Over the years I’ve worked with couples who threw out the rulebook entirely — replacing it with something real, meaningful, and entirely them. Whether you’re queer, creative, neurodivergent, or just allergic to beige chair covers, this guide is here to help you plan a wedding that reflects who you are — not what the wedding industry (or your parents, society, co-workers or anyone else!) says you should be.
1. Ditch the “Shoulds”
Full disclosure I have a personal vendetta against the word should – anytime my subconscious starts yelling ‘but you SHOULD’ at me I know it’s time to stop and take a breath. You don’t need to wear white, walk down an aisle, or cut a cake (unless it’s with a sword – then hell yes, let’s do it). Ask yourself:
What would make you feel most comfortable on the day?
What elements actually excite you?
What can you skip without feeling guilty?
Try writing a list: “WTF We Actually Want at Our Wedding.” It can be surprisingly clarifying.
2. Source Your Music Creatively
Instead of booking through agencies who take a chunky cut, consider hiring local musicians, DJs, or even vinyl-spinning friends directly. You’ll not only save money, but also get someone who cares more about vibe than volume. The money you do spend will go directly back to grass roots musicians and we all know they need as much support as they can get!
Check out:
Local open mic nights or pubs/small venues in your area.
Independent DJ collectives in London and beyond.
Instagram hashtags like #LondonWeddingDJ or #QueerMusiciansUK
Ask them what they actually like to play — trust me, the energy is so different when someone isn’t being forced to play Ed Sheeran on loop.
3. Make the Ceremony Yours
Don’t want a church wedding or a registrar reading the same old legal jargon? Hire a celebrant — they can create a ceremony based entirely on your story. It can include personal vows, music, poetry, rituals, or even your dog as the ring bearer.
Check out this guest blog post where Kathryn breaks it down. I’ve shot hundreds of weddings in my time and every time the celebrant led ceremony just hits different.
4. Choose Suppliers Who Get You
The right photographer, florist, or planner doesn’t just “do the job” — they vibe with your values. When you book with someone who gets what you’re about (and doesn’t bat an eye when you say you want to arrive on a bike or wear black), the whole day feels smoother, safer, and more you.
Bonus tip: Always ask vendors how they support LGBTQIA+ couples and what kind of events they feel most at home shooting. If they hesitate? Keep looking.
5. Document It Your Way
Spoiler: posed group shots aren’t compulsory. I focus on capturing people being real — laughing, hugging, crying, dancing badly — because those are the photos you’ll actually want to look back on.
Some of the most iconic weddings I’ve shot had:
Pizza vans instead of plated meals
Tattoos in place of rings
First dances in the pub
Ceremonies in living rooms, art galleries, and warehouses
It doesn’t need to be big. It just needs to be yours.
Final Thought
You don’t need to convince your nan, your dad, your hairdresser or even your registrar that your wedding is valid. You don’t need to do it “right.” You just need to feel like yourselves — whatever that looks like.
And if you’re ready to plan something untraditional, unfiltered, and unforgettable… 📷 Let’s talk.
Confetti photos? Total gold. They’re the kind of wild, joy-packed, frame-it-forever moments that scream we just got married! But as carefree as they look, there’s a bit of behind-the-scenes magic that makes them actually work.
Bonus? It’s also a sneaky way to get a full group photo of your wedding guests — no awkward posing, no trying not to blink, no trying to wrangle Great Aunt Sue into place. Just natural smiles, colour, and pure celebration.
If you’re dreaming of that slow-motion, petal-showered walk of glory, here’s how to pull it off…
1. Pick Confetti That Actually Works (and Looks Good in Photos)
Not all confetti is created equal. If you want that dreamy, floaty effect that gives your photographer time to capture every moment, go for larger, biodegradable paper petals. They fall slower, show up beautifully on camera, and don’t leave a plastic mess behind.
