Lock down micro wedding at Wandsworth Town Hall

Keila and Ashley’s lock down micro wedding.

I’m writing this in October 2021 as I gear up for winter weddings after a very busy summer with lots of weddings around the country. It’s difficult to believe now that most of the weddings in 2020 ended up being postponed, I did however have a few that still took place including this one between the two lock downs. The rules at the time limited the number of guests at the ceremony and receptions weren’t able to take place at all, despite this Keila and Ashley decided to go ahead with their wedding in London on the 25th July 2020.  Driving into London was a bit surreal, at this time everyone was working from home and the roads were almost empty, I’d not really been anywhere since March 2020 when the covid restrictions were introduced so was also a little nervous about heading from my small Northamptonshire town into London.

I knew from Keila’s initial email enquiry they were looking for exactly the style of photography I offer –

Hello Simon,
I have found your portfolio after looking up for photojournalists who also do weddings and I have enjoyed your compositions, use of light and how you seem to capture real moments with your camera. Ashley and I are looking for a professional who can document our day in a timeless way, without the wishy-washy wedding “look” that so many wedding photography have nowadays.

 

Wandsworth Town hall micro wedding

My coverage started at Wandsworth town hall as due to covid restrictions I was unable to photograph Keila getting ready at her home. At this point there was very strict rules on how many guests could attend the ceremony and everyone was called in one at a time by name, social distancing meant seating people apart and I was given a spot to stand with instructions not to move. The law at this time allowed wedding ceremonies but not a reception, Keila and Ashley got around this by having an outdoors picnic in front of their flat, as often happens with picnics the weather forgot it was July and poured with rain resulting in everyone huddling underneath umbrellas. Guests who couldn’t make it due to travel restrictions attended online thanks to Zoom and a MacBook computer.

What I really like about this wedding is it shows what is really important, it isn’t having an amazing venue, neither is it about a free bar or lots of ‘stuff’ that wedding blogs convince you is essential, it’s about getting married to the person you love.