Our last wedding blog of the year is a beauty; two days filled with so much celebration and an atmosphere you can almost taste from the photographs. I would love to feature more Sikh weddings on the blog; they’re amazing, so full of absolute joy balanced with calm and tranquil moments. It’s wonderful to see that Harpreet and Simarnam chose to have their day captured in a documentary wedding photography style – and by some of the very, very best photographers not just in the UK, but worldwide.
York Place Studios are documentary wedding photographers based in London, working across the whole of the UK. They have the most incredible talent for capturing the story of weddings, with authenticity, and artfully, and with love. This couldn’t be more perfect for a Sikh wedding, where tradition and symbolism are so important, and where human connection and family love means the world.
I’m going to begin today’s blog post with some of my favourite images of the happy couple, and their outfits and the floral decoration and sparkle which grabs my attention. But what I adore most is the scroll, and slowing down to enjoy the detail in every image. The tiny moments of humour, of love, of pure happiness – these are the images which are utterly timeless.
There is also the magic of the everyday: the careful observations of people among people, where conversation and body language tell a story of their own, and where it’s super clear that a wedding is the first day of the rest of a life spent together, as equals, on a wonderful journey that will last forever.
I have an apology to make: today’s blog post is late in the day! That’s because every time I blog a York Place Studios wedding I’m drawn into their world and captivated by the way Dom and Liam approach wedding photography. So if you’re a wedding photographer reading this blog: I recommend you subscribe to York Place Studios’ newsletter for exclusive inspiration, insights and tips. The newsletter includes Inside the Wedding, where Dom and Liam go behind the scenes of their latest blog post and zoom in on a particular part of the day – which is utterly fascinating.
Weddings can be beautiful and timeless: today I want to prove that to you forever and without a shadow of doubt! Janki and Andy’s day celebrated the joining of their families, in a lush, green woodland clearing. Scrolling through Tom Keenan’s gorgeous images from their Cambridge wedding, it’s the love, joy and relaxed vibes which sing from my screen, and every moment looks perfect.
Speaking of perfection, this gorgeous pair celebrated with a vegan feast at their wedding. Because they held their wedding at home they weren’t constrained by a venue’s in-house or recommended caterers, and could choose their own. As a result, their menu was fully vegan – even including the doughnuts. (Told you it was perfect, didn’t I?!)
I will never tire of sharing Indian and fusion weddings. The vibrant colours are exciting, and embrace tradition in the most joyful way. Food is a huge part of the celebration, and a meaningful aspect of ceremonies. But that doesn’t mean all traditions have to be formally adhered to. At English Wedding we always recommend you pick and choose the traditions which are meaningful to you – and fun! Janki and Andy broke tradition by being super chill about seeing each other before the ceremony. For Janki, she wanted to see her favourite person while she was getting ready – which makes all the sense in the world to me.
Last week I wrote an article inspired by a trending wedding sign which reads “[bride’s] wedding, featuring [groom]” talking about how the wedding media has alienated men to the point that many grooms feel excluded from wedding planning and even on the day itself. This wasn’t the case with Andy and Janki’s day – they celebrated together and their wedding was all the more beautiful for every moment of shared joy and delight. I LOVE how Andy made a spectacular entrance, arriving for their ceremony in a vintage Lotus car. As their wedding photographer Tom Keenan puts it: “Music blaring, ray-bans on, friends and family at your side” – what could possibly kick start the day better?
I will leave you to enjoy the images of this gorgeous pair having the time of their lives. Pure happiness, guaranteed to make you smile – and as always, there’ll be more on @englishweddingblog so head to our insta to see!
Wedding photographer’s website
Kent wedding photographer Tom Keenan https://tomkeenanphotography.co.uk
Janki and Andy were married in early summer of 2022 – yes, more than three years ago. The styling of their day, the setting, the traditional Indian dress and their focus on a meaningful ceremony and a joy-filled celebration, all mean this wedding hasn’t dated one bit. It never will. Heartfelt ceremonies and a focus on what the day means to you both as a couple are the secret to timeless, beautiful and memorable weddings.