My go-to? Flutter Darlings. They make eco-friendly, camera-friendly confetti in gorgeous colours that flutter (obviously) like a dream. Plus, your venue will thank you. They even offer matching canons which can be used to create that absolute snowstorm of colour if you wanna go big!
2. Check the Rules Before You Chuck
Before you get too excited and bulk-order the rainbow mix, check with your venue. Some venues only allow confetti in specific spots. Others have a strict biodegradable-only policy. And yes, some are full-on no confetti, ever. (Boo.)
If confetti’s a no-go, don’t panic — bubbles and streamers are great alternatives. Bubbles photograph beautifully (especially in golden hour light). Streamers work too, but someone will need to take responsibility for picking them up afterwards — so assign that role clearly, or risk finding them in a hedge 3 months later. Just like confetti though more is more so whatever you use get lots!
3. Hide, Then Make Your Big Entrance
Here’s where the magic happens — but also where some coordination comes in.
Right after the ceremony, you’ll need to disappear for a few minutes while your guests are directed outside. Then, they’ll be arranged in a flying V formation (yes, like a team of celebratory geese) ready to shower you in love, petals, and hopefully squeals of joy.
To pull this off, you’ll need:
Someone to direct your guests into position
Someone to hand out confetti (and give a quick “throw it UP not AT them” speech).
Someone to hide you until everyone else is ready.
A member of venue staff or your wedding planner/coordinator can usually help — just check with them beforehand.
Once everyone’s in place, you make your big confetti-filled entrance. You walk through a tunnel of cheers and colour, I snap away, and BOOM — you’ve got the shot.
4. Let Your Photographer Do Their Thing
This is one of those moments where you just need to be in it. Don’t overthink it, take a slow wander through, remember to look at each other and don’t worry about where the confetti lands (yes, you might get it in your mouth — it’s all part of the experience).
Your photographer will be ready and waiting to capture the magic — just soak it all up, smile big, and celebrate the moment.
In Short: Confetti + Planning = Photo Gold
To recap:
Use fluttery, biodegradable confetti (we love Flutter Darlings)
Check what your venue allows
Get someone to help direct the crowd and hand out confetti
Hide briefly and make your entrance through a joyful flying V
Let the moment be messy, beautiful and you
If you want help planning your perfect confetti moment — or someone to capture it in all its colourful glory — you know where to find me.
What is a Celebrant Wedding? & Seven Reasons why they’re awesome!
More and more couples are thinking carefully about their big day. You know you don’t want your wedding ceremony to be the same old, same old standard template, with no personality and with your names (often incorrectly) inserted here and there. You know you want a civil partnership or wedding ceremony that’s personal. You want a relaxed wedding ceremony, that perfectly reflects you. A ceremony that sets the tone and kick starts the celebration and your future, instead of being relegated to just the ‘bit you have to get through’. You want an inclusive wedding or civil partnership ceremony that’s joyful, meaningful and fun, not one that makes you feel like the proverbial square peg when you deserve to feel fabulous. Imagine a wedding ceremony that fits you both perfectly, because it’s been crafted and curated exclusively for you. Imagine a wedding ceremony where every word, every action and every moment has been included with intention, with no elements that feel outdated, uncomfortable or irrelevant, just there because you feel you ‘should’. Imagine a ceremony that doesn’t feel like a chore, but instead a warm, meaningful, wholehearted celebration. A ceremony that you’re just as – if not more – excited about than the party that follows! This is all possible with a celebrant wedding ceremony. Here are ten reasons why a celebrant ceremony is awesome:
1.
With a celebrant – You get a fun, relaxed individually crafted ceremony, that truly reflects you! Not just the standard template…
When you choose a celebrant ceremony, your celebrant will create and craft a personal ceremony where every single word is written just for you both. Your wedding ceremony will start as a beautiful blank canvas, with each element chosen to reflect your relationship.
