At our first meeting, Abi and Nabil struck me as a very cool and easy going couple. We talked through their wedding plans, which would involve the ceremony in London at Chelsea Old Town Hall on one day, and then a party at a family home near Tunbridge Wells about a week after. They made it clear from the start that they loved my photography and would be happy for me to take the lead with regard to photos. I love this approach as I can then fully go with any inspiration I have, knowing that the couple trusts me and will give me the time to execute an idea. Abi and Nabil were true to this in London and at the party, and as a result I created some of the best photos I've ever taken and had a damn good time doing so.
After the ceremony, Abi and Nabil had allowed time for some portraits around London before a celebratory meal with their families. At first I thought about using major tourist locations for the portraits - the major landmarks of London. However, I swiftly realised we would be spending more time getting to these locations than being there for photos. I then thought about using Battersea park which is located just across the river from Chelsea, but it didn't seem right to use a park for a city wedding. I wanted to use the streets and architecture of this amazing city, and in my research I discovered there were a number of beautiful options within walking distance. I chose some based on the amazing colours of the houses and some due to the shape of the road & style of the buildings. It was great fun walking around the area with them & I was so pleased the locations I chose worked out as I'd hoped.
Here is a selection of images from the day along with some info from Abi & Nabil:
How did you meet, & how did you become engaged?
"We met at college in 2006 in history class. This was back in the days of MySpace and, despite having two classes in common, this was our main method of communication. We started dating in 2007. We got engaged after 10 years of dating when I (Abi) had given up on ever being asked. Nab took me to Lapland where we stayed in a log cabin in the middle of the woods. I thought that he might be getting rid of me in a place where no one could hear me scream. We went on a reindeer sleigh ride and saw the Northern Lights and he proposed when I (being the man in the relationship) was lighting a fire back in the cabin."
How long did you take to plan your wedding?
"Around 6/7 months."
What made you choose your wedding venues and how did you decorate them?
"We planned to have a civil ceremony at a registry office and then a party at my uncle’s. The Town Hall was chosen by Nab after a lengthy search (I suspect Patrick Vieira having had his wedding ceremony there was a factor). We discussed the party location at length and my uncle’s house was the only place we could think about holding it. I had spent a lot of my childhood there and my uncle has had many spectacularly successful parties there. We wanted it to be quite a personal place and couldn’t imagine anywhere else."
What inspired you to style your day the way you did?
"We were largely styled by the amazing vendors who supplied us. Neither of us are very creative and we didn’t have a particular theme in mind when we started."
How did you decide on your dress and accessories?
"I walked past a bridal shop on my way to the gym each morning. One of the dresses caught my eye and I made an appointment. I tried on a few dresses and the dress I went for was one I couldn’t imagine not wearing. The accessories were chosen to match the dress."
How did you decide on the outfits for the groom and groomsmen?
"Nab had come helped me pick my dress and chose his outfit based on the look."
Who gave you away / walked you down the aisle? And did you walk down the aisle to a particular song?
"We walked down the aisle together. "
The Suppliers:
- Bride’s gown (Designer and boutique). Julie Vino (designer), Blush and Ivory (Boutique)
- Jewellery (Designer & Boutique), YSL, Harrods
- Shoes, Jimmy Choo
- Perfume, Chanel
- Hair Stylist, April Taylor
- Make-up Artist, Chetna Vekaria
- Florist, Rowena Ray
- Rings, Made by a friend
- Venue, Chelsea Town Hall & Bartley Mill Oast
- Décor / Styling, Creative Catering
- Cake Maker, Little Boutique Bakery
- Caterer, Creative Catering
- Groom’ attire: Armani suit, Turnball & Asser shirt, Gucci shoes
- Wedding Planner, Mixture of Creative Catering and ourselves
- Entertainment, Marcel Mendez Music
- Photographer, Nick Parker, Parkershots
- Honeymoon, South Africa
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