London Winter Wedding At The Family Home
Kathryn and Jon’s London winter wedding is proof that your celebration around the festive season doesn’t have to be overtly ‘Christmassy’, and I loved being a part of this cosy and relaxed event. After looking at lots of wedding venues in London and Surrey Kathryn and Jon chose to keep it (very!) close to home, and it worked beautifully. Keep reading for some warming winter wedding styling inspiration, an effortlessly elegant dress and a plethora of personal touches.
The London winter wedding ceremony
The ceremony took place in the church at the end of Kathryn’s parents’ road, which they chose so they could all walk back with their guests for the reception afterwards. Kathryn wore a sleek, long-sleeved Pronovias gown, which she chose because of the time of year but had altered with satin details. Her bridesmaids were in rich burgundy velvet and Jon wore navy, creating a wintry colour palette alongside fabulous florals by Poppy Wild Floral. In a touching nod to family tradition, their wedding date (4th December) was the same as Kathryn’s granny’s and close in date to Kathryn’s parents’! After the ceremony, everyone made their way back to Kathryn’s family home for the reception.
The London winter wedding reception
Inside the house, the cosy, classy decor continued for this London winter wedding. Kathryn and Jon wanted to encapsulate the time of year without straying into ‘Christmassy’ and they definitely achieved it! Her dad had decorated the whole house with lights (he was very proud of it!) and there were huge floral installations for the fireplaces. They were perfect talking points and made lovely backdrops for photos - it was so special to see everyone enjoying each other’s company in such a relaxed setting, and it made my job as a documentary photographer really easy! Psst…check out my ‘must have documentary wedding photos’ here… The couple and family had thought of everything, adding a firepit and blankets outside and lots of polaroid pictures pegged up for everyone to enjoy.
Later in the evening, everyone moved into the marquee in the garden which was decorated with fantastic foliage, cosy and natural table settings and lots of lovely candlelight. Finding alternative sources of light is so important at a winter wedding, and candles are one of the cosiest options - plus they’re really romantic!
Personalising a winter wedding in London
Kathryn and Jon really wanted a relaxed vibe for their day, but the thing that really struck me as I captured it was the number of personal touches they included for their family members. Kathryn’s granny couldn’t travel down from Scotland so they included her photo album in the decor, and there were lots of photos of Jon’s late dad as well as the music he would have loved. Music was a big theme of the day, with a live band creating a super cool atmosphere and Jon’s speech including lots of clever references to music. Their first dance (I know you like to know) was to ‘You Are The Best Thing’ by Ray LaMontagne. Other personal touches included an abundance of Polish vodka shots and haggis-topped mac and cheese in the evening (Kathryn’s dad is Polish and her mum is Scottish!).
An inspirational London winter wedding
This London winter wedding was my last one of 2021, and what a way to end it with a bang! Thanks to Kathryn and Jon for trusting me to capture all the special moments throughout your day - I hope you had well-earned hangovers and unforgettable memories the next day! For some more details (and images!) you can check out this wedding feature on Love My Dress. For 2023 and 2024 bookings, you can contact me here to hear some of my always-funny jokes in real life…
Dream Team:
Venue Dressing: Iain Booth, Inside Outside Marquees // Catering: Cater London // Florist: Poppy Wild Floral // Stationery: Made by Wood & Wood // Bridal dress: Pronovias // Suits: Reiss // Videography: White In Motion