With a civil or religious ceremony, there are certain ‘legally prescribed words’ that have to be spoken and responded to by you both and you will usually be given a choice of a couple of standard ceremony scripts to choose from with little to no ability to amend them. Lots of couples find that their ceremony options don’t really suit them, their partnership or their family. With limited options in these situations, it can mean the ceremony starts to feel like the bit that you ‘get through’ before starting the party that you’ve spent ages making feel personal to you.
A celebrant ceremony is the opposite of this. It can be as formal or informal as you like, with as many friends, family and loved ones taking part as you like (or not!) it can truly reflect your values as a modern family. Most of all, a celebrant ceremony will be fun, feel-good and fabulous, kickstarting your wedding celebrations!
2.
A celebrant ceremony will celebrate you as individuals
As a celebrant ceremony is not legally required to include specific wording and is crafted as a bespoke ceremony just for you, it is much easier for it to reflect your values and celebrate diversity not leaning on those hetero-normative or patriarchal tropes that often crop up in standard ceremonies…eurgh!
Want to walk down the aisle together with all your parents? Amazing!
Want to involve and honour your chosen family in a fitting way? Fantastic!
Want a ceremony that doesn’t assume a wedding equals children? Definitely!
Want to announce your new, blended surname in a big reveal? Let’s do this!
Lots of the ‘standard wedding wording’ in civil or religious ceremonies is still very traditional, and while not deliberately exclusive, it definitely doesn’t reflect lots of relationships. You deserve a ceremony that fits you both perfectly – no compromises or crossed fingers!
3.
With a celebrant wedding – Your celebrant has your back!
When you choose to be creative in your wedding planning, shunning the ‘standard’ and being authentic to yourselves, you may face questions and challenges. Know that as your wedding celebrant, I will always have your back and be on your side! I’ll make sure you get the ceremony you want, whatever that looks like, no matter what other people think. Nevertheless, she persisted! Nevertheless, we persist!
4.
With a celebrant – You can involve family, friends and fur-babies in your ceremony!
While your big day will focus on the two of you. There may well be other loved ones that you want to involve in different ways.
Perhaps you want your schnauzer to be your canine ring-bearer or both sets of grandparents to add ribbons to your handfasting wedding knot. You might even want your friends to lead a wedding sing-a-long to your love song! All of these things (and so many more) are possible at a celebrant ceremony!
It might also be the case that there are people, important to you both, who are no longer with us. As your celebrant, I can also advise and support you if you’d like a sensitive way to honour them as part of your ceremony.
5.
With a celebrant- You can include wedding rituals to reflect your unique situation
There are so many wedding rituals to choose from to symbolise your partnership. Perhaps you want your different cultures reflected on your wedding day or for all of your children to play a role in celebrating your new blended family. Exchanging rings is just one option, and while it’s lovely, it is the only wedding ritual that is included in civil ceremonies. What if you want to be able to include a different or additional symbolic act?
In fact – If you have a civil ceremony you cannot have any ritual that has any connotation to any faith. So you may find that blending all the elements of your shared heritages isn’t an option. So what options are there in a celebrant wedding? You might want to consider:
Ring-warming
Handfasting
Lighting a Unity Candle
Sand Blending
Planting a Tree
Sharing a drink from the Quaich
6.
With a celebrant wedding – You handpick the person at the end of the aisle!
Your wedding or civil partnership will be a day when you want to be surrounded by people you like and love, now more than ever am I right? So wouldn’t it be great if the person with you at the front, the one sharing your story and gently guiding you through your vows, was someone you had chosen and had the chance to get to know? While still having all the training and experience you just don’t get with even the most trusted friend!
Having a celebrant means you can do just that. Your ceremony will be delivered by someone you have come to know, like and trust. Not just by the person allocated to your date and who you meet that morning.
7.
With a celebrant ceremony- You can have your wedding outdoors, at home or absolutely ANYWHERE you like!
Always dreamed of getting married on a hilltop? Want to hold your wedding at the coffee shop where you met? Want a relaxed wedding ceremony in your garden under your favourite tree? With a celebrant wedding, you can do just that!
