London Wedding Photographer Marianne Taylor | Creative wedding reportage photography covering London, UK and overseas | Blog » London

January press round up

Marianne — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:07:23 +0000

The year has barely got going, but it seems like so many amazing things have already been happening. My couples have also been busy prettifying the pages of many a magazine. Here’s a round-up on the latest coverage.

Isla & Ewan’s Scottish wedding was featured in the January issue of Wedding Flowers magazine.

Alexis & Jack’s glamorous Bath wedding can be currently seen in the Feb/March issue of Wedding magazine.

Christian & Phil’s civil partnership at the Gherkin was featured a while back in the summer issue of Pink Weddings, but I only got my hands on the magazine now.

Irene & Benn’s gorgeous London wedding graced the pages of Wedding Nouveau magazine‘s winter issue.

Sarah & Will’s London engagement session was featured in the brilliant Dashing magazine. Although this was technically an engagement session (purely because it took place before the nuptials, rather than a few years after), the article talked about Beloved sessions. I’m always happy to raise awareness of Beloved, so this was perfectly fine by me.

Blush magazine chose a picture from Alexandra & Billy’s Maunsel House wedding (top right) as one of their ‘favourite photos’ in the latest issue…

…while You & Your Wedding ran a feature on Alex & Billy’s wedding in their March/April issue.

And to end on a different note, also in the latest issue of You & Your Wedding, a pretty little pink & turquoise flower shoot we did with the lovely Steph (will tell you a bit more about this shoot later on).

Polly & Jack | Wedding

Marianne — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:26:04 +0000

Polly & Jack were originally planning a big do for next summer, but in the end they decided to get married in a small and intimate wedding in London, with just their nearest and dearest present. If not for the fact that Polly & Jack are Londoners, I would describe their event as an elopement. Although, surely it’s just as romantic eloping in your own city?

I was with Polly & Jack for just a few hours, from the sweet ceremony at Marylebone Town Hall, to some portraits in Regents Park (in the few moments of sunshine this otherwise damp day had for us!), through to the clinking of champagne glasses at the beautiful St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. I so enjoyed being part of Polly & Jack’s day, and I wish them all the best in the future!

P.S. before you ask, Polly’s amazing dress was by David Fielden!

The year in pictures

Marianne — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:49:57 +0000

It seemed like 2011 whizzed past in a blink of an eye. But going through all the images from the past year, I’m reminded of all the amazing things I got to witness. So many smiles, so much love. Such different couples, venues, families, countries. It’s all a bit overwhelming really.

I’d like to say a huge THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart, to all of you who made 2011 so special. To my couples who put such trust in me, who are just downright amazing, and who are the reason I have the best job in the world. To other people in the UK wedding industry, some of whom I’ve become very close friends with, you all rock. To Susanna, for continuing being the best assistant anyone could wish for. And to my husband, who, despite being the most impatient person I know, has shown incredible patience and support with my workaholic ways. Love you.

I am SO excited about 2012. I have many big plans brewing, some gorgeous weddings to look forward to, and I simply can’t wait to get stuck in. Happy New Year everyone, may it be the best yet!

Press round-up

Marianne — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 11:22:45 +0000

I haven’t done a press round-up in a while, so I thought I’d better fix that. Here are some pages from magazines from the last few months starring my couples. It never gets less exciting seeing my weddings in print, it’s just somehow very satisfying for an ex-magazine designer to see beautiful layouts with your own images.

First up, Katie & John’s beautiful Northbrook Park wedding was featured in the November issue of Wedding Flowers.

Saleema & David’s cool London wedding is currently gracing the pages of the
January (yes, as in next year, funny how that works) issue of You & Your Wedding.

Abi & Simon’s whimsical Surrey wedding was featured in the December Wedding Ideas Magazine.

And last, but not least, Rachel & Ben’s Oxford wedding with an outdoors ceremony
was featured in the October issue of Perfect Wedding.

The Winner – Best Wedding Photographer, London And South East

Marianne — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:53:22 +0000

So I was away on a blissfully lovely long weekend to Venice when I found out the news about me being a regional winner in The 2012 Wedding Industry Awards. My little mind was pretty much blown. I can’t begin to tell you what an honour it is to achieve such a title, especially seeing how high the standard was among the shortlisted photographers.

I don’t generally take part in many competitions, mainly because I never seem to find the time, and also because it always seems like trying to win something for ‘myself’ rather than for my clients. The Wedding Industry Awards struck me as being something different, partly for being completely independent, but mostly because the first round of voting was done by real life wedding clients. That was a huge factor in me deciding to take part, as it felt like it was something we were doing together with the people who are the reason I do what I do.

I’m so grateful to all of you who took the time to vote, you seriously rock. This accolade is as much for all my couples as it is for me – I couldn’t have achieved it without you making the decision to choose me to be your wedding photographer – I will be forever grateful for that! Thank you also to the esteemed judging panel, I am properly humbled and still quite gobsmacked.

Now we’ll have to wait until January to find out the national winner, but honestly, being called ‘Best Wedding Photographer, London and South East’ is (way) more than enough for me! Head asplode.

