The absolute best of days, with the absolute best of people. Specifically Anna and Andy, and more generally everyone else there. Town Hall Hotel and St John wedding photography is coming up right about now....
To begin. I first met Anna and Andy back in 2016. Twice actually. The first time was when I shot Jo and Jamie's wedding in Surrey, and the second time 7 months later when I shot Karen and Ed's wedding in Berkshire. One spring wedding, one winter wedding and now one summer wedding. There is nothing better than shooting successive couples in a group of friends, and more so when the people are this bloody lovely. It goes without saying that when Anna and Andy got in touch I was mighty relieved I was free. It lifted my heart to see that Jo and Jamie are now parents, and that Karen and Ed will be joining them within the next few weeks. To see the people who you photograph at the start of their journey months or years later as they start families is to experience happiness for them. And so it was today.
So, we begin with Andy, looking damn dapper, and his groomsmen at The Approach Tavern. Mid-World Cup and with London in the middle of this intense heatwave. Massive thanks to all of Andy's chaps - the two Ed's, Rory (a fellow National fan and another familiar face from the two previous weddings), Matt and, of course, Jamie. It was just a short walk for me across to the lovely Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green where I last shot in 2016.
Anna looked absolutely spectacular. Alongside her were her brilliant bridesmaids - huge thanks to Amy, Maddy, Poppy and Rose (her Grandma - how cool is that). A wonderfully emotional and often funny ceremony from Witney and Will, friends of Anna and Andy's. Confetti. The World's Hottest Bus (TM) across to the utterly gorgeous St John restaurant, their favourite, in Smithfield for the remainder of the day. Great staff kept the drinks flowing and the food was to die for. The largest pavlova I've ever seen, made as the reception took place. Great tunes from the brilliant Ear Candy.
These are the details, the logistics, of a wonderful day. But they tell you little about the two people at the centre of this. So let me try.
Achingly cool. Genuinely. No effort to be so, because to make an effort immediately means you're not. Anna, an Aussie, has perhaps the biggest smile I've ever seen, and it rarely leaves her. The number of friends who'd flown over from Australia to be here tells you all you need to know. They are legion, and they love fiercely. She returns that in spades. In Andy she's found one of The Good Ones. Sharp, funny, warm. You cannot fail to like this couple. I'd been looking forward to this wedding, and with good reason. It had everything, and it had it because of Anna and Andy. You really need to see how they are when they're together. Do so and you'd get it. Everything brought together for this wedding just worked, and it wasn't because anyone was stressing about chair covers, or favours. It worked because, like all of the best weddings, it brought a wonderful group of people together, and put them in venues that were absolutely perfect for them.
Today was truly one to remember.
Anna, Andy. So good you two. So. Good. This is your story.....
Town Hall Hotel and St John wedding photography by Guy Collier Photography
Town Hall Hotel and St John wedding photography - Anna + Andy
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