New York Times feature

I’m incredibly excited to share some amazing news: one of my recent weddings has been featured in The New York Times “Vows” column! You can read the article here – Finding Love in a Crowd of Strangers – Twice.

It’s a true honor to see my work showcased in such a prestigious publication, and I couldn’t be prouder to have captured the beautiful love story of J and L. Their wedding was a testament to love’s ability to find a way, even after years of serendipitous near-misses and second chances.

Gentle Couples Portrait of two brides in the gardens of The Clarendon Hotel in Blackheath. One is in a white mermaid dress with a faux fur coat leaning into the other bride standing in a pink suit.

Suppliers:

Venue – Clarendon Hotel

Styling – 4yaparty

Dress – Whistles

Shoes – Irregular Choice

Brogues – Hawes & Curtis

Cake – Rin Chau of Cakes by Rin

Flowers – Westmount Flowers

Makeup – Make Up by Shani

Pianist – Andrea Kmecova

Singer – Fil Straughan

Violinist – Eloise Prouse

DJ – DJ Kaspa

Capturing the Details: From Prep to Party 📸

My day with J and L began with pre-ceremony photos, capturing the excitement as they both got ready. First, I met with J, who was getting ready with her bridesmaids. The room was buzzing with emotion: excitement and trepidation, so I focused on capturing the interactions and details like embroidered dressing gowns, slippers, jewellery and, of course, the dress and the shoes. Unbeknowst to J, L was secretly getting ready in the next room!

LGBTQ+ Wedding Getting Ready at The Clarendon Hotel - Black Woman in Long White Wedding Dress sitting on the bed and hair and makeup person is styling short hair with pearls

With a gorgeous tailored pink suit L looked very dapper. Then we went up to L’s best friend and best person’s room where they together with the rest of the wedding party figured out how to pin the buttonholes and shared contactless embraces so as not to crumple the suit – good thinking! J wore a chic Whistles dress paired with bold Irregular Choice shoes (which photographed beautifully!), while L looked sharp in the suit altered by The Sewing Rooms and Hawes & Curtis brogues. Together, their looks felt timeless yet fun — exactly right for them.

The ceremony took place in the Meridian Suite at the Clarendon Hotel in London, a venue the couple chose for its personal significance. The Clarendon Hotel is such a gem for weddings — overlooking the open space of Blackheath with elegant interiors that feel both classic and relaxed. It was the perfect backdrop for this LGBTQ+ wedding in London, giving us plenty of space for natural, documentary-style photographs.

Styling was brought together by the brilliant Mercedes from 4yaparty who runs a sustainable eco-friendly business in Bexley and who I’ve had a fantastic experience with since we’ve met a few years back. Guests were greeted by close family members dressed in period costumes and handing out the order of the day. J’s brother walked her down the aisle while Eloise Prouse accompanied the procession on violin. It was a ceremony full of joy and happy tears. Fil Straughan, a prominent singer, performed while the couple signed their marriage certificate, and had an impromptu duet with J’s maid of honour. I made sure to capture that special moment, and we proceded to the garden for confetti shots and group photos, including a group photo with all 100+ guests.

A Feast for the Eyes and the Heart

After the ceremony, guests moved to the gardens for drinks and canapés. The couple and I took advantage of this time to capture some intimate portraits of them together before the wedding breakfast.

The reception was full of unforgettable moments. I was able to capture beautiful shots of the food and the pianist Andrea Kmecova who played during the meal. After dinner, there were heartfelt speeches, including probably the best speech I’ve ever heard at a wedding by best person Gina Yashere, a fantastic comedian! And throughout the reception came spontaneous singalong moments initiated by talented guests, I’ve never had anything like it and will forever cherish the memories. Then came the memorable cake-cutting moment with their stunning cake, designed by Rin Chau of Cakes by Rin, was a true work of art, topped with clay figurines of J and L in mini-versions of their outfits.

An Evening to Remember ✨

The evening party was full of fun and energy! Fin Straughan, the singer, interacted with the guests, and they had a unique casino-themed bar with tokens for drinks. The party was going strong from early on thanks to the amazing DJ Kaspa.

J & L’s first dance was an absolute showstopper—a choreographed dance to “You’re the One That I Want” from Grease. J and L even dressed up as Sandy and Danny for the performance. It was truly a night to remember.

It was an honor to be J and L’s London wedding photographer and capture their journey from “I do” to their first dance. Their wedding was a beautiful reflection of their unique love story, and I am so grateful to have been a part of it.

Why I Loved Photographing This LGBTQ+ Wedding

For me, photographing LGBTQ+ weddings is always about celebrating and fighting for love in every shape and form, because this fight is far from over, within the industry and the world. This day at the Clarendon Hotel was full of genuine emotion, laughter, and true connection — exactly what I love to capture as a London LGBTQ wedding photographer.

If you’re planning your inclusive wedding in London and looking for relaxed, natural wedding photography, I’d love to hear from you.

👉 Get in touch here

Finding a wedding photographer is crucial for capturing every moment of your special day, so take your time to choose the right one. Here’s a blog post to help guide you in this process : How to Find a Wedding Photographer.

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