Title – Wedding Natalie and James at Westminster Boating Base
Date of Wedding – 17th June 2017
Ceremony – St John The Evangelist, Duncan Terrace, London
Reception – Westminster Boating Base, Pimlico, London
Bride – Natalie Fabien
Brides Mum – Pam
Groom – James Stone
Grooms Mum – Janet
Best Man – Rick
Bridesmaids – Shellie and Dominique
Groomsmen – Adam & Noel
Wedding Natalie and James at Westminster Boating Base
I first met Natalie and James when I photographed her brother Jacques wedding three years ago and then another family wedding one year later. It is always nice when you get to know people and photograph their weddings from doing a good job and people recommending you. So naturally I was very happy and privileged when Natalie and James came over to see me to book me to photograph their big day.
The Wedding day.
This week has been absolutely fabulous weather and theres also a slight breeze too so I have been really looking forward to going into London to photograph this beautiful couple. I arrived at Natalies mums house in Islington ran in and got the parking permit. When I walked in all the ladies were congregating in the kitchen. Natalie was having her make up done, all the girls were relaxed ..but it was so hot and I knew that we would all be sweating later.
Natalie then got into her dress and looked amazing. I took a few pictures to capture the moment and then jumped in the car and made my way over to the Church in Islington. When I arrived I saw Jacques the brides brother that I know very well as I photographed his wedding to Shellie 3 years ago. I registered the car on the meter and then went in to the Church to see the Priest and get set up for the ceremony. It was then that James arrived with his best man and groomsmen. They walked up to the church and then made their way in for the ceremony.
Natalie then arrived with her mum in a lovely open top car and was looking beautiful and was now ready to make her way into the church with her mum who was giving her daughter away. The ceremony and sermon was very interesting and delivered by the Priest beautifully. The priest talked about the human heart and what the left side does and also the right side.. using this analogy towards our couple which was very clever. James and Natalie then exchanged the rings and were blessed by the priest. They were then proclaimed husband and wife and kissed in front of their congregation to which everyone cheered. The bride and groom then signed the register as thousands of people have done before them in this fantastic church and walked down the aisle into the sunshine. We then did some pictures at the front of the church before finishing with a shot of the whole wedding party on the steps.
Two Routemaster buses then took the wedding guests to the reception at Westminster Boating Base. I jumped in my car and took Shellie one of the bridesmaids, Jacque her husband and also a close family member… It was very hot so we dropped the roof down and made our way to the venue… the traffic was congested as it was the Queens Birthday. So we crossed over to the South side of the thames and then back over Vauxhall Bridge which is very close to the venue and saved us 30 minutes in queuing traffic.
When we got to the venue no one had arrived so I went in and had a good look round to work out where my shots were going to be taken. The bride and groom then arrived and I did some pics at the front of the venue with the car… the guests then arrived and I got some pics with the London Bus.
Shortly after everyone had now arrived and the bride and groom had their drinks reception . Battersea Power station was in the background – this really is a fabulous part of the river. Everyone then made their way in and sat down for the meal.
After the meal the speeches started and Jaques did the most beautiful speech to his sister, then followed Dominique who spoke beautifully and then the main man James the groom who did brilliantly and spoke about his beautiful wife and how proud they both are of their mums for bringing them both up and always doing their best for them. The best man then followed and delivered a fantastic speech to his best mate (James blowing off on the tube – this will never be forgotten) and was a great and funny moment with the guests all in fits of laughter…before getting serious and saying what a great best friend James is.
After the speeches everyone went into the room next door and the bride and groom cut their wedding cake before performing their first dance together which was brilliant as half way through they broke into a fun song and showed their dance moves off.
I got some great drunken dancing shots of all the guests before taking the couple out onto the veranda and getting a beautiful finishing picture across the Thames.
Here a few pictures from the Wedding Natalie and James at Westminster Boating Base that I have selected from the day. Enjoy!
IMPORTANT * These Images are low resolution. Anyone wishing to use them for social media purposes please make sure that the Logo is seen and that credit is given to John Paul O’Donnell Photography.
Personal message to Natalie and James. It was lovely seeing you both again after the last two weddings .. and this time it was your big day. The weather was perfect if anything it was too hot but you both did all your pictures despite the heat. Have a fantastic honeymoon and I look forward to seeing you both when you get back. JP
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