When Jaimin and Rakhi decided to be married in a Hindu wedding ceremony, they cast about looking for a suitable venue. They settled on the Osterley Park Hotel in London (Middlesex) which was well suited to their requirements. We got some great behind-the-scenes footage of their preparations, like the groom dressing and receiving blessings from his family in the family home. When he was finally ready, he was ushered out into a waiting car to take him to the Osterley Park Hotel. Many of the guests were already there and they presented each other with ceremonial garlands.
The wedding hall was clad entirely in white which made for a very dramatic setting, especially against all the vivid colours worn by the guests. Our bride and groom were united and sat on ornate white thrones where the Hindu ceremony took place uniting them. One part involved them literally being ‘chained together.’ It was great to capture all of this on film so that Jaimin and Rakhi can relive it at some point in the future. Once they were married, the guests enjoyed a drink and a chance to mingle about and talk. Before long, it was time to have a dinner banquet with the hungry guests taking their place at large tables. Dinner was enjoyed by all and soon the dancing began…and went on for quite some time. Everyone was clearly enjoying themselves. Bravo to Jaimin and Rakhi!
While Sarah was getting pampered with beauty helpers at the Landmark Hotel, Martin was at a nearby sports bar playing a few rounds of pool! Each getting in the right frame of mind for their civil wedding. While Sarah had plenty of family around to support her, Martin had his stags (groomsmen) at his side to have a laugh with. Both seemed very relaxed and having a great time. The guests started to arrive to the Landmark Hotel, located in central London, which had been beautifully decorated for the event. With a piano player tinkling away, and lit candles about the space, the scene was set for a romantic wedding. Sarah made a dynamite entrance coming down the staircase in her strapless white dress and Martin was all smiles when she joined him in front of the assembled audience. After exchanging very personal vows, they were married as husband and wife. We took a few great photographs of the couple together after the ceremony. It wasn’t long before the corks were popping in the atrium and the celebratory champagne was flowing.
Guests boarded a Routemaster bus to make their way to the Natural History Museum for the wedding breakfast. Inside were dramatic lighting, decorations and skilled bartenders on hand to mix potent cocktails. To eat dinner amongst the amazing dinosaur skeletons was a first-time experience for most of the wedding party and one they will remember for a long time to come. We wish Sarah and Martin all the very best in married life together.
Kate & James held their church wedding at St Mary Magdalene Church in Richmond on the edge of London where we were lucky enough to be on hand to film the proceedings. The pretty stone church was a lovely setting for a December wedding, with guests lingering outside to chat despite the wind blowing gently. Once inside though the charm of the stained glass windows suitably set the scene. When the guests were all seated it was time for Kate to arrive – looking every inch the beautiful bride with her bridesmaids in tow. James was waiting to greet her kitted out in his kilt. They met at the altar and exchanged their wedding vows. Once they were pronounced husband and wife they clasped hands and walked out of the church looking pleased as punch!
They made their way to The Bingham but stopped for some pictures along the scenic riverside in Richmond. Their guests were meanwhile enjoying the heated patio where they had al fresco drinks and canapés. Soon Kate and James joined them and revelled in conversing with their guests. It was soon time to move inside to warm up and enjoy a lovely dinner. After eating, with darkness taking over, it was easy to get a disco vibe going on inside and once the dancing started, it went on well into the night. Best wishes to Kate & James and congratulations on a lovely wedding.
It is sometimes easy to think that ‘you’ve seen one wedding, you’ve seen them all.’ Many follow a traditional sequence of events – which can be wonderful and in many cases it is what the bride has dreamed of her whole life – but occasionally people are looking for something a little bit different. This is it. The Soprano Bella team of singing waiters had the audience in the palm of their hands at this recent wedding at the Four Seasons Hotel in Hampshire. The look on the audiences faces when ‘Maria’ burst into ‘I Feel Pretty’ was priceless! They did such a good job of setting up the gag. But in their hands, it is more than just a ‘gag’ because they are such great singers. It is rare to find such a flair for comedy coupled with such stellar voices.
Live event filming is one of our specialties and it always impresses us all the very talented people out there that we encounter as we go about filming weddings. When both of the singers came together to sing the famous duet from Lakmé (known widely as the British Airways song) they brought about a fitting end to their act. We hope to encounter Soprano Bella at a future event as they are wonderful!
Mark and Andrea celebrated their Greek church wedding at Christ the Saviour Greek Orthodox Church under the watchful eye of their nearest and dearest. As the guests wandered up the path to the pretty stone church, they lingered to enjoy the late Autumn sunshine peeking through the golden leaves. The small church was packed with well-wishers and all eyes turned to clock Andrea when she walked in wearing her veil and white dress. Mark met her at the altar where the Orthodox Priest undertook the Ritual of Marriage. After proclaiming them husband and wife, Mark and Andrea walked out of the church hand-in-hand into the sunshine and a shower of flower petals. They climbed into the vintage car ready for the short journey to Eltham Palace for the wedding reception.
Eltham Palace is a stunning South London venue and we were able to get some really good footage of the wedding guests mingling around in the Art Deco interiors enjoying a glass of celebratory champagne. With the dome skylight, the lighting was perfect for filming indoors. Mark and Andrea had a fiddler to escort them into the dining hall and soon the excellent food began to appear. After dining, Mark led Andrea on to the dance floor for a very romantic first dance together as husband and wife. Then the band started playing and everyone took to the dance floor. What a great evening! Best wishes to you both.
