As I have mentioned many times in my previous blogs, Oxfordshire is saturated with romantic idyllic wedding venues.

Oxford city is renowned around the world for its dreaming spires and educational vibe, hosting famous historical universities where many have started their academic greatness. But as well as these locations being hubs for learning, many of these historic universities have their own chapels for places of worship.

Often with their small intimate opposite-facing pews and individual reading candles or lights, these chapels are not too dissimilar to a scene out of the great hall in Harry Potter’s Hogwarts. And what’s more, they are amazing to undertake wedding photography in.

In this blog, I examine Lucy and Howard’s day at St Edmunds Hall, just off Queens Lane in the heart of Oxford.

Howard is an academic who once studied at the location and as a result, has automatic rights to the location’s chapel.

It was fun to see him along with his guests, many of whom were also students at the location, pointing up to halls of residences recalling many a tale often involving alcohol.

As many of the universities are open to thousands of visitors each year, our wedding day was by exclusive invite only and therefore was closed to the public.

The quadrant housed all of the guests outside, and as the wedding ceremony drew near the guests that had gathered were invited inside the quaint chapel to await the arrival of Lucy.

As a wedding photographer, I am always thinking about key images that are due next, the groom and his groomsmen, the wedding breakfast location - all neatly laid out, the cake and the all-important arrival of the bride and her bridesmaids.

At 2 pm I waited eagerly outside the university for the arrival of the bride. Lucy was unintentionally, but fashionably a few minutes late arriving in a beautiful historic wedding car. Set against the narrow streets of Oxford it presented with some must-have prearrival shots.

As Lucy and her bridesmaids made their way through the quadrant I managed to capture some shots set against the backdrop of the university buildings.

The ceremony was also as impressive to photograph as it provided a unique opportunity to see the guest’s faces and not the backs of their heads as is sometimes the case in a traditional church, especially if the rules are strict about where as a photographer you can and cannot shoot from!

After the ceremony was over it was time for the group and casual social shots to occur. With the remaining seasonal summer sun providing some warmth, the guests were invited to ignore the “keep off the grass” signs, step into the gardens and sip champagne and wine.

The wedding breakfast location was a grand dining hall with the guests all overlooked by grand portraits of important gents from a bygone era.

As the harpist played, the guests enjoyed fine dining prepared by the university catering team - and I must say a long, long, LONG way from the school dinners I used to experience!

It’s around now that most wedding photographers take stock and grab a chance of a breather…

Always on the lookout for the next shot, when my bride was walking into the dining hall, there it was - a chance of a black and white shot. It turned out just like I’d hoped.

With the wedding breakfast completed, attention turns to the evening celebrations.

As the guests leave the dining location this is a chance for me to discuss with my couple the chance of some creative shots. I like to use speedlights (flashes) off the camera if I can, which allows creative lighting opportunities that guests with camera phones struggle to recreate ( 1-0 to wedding photographers !!!!!).

Also, this time-out session often allows the couple to spend some together time away from the fast pace of the wedding day.

Once these shots are completed attention turns to the evening celebrations.

At this stage, I normally go and introduce myself to the evening entertainment people and discuss must-have shots e.g. cake cutting and first dance. Given that these occurrences normally occur under disco lights it’s definitely worth enquiring which lights will be active and when. As a photographer, multiple coloured lights and lasers can make your couple look like Mr and Mrs incredible hulk !! so it’s good to have a plan…

As the evening draws to a close for me at least, I leave my couples preparing to party the night away as the new Mr and Mrs….

Congratulations Lucy and Howard…

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