A Modern London Ceremony at The Gherkin & Drapers’ Hall Reception
When Amelia and James first got in touch, they told us they wanted the overall gist of their day to completely bypass the traditional photographer’s timeline. As an amateur street photographer herself, Amelia wanted the “in-between” moments – the unposed, unscripted reality of a London city wedding. This day delivered exactly that, wrapping high-altitude modern geometry and historic majesty into one incredible street-level journey.
Documenting a Ceremony High Above London at The Gherkin
The morning began with a short, expectant walk from the Pan Pacific Hotel through the City of London, heading towards the iconic glass structure of St Mary Axe. Stepping into the glass dome of The Gherkin for a wedding ceremony feels entirely otherworldly; you are completely surrounded by the shifting light and expansive architecture of the London skyline.
We focused entirely on capturing the genuine energy of the space as the room maxed out its capacity. Amelia and James kept their 150 guests guessing with a beautifully unconventional ceremony, featuring a surprise ring bearer chosen at random from a hidden ring beneath a guest’s chair, a ceremonial hand-tying, and musical theatre tracks sung live by their friends.
The Reception Energy at Drapers’ Hall
The transition between the two venues was where the documentary energy truly spilled onto the streets. The majority of the guests had no idea a second location was even on the cards. At 14:30, four actors dressed as 18th-century footmen suddenly joined the fray at The Gherkin, surprising the crowd and dividing the 150 guests into groups led by “Line Leaders” to guide them through the London lanes to Throgmorton Avenue. Walking with them, cameras down at street level, allowed us to capture the sheer fun, confusion, and laughter of a mass migration through the city.
Arriving at Drapers’ Hall, the visual tone flipped entirely from ultra-modern glass to magnificent, historic opulence. The evening was a masterclass in entertainment, trading off courses of dinner with speeches from the Father of the Bride, siblings, and both Amelia and James.
The theatrical peak of the night belonged to the first dance – or rather, dances. James and Amelia kicked off with a brilliant musical theatre medley that flowed continuously out of the majestic Livery Hall and into the dancing room for their second dance, setting an incredible tone for a night soundtracked by a musical journey through the ages.
The Narrative: A Post-Wedding Surprise
The story didn’t actually end on the dancefloor. Just a couple of weeks after the wedding, while we were busy on stage presenting at our book launch event at the Fujifilm House of Photography in London, Amelia and James were secretly sitting right there in the audience. We were so preoccupied with the interview panel that we completely missed them in the crowd! Getting a message from them later saying how much they loved hearing us talk passionately about the philosophy of street photography – and that they were buying the book – was the ultimate post-wedding surprise. It was a wonderful full-circle moment that proved just how deeply they trusted and understood our unfiltered approach to capturing their day.
The York Place Approach
Our documentary wedding photography approach relies on this blend of anticipation and connection. We don’t just photograph what people look like; we photograph how they react to the world around them. Thank you, Amelia and James, for inviting us into your story, surprising us at Fujifilm, and letting us find the humour and heart in the moments in between.
