral sprays. It was a very romantic setting. And when Jessica and Edward took to the floor for their first married dance – they were poetry in motion! Their elegant moves captivated their audience. We wish this beautiful couple all the very best.
Nirshanthan and Shiyamily chose the spectacular setting of one of Bedfordshire’s most beautiful locations, Woburn Abbey, for their Asian Civil Wedding. On a lovely July’s day, our crew could get out and film the scenic gardens of the Abbey, capturing all of the statuary and lovely foliage. The white Abbey stood out in great contrast to the freshly mowed green grass. As the guests arrived in their finest they lingered outside for photographs in the summer sun. Then our lovely bride and groom made a storybook entrance in a white open-top carriage! They filed into the Abbey’s interior, past priceless paintings and antiques, to take their place for their ceremony. After exchanging vows which they wrote themselves, our couple walked hand in hand back down the aisle as husband and wife.
They retreated outdoors where we delighted in filming Nirshanthan & Shiyamily against all the lovely vistas of Woburn Abbey. While the bride and groom were photographed, the wedding guests were enjoying a drink in the sun on the lawns. We circulated with our camera to get good footage of all the guests. Soon it was time to head into the dining room to enjoy a fantastic meal after which Nirshanthan and Shiyamily fed each other wedding cake. It was a very auspicious start to a long and happy marriage! Congratulations.
Derek and his mates started their wedding day off in a slightly unorthodox way – by going shooting. Perhaps is was the best way for him to deal with his nerves? Or maybe it was just an ideal way to take in some of the beautiful countryside at the Four Seasons Hampshire. Meanwhile Trudy’s preparations were a bit more traditional – she had the attention of makeup and hair artists making sure she looked her very best for her civil wedding. Bride and groom came together in front of their assembled guests and made some very heart-felt vows witnessed by their closest friends and family.
Afterwards there was a glass of champagne waiting for them and their guests in order to toast to their success. We all popped outside to get some photographs of the bride and groom plus the entire assembled wedding party (shot from above in order to fit them all in). Soon enough it was time to head inside for supper – with each table softly lit by a candle. The kitchen did an amazing job of getting all the food plated up and out on time and the reports from the guests were all quite glowing. The day ended with a dance floor of happy guests dancing to the music – led by the bride and groom themselves. We wish much joy and happiness to Derek and Trudy.
Chris and Cecilia planned a rather traditional Chinese Wedding for themselves which involved lots of really interesting rituals – like blindfolding the groom and feeding him crackers or passing a hard boiled egg from one mouth to the next. We can’t say we entirely understood it all, but it was really interesting and our camera operators worked their magic capturing it all on video. The initial preparations were at Selsdon Park Hotel in Surrey which provided a convenient gathering spot for the wedding party. This was followed by a time-honoured Chinese tea ceremony which was really beautiful.
Once completed, it was time to move on to Addington Palace for the civil wedding ceremony. Cecilia got changed into a stunning white strapless dress and was soon ready to walk down the aisle. Our couple exchanged rings, vows and kisses and before anyone knew it, they were man & wife! The weather was amenable to getting outside so we headed out to shoot photographs and video of the wedding party. They were naturals in front of the camera and it was a delight to capture it all. The time came for their Wedding Breakfast which was enjoyed all around by the guests. After dinner everyone went outside for something really special – they set hot-air balloons aloft into the night time sky! It was magical to watch them floating off across the horizon. Thank you Chris and Cecilia.
Winnie & Gee celebrated their civil wedding at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire on a fine recent June day. Earlier our videographers caught up with Winnie as she was preparing herself at a nearby hotel. Our videographers are always drawing upon techniques used in feature films and television in order to create interesting shots – it’s boring to just point the camera directly at someone and let it roll. There’s no artistry in that. So we experiment. Check out the shot at the very beginning of this clip where we shoot Winnie’s reflection in the mirror, the pull back and then the camera does a slow pan up her beautiful white dress. The thing is that it is exactly what your eye naturally does in a situation like this, so we use the video camera to recreate the movement of the eye. It all makes the final video feel a lot more natural.
The civil ceremony was lovely with Winnie making a spectacular entrance sweeping up the aisle. Check out the little tear which Gee wipes from his eye. It’s a fantastic moment. Once completed, the wedding party took themselves outside for photographs and to enjoy a glass of champagne in the sun. We were able to get lots of shots of the wedding party (and using some post-production tricks to convert some to b&w). Winnie & Gee executed a very polished first dance – something we really admire them for! Best wishes Winnie & Gee!
For their Japanese style civil wedding Yoshiko and Takashi had a wonderful mix of traditions from both the West and the East. The couple chose the things which meant the most to them from their own heritage and blended it with the things that appeal to them most about Western culture. Isn’t that how it should be? Everyone blending to create their own perfect wedding? When it comes to perfect, Hanbury Manor in Hertfordshire doesn’t disappoint. With ample space for proceedings the bride was able to prepare herself in peace while the guests arrive elsewhere. After exchanging rings and making vows to each other, the bride and groom practically danced down the aisle while their guests showered them with applause and praise. It was a happy moment for all.
