A London Pub Wedding at the Trafalgar Tavern, Greenwich

Stories are shared

It begins in bridal prep. The London Greenwich Hotel. The anticipation, the excitement is palpable. The wait is over. Despite the lengthy building up to a wedding I sometimes get the feeling that it always takes the bride and groom and their close friends by surprise. Wow! We’re here. This is it! The bride and her bridesmaids reminisce and tales of the past are shared with abandon. The girls check in with their social media.

They rib a few of the groomsmen with messages. The guys do likewise. All these little teasers are kept from the bride and the groom. Whilst shooting I like to capture little moments on video also which I edit together on my phone and share with the bride as a tiny bonus gift in a day or so. The bridesmaids especially love this. It’s also a cool little way to get them to share my work so It’s not entirely selfish but I do think it’s a wonderful little bonus that all of my couples adore.

Hashtags & iphones

These days couples usually have a wedding hashtag and throughout the day Instagram is lit up with special little moments from dozens of different points of view. I add to this with a few iPhone shots of my own. The wedding for me is like an artist's canvas. Yes, I know - get over yourself Lashmar. And thinking this way keeps me anchored to a creative way of looking at things. I am always wanting to photograph the best wedding I have ever shot.

I approach every wedding in that way. Every wedding shoot is a potential masterpiece. It also means every wedding I shoot has a high quality. My job and my joy on the day is to begin to sew together a tapestry of imagery and in this day and age when everyone has a camera, more than ever I have to be alert, and in synch with every moment. I make no apology for wanting my couple and their guests to be completely blown away with their photographs.

Elegant

Eleanor and the girls did their own make-up. It made for some beautiful frames as I could ask her to sit by the window where the light was beautiful. I created a gorgeous collection of color and black and white images here. Music played from Spotify on a little speaker. And then it was time to head across to Greenwich and the church venue. Our Lady Star of the Sea Church. Eleanor emerges from the car looking both stunning and elegant.

James was now inside with his best man and groomsman. There was a whole bunch of nerves amidst the obvious excitement. Following the ceremony, we wandered to the Trafalgar Tavern Pub by way of Greenwich Park. The park was full of people enjoying the early afternoon sun. The view of Greenwich and London beyond is breathtaking from high up in the park. It was also an amazing place to get some frames of the bride and groom and their wedding party. Eleanor was in her element with her new husband.

Stepping back in time

Together they are the stars of their wedding day movie. I had photographed several weddings at the Trafalgar Tavern before. It’s a gloriously old fashioned pub with an immense history a few hundred years. It feels magical. You can sense it’s history and past as you walk toward the place. Built on the site of the Old George Inn in 1837 it’s an incredible late Regency building that boasts splendid bay windows with elegant balconies and columns. Stepping inside takes you back in time. The attention to detail in the building’s restoration is remarkable.

The Tavern is nothing less than a homage to Old London. “In old Victorian London, the Trafalgar Tavern reflected the best of Britain’s naval dominance and cultural standing. A place where Gladstone and Dickens could be seen dining. A bliss of comfort away from the industrial goings on, but nevertheless at the heart of an Empire. Exactly 175 years later the Trafalgar Tavern still stands in the Greenwich Maritime World Heritage Site, and it remains the epitome of an old fashioned London public house.

Before entering Eleanor & James and I walked the short distance to Old Naval College to get more portraits. It’s tricky shooting in there as you’re kind of not meant to be shooting and we had to work fast to get our shots in case were were told to leave. The rest of the day was a whirl of celebration.

Glorious light

The Trafalgar sits on the river thames and the light spilling through the upstairs Nelson Banqueting Room as night approached was amazing. Some of my fav shots of the day are Eleanor and the bridesmaids framed entering the upstairs from the balcony. The light was glorious and their red bridesmaid's outfits look exquisite as they emerge. It was almost like a mini bridal fashion shoot. The night progressed. The wine flowed and the dancing began. This was a beautiful day spent with a wonderful bride and groom and a guest list of wonderful guests who wanted nothing more than to contribute to an amazing memory.

I hope you like the images.

Pub Weddings Rock