Alison & Anna | Civil Partnership

Marianne — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 16:39:29 +0000

I’m a sucker for symmetry, and when that it applies on a grander scale, it is even more satisfying. We started the year with Phil & Christian’s Civil Partnership celebrations at 30 St Mary Axe aka the Gherkin, and in what seems like the perfect closing of the circle, we’ve now finished the season with Alison & Anna’s Civil Partnership at the same venue.

Alison & Anna’s day was just perfect from start to finish. From the girls getting ready in their beautiful home overlooking The Dome, the classy paper goods by The Letter Press of Cirencester, the gorgeous matching Jimmy Choos (I mean really, I go nuts over one pair, feel free to imagine how excited I was about two pairs) and stunningly glamorous Amanda Wakeley gowns. Hamilton Stansfield worked his magic on hair and Bunny Clarke on make-up, and when the girls were ready to step out of the door they looked like genuine movie stars.

The Gherkin is such a cool venue that it doesn’t really need much embellishment, but arrangements by Inwater Flowers and the uh-ma-zing cake by none other than Choccywoccydoodah cake shop helped to set the very stylish and glamorous tone.

I think it was partly the knowledge that this was the last wedding of the season, and partly the fact that everyone present were so lovely and emotionally invested, but I certainly caught myself tearing up on more than one occasion, not least during the beautiful ceremony and the amazingly heartfelt speeches from the dads.

When the night fell and far far below us the Bonfire Night fireworks got on the way, the best DJ’s in town – The Wedding Smashers – worked their magic and got everyone on the dance floor. And that’s where we left Anna & Alison, looking like goddesses, dancing the night away as newlyweds, wide smiles lighting up their faces.

Thank you so much for having us Anna & Ali, there really couldn’t have been a more perfect ending to the season! x

Amanda & Nick | Engagement

Marianne — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:36:12 +0000

Amanda & Nick travelled down to London from Bath for their engagement session, and Amanda certainly came well-prepared! I don’t think I’ve ever had such a huge selection of lovely props to choose from, so huge in fact that we decided to save some for the wedding day portraits. :D

We first met up at the deliciously pink Peggy Porschen shop in Belgravia for some equally delicious, not to mention photogenic, cakes. From there we headed to Green Park for fun with the beautiful autumn coloured leaves. The day was so lovely and crisp with some beautiful sunshine thrown in, but you could definitely sense winter, and dare I say it, Christmas, in the air (I think the amazing gingerbread house at Peggy Porschen helped with getting into the spirit too!).

I had such a good time with Amanda & Nick, and I can’t wait until next summer – judging by the amount of thought Amanda put into the engagement session, the wedding is going to be off the hook amazing! But yes, let’s in fact have that Christmas first…

Sally & James | Engagement

Marianne — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:54:54 +0000

Sally & James live right next to Smithfield Market in London, and are getting married in their local church in the spring, so it made sense that we started their engagement session from the area. We then strolled down to the river, nipping in and out of cute alleyways (oh, I do love a good back alley!) on the way. There’s nothing I like better than getting to know my couples, and hanging out with Sally and James was such a joy. Can’t wait for their wedding day!

Nirali & Kunal | Engagement

Marianne — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:40:09 +0000

I bet Californian photographers’ blogs don’t talk about rain quite as much as mine does… It’s just a fact of London life that with every session there’s that element of excitement about whether it will bucket it down on the day or not. When it came to Nirali & Kunal’s engagement session, the pressure was really on, as between the days they were visiting London from New York and my availability, we had such a narrow window of opportunity to do our session. And of course, as if on cue, it started absolutely peeing it down an hour before our session… Luckily the rain shower was hard but short lived, and afterwards we got to have beautifully gleaming wet pavements to add a bit of London flavour into the shots.

I’m so glad the weather worked out, and despite the rain, I do love London in the autumn! It was such a pleasure meeting you Nirali & Kunal, and I hope your wedding back in NY will be absolutely fabulous! x

Elizabeth & Steven | Beloved

Marianne — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:50:00 +0000

I think I’ve made it pretty clear by now how much I love doing these Beloved sessions. As much as I adore photographing people getting engaged and all the happiness of their wedding day, there’s just something very special about photographing a couple who’s been together for longer. It’s comforting to find those roles and routines that keeps a relationship ticking, but as years go by we tend to forget to take the time to really have fun with each other like we did at the beginning. Beloved sessions are such a lovely way to reconnect and spend some quality time together. It’s like they give a permission to forget our busy lives for a while and just have a giggle and remember all the things we love about our chosen partner.

This Beloved session with Elizabeth & Steven was such a joy. Despite the threat of rain when we headed to Bushy Park, amazingly, when we got there the sun came out to play with us and made the gorgeous colours of the autumn shine. Watching these two was so very lovely, I got to laugh along with them, I got to feel moved, and when I got home I just felt incredibly grateful to be able to do a job such as this. At it’s best it can be pretty amazing. Thank you Elizabeth & Steven. x

P.S. do also check out Elizabeth’s photography blog.