Kat Hill Blog » Blog of London UK Wedding Photographer Kat Hill

WEDDING // Lucy & Steve’s Multicoloured Islington Metalworks Wedding

ISLINGTON METALWORKS WEDDING_051_WEB

I’ll tell you straight off the bat that for me, weddings are all about celebration – having your nearest and dearest around to be part of something incredibly important, and having a jolly old knees up at the same time.  It’s about joy, and family, and friends, and laughter and you know what? Lucy & Steve’s wedding couldn’t be a better example of just that.

As I’m  compiling this blog post, all I can see is photo after photo of excitement, happiness, and love for Lucy & Steve who are just kind, beautiful, wonderful people and so clearly well loved by everyone who knows them.  Lucy looked like a stunning 1950s Hollywood actress in her polkadot petticoat dress and I’m not sure what I liked most about Steve: his expression as he saw his Mrs-to-be as she walked down the aisle, or his super slick dance moves at the end of the evening.  Islington Metalworks, where the reception was held, is the most incredible venue right in the heart of London and all of Lucy & Steve’s hard work in putting together so many little details were absolutely worthwhile, it all looked incredible.

One of the things that will stick with me for a long time to come needs a little explanation though.  Lucy is from Canada, but as she’s lived in London for a while, she and Steve decided to get married in Islington Town Hall.  It wasn’t until they’d booked the Town Hall, they discovered that way back in 1939, Lucy’s grandmother Janet had also been married in Islington by the Town Hall registrar.  If that wasn’t coincidence enough, the design of Janet’s engagement ring was exactly the same as Lucy’s (completely unbeknownst to Steve when he bought the ring).  Lucy and Janet were so close, and though Janet was 98 she was determined to be there at Lucy and Steve’s wedding.

And then, a hiccup.  Right before the ceremony was due to start, there was a phone call to say that Janet was on her way but stuck in horrendous Twickenham traffic.  The registrars at Islington waited for as long as they could but the ceremony had to start.  I can’t imagine how disappointed everyone must have been but all was not lost.  As Lucy and Steve were signing the register, the doors burst open – amazingly, Janet’s taxi had battled valiantly through London traffic and she’d arrived just in time for the last part of the ceremony.  Not only that, but Lucy and Steve had arranged for a copy of Janet’s wedding certificate to be presented to her by the registrar.

I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house.

I was so very sorry to receive an email from Lucy a few weeks ago to hear that Janet passed away just before Christmas. My condolences go to her family.  I’m just so glad that she was able to celebrate with you, Lucy.

Thank you to Cristina Rossi for seconding this one with me and a massive, massive THANK YOU to Lucy & Steve for having me along, for being amazing people and for having such an awesome wedding for me to photograph :) Much love xxxx


Hair & Makeup – Sabrina Lily (http://www.sabrinalily.co.uk/)
Dress – top, sash & petticoat custom made by Catherine Shaw (http://www.allboneandtrimit.co.uk/)
Flowers – Catherine Rubaine (http://catherinerubaine.blogspot.co.uk/)

Charlotte - The bride and groom have the best smiles, and this blog post has got me beaming too! Lovely!January 20, 2014 – 4:53 pm

Rachel - Such a beautiful story, a fabulous looking wedding and gorgeous images. This post has really made me smile! xJanuary 20, 2014 – 5:09 pm

Nasser - Wow these pictures are fantastic. I love the way the toning suits the mood as well.January 25, 2014 – 9:45 pm

Triatan - Lucy & Steve’s wedding was so much fun and the photo are superb. Thanks for doing such an amazing job for my best friends.March 18, 2014 – 3:47 pm

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Hey 2013, You’ll Be Missed….

So, 2013. You were pretty special.

Thank you, thank you, thank you –  for all the adventures I’ve been on;  the things I’ve learnt; the people who amaze and overwhelm me every day with their kindness, their stories, their passion for life.   I’ve been so spoilt in my job, photographing love and celebration and all the cake and dancing that goes with it.   It’s been such a blast, and I’m genuinely grateful.

2013 has been very kind and I’ll be sorry to see it go. Though, standing by the river at the stroke of midnight a few days ago, watching my lovely London light up in a sea of fireworks, I couldn’t help but think 2014’s going to be a good’un too.

