As a busy St Albans wedding photographer, I always love capturing wedding photography at the St Albans register office. Also known as ‘The Gatehouse’ this historically rich building was previously a hospital and before that a prison. Today, it stands as a handsome Victorian building in beautiful gardens that make the perfect backdrop in wedding photos. Amelia and Joe chose the perfect location for their late summer wedding in their home town of St Albans.
Getting ready for the big moment
On the day, I headed straight to Amelia’s parent’s house, where Amelia and her bridal party were getting ready. As you would expect, the house was a hive of activity and everybody was in great spirits. As is always the case the kitchen was the place to be. Where Amelia, her bridesmaids and her mum were enjoying a glass of bubbly in their co-ordinated pink robes. There was even a bit left over for Amelia’s dad!
I found Amelia in the capable hands of her make-up artist/friend. Her hair had already been elegantly styled in a loose up do with tendrils of hair framing her face by a hairstylist from The Make-Up Girl team.
Amelia looked stunning in her dress that had exquisite lace detail and a plunging neckline and skimmed her figure beautifully fanning out at the bottom to create a train. It gave Amelia the most perfect silhouette in all of her wedding photos. Amelia bought the dress at Satin Bow Bridal Boutique in St Albans. She teamed it with an elegant hair band of pretty white flowers and a simple veil at the back. She looked amazing and beamed all day. Amelia’s bridesmaids looked elegant in deep red dresses that really pop in the photographs.
Stunning Wedding Flowers from covent garden flower market
Now I have to talk about the bouquets on the day because they looked beautiful and were cleverly made by Amelia herself with flowers that she bought at Covent Garden flower market.
Travelling in style
Everybody then headed to St Albans Register Office for the ceremony. Amelia and her father travelled in an impressive vintage Austin saloon car that they hired from Heritage Classic Cars.
The ceremony
I was keen to get to the Register Office to catch up with Joe. I knew that Joe is an identical twin but still managed to go bowling up to Joe’s brother thinking he was Joe. These guys must get it all the time! Joe’s brother, the real Joe, and his grooms party all looked super smart in kilts with black jackets, waist coats and red ties. And I got a couple of images of him with his best man before the ceremony started.
It’s always lovely seeing previous wedding couples. And this was the case catching up with groomsman Dan and his wife Nikki who’s beautiful wedding I’d captured at Luton Hoo. And who’d kindly recommended me as a photographer to Amelia and Joe. I get a lot of my bookings through recommendations which is always very humbling.
There followed a lovely and emotional ceremony. After they’d signed the register, Amelia and Joe headed back down the aisle a married couple to rapturous applause and cheers from their guests.
Group photos of the wedding party
Outside, I took the chance to take some great group images of the wedding party, and we snuck in a couple of romantic images of Amelia and Joe in the lovely St Albans Register Office gardens.
The wedding party then headed back to Amelia’s parents house for brunch and as the weather was nice, everybody spilled out into the garden. Spirits were high as I snapped candid and group images of the wedding party. As well as some fun images of Amelia and Joe under Amelia’s veil, that I know were some of their favourites of the day.
Wedding blessing at The Plough
As St Albans Register office couldn’t accommodate all of Amelia and Joe’s guests. They arranged to have a wedding blessing in the garden at the reception venue The Plough. It was conducted by a minister who is a relative. Guests stood in anticipation of Amelia and Joe’s arrival, and welcomed as they arrived in the vintage car.
Because the minister knew Amelia and Joe, the service was especially personal and moving. And, it’s not everyday in my job that I get to capture a second ‘first kiss’ in one day. And, as I did there were huge cheers from the delighted guests. Followed by a fun confetti moment!
Wedding breakfast at The Plough
The Plough is a gorgeous independent gastro pub in the pretty village of Sleapshyde in St Albans. Situated in a gorgeous rural setting, the wedding breakfast was held in an impressive outdoor stretch tent with long tables that had been dressed beautifully.
Whilst everybody enjoyed a drinks reception, I took some great group images. As well as some candid images of guests enjoying themselves.
For the wedding meal, Amelia and Joe were welcomed to their table by applause from their guests. There followed a delicious meal created by The Plough’s very talented chef Paul Cooke. Honestly, it was the best steak I’ve ever tasted. There was also an impressive wedding cake made by Tom's Treats Bakery.
The wedding speeches
After the meal, there some lovely and heartfelt speeches. Joe and his best man are both police officers and Joe’s best man made a particularly moving speech about their friendship and Joe’s dedication to their challenging job.
Moody wedding photos
The weather on the day had been a mixture of sunshine and showers which had left the sky looking really moody. We took the opportunity to take some amazing sunset images of Amelia and Joe. With the sky giving them a dramatic tone. It really suited my style of epic and dramatic wedding photography.
Evening Celebrations
Evening celebrations started with a romantic first dance for Amelia and Joe to musical accompaniment from a great band hired through Entertainment Nation who made sure that the dancefloor stayed full for the rest of the night. Their job was made easier by the fact that Amelia and Joe’s guests were clearly up for a party and I got some great dancefloor images of guests cutting their very best shapes!
Amelia and Joe’s St Albans wedding was a joy to capture from start to finish. A stylish, fun, family friendly wedding for this lovely couple. Congratulations to you both and thank you for having me there. I hope my images will enable you to relive it again and again for many years to come.
I’ll leave the last words to Amelia and Joe. Here’s what they had to say about me.
“Stephen was an incredible photographer; he was always so friendly and made us feel so relaxed. All our friends and family mentioned how lovely he was and all our photos were exactly what we wanted.”
If you are planning a wedding in St Albans or somewhere further afield please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me to chat about how we can make epic photos of it together.