Timeless, breathtakingly beautiful images from Suman and Scott’s day are stopping me in my tracks as I scroll today. This stunning couple married at Coombe Abbey and chose English Wedding member Damien Vickers – a luxury wedding photographer in Cambridge – to capture their day. More than anything else, it’s the love in their eyes as they glance at each other that makes Suman and Scott’s wedding so magical. Their words for favourite Coombe Abbey wedding suppliers – including their brilliant photographer of course – are heartfelt. An enchanting wedding – and we’ll share even more on our instagram today @englishweddingblog
Our wedding photography
Damien Vickers captured our Coombe Abbey wedding.
Damien was absolutely fantastic. As a couple that isn’t at home in front of the camera, Damien really put us at ease during our engagement photoshoot and on the day of the wedding. We loved his style of photography and his approach. Damien was great to work with and the photos were beautiful!
Our wedding venue
Coombe Abbey. The Coombe Abbey grounds were beautiful and provided the perfect backdrop to our champagne reception. The marquee very comfortably housed our mid-sized party providing a great space to celebrate our special day with our loved ones.
Our wedding outfits
Suman was wearing a bespoke maroon lengha by Monga’s with champagne gold, pink and sage embroidery complemented by a pink and gold necklace set and traditional red bangles (called a choodha). Scott was wearing a bespoke tailored 3-piece suit by Edit Suits complete with a set of turtle cufflinks as a nod to our home in the Cayman Islands.
Our amazing suppliers
Our fresh flowers and decor were provided by Stylish Weddings who did a phenomenal job with the venue. Fiona and the team were brilliant from start to finish and really understood and brought to our life our vision.
Emma Bradley Designs provided our stationery. No request was too much trouble and Emma’s turnaround time was much faster than we’d expected. The stationery was beautiful with Emma effortlessly tying it all together by incorporating designs and motifs specifically created for our special day.
It’s been too long – way too long – since I’ve featured an Indian wedding on this blog. Honestly, this makes me sad, and ashamed that I haven’t tried harder. (Reaching out and asking for weddings can feel a little pushy, and I’m shy!) Because the love and ceremony and spirituality of Asian weddings gets my heart every time. The sparkle, the joy, the traditions are all things I love. So before I share Colleen and AJ’s day, a plea: if you’re planning your own Indian wedding, please consider sharing it with us! If you’re a wedding photographer and you’ve captured an Asian wedding this year, get in touch! I’d LOVE to feature more celebrations like this!
Colleen and AJ’s wedding was not just a union of two individuals, but a beautiful amalgamation of traditions, families, and love stories, all captured through the lens of Nicole Chan Photography.
Their wedding was a radiant celebration of love, culture, and community, set against the timeless elegance of the Boston Park Plaza. The couple’s multi-day festivities seamlessly blended South Asian traditions with modern sophistication, creating an unforgettable experience for all who attended.
The celebration commenced with a vibrant mehndi night at Granite Links Country Club. Under the warm glow of string lights, guests were immersed in a kaleidoscope of colors, music, and flavors. Henna artist @hennacafe_designs adorned hands with intricate designs, while dancers from Boston Bollywood energized the evening with captivating performances. Colleen’s ensemble featured a rich, jewel-toned lehenga complemented by flawless makeup from @natalieshafiemakeup and a chic hairstyle by @sweetstylesbyjenna.
The following day, the grandeur of the Boston Park Plaza set the stage for their wedding ceremony. The venue’s historic charm was enhanced by @oluxedesign’s exquisite floral arrangements and drapery by Anju Pathak, creating a romantic ambiance. AJ’s arrival on a majestic horse from New Deal Horse & Carriage was a nod to traditional baraat processions, accompanied by lively beats from @teambsl.
The ceremony, officiated by Pandit Mohinder Singh, was a heartfelt blend of rituals and personal vows, symbolizing the union of two souls and their families.
