I suspect ‘achingly cool’ is overstating it a little, but the description really isn’t far off. Ros and Greg’s laid back Christmas week wedding at the Ace Hotel will act as a fitting opening chapter when I pen my Manual Of Hip…
A stone’s throw from my office at Bank, the Shoreditch area of east London is generally known as the tech centre of town. With ‘Silicon Roundabout’ just around the corner (boom boom), and private clubs dotted round all over the place in newly developed buildings, it’s a ideal location for a contemporary wedding day. Give it another 10 years and surely a bride will arrive here in a driverless Google car.
I had never been to the Ace Hotel until the pre-wedding recce and final meeting with Ros and Greg. But I distinctly recall that rare 'wow factor' when walking into the room where the ceremony would be held. Laid out before me was the cityscape of the new Square Mile. I recall leaving the meeting, praying we would see some rays of low sunshine when this lovely couple took their seats for the start of the wedding. In my mind’s eye I could see a burst of sun separating the high rise background. Almost on cue, we got just that, as if somewhere in a hidden panel there was an ‘activate sun’ switch.
This wonderful room (if ever a venue had a unique selling point it's this...) was the gift which kept on giving. As the sun melted away, a bank of candles took over the responsibility of illuminating the space and you could feel family and friends relaxing and enjoying their evening.
Apart from a few minutes of very casual group shots, I spent 10 hours floating around the edges of a simply wonderful wedding. This was very much a people day with personalities young and old getting on and enjoying the occasion. I’m a huge fan of a Christmas wedding as there is always a little added crackle of atmosphere. I thank both Ros and Greg for trusting me to be involved and allowing me to shoot a day where everything fell into place perfectly...
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