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Contemporary East-London Wedding

Meeting on Twitter, Chloe and Jack got engaged on Chloe’s birthday – Christmas Eve in 2020, with a picnic on Blackheath, due to lockdown. With sub-zero temperatures, it was still a perfect, if not chilly, proposal! The couple knew they wanted relaxed wedding photography for their contemporary East-London wedding, and as we had already met and they liked my style, we all knew it would make the photos more relaxed.

Modern and relaxed wedding couple on the steps at Sager and Wilde in East London

The Venues: Wedding Venues in Hackney 

With two venues for their contemporary East-London wedding, Chloe and Jack chose Clissold House for their ceremony, an 18th century mansion set in the green surrounds of Clissold Park in Stoke Newington, with a reception at Sager and Wilde, a modern restaurant and wine bar in the heart of East London, built into an old railway arch. They wanted a stylish wedding, with a focus on having fun. They told me, “Our main goal was for everyone to have a great time, feel relaxed and properly enjoy themselves. Food and drink was super important to us so we were keen to choose a restaurant that knew what they were doing and not rely on catering or creating our own bar. We also wanted a relaxed feel to dinner so went for long tables and sharing style.”

A rustic two-tier wedding cake sits on a marble table surrounded by autumanl-hued florals

The Styling: Contemporary meets Quintessentially London

Their Clissold House wedding offered a beautifully classic setting and looked stunning in the September sunshine. With a reception at Sager and Wilde offering a juxtaposition of rural and urban settings, the couple also provided an old double-decker bus to transport their guests between venues, offering a quintessentially London feel. Chloe told me, “We felt we got the best of both worlds, and this really came through in the photos. The flowers were a vibrant mix of oranges, pinks and greens that worked with both venues and tied in with the rust, sand and sage colour theme of our decor and stationery. Overall it felt contemporary, chic and fun.”

A pair of newlyweds raise their glasses in a toast at contemporary wedding venue Sager and Wilde in East London

The Goal: Relaxed Wedding Photography

Choosing poignant yet humorous readings, Chloe and Jack steered away from the traditional, with excerpts from a book and film they love – ‘Everything I Know About Love’ by Dolly Alderton and ‘When Harry Met Sally’ by Nora Ephron. Read by two of their best friends, the readings brought both laughter and tears to the couple’s Stoke Newington wedding. They also wanted a guest book to match their relaxed wedding photography style, choosing to provide a polaroid camera for guests to use throughout the evening. Chloe explained, “They took photos and signed them which was great fun to look through after. We’ve put these in an album and it feels more fun and personal than just a written note.” The London wedding ended with dancing and a good mixture of old and new music, with a strong theme of 00s indie and garage, which went down a treat!

 

A bride and groom after their wedding day in Hackney

Are you planning a relaxed London wedding? I’d love to photograph it for you! Get in touch to chat about my 2023 and 2024 availability.