“A fantastic day which was captured so beautifully by Elliot. Beyond professional and brought out the best of a group of people who dislike having photos taken. Can’t recommend enough!”

– Bethany and Chris

Chris and Bethany chose the impressive Guildhall as their wedding venue. Recently famous for being a filming location on Bridgerton, the Guildhall sits in the heart of the city, next to the Cathedral and the Roman Baths.

Being at the beginning of May, it was the first hot day of the year – and it reminded me that I need to invest in a linen suit! It was soon time for the guests to take their seats. The ceremony was in the Alkmaar Room which has beautiful wooden interiors and large windows providing natural light. Bethany walked down the aisle with her Dad, and her nieces as flower girls.

After the ceremony, the guests went to wait outside, while we got a couple of photos on the marble steps inside the hall. The newlyweds then came outside for a confetti exit, right into the heart of the city! With the midday sun being quite harsh, I decided to do the group shots in the shade of the cathedral. The ancient stone and stained glass windows made for a beautiful backdrop. We were able to get a combination of formal group photos, and some more candid style ones. Chris and his brother spontaneously decided to give each of their parents a big squeeze resulting in a pair of lovely photos.

The group photos turned into a bit of a social gathering, which Chris and Bethany eventually managed to escape from so we could get some photos of just the two of them. We went to the nearby Parade Gardens, a private garden owned by the city, and free to enter if you just got married! Knowing that these newlyweds were not super comfortable in front of the camera, I suggested they have a walk around the gardens while getting some candid shots from afar. As their confidence grew, we then got some beautiful photos in a few different spots. This lovely couple found it easy to show each other affection, and I could see that despite being a little nervous at first, they were beginning to enjoy the photoshoot!

Later we all met at The Ivy for the reception. The timeless and fashionable decor was complemented by a lovely three-course meal and plentiful drinks from the well-stocked bar. Not wanting to put their family through the stress of speeches, they decided to tuck straight into the food, and I can’t argue with that!