Game on.
x

Sarah - Kay these are all AMAZING SO ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!!January 6, 2014 – 5:06 pm

Ellie - Super cool and super awesome – what a beautiful year.January 6, 2014 – 5:40 pm

Heidi - WOW – WOW and WOW. All of them stunning, what a year!January 6, 2014 – 5:43 pm

Lel - Oh Kat, I simply love your work, I can’t wait to see what 2014 holds for you :)January 6, 2014 – 6:03 pm

Ann Downham - Kat, AMAZING pics… AMAZING year… All the best for 2014, love Ann xxJanuary 6, 2014 – 6:03 pm

Ana - An Epic Year Lady! Here’s hoping we get to work on weddings together this year too, as you are a bit ACE XxxJanuary 6, 2014 – 6:09 pm

Cristina Rossi - Such a beautiful collection of images. You surely had a fab year Kat! :-) xJanuary 6, 2014 – 6:10 pm

Tarah - These are awesome! I love your editing and the emotion in these, what a year!!January 6, 2014 – 6:12 pm

Theresa Smith - Kat You really do take the most amazing pictures xxJanuary 6, 2014 – 6:14 pm

Sally - Amazing, stunning images Kat – 2013 truly was a wonderful year for you!!! I love these – but the ‘Let’s Dance’ image has got to be my favourite!!!! LOL! <3 xxxJanuary 6, 2014 – 6:21 pm

Emilie White - Stunning Kat – love it! Bring on 2014!!January 6, 2014 – 7:00 pm

Jenna Carpenter - Kat – You are an AMAZING photographer. Every single photo tell a story, captures emotion, happyness and love! Be very proud! P.s – all your brides have beautiful dresses! xxxJanuary 6, 2014 – 7:02 pm

Charlotte Bryer-Ash - Kat! I absolute adore your work, what an amazing year for you! Here’s to 2014, I hope you have a fab year xxJanuary 6, 2014 – 7:09 pm

Caesara - Kat these brought a tear to my eye! It was wonderful to see how many people had the joy of their wedding being captured by you and how many people share 2013 as a very special year along with us. Keep doing what you do! You are one of a kind! XxJanuary 6, 2014 – 7:13 pm

Karen Flower - Flipping awesome Kat. What a stunning set of images . Everyone looks like they are so full of life and love. Here’s a a brilliant 2014 xxxJanuary 6, 2014 – 7:19 pm

Becky - Utterly beautiful, you have such a talent Kat, your work is full of emotion and just speaks for itself. Nice one sister!January 6, 2014 – 7:49 pm

Kat Forsyth - Oh, Kat, you are clever! These are all lovely.January 6, 2014 – 8:09 pm

Clare - Kat, I’m beaming from ear to ear – your pictures are ace! What memories for your lucky couples. Can’t wait for you to shoot our day in August. Here’s to 2014, hip hooray! xJanuary 6, 2014 – 8:53 pm

Hannah Webster - That is one GORGEOUS set of images, lady. Absolutely fantastic. Your work is so crisp and bright and full of life. Lovely stuff. You’re a very talented photographer. xJanuary 6, 2014 – 9:04 pm

Laura Babb - What a joyous year. Beautiful work, Kat, and what a brilliant bunch of weddings you got to photograph. Happy 2014.January 6, 2014 – 9:50 pm

Laurenbythesea - Oh Kat, your photography never fails to blow my mind! What a year, what a woman! All the best for 2014, expecting great things for you xxJanuary 6, 2014 – 10:32 pm

Rach - Gorgeous images of so many fabulous weddings, incredibly captured Kat. Here’s to another amazing year. R xJanuary 7, 2014 – 8:10 am

Ciara - What a gorgeous reminder of your amazing work Kat. Hope you are very proud xxJanuary 7, 2014 – 9:27 am

Yolande DV - Gorgeous, gorgeous images Kat!! A superb and beautiful round up of your year, thanks for sharing xJanuary 7, 2014 – 12:57 pm

michelle waspe - ohhhhh Kat!!! incredible and sublime images. Bloody brilliant! You’re gonna have a superb 2014, I know it! xxxJanuary 8, 2014 – 12:12 am

Karls - Too talented for words. All so gorgeous! 2014 can only be even more incredible!! XxxJanuary 8, 2014 – 2:38 pm

Anneli Marinovich - Stunning collection of images Kat. What a year you’ve had! Here’s to an even more epic 2014! xJanuary 8, 2014 – 3:52 pm

Elizabeth | Bridal Musings - Wow wow wow! What a year of beautifully captured (and awesome) weddings. xxJanuary 20, 2014 – 6:30 am

Jack Frost - Nice to see such beautiful and adorable images of their wedding.. I love your work, it’s amazing. Thanks for sharing it with us. :)

Waiting for your next post Kat. :)March 6, 2014 – 10:01 am

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WEDDING // Mel & Dan’s London Wedding

London Pub Wedding_041-header

The more I blog, the more I realise there’s definitely a common thread to my weddings.  Whether I’m shooting in London Town or down in Provence, whether it’s a sophisticated 1920s-style wedding or a multicoloured party under the stars, whether there are 150 guests or just a handful, two things seem to always be true:

1. My couples are just the nicest people you could ever hope to meet; and
2. They’re always just so, SO thrilled to be getting married it kind of radiates and somehow manages to spill over into every photo I take.

Mel & Dan are absolutely no exception. In fact, they’re a very good example.

I love how Mel couldn’t stop smiling all day; I love that for a solid minute at the beginning of the ceremony, Dan’s just wiping away tears; I love how there’s a comic book theme to the table settings; I love how Mel makes a speech at her wedding (more brides should).

