So, there's an Orthodox Armenian church in Kensington - who knew? And what a stunning space it is. Small, atmospheric: perfect for Emma & Ted’s September wedding.
I’m a sucker for anything new when it comes to locations and this, the stunning little church of St Sarkis, which was built in 1923, yet modeled on a 13th century bell tower, was somewhere I'd never been before and a fantastic setting for an intimate ceremony.
I’d first met Emma & Ted for a drink one evening at Threadneedles Hotel, opposite my office at Bank. It quickly became clear that they would be gracious enough to let me roam and capture their day’s atmosphere with the minimum of formality.
After some brief prep shots at the nearby Copthorne Tara Hotel, I walked across to St Sarkis, capturing the scene as family and friends arrived. To their great credit, the couple never wavered in their enjoyment of the day despite several bouts of drizzle. A good lesson that even if the weather turns against you on your big day, just roll with it…
The ceremony over, it was short trip on a Routemaster to the reception at Fulham Palace, one of my favourite places to shoot in west London.
This venue (a former Bishops’ residence since 700 AD!) ticks all the boxes. It’s obviously hugely historic and extraordinarily scenic but most importantly, the staff are always on the pace. They are attentive but not stifling - to my mind, a crucial aspect of any quality wedding location.
From the drinks through to the speeches and evening celebrations, there was always something happening in one of the many gorgeous corners of the Palace. After the wedding breakfast, the party moved on to the Great Hall and Bishop Terrick’s Drawing Room, with cocktails and dancing aplenty.
I think the small selection of images below speaks for itself. It was wonderful time, and I think the fantastic energy of the day really comes through in the shots... Enjoy!