Perhaps you want to say your vows in a beach wedding ceremony or use the backdrop of your local art gallery as a wedding venue, or maybe your gran isn’t well enough to travel so you want to get married in her garden. With a celebrant ceremony, you can have your wedding ceremony exactly where you want.
Sounds fabulous right? I hope you’ll agree that there are so many reasons why you should have a celebrant ceremony!!
FYI… Is a celebrant wedding legally recognised?
At the moment, celebrant ceremonies are sadly not legally recognised in England or Wales. They have been recognised in Scotland since 2005 and are now legally recognised in Jersey and Northern Ireland. But don’t despair! You can still have a feel-good, fabulous personalised celebrant ceremony. I can advise on how you can obtain a statutory legal registration from your local register office for usually around £50. You say all the legally required words, but you don’t have to include any of the ‘wedding-y’ bits unless you want to. You can choose to do this in the days, weeks or even months running up to your celebrant ceremony, or even on the day itself. I’m happy to help you figure out the right plan for you.
When Akilah from ‘Weddings with Akilah’ first contacted me to say she had THE couple for me I was excited to know more. Then she told me they wanted to book an EIGHT HOUR elopement! Now I’ve lived in London over 40 years and know it as well as the back of my hand but I’ll admit even I thought ‘what on earth are we gonna do for eight whole hours!’
Turns out pretty much anything we wanted!
Jeanette and Drew hit the Gothic Bar, got tattoos, drank champagne and took some wonderful wanders through the streets of London oozing cool as they went.
You can read more about it on Rock n Roll bride website here. Huge thanks to Kat for publishing.
Never spent eight hours in front of a pro camera before? No worries – I got you ;)
Smile. Not necessarily at the camera but just in general. Weddings are fun but can also be overwhelming and stressful. Your resting expression will show how you feel so remember to focus on enjoying your day and the pictures will tell the story.
Pose (if you want!). Not like your school photo but like you would for a selfie or with your mates. So often I see people all serious and stationary whilst I take group shots, then their friend whips out an iphone and they burst into life – send some of that attitude my way! Of course if you are naturally more reserved please do simply ignore me and pretend I am not there (I won’t be offended I promise!) and I will capture your natural personality just as well.
Step into the light. OK this one is more my job than yours but worth a quick think in the planning stages. If you are having a winter wedding consider what time the sun goes down and plan for any group shots well before this. Add a few extra lamps/candles to key areas if needed. Don’t panic, I can work in any light and always have flashes on me but prefer to shoot in natural light for those candid momments as it is WAY less intrusive.
Don’t rush. Especially during the ceremony. If you have brides-people and an aisle, leave a gap between each so I can get a clear shot of you without them in front. Take your time with the kiss, hell – do it twice! Many people rush through weddings always thinking of what’s next. Slow down, savour every bit and not only will you enjoy it more, but you will get more pictures to look back at.
One of the biggest challenges when sourcing a photographer is how on earth you know if they are the right person for YOU. Not your sister, not that other couple that got married at the same venue or even that GORGEOUS shoot you saw on insta. I’m gonna take a punt here and guess that you’ve probably never booked a wedding photographer before. Google says there are 24,500,000 results for the search term ‘wedding photographer London’ so don’t worry, that sense of deep overwhelm creeping up the back of your neck is totally appropriate given the circumstances!
Here’s the good news, I’ve been doing this a while now (ahem, over ten years!) and after many, MANY shoots, worked out a pretty simple formula to know if you have found the right one for you. Perhaps shockingly it might not be me! I want you to find the photographer you like as much as I want to find the client I want so read on and let’s see if it’s a match!
