The Old Marleybone Town Hall - A London Elopement
This love story actually starts at a gym based in Lincolnshire which I used to run many years ago. I was there when fate collided these two wonderful humans for the very first time. As Kinia took Polo’s details so that he could use the gym, something inside me just knew that they were meant to be together. It then turned out that he had moved a few doors down from where she lived. Over the following months fate had arranged their lives so that a beautiful relationship was able to blossom.
Over the years we continued to work together as-well as have friendship outside of work in-which we would take my two children out for walks with her dogs and meet up for lunch. After over 10 years at the gym I decided to leave my role as Gym Manager to make way for a new career. During my journey into photography Kinia was always a willing model and would go along with any of my ideas. From portraits with her dogs to a family session with her mother and sister. We even ended up in the London Erotic Art Exhibition on the Southbank in London after her modelling in a shadow work project in which they displayed my collection with Kinia in.
Imagine my delight when Kinia shared that they were going to be parents. My children adore Kinia and I was looking forward returning the love she had for mine to hers. An engagement ring soon followed and wedding talks began. Kinia had always said she wanted a small wedding with no fuss. They opted for a registry office in Grantham with just two witnesses. So we decided that we would head to London capture their love with some photos they could cherish forever.
We started at their family home in Grantham where her sister Natalia created some beautiful Hollywood waves in Kinia’s hair. I am also very close with Natalia, having employed her at the gym at aged 15 she continued as she studied hairdressing at college. Natty is now my hairdresser and also cuts my daughters hair, she is absolutely amazing at what she does and has a salon at home and is also mobile. Need a hair dresser? You can find Natalia @hair.by.natt2.
For the next exciting chapter of our day, we caught a train from Grantham to King’s Cross, whisking us to the heart of London in just about an hour. With such a direct route, I find it effortless as a wedding photographer to embrace beautiful London weddings. Check out a recent blog on one of my recent London weddings here.
Once we arrive, we make our way to the Argo Hotel Kings Cross to change for the day ahead. Kinia and Polo take their time getting ready, sharing a toast to the love and celebration awaiting them in the city of London. Kinia stuns in the luxurious Arabella silky bridal robe featuring elegant feather cuffs, now available to purchase at wildheart boutique. Pair it with some plush mules, also from my collection, for the ultimate bridal morning vibe. A bridal robe that not only feels amazing on but also adds a touch of glamour to those cherished wedding morning photos. Plus, the detachable feather cuffs make it easy to wash and reuse the robe throughout your honeymoon and beyond.
Bridal accessories play a vital role in completing every wedding day look. I’m all about simple, classic jewellery with a modern flair. For Kinia, we chose the exquisite Nova paperclip necklace and Chloe pearl hoop earrings from Kiri & Belle—my go-to brand for fresh bridal pearl jewellery. Polo complements her look perfectly in a sharp black suit and bow tie from Empire Men’s Wear, a fantastic independent shop in Grantham specialising in men’s wedding attire. Chad, the owner, is a true gem who goes above and beyond to ensure every groom is perfectly suited and ready for their big day.
Kinia’s bouquet was loving crafted by Lucy @the_flower_fairy_uk_. She hand attached pearls on to the Anthuriums which complimented the pearl jewellery. Finished off with a black satin tie to complete the look. Polo then heads downstairs while Kinia gets dressed into her outfit and we head to the reception where they meet again, all dressed up ready to go.
From the hotel we take a short walk to Kings Cross underground station to capture them on their journey through the tube. As we walk through the streets of London they are cheered on and congratulated. On my own wedding day, my ceremony venue was at a public monument in Budapest called the Fisherman’s Bastian. I had to walk through crowds of the public in my wedding dress to get to the venue and had lots of people clapping and cheering too. It felt exciting but also a little surreal which is exactly how they said they felt. We then head down into the tube and head for the Marleybone Tube station bound for the The Old Marleybone Town Hall .
The Old Marylebone Town Hall now marks its 100th anniversary this year. Known for hosting significant cultural events, this venue was the site of the nation's first same-sex marriage and has witnessed weddings of renowned figures, including members of The Beatles. Construction was temporarily paused due to World War I, but the hall was completed by King George VI in 1920. Four years later, it celebrated its first wedding, and since then, it has hosted over 125,000 ceremonies.
Old Marylebone Town Hall is not only a site of significant events but also a striking example of architectural elegance. Designed in the early 20th century, the building showcases a beautiful mix of Edwardian and Baroque styles, featuring grand interiors and intricate detailing easily making it one of my favourite backdrops and places to capture love as a London wedding photographer.
Your Confetti provided us with some of their amazing bio degradable confetti circles which were great fun to use. Even just a few handfuls will create the most beautiful cloud of confetti to nail those classic shots.
We then flag down a London Black cab to explore the city a little before having to head to train station to catch the train home. As they cosy up, they admire their wedding rings and share a moment to take it all in. When they arrive, Polos is the perfect gentleman opening the door and helping this wife out the car.
We head for a walk along Park Terrace before ending our London journey on the Westminster Bridge where we managed a few shots before having to dash back for the train. As we gathered our stuff from the hotel and made our way back to the station, we then sat on the train and reflected on what an amazing day we had having captured some beautiful moments and laughing about how I was right from the start and saw their future together before they even did. I am absolutely over the moon that I was able to capture this day for them, leaving them with wedding photos they will cherish for a life time but also a great memory of the adventure we had together around London. Capturing love is my favourite thing to do but seeing how these two have created a beautiful life together and to have seen their journey from the start made it all that extra special.