As evening descended, the celebration transitioned into a lively reception. The ballroom shimmered with elegant décor, featuring Chiavari chairs from Tanvi Rana and ambient lighting by @teambsl. Guests indulged in a culinary journey with delectable dishes from Punjabi Grill and Indian Accent, and sweet treats from Shivam Paan in Nashua. Live music by @ripcordmusic kept the dance floor alive, ensuring memories were made that would last a lifetime.
Vendors
Photo & Video: @nicolechanphotography
Planning: @mint2bevents
Wedding Venue: @parkplazaboston
Decor & Florals: @oluxedesign
DJ & Lighting: @teambsl
Band: @ripcordmusic
Mehndi/Henna Artist: @hennacafe_designs
Hairstylist: @sweetstylesbyjenna
Makeup Artist: @natalieshafiemakeup
Mehndi Venue: Granite Links Country Club
Indian Catering: Punjabi Grill & Indian Accent
Priest/Pandit: Mohinder Singh
Dancers: Boston Bollywood
Chiavari Chairs: Tanvi Rana
Draping: Anju Pathak
Baraat: New Deal Horse & Carriage
Indian Dessert (Paan): Shivam Paan, Nashua
Transportation: MBT Worldwide
A curious question: does life stop for weddings? Should it? In some senses, a wedding day is utterly different from any other. Having all of your favourite people in one space, seeing them celebrating together, meeting each other for the first time perhaps, even shedding a tear or two – is huge.
The rollercoaster of emotions you might feel, from nervousness to overwhelm to wondering if your heart could ever be this full of joy.
That’s weddings.
But there’s even more than that. Life doesn’t stop for weddings.
Everything that happens on your wedding day will be extra. The big moments will unfold even as tiny, everyday things happen. You might miss them in the context of all that’s going on, but it doesn’t make them any less special.
On the day, you will love all of the hard work you’ve put into planning your wedding day. The flowers – Alexandra’s bouquet is a handful of summertime and absolutely beautiful. Your outfits, and the way you feel elegant, confident and glamorous – along with all your guests in their finest of course. The little details like your cake (if you have one), stationery and table favours all join up to make your wedding feel thoughtful, cohesive and ‘like a wedding’.
But beyond all of the things you’ve planned, it’s the unpredictable, quiet and wonderful little moments that absolutely make a wedding.
The hugs.
The glances filled with love.
The peals of laughter from random corners of a room as your families get to know one another. The little conversations you don’t know about. The dance floor craziness, and those guests on the fringe of your day, quietly soaking it all in, still with love in their eyes.
These are the things I love most of all about Alexandra and Josh’s wedding, captured by London wedding photographers York Place Studios. The adventure of a boat trip on the Thames before their party at Greenwich Yacht Club. The celebrations and connections between all of their guests, and the love and fun that jumps out from my screen.
It’s my little mission to make English Wedding a place of balance, to show our readers styling ideas and equally, the raw, authentic side of weddings.
If this is the first time you’ve seen documentary wedding photography like this, I have two very important things to tell you.
1) These are the memories you’ll treasure after your wedding day, for years and years to come.
And 2) York Place Studios are hugely admired and respected award-winning wedding photographers. Their style is unique, instantly recognisable and sought after. They capture weddings all over the UK and overseas and come very highly recommended from English Wedding!
Here’s what Alexandra and Josh had to say about their wedding photographers:
“The way you both capture moments is just incredible, bringing the small tucked away interactions out into full glory – it’s just astounding. We are so, so glad you joined us for the journey.”
If you’re looking for wedding photographers and filmmakers to capture your wedding in an authentic, reportage style, head to https://yorkplacestudios.co.uk/wedding-photography to discover more about York Place Studios, meet the team and see more of their wedding photography from London and around the UK.
“When this lovely pair contacted us about photography for their Greenwich Yacht Club wedding we realised that we had a shared ethos – creating connections with people. That laid the ground for a beautiful partnership and a set of photographs that resonated as much with Alexandra and Joshua as they did with us, because we all agree on what we love about photography.
And when that happens; when you click on that level … That is when magic happens.” ~ Dominique & Liam (York Place Studios)
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——guests