THREE GOLDEN RULES
1. STYLE
Do you like their photos? Sounds obvious but there’s a lot of styles out there so if you’re not sure yet try googling ‘dark and moody’ ‘light and airy’ ‘documentary’ etc. Add your area to find local photographers and make sure their portfolio is right up your street before you book because that is what you will get. Gone are the days of hiring a photographer and sending them a list of every single shot you absolutely must have (thank god!) Nowadays we are entrusted to deliver a set of images that show your day, with your friends and your family however that unfolds. Most of us have spent many years honing our style – both in terms of shooting and editing – and that is what we will deliver. After all – you wouldn’t hire a cartoonist to paint the Sistene chapel would you!
2. BUDGET
Again it sounds obvious but for the love of god please don’t pay someone more than you can afford. There really are photographers out there for all budgets. I’m always happy to offer bespoke quotes based on ALL your needs including budget. I also offer payment plans so it’s always worth asking, if you really love someone’s work, be open about what you want and what you have and they will offer you what they can within those parameters. Every wedding is different and – full disclosure – I kinda hate that I have to offer ‘packages’, I’d much rather hear what YOU want/need and find an amount that works for us both.
3. PESONALITY
Would you have at least two pints (glasses of wine, cups of coffee, shots of tequila – whatever your poison) with your photographer? If not, I’m sorry to say they are not the one. Getting married is a big deal, you spent a lot of time and energy planning this day – the last thing you want is for some weirdo photographer to start singing the virtues of Brexit over group photos! Check the vibes before the day.
It’s no secret that wedding photography is one of the biggest investments you will make when planning a wedding. It’s almost impossible to preach how incredibly important this is as a wedding photographer because I am of course entirely biased, BUT, hopefully this little pie-chart will explain what your money is going towards.
From the moment you book me I am on call to support you with supplier ideas, table layout issues and anything else that might pop into your head. It is important to me that we get on personally as much as professionally so when it comes to your wedding day you’ll know I’ve got your back.
Lots of people are surprised that the actual photography bit is not the biggest but, as with any kind of creative endeavor, style and aesthetic is about more than what you do on the day. Every professional photographer you meet will have honed a style and workflow over the years, meaning they can deliver you a fully curated gallery complete with images that not only look incredible but have been individually processed to look their absolute best and formatted for use as you wish – from on the socials to large scale prints from the moment you hit download.
When all is said and done the dress won’t always fit, the food will all be eaten, the flowers will dry out and the only tangible memory will be your photos so honestly – if you’re looking to cut corners this is the one place I would think long and hard about scrimping on.
BUT I’M ON A BUDGET!?
Don’t worry – there are so many ways to get what you need within the budget you have. My absolute best advise on this is to be clear and honest – both with yourself and your photographer. Avoid asking ‘what’s your lowest price’ this depends on so much and most of us aren’t out to get as much money out of you as possible. This is our art and our passion and we WANT to make you happy – as well as pay our rent.
Let them know what you want; what bits of the day are most important to you to capture? Do you want prints, an album or just downloads? What is your budget? Don’t be afraid to lay it all out on the table – if we can’t do what you need for the money you have we’ll tell you and likely recommend someone who can. It’s not a barter system, it’s just a flat ‘can I do what they need for what they have and cover my costs/make a profit’. Bottom line is we need to know how long you want us to shoot for and what you want after the shoot as this dictates how much time/effort we spend and therefore need to be compensated for.
Lucy and Dan’s wedding hold’s so many favourites for me; My first wedding at a favourite venue Asylum Chapel in South London, My favourite party chaos photo ever (scroll down to the guy clutching a beer, a teddy bear and a coffee whilst trying to escape!) and one of my first images to win anything…ok technically not my favourite but it’s a good one! Lucy being walked down the aisle by her beaming Dad.
Asylum Chapel is basically a dry hire venue, they provide chairs and candles and the rest is up to you! Lucy and Dan chose to move their party to Black Swan Studios but only after a self-hosted drink reception on the steps outside. Bridesmaids and ushers served bottled beer and wine as guests gathered to congratulate the couple and get ready for their confetti shot.
