“We approached Anna in the first place because five years earlier I had attended a friend's wedding and her images stuck in my mind. With our wedding Anna surpassed our expectations showing remarkable dedication to making our day a happy and smooth-running one and taking genuine and at the same time flattering and beautiful photographs. From our very first meeting we were in no doubt as to her professionalism and commitment. We absolutely love them.”

To enjoy a short photofilm of highlights from Jo & Arpi’s wedding day, sit back, turn up the sound and click on the arrow

Jo & Arpi’s London wedding - an Anglo-Hungarian union - took me to no less than 5 locations across the day starting with Arpi getting ready at their flat in Islington, to Joanna’s family home in Barnsbury, the church of St Mary’s with it’s high vault and steeple in Stoke Newington, a drinks reception at the elegant 18th Century Clissold House and dinner and dancing at hugely popular East London wedding venue, the West Reservoir Centre - originally a 1930s filter house with its open plan space where guests sit amongst the old hydraulic machinery and have a view and deck to look out across the water.

I started mid morning in Islington with Arpi and the boys where I found them struggling a little with their ties and hankies… I wasn’t sure if it was nerves or perfectionism but they got there in the end!

Then it was over to Joanna’s family home in Barnsbury to capture Dad getting a hair cut, her very attentive maids of honor and sisters, the bride getting into her dress and Dad seeing her for the first time all set and ready to go. Just time enough to do this before I headed out again into a busy North London Saturday to find Arpi and guests arriving at the church.

The ceremony was a photographer (and poetry and music) lover’s treat where traditional hymns and prayers were mixed with readings from Oscar Wilde, TS Elliot and that Beatles classic A Little Help From My Friends. Beautiful light, architecture and moments everywhere.
Joanna and Arpi emerged into the glorious weekend sunlight and their future together with a more than fine smattering of confetti followed by some swift family group photographs.

As the guests made their way the short distance across Clissold Park for drinks at the 18th Century mansion, Clissold House, Joanna and Arpi had a 10 minute break with me in a perfect quiet little area beside the river for some first pictures together. I always give couples the option to do this or to just decide on the day. I was in luck as photographing these two was a joy as was the light on and in them.

From the short walk from the Church of St Mary’s with it’s high steeple commanding the park, to a brief stop for celebratory drinks at Clissold House and onto the dinner and dancing at the West Reservoir Centre in Hackney, everyone was on foot walking and chatting and intermingling with the locals and onwards through the leafy streets of North London with Jo and Arpi like the pied piper leading the throng. Jo & Arpi hopped into a car halfway there and I was able to join them to as discreetly as possible to capture a few pictures on the short journey. I don’t think they really cared that I was there or noticed me!

I had to include this shot as it is always so great to see couples whose weddings I have photographed. Melissa and Will whose beautiful country wedding in Norfolk I shot 5 years earlier. On this day happily having time out together from their very young children at this adults only wedding.

The last destination for Jo & Arpi’s amazing day was the quirky imposing and cool 1930s red brick tower The West Reservoir Centre in Hackney with its high ceilinged open plan space flooded with light where dinner, speeches and dancing awaited everyone. With everyone being in one place, there was a real feeling of togetherness with folks spilling out onto the open decking at the back to enjoy the view across the water whenever they fancied it.

This couple had prepared their dance and it was great. That strictly sort of great. And carried on being great as everyone joined them into the evening.