The 2025 wedding season is shaping up to be really really wonderful. I have been back at some of my favourite London wedding venues and also some new places. This gorgeous East London wedding is a mixture of an old favourite and a new venue (for me).

Francesca & Christian had the most wonderfully relaxed London wedding at the Hackney Town Hall and then a gorgeous celebration at Lyle’s in Shoreditch. These two really wanted a day that felt like them after being together for over 10yrs, no fuss, just their favourite humans and some really good food.

I met them at The Redchurch Townhouse in Shoreditch where they chose to get ready together. Which I LOVE SO MUCH! Honestly, we don’t have to do the traditions if we don’t want to. Sometimes it’s just perfect to get ready together. I really loved Francesca’s wedding dress from Karen Millen, it was really unique and also beautifully simple and then Christian had a really lovely blue suit from Hugo Boss.

Everyone was ready nice and early so there was time to go and take some couple photos on the streets of Shoreditch in the lovely sunshine. I really love photographing in this area because there is always something new with the street art & colours.

Then we all hopped in a taxi and headed to Hackney Town Hall where we met all of their guests outside. I always love this, all the hellos & hugs, friends and family maybe meeting for the first time, so many great moments to document.

The ceremony was in the committee rooms at Hackney Town Hall and I love this space. It’s so beautiful with the wooden panelled walls and huge windows. The staff at Hackney are always so lovely & helpful, especially towards photographers, they know how important these memories are. After the ceremony we had a few mins for some couple photos in the hallway before going outside for confetti on those iconic steps.

We had a bit of time before the bus was going to take everyone back to Shoreditch so we did some couple photos around the town hall before having a quick drink in a local pub with some grumpy locals ;)

It was then on to the vintage double decker bus for the short but sweet journey to Lyle’s which is a part of the Tea Rooms Building. They started with drinks and speech from Christian’s Dad in the super cool foyer before heading into the restaurant for some simply stunning food. Lyle’s is a really stylish, industrial and bright space that also feels intimate. The staff are wonderful and the food delicious, a really perfect venue for an intimate East London wedding. It was a joy to photograph and capture memories in this space.

This was also my first wedding photographing with the brand new Sony GM 28-70mm f2. After 15yrs of photographing weddings I have been looking to simplify my kit further to support my back and hips and make space for a small analogue film camera but I haven’t wanted to leave behind the beauty of prime lenses. THIS ZOOM THOUGH! I never thought I would shoot zooms again but here I am.

The 28-70mm f2 was a joy to use. Incredibly light considering it’s size and what it offers. Super fast focus and so much flexibility that opened up more creative possibility. I didn’t miss my prime lenses at all and I am excited about the work I am going to create with this lens during the 2025 wedding season and beyond.