Wandsworth wedding photography Oh boy, I really really loved photographing this wedding! There was no big white dress, no bridesmaids, no favours and no sit down meal. But this wedding had what weddings are all about in absolute spades – love and joy. When Alison and Chris briefed me about their wedding (a relaxed celebration with the reception in a local pub) I assumed it was going to be a small do….but they have so many very close friends and family that it was larger than a lot of the marquee weddings I photograph, which goes to show that a lot of guests doesn’t mean you have to have a formal or traditional wedding. You can see from the photos quite how happy and loved up the bride and groom are, and how happy their friends were to share this joyful day.
I live in Wandsworth but tend to spend my Saturdays driving down the A3 to various Surrey or Sussex wedding venues, so it was a delight that this wedding started in Alison and Chris’ local pub, the Alma in Wandsworth Town. Since moving house I’m virtually a neighbour of Chris and Alison. Their local is therefore my local, which is very convenient! The relaxed vibe started early in the day, with the bride and groom breaking tradition and seeing each other before the ceremony, meaning they could share a pre-wedding drink with their guests. After a swift drink (and a few photos on Old York Road, Wandsworth Town’s cute high street, which, incidentally, is where I first met my husband 11 years ago!) it was all aboard a vintage London Routemaster bus to set off for the church.
The wedding ceremony was down the road in St Michael’s Church (Southfields), which is a beautiful light and airy church with a wonderfully welcoming, family friendly atmosphere. Chris and Alison first met the vicar in a pilates lesson in the church (as they said to me – ‘I didn’t realise he was the vicar – he was just a bloke in a tracksuit’) and the fact they’re now friends really showed in the informal wedding ceremony. There were more drinks upstairs in the church (yes, this is a wedding with three different sets of drinks – no wonder the guests were so happy!), and a heartfelt speech from Chris. It was Chris’ 60th birthday the day after the wedding and there were lots of jokes about the ‘irony’ of him gaining a wife and a freedom pass in the same weekend! Alison’s mum jumped up on a box (literally) to give a quick speech (which was very touching and had me in tears for the third time in the day!), then we all shot off to the wedding reception venue in the Routemaster.
The final part of the wedding reception was back in Wandsworth by the river Thames in The Waterfront pub. This was a wedding reception with a difference – no formal sit down meal, just relaxed ‘bowl food’, lots of drinks, a live jazz band and an awful lot of laughter!
Enough of my chatter – hopefully the photographs will speak for themselves – I was asked to naturally capture the day, with lots of photos of guests enjoying themselves (‘and don’t make us kiss’ they said…but I couldn’t stop them on the day!). Congratulations and thank you for sharing your wonderful day with me!
Love Sarah xx
Sarah Legge Photography – Wandsworth based wedding photographer taking beautiful, natural wedding photos throughout London, Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire. Get in touch if you’re getting married (especially if you’re getting married in Wandsworth – I love a 5 minute long wedding commute!)
