The day starts all rather calmly.  London weddings always scare me a little.  I know…Richmond and Kew aren’t REALLY London.  Well, to me they are.  As London as anything else I get to.  The traffic, the crazy pedestrians.  Seriously, I get the eebiejeebies.  So Darren and I arrive nice and early here, checking out the location of the church and the pub for the boys long before we needed to be there.  Perhaps I’m alone in my general caution in relation to London weddings.

Louise and Sam met me last fall at Mercedes Benz World.  An odd place for a meeting.  Sadly neither of us were there to buy a car.  I had always hoped that they would book.  There something about his hair and her smiley personality that said “this could work”.  Luckily for me, they did and that’s where our little story begins.

The Groom and a large contingent of guests all started at The Roebuck, high up on Richmond Hill.  The plan being that the crowd would move, en mass, to the church near the bottom of the hill.  Conversely I started in a quiet street just outside of Twickenham, The Home of English Rugby.  I’m guessing this may have been intentional as I bumped into a few pictures of Sam in his rugby kit and they did have Jerusalem as a hymn.  So far, so good.

I dash off back to Richmond to see the last of the guests arrive and be ready for Louise’s arrival as well.  I walk into the church to find 2 people.  Those two being the Groom and the Best Man.  But wait a minute…its 8 minutes to 2.  We kick off in 8 minutes.  Quickly a few more folks arrive in the form of ushers who decide “let’s call back to the ladies and tell them to hold fire”.  Too late, they are already en route.  Suddenly a flood of guests arrive and I’m guessing this is all going to plan.  2 minutes, 1 minute…2pm.  Apparently there are a few more guests to come.  OK…it happens.  Meanwhile the Priest reminds us all to double check that our mobile phones are OFF.  Anyone who has a phone that goes off is promised by Father that he will ‘kill them’.  Umm…ok.  Perhaps not the kind of Priest I want to cross.  Passive, yet effective.  Finally at 5 past a call is put out.  It would appear that those last ‘few’ guests turn out to be an entire row and all from Louise’s Irish contingent.  It would seem that upon leaving the pub, they made a wrong turn and were, in fact, heading completely the opposite way.  Thankfully, the compass corrected itself and soon we were underway.

The rest of the day went off without incident.  Kew Gardens did their best to wow everyone with the guests enjoying a trip on the Kew Explorer shortly after the last speech whilst we got to visit a few of the landmark locations for a few portraits.

Don’t forget, after these images below there will be a link to more on my Facebook business page.  So view, scroll and click!

HP7c – The Dress at the Top of the Stairs

A twist of pepper, a dash of balsamic and a Choo of shoes

I know, if I had hair I’d let my little sister decide on how to wear it…but I don’t have hair or a little sister

Ching ching

Upon realising how we too were amused at the answer to the question “so who got you those lovely earrings” — “I DID!”, Louise retorts

Its was either funny or there was an errant nail sticking out of the pew

Time waits for no man…but the Priest waits for the lost Irish tourists

tick tock

Sunflowers…the theme of the day

huggles

A brief stop back up on Richmond Hill – a special place for the Lou and Sam

Speech al fresco

Inside the lovely Cambridge Cottage dining room

I want his job!

And a few from Darren

Woman breaks shoe, spends day walking backwards…that is all

Remember that if you would like to see even more photos from Louise and Sam’s Kew Gardens Wedding then visit my Facebook Business gallery.

Related posts:

1. Wedding Photos at Gate Street Barn – Louise and Adam
2. Gate Street Barn Photographer – Louise and Adam – Just One
3. Pembroke College Cambridge – Toree and John – Just One

But this has nothing to do with Renuka and Chris.  At least not that I’m aware of.  It was my first time in Kew Gardens.  Both as a photographer and as a person.  Seeing just the edge of it convinces me I need to make the effort and get there as a day out.  The wedding took place at Cambridge Cottage which is just on the edge of the garden boundary.  A nifty little location sandwiched between the ends of the M3 and M4.  I like locations with travel options.  Renuka was…well, words cannot describe that dress.  OK…cappuccino describes it, at least the colour, but you need to see it.  In fact its only just below.  So much texture.  Should I be so excited?  Chris on the other hand.  We can simply refer to him as Darren’s long lost brother.  In fact, more than one guest accused Darren and Chris of being related.  Fair do.

It was an all in one location, with the ceremony and reception all taking place at Cambridge Cottage.  We did have a hiatus in the Prince of Wales Conservatory for some additional drinks and a cake cutting in a most spectacular location before returning back to the cottage for grooving.   All in all a swell couple who were happy to have us there.  We were happy to be there too!

Wow … what a dress!  In case you too are quizzed on the colour…the answer is Cappuccino

Well placed for a late night snack!

Meet Rahul…Renuka’s rather dashing brother

Don’t take it personally that the first image of the bride includes only half a face… :)

From the Salty Dog’s book of nautical knots

FOB – a measured and thoughtful man

Here’s comes the Bride…literally

More precision than a Rooney strike…and seeming more successful too

Dad…still thinking

Right place…right time

It’s a family tradition..apparently

Quite relaxed…considering

Tunnel of love

I love how Chris leans around his step-Dad to see Renuka.  I don’t mind getting blocked for that!

Proud Momma

I might be wearing tights and a cape…but I ain’t flyin’

Help is out there for folks with drinking problems

reflectorama

White space

Shake it for a polaroid picture

flower power

I love this guy…he always had a smile on

As they say in SW19…surely you can’t be serious!

Do not adjust your sets

Rahul wanted to know more about OCF…now he does

Flight 815, now departing for the Swan

He’s a married man you know

And now a few from Monsieur Darren

Bullet points — not a bad way to go

Coach and horses or The Bates Motel

Related posts:

1. Emma and Chris – The Barn at Bury Court Wedding Photography
2. Louise and Sam at Kew Gardens – Cambridge Cottage
3. Wedding Photographer Hampshire – Sam and Chris @ Tithe Barn