It really was the most happiest of days and I’m so thankful to have been along to be a small part of it.  Thank you so much to Cristina Rossi for seconding on this one and a big big thank you to Mel & Dan for just being awesome.  I wish you guys every happiness! xx

Phoebe - This is so beautiful. Dans face when he sees her is just so lovely! Always my favourite moment of a wedding.December 18, 2013 – 10:26 am

Wedding venues in Indore - Lovely place awesome pictures nice really looking great.December 18, 2013 – 10:38 am

Heidi - WOW – I love these photos Kat! So much emotion and your composition and editing is stunning. Each one is a little mini piece of art in it’s own right. Super…December 18, 2013 – 11:36 am

Margaret White - A wonderful selection of your stunning photos – it was a wonderful happy day and your photos capture it brilliantly. As the bridegroom’s mother it’s great to see these.December 18, 2013 – 5:19 pm

Delia - Margaret White, you must love these! Great work Kat!December 19, 2013 – 10:44 pm

Becky - The grooms tears during the service, the rings on the dominos, the first dance, the socks – so many great, fun moments beautifully shot. Great work as always Kat xJanuary 2, 2014 – 9:45 am

Li - Hi there

Freat pics, it looked like a beautiful day. May I ask where did Mel and Dan hold their reception?

Kind regards

LiMarch 12, 2014 – 1:40 pm

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PERSONAL // Eliya Children’s Home, Sri Lanka

Eliya Children’s Home sits in a little corner of the world; under the shade of banana trees, and within a sea breeze’s reach of a beautiful Sri Lankan coastline.  In a stretch of land that’s still recovering from a 30 year civil war, and the aftermath of the Boxing Day Tsunami, Eliya is a haven for 29 young boys who for one reason or another haven’t got a home to go to.

But it’s not a sad place.   There’s a pony, a gaggle of loving dogs and three cows. The boys go to school, eat well, and play on the swings and the slide.  The rooms are bright and clean and spacious. It’s a happy place, made possible by the donations of kind hearted people and the efforts of the owner Angelika and her team.

 I’d found out about Eliya via a Huffington Post article and as I was going to be in Sri Lanka anyway I pinged off an email to see if I could offer my services as a volunteer photographer for a day.  As it turns out, they needed some simple photos of the boys and the staff for their website and sponsorship program and within a week I was on a bus to Tangalle.

  If you have any loose change rattling round your pockets, this is a great place for it to go.  Angelika and her team have built something incredible and it’s so important that it continues.

Rach - I love this! Beautiful images to accompany a heart warming story. xDecember 13, 2013 – 12:46 pm

Sara - What beautiful photographs, really capturing their personalities. What an amazing place! xDecember 13, 2013 – 1:07 pm

louise | b.loved - Absolutely wonderful – so full of joy!! What an amazing experience xoDecember 13, 2013 – 2:06 pm

Karen Flower - These are adorable photos Kat – the children look very content and well looked after. It looks like this was an important part of your trip :) xDecember 13, 2013 – 2:10 pm

Heidi - What a great place and lovely photos Kat xDecember 13, 2013 – 3:28 pm

Kelly Spence - What beautiful pictures of an amazing looking place! xDecember 13, 2013 – 3:51 pm

michelle waspe - beautiful photos, so inspiring xDecember 13, 2013 – 5:58 pm

Lauren - Oh Kat, these photos are full of so much life and colour. What an amazing place! You must have been so inspired xxDecember 13, 2013 – 7:58 pm

Sally - Amazing. Love the smiles on their faces! xxxDecember 13, 2013 – 8:30 pm

Kirsten Mavric Photography - There are so gorgeous, Kat xDecember 14, 2013 – 9:10 am

Anna - Oh my Kat, these are just beautiful. The boys all look so happy, but I still feel some sadness by this post . XxxxDecember 15, 2013 – 2:19 am

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WEDDING // Amy & Doug’s Elegant Countryside Wedding

I loved shooting Amy & Doug’s beautiful countryside wedding.  Dramatic clouds with glorious sunshine, a first look, an incredible tall-ceilinged American-style barn, a gorgeous couple and a super packed dancefloor – what more could a photographer want?

Super bride Amy managed to organise all this wedding pretty all the way from the US – a feat of which I’m totally in awe.  I absolutely loved how the barn looked – so cosy and beautifully lit by fairy lights and candles.  It was all a little bit magic.

A massive thank you to Tracey Barrow for seconding on this one and a big BIG thank you to Amy & Doug for having me along. It was such a blast and I wish you guys every happiness! x

Teresa - Beautiful! And you got to love that first look… Great work!December 10, 2013 – 5:23 pm

Holly - What a beautiful wedding :) I love the moments you’ve caught for their first look, he looks head over heels!December 10, 2013 – 5:24 pm

Delia - A stunning wedding, beautifully portrayed!December 10, 2013 – 7:50 pm

Jenna Carpenter - Stunning photographs Kat! Beautiful wedding.December 10, 2013 – 9:07 pm

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