Both Lucy and Dan repeatedly told me they were more interested in getting relaxed fun shots of the day as it happened over long lines of group shots or awkward poses, these guys were totally perfect for me (and the fact Lucy worked for Industrial Light & Magic didn’t hurt either!) They celebrated their cake cutting together with a friend who just happened to be having a birthday on the same day and I left them partying into the night.
Ok so I’ve been wracking my brains over the last few months, thinking how I can help keep my work accessible during the current cost of living crisis here in the UK.
I firmly believe that everyone deserves amazing photos of their wedding day and the investment is worth every penny – after all, what else will you have to look back on decades from now. However, we’ve all been hit by these price hikes and are all looking at ways to save, or spread costs wherever possible. With this in mind I’ve decided to offer Payment Plans to anyone who might need it this year.
Here’s the deal;
Interest Free – my aim is to help, not get people into debt so costs will remain the same whether you choose to pay it all upfront or split the cost.
Deposit required – in order to secure your date you will still need to pay an initial deposit this is due to the fact I will be turning away other enquiries based on your booking.
Minimum Booking of 6 hours – this is simply to ensure my costs are covered with the split payments.
Monthly payments based on 30% of balance owed after deposit are standard, however I am open to other plans where needed.
For more info drop me an email and I’d be happy to discuss options openly and honestly.
Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow! What a year that was – the first ‘proper’ year of weddings without Covid restrictions and you guys were REALLY ready to party. I’ve fallen in love with Reception party photography all over again thanks to my amazing couples and their families (keep an eye on insta for the upcoming reel!) and hope to be shooting a lot longer into the night in 2023.
This year I managed to photograph not one, not two, but three old friend’s weddings and each was an absolute blast. From stetsons to drag queens, smoke bombs to tube trains and THAT black velvet dress, I left every single party beaming from ear to ear and desperate to get those shots off my camera and onto my laptop to take a look at what we captured.
On a personal note this will forever be the year I lost my beloved cat Cotton, which I still find hard to believe happened at times, but wanted to thank everyone who was kind enough to allow me some space to grieve before jumping back into shoots and emails, truly you’ve no idea how much that meant to me. As you will know if you follow me on insta we now have a new member of the family; Spider who is currently working on his harness training skills – this time next year I’ll be that crazy lady walking my cat down the street on a lead :)
After a long hiatus I also managed a couple of styled shoots this year, something I love and miss doing from my days as a producer with Guinness World Records but, as I learned to my detriment this year, really need to be all done and dusted by Spring before wedding season really kicks off so yet another huge thank you to all the lovely models and suppliers who waited so patiently whilst I juggled our collabs with client bookings.
2022 led me to a ton of awesome venues too; Gods Own Junkyard in Walthamstow has been on my list longer than I can remember, also St Dunstans in The East and the brilliant Battersea Park Bandstand. Some of my favourite suppliers of the year have to be Petal & Metal who designs incredible bridal ‘adornments’, Orhan London Tailoring who made and designed Nathan’s incredible velvet dress, Dance Floor Fillers achieved the impossible and got me up and dancing after 9 hours on my feet! (SO much better than that name suggests, promise).
Thanks to Kate and Rich this year I managed to offer something I’ve never seen before; an on the day social media image that you can share however you wish before you even cut that cake if you want!
Looking forward to 2023 now I’m starting early at the fabulous Quirky Wedding Fair on January 28th (3 days before my birthday so feel free to come say Hi and happy almost birthday). I’m hoping to get shooting more dancing and parties so if you’ve got an engagement party coming up get in touch – kinda like a try before you buy! I’ve just confirmed a stunning styled shoot at Proud Brighton with some incredible suppliers and of course I have heaps of incredible wedding bookings tantalisingly close. If you are interested in booking this year drop me a line, I still have a few spaces left and would love to hear more about you and your plans.
Non Traditional Wedding Photography 