Birch Community is the former De Vere Theobalds Estate Hotel in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire. I was lucky enough to be their wedding photographer in the winter of 2021. A truly unique and awe-inspiring place Birch Community is the perfect wedding venue for those couples looking for something a little quirky and unique.
Click here to see more: Christine Constantine Photography
After a limited lockdown wedding, Lisa and Ennis decided to have another wedding for their friends and family once restrictions were over. And what better place than a wedding on a Bateaux London River Thames Cruise!! And with me as their wedding photographer! Guests met at The Pier Bar and Lounge on London’s Embankment before getting onto the boat.
Lisa had a few words to say too!
Tammi and Demi live in Larnaca, Cyprus and always loved the historic St Lazarus Church so it was there they wanted to shoot their wedding photography. The Church of Saint Lazarus (Agios Lazarus) is located in the center of the historic town of Larnaca. It is an important centre of Christian pilgrimage, as the remains of Saint Lazarus, were found at this place in the late 9th century. Its tranquil and holy atmosphere make it a popular choice for local couples to marry or Christen their children.
Newlyweds Tammi and Demi posing for me outside St Lazarus Church in Larnaca.
Jenny and James’ Chelsea Wedding took place when covid restrictions still dictated 15 persons maximum in attendance. That didn’t stop this microwedding from going ahead, however, and undeterred the couple decided to have a big party next year and keep their May date intimate and just for family.
It always amazes me how shooting in London can turn up the unexpected. Just down the road I found an awesome backdrop for the first of my images. This summer The Ivy are opening their Chelsea branch of their successful chain ASIA and I thought the builders screen made for a cool backdrop.
Chelsea Town Hall is a municipal building on the fashionable Kings Road in Chelsea and has hosted several high-profile weddings over the years. The oldest part of the building is Grade ll listed and the building has been refurbished and returned to its former glory. Jenny and James exchanged their vows in the beautiful light and airy Cadogan Suite. As expected guests were required to wear face coverings but luckily the couple were not. A simple yet elegant ceremony as one would expect in such a beautiful venue.
After the ceremony we walked through St James’ park and found some lovely spots along the way! It was extra special for James as it is the way he walks to work in the mornings and had always dreamed of having some pictures taken there with his new wife Jenny.
After posing for a quick picture out side the RAC we went inside to greet their family and I took some pictures of the table decorations and flowers, beautifully presented by the talented team at the RAC. The rain held off and everything was PERFECT. A beautiful ending to a lovely day.
Check out more Chelsea Old Town Hall Weddings HERE.
Near Islington, at the popular Exmouth Market you’ll find the Coin Laundry bar and venue. A perfect choice for cool couple Claire and Ricci who chose New Years Eve 2022 as THEIR time to celebrate! Once more, a wedding postponed due to Covid, the couple eventually tied the knot abroad but made sure their wedding celebration on home-turf so that EVERYONE could attend, and it was quite simply a night to remember. Claire sang, long-overdue speeches were made and as their wedding photographer of course I was there to capture EVERYTHING.
Seema and Shyam held their Hindu wedding at magnificent Grade I listed mansion Warbrook House Hotel. Designed by the renowned architect John James in 1724 Warbrook House is the ideal location for weddings and private parties and events.
It is conveniently located near the Berkshire-Hampshire border and makes a totally STUNNING backdrop for your wedding photography. And look at these beautiful flowers!!
Seema and Shyam are clearly a popular couple as so many of their friends and family joined in the celebrations and all dressed in colourful sari’s, lehenga or salvar suits.
The couple opted for many of the Hindu wedding traditions associated with Hindu weddings and it was a pleasure to provide the photography for such a joyous occasion.
Here are many of my favourite images of the day and as they happened with a bit of info about each wedding tradition..
Some beautiful traditional elements that I LOVE as a Hindu wedding photographer..
The groom makes his entrance in style accompanied by family, friends, music and dancing. They are welcomed at the entrance of the ceremony by the bride's parents. Sometimes the bride’s family will toss rice over the groom when he arrives and apply a tilak (a mark with a paste made of ash, clay, sandalwood, turmeric, charcoal or red lead) to his forehand. The tilak represents devotion to God and incites positive thoughts and energy.
The bride arrives at the mandap escorted by her uncles or her brothers, although nowadays Hindu brides are increasingly choosing for their dad to walk them down the aisle, as commonly happens in Western culture. The mandap is a decorative structure under which the marriage ceremony is performed. It’s typically adorned with flowers, foliage, lengths of colourful fabric, crystals and often twinkling lights, with ornate chairs for the bride and groom and their parents to sit on.
A jai mala is a flower garland exchanged between the bride and groom. It’s symbolic of the first step taken by the newlyweds into marriage. Most couples follow a playful tradition whereby their uncles or brothers lift the bride and groom up and they compete to see who can garland the other first.
According to Hindu scripture, there is no greater gift than the gift of one's daughter. The bride's father places the bride's right hand into the groom's right hand to symbolise their lifelong union. The Hindu bride is also given a mangalsutra, which is a gold and black beaded necklace that symbolises that she is now married. It’s said that the bride receives blessings throughout her marriage when wearing it.
A fire burns in the centre of the mandap to bear witness to the marriage, and offerings are made to it during the ceremony. Then the bride and groom hold hands and take seven sacred steps together around the fire while the priest chants Vedic mantras (representing the seven sacred vows of marriage). This ritual marks the beginning of the bride and groom's journey as a married couple.
Before making their vows and circling around the fire, the bride and groom tend to each wear a scarf or piece of long material which are tied together – typically the bride’s veil or dupatta and the groom’s sash. This denotes their eternal bond.
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