Edwina and Roberts Summer wedding at St Josephs ware and Down Hall
Wedding Date – 6 August 2017.
Bride – Edwina Gambino.
Groom – Robert Edwards.
Brides parents – Elizabeth and Gaspari Gambino.
Grooms Parents – Sandra and Kevin Edwards.
Priest – Father John Gray.
Maid of Honour – Josephine Gambino.
Best Man – Ryan Wan.
Bridesmaids – Alice Andrews, Rachel Edwards, Rebecca Edwards and Claudia Straga.
Ushers – Michael Hunter, Nicosia Geraldi and Tom Fitzgerald.
Flower girl – Mila Smith.
Pageboys – Flinton Crawley, Leuan Crawley.
Choir – Woodford Singers.
Filmed by – Anthony at Spotlight Weddings
Edwina and Roberts Summer wedding at Down Hall. I first met Robert almost 15 years ago when he was working at a hotel called Ponsbourne Park. He was a bartender there and always used to give me drinks on the house .. a real top guy. Robert always said after working with me on over 200 weddings that I’d be the one to take his pics.. which is a real honour as i know he sees many photographers.. but he knows better than anyone what I can do.
I was at a wedding show at Broxbourne Civic Hall and Robert came in with his Fiancée Edwina.. they were laughing and joking with me and I could see that they were made for eachother. They booked me there and then and also Anthony from spotlight weddings to film it… Robert knows we work together and knows Ant well from weddings at Downhall where Robert was working.
6 weeks ago I met Robert and Edwina over at Downhall to do a lovely evening pre wedding shoot.. brilliant shoot and it went really well giving me an opportunity to see what these two were capable of.. and they didn’t disappoint.
Edwina and Roberts Summer wedding at Down Hall
The wedding day.
I arrived at Edwinas parents house in Broxbourne 2.5 hours before the wedding ceremony. The sun was shining and Edwina was outside in her dads garden room having her hair and make up done – she looked stunning. I mentioned to her dad Gus “what a lovely man” that his fig tree was very impressive (most Sicilian families have them – and me growing up in hoddesdon with some of my closest friends and family being Italian – I am somewhat of a professional when it comes to Olives and Figs). Well Gus disappeared and had cut his best 3 figs off the tree and him, Ant and myself eat them together (Fantastico).
Edwina then opened her gifts from Robert and one of them was a beautiful pair of Jimmy Choo shoes … she was a very happy bride. I did some pictures with everyone getting ready and then Gus saw his daughter in her wedding dress as she came down the stairs… this moment always blows me away it really does. He was a very proud dad. The cars were outside and needed to leave so I shot off to the church to see the Priest father John and get set up for the ceremony which was a full mass.
Robert arrived and was looking great.. he was wearing his present from Edwina which was a beautiful Tag watch. He had some pictures done with his best man and family and then went in to the church before the bride arrived.
Edwina then arrived in the old vintage car. I took some pictures with the bridesmaids at the entrance and then she prepared herself for her big entrance .. something little girls dream of all their lives and now it was her turn. So with her very proud dad on her arm she made her entrance in to the church and down the aisle. The guests were all looking and Robert had a tear in his eye .. she looked amazing.
The ceremony was great and father John Gray.. likes to engage with his congregation when he talks so you naturally you get drawn into what he’s saying. Father John and Robert had some great moments during the ceremony with Robert giving him some great banter.
After the ceremony – I arranged for all the guests to assemble in two lines from the church door right the way to the wedding car and the couple came out and ran through the middle with everyone throwing rice and confetti. They then got into a Bentley GTC and sped off to Downhall. I followed closely and rang Mark Greatbach toastmaster to tell him we was on our way.
I got set up and then the bride and groom arrived with the car tooting in true Italian style. We were now short of time as the ceremony was almost 30 mins longer than we thought so I took the couple off round the gardens of Downhall using the summer house, chess board and natural columns and arches of the mansion. I then got the wedding party together and I shot a picture of everyone.I shot the group pictures quickly and then we were called in for the meal… I knew I’d need to get some more pictures later and it worked out fine.
During the meal the guests were yelling “Bacio Bacio” (Kiss! Kiss! in Italian and clink their wine glasses until the newly weds would kiss often distracting them from the meal. Guests also yell “Evviva gli soposi” which means hooray for the newlyweds. .After the meal the speeches started and were all brilliant. Roberts was always going to be impressive after all he’s seen nearly as many wedding speeches as I have. We then all went outside whilst Lovelight the DJ set up the Dancefloor etc.
I took some lovely pics of Robert and Edwina out in the grounds with the Limoncello being bought out in chilled glass bottles and it was great because they’d had a few champagnes etc. The guests were all outside enjoying the warm evening sun and I took plenty of pics.
The room was now all set for the evenings party.. the guests were all invited in and Mark the toastmaster had a tunnel ready for the couple to walk through up to the starlit Dancefloor. Lovelight hammered the music out and the crowd went crazy as the newly weds came in and cut their wedding cake.
They then had their first dance which was stunning in the main ballroom at Downhall. Then the Italians descended on them with confetti cannons, streamers. Great part of the day and a massive Italian tradition.
I then got lots of great dancing shots with guests really going for it and Robert up on the stage dancing. I then took them out and finished the shoot with a great picture under the chandelier at Downhall (a photo that was very important to edwina).
Personal message to the bride and groom.
What a wedding and what a party. I knew it would be amazing and It was… what a day. Great family and great friends, I will never forget your wedding and the hospitality that was extended to me by yourselves and also your parents Edwina. John paul x
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Edwina and Roberts Summer wedding at Down Hall photographed and written © John Paul O’Donnell Photography.
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