Jonathan and Caroline selected some wonderfully atmospheric locations in East London for their recent church wedding. The marriage service was held at Bethnal Green’s St John Church with the reception to follow at the wonderful Wilton’s Music Hall – one of the oldest surviving Victorian Music Halls. Jonathan was there at the church to greet the guests as they began to arrive and he took the time to have a word with each of the family and friends who made up the assembled wedding party. Caroline arrived to the church in a decorated taxi cab dressed in her beautiful white wedding dress. When they exchanged wedding vows and received the blessing of the priest their audience burst into very genuine applause while Jonathan and Caroline looked blissfully happy.
Exiting the church there was a decorated red Routemaster bus ready to transport the guests to the wedding reception. What a nice London touch. The already atmospheric Wilton’s Music Hall was made even more so by some really dramatic lighting. Guests enjoyed canapés and a drink while milling about visiting. The musicians kept the guests entertained while Caroline and Jonathan went outside for some great wedding photos in the moody evening light. The spectacular results speak for themselves. Jonathan took Caroline out on the dance floor and confidently led her around – complete with a well-executed dip from Caroline. We hope it is only the first of many nights of dancing for this fun couple.
St Nicholas Church in Hertfordshire was Katie & Nicholas’ choice for their church wedding – and it turned out to be an inspired choice. As all the guests filed in under the pretty stone arch, decorated with flowers, leading into the church where they took their place on the wooden pews. Our camera operator was able to circulate around during this time to capture lots of casual footage of the wedding guests. Soon a hush fell across the audience – Katie had arrived in her beautiful white dress with its long train (the footage is great of her getting helped out of the car without the train getting dirty!) and she made her way up the aisle to greet Nicholas at the altar.
The wedding reception was at Brocket Hall – a handsome and imposing red brick building. The guests congregated outside on the lawn to enjoy a glass of champagne and visit amongst themselves. We were again able to capture everyone at their ease. When it came time to dine, the guests moved into Brocket Hall where the interiors were even grander than the exterior. When it was time for their first dance, our camera caught Katie wiping a little tear off her cheek. We’re glad that the day lived up to her expectations. We wish Katie and Nicholas the very best.
Orchardleigh House in Somerset was the setting for Caroline & Carl’s civil wedding ceremony. The house was still set up for Christmas when it came to their wedding and the decorations added a really nice touch to an already charming home. Caroline was sequestered away in a bedroom to go about her beauty preparations while her bridesmaids enjoyed lounging about on the four-poster bed. It was a lovely place to be able to film in. Outside Carl and his groomsmen gathered to get some fantastic photographs in the crisp winter light. When the guests started to arrive they could enjoy the homely atmosphere inside with its lit fires and flickering candles. Caroline made a great entrance coming down the staircase ready to greet Carl for their wedding vows. A quick ‘I Do’ later and they were husband and wife.
The couple retreated outside for some fantastic wedding photographs which take full use of the statuary and greenery of Orchardleigh’s gardens. We even coaxed the entire wedding party outside to get a group shot on the stairs. With the photos complete, everyone moved inside for the wedding supper. The catering staff did a cracking job on dinner which was enjoyed by all. When the live band kicked off, Caroline and Carl took to the dance floor like a shot. We wish them both much joy and happiness.
Jason & Caroline’s London wedding took advantage of the richness and variety of Mayfair – Caroline and her bridesmaids were sequestered away in the St Georges Penthouse at the Westbury Hotel enjoying champagne and pampering in preparation while Jason and the wedding guests met for a quick pint at The Punchbowl Tavern. Each had their own preparation! Properly refreshed, they made their way to Farm Street Church for the church wedding ceremony. The church is gorgeous and the guests had a chance to admire its fine features as they took their place in the pews. The ceremony was lovely and we were able to shoot from a few vantage points in the church, including from above in the choir loft, so we had plenty of great footage to choose from when it came time to edit. When Jason and Caroline walked out of the church, their guests were equipped with bubble blowers to shower them in bubbles.
The wedding reception was at Il Bottaccio where the servers were ready and waiting with glasses of pink champagne already poured. Once the bride and groom were ready, and everyone was seated, then the waiters brought out the extraordinary food and the celebrating really began. Caroline and Jason took to the starlit floor and showed everyone just how a wedding dance should be done. Congratulations to you both.
The Amalfi Coast in Italy is spectacularly beautiful and was an inspired choice for Elena and John’s civil wedding which they held at the Villa Cimbrone in Ravello. Bloomsbury films was fortunate enough to be asked to accompany them to film the proceedings – and we’re never one to turn down a trip to visit Italy! In such a pretty spot we wasted no time at all in getting our cameras out to film some of the local sites in order to cut that footage into the final film for Elena & John.
Elena had a team of hair and make-up professionals to prepare her for her wedding – all she had to do was drink a glass of champagne and let them do their stuff. The finished results were beautiful. Meanwhile, hotel staff were busy polishing glasses and laying out tables and a team of musicians were leading guests through the town to the hotel for the ceremony. With the sunshine and the Italian hospitality, everything was clearly in place for a good day. With everyone enjoying the al fresco drinks we had time to move about with our camera to shoot all the wedding guests relaxed and enjoying la dolce vita.
The string quartet struck up a tune and Elena walked up the aisle ready to marry John. We were able to capture all of the wedding proceedings (and the guests’ reactions) so that John and Elena can relive these happy memories for years to come. Thank you for allowing us to share in your special day.
