A Wedding at East Quay Venue in Whitstable

A Nautical Delight

David and Sams' was the coolest damn wedding you could hope to photograph on the Seafront of Whitstable. The East Quay wedding venue is a nautical delight and sits literally on the beach with the ocean as it's back garden. I was hoping upon hope that the weather was onside.

I'd only met the guys a few days earlier in Borough market in London with their two bridesmaids Emma & Helen. It's always a weight off when you're included and made to feel so welcome and the guys and the girls did that straight away. On the day there was little prep. Us guys don't fuss about. Mmmm. I suppose some of us do.

Buzzing for the Day

Getting ready was at the Marine Hotel. Literal splendour on the seafront and as both David & Sam were getting ready there it afforded me the luxury of popping between rooms. I spent a good amount of time in the coffee area chatting with family members and some people and stealing frames as I went. Everyone was buzzing for the day ahead.

Sam got ahead of the game and walked ahead to the venue with Helen. I hung back with David. After about ten minutes David started down with James and his bridesmaid Emma. It's important to me as I shoot that I'm thinking on two fronts. I want each individual frame to stand on their own merit but I also am continually building a narrative of the day.

Wedding Storytelling

It's all about storytelling and these shots of the guys walking were great to have in the locker. The upstairs room where the ceremony took place is photography bliss. White and cream decor with light spilling through the windows from the seafront beyond. It made for a beautiful setting.

The weather graced us on the day and we were able to make use of both inside. The guests were relaxed and inclusive of me so I was able to get in close and do my thing and I am so happy with the images I got. And then it was portraits.

Portraits & Party

I had to spend around 20 minutes on my hands and knees on the beach looking for my glasses. I'm not kidding. Nobody laughed. At least not to my face. The fact is if I was a wedding and the photographer lost his specs I’d have pissed myself. Somehow I found them and we cracked on. The guys were so patient with me and eventually, we stole some great frames.

What a day. The weather, the venue, the guests. Paradise. I left the guys shortly after the dancing began and headed to the station. It's always an odd time when you leave the wedding and the people you've been with all day to party into the night and you head off into the quiet of the night. I'm so very lucky to do this job.

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