Post-ceremony, the guest enjoyed a drink in the garden while the couple posed for some wedding photographs. Thankfully it was a beautiful September day with great light for outside filming/shooting. When the time came everyone headed in for the wedding supper to find delightfully decorated tables lying in wait for them. Yoshiko had a surprise in store. She arrived for the reception in a traditional Japanese wedding dress and her groom led a toast. Doesn’t she look beautiful? We were really happy to have shared in their special day and wish Yoshiko and Takashi much happiness.
Janice and Mark’s lovely church wedding took place at Farm Street Church in Central London. Earlier that day, in North London, Janice had an early start in her wedding preparations. Experienced make-up and hair assistants were there in the home to help her look her best to walk up the aisle. The service was lovely and with a large church our videographers are always able to move about and create some really beautiful shots – which is helped by the terrific lighting through the stained glass. After the ceremony, as everyone gathered outside, we managed to find a bit of a patch of lawn to do some photos/videoing of the wedding party. They were a really playful lot, which leant a nice easiness to the shooting.
Soon the party shifted to the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel where a glass of chilled champagne was awaiting each guest. As the guests paired off into small groupings in order to chat and get to know each other better, we had the opportunity to make our way around with the camera to get lots of footage of all the guests – that way we know we’ve got everyone on Janice and Mark’s wedding video. We hope that they love the end result and will have memories to treasure for years.
Yane was tucked away in the Chesterfield Hotel where she could have some space and quiet to prepare for her church wedding to Tim. With a little help from her friends, she was soon ready to go and posing for a few photographs in her stunning dress. As she was putting on her finishing touches, the guests were starting to arrive nearby in Hanover Square in the heart of London at St George’s Church where Tim was waiting to catch a glimpse of his bride. Yane arrived in a spectacular white Rolls Royce before being walked up the aisle. It’s a nice bit of editing there where the film changes from black & white to colour when they share their first married kiss – you can do amazing things in post-production. While the bride & groom had a vintage car to travel to the reception in, the remaining wedding party were ushered over in rickshaws – a nice eco-friendly touch.
Once they all safely arrived at Dartmouth House there was drink waiting to welcome them. The group posed for a bunch of wedding photos – the highlight of which had to be when all the blokes hoisted up Yane for a photo in their arms. Good thing they didn’t drop her. After dinner the dancing began. With a large contingent of Brazilians it wasn’t hard differentiating between the English and the Brazilians on the dance floor – they are a nation of people with rhythm and they didn’t disappoint. We wish a rosy future for this dancing couple.
Sarah & Richard chose to be married in London’s lovely borough of Mayfair with its stone buildings and historic squares which ooze history and class. Richard took advantage of Farm Street Church’s vicinity to several great pubs to sneak in a cheeky pint at the Punchbowl pub nearby. Talk about steadying your nerves! Farm Street Church has lovely architectural features including wonderful stained glass windows high above the altar – a romantic choice for a traditional church wedding. Although the bride arriving in a London cab wasn’t such a traditional choice; but was an inspired one. When the service concluded the church was an ideal backdrop for some group photographs. Before long it was time to board the red bus (or the white taxi cab) for the short ride to the National Liberal Club for the reception.
Within the ‘old-world’ confines of the National Liberal Club, we were able to make our way around filming all the guests while they enjoyed a glass of champagne. Sarah & Richard made a point of greeting all the guests as they made their way in for supper (with our camera on hand to film all the interactions). Later everyone was able to mix it up a bit on the dance floor, interacting with each other and enjoying celebrating the union of Sarah & Richard. Thank you to them for choosing to share their special day with us.
Sikh Weds. Jaspreet & Samantha were wed in a Sikh ceremony at the Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Nottingham where they were surrounded by their family and friends. Samantha was attired in a traditional Sikh wedding dress looking absolutely beautiful. Jaspreet (Skywalker) had lots of helping getting ready and was ready to commit himself to his princess/bride Samantha. The church leaders led them through the ceremony and pronounced their blessings on the couple all under the watchful eye of their family and their dearest friends. Our cameras operators had room to get about which allowed us to shoot some really great footage of the ceremony and get lots of close-ups of the guests.
The reception took place at Thoresby Hall Hotel where the grand, high-ceilinged rooms were appreciated by all. Drinks were lined up ready to greet the guests. With a change of outfit, Samantha and Jaspreet posed for photographs, taking advantage of the fine architecture of the building for backgrounds. The guests enjoyed a really nice meal – the food was beautifully plated and presented and was really enjoyed by the guests. As the sun set and darkness took over, the lighting in the hotel was especially romantic and was the right ambiance for the cutting of the wedding cake. Their first dance was to a spectacular waterfall of bubbles! Wishing much joy and happiness to these two.
