Paul and Mark’s Camden Lock Civil Partnership. By Andy Wardle

We are in London today for a civil partnership which was sent into me by Andy Wardle . Not just any part of London though but Camden, and these photos show it off brilliantly  When I lived in London many years ago, I used to travel up to Camden every Sunday for the market, I used to love looking round the 2nd hand shops and the amazing stalls, so looking through these photos really took me back. Andy took the two grooms off for a walk after the ceremony to get some urban shots of them around the streets and for me it is the highlight of the wedding. I’m also loving the Jewish dancing later on, especially the ripped trousers, which I do believe belong to one of the grooms!

‘Just your average same sex half-Jewish wedding. A bit of elegance and a bit of maschugah!’

Paul and Mark who were married on 22nd July at the Holiday Inn at Camden Lock. ‘The location was beautiful – not your average gold-course/country house hotel, right in the heart of London, elegant and urban at the same time. We had 120 guests and it took a year and a half to plan.’

How they met
We met in Leeds when I (Paul) was there at university. We’ve been together for 6 ½ years

The proposal
It was new years eve. Mark got on his knees and said, “Will you marry?” me, I said, “Will you buy me diamonds?” He replied yes, so I agreed

Why did you choose your photographer?
We met Andy and Nicola at a same-sex wedding fair in Manchester. They came across as really personable and really wanting to help. The deal they offered was great value for money for everything you got – especially including the pre-wedding photo shoot (which we did in Blackpool and was great fun). Aside from that, his portfolio was incredible, and they seemed to make every shot look artistic and elegant. He really seemed to capture everyone’s days and the emotion and feeling involved

The Outfits
Saville’s in Brentwood, groomsmen was the same place – the bridesmaids dresses we designed ourselves and got a seamstress to make.

Food
Starter: Goats cheese and baby onion tartlet
Main: Chicken in a creamy mushroom and tarragon sauce
Dessert: Vanilla, raspberry and white chocolate cheesecake

Entertainment
We had the band, The Decades – they were great

Flowers
White gerberas on the tables and during the ceremony, white roses for the bridesmaids’ posies (Mark’s from Yorkshire so it seemed apt)

Theme or colour scheme
No real theme. The colour scheme was light blue, white and silver

Decoration
Nothing two extravagant, but we had the seamstress created pale blue and silver table runners made from the same material as the dressed. She also made the men’s cravats from it too. Then we had the flowers in a tall stem vase.

Personal / DIY touches
• I made the save the dates, invitation, thank you cards and favour boxes myself.
• I also designed the dresses
• We had a version of “I am What I am” from Le cage aus Folles recomposed to be a piece of classical music for when we walked down the aisle.
• We also designed the cake ourselves which we had specially made: white icing with blue and silver, but with rainbow coloured cake in the middle

Special moments
Andy Wardle took us for some private picture around Camden, we were walking in our Morning Suits around the canal and through the market and people we shouting congratulation and shaking our hands, which for a same sex couple felt amazing

Advice
Book everything in advance, especially before January and you’ll save yourself a fortune. You’ll also get the things you want rather than being stressed because you’ve run out of time

Biggest surprise
How all the different groups of friends and family got on and how everyone, including my more elderly, more old-fashioned relatives, enjoyed the day and genuinely had a fantastic time.

Supplier Shout Outs

• Photographer – Andy Wardle www.andywardle.com
• Flowers – LK Lily – www.lklily.co.uk
• Venue – Holiday Inn Camden Lock – www.holidayinncamden.co.uk
• Band – The Decades www.functioncentral.co.uk/acts/the_decades
  
• Suits – Mr Saville  – www.mrsaville.co.uk

For more information on Andy’s work go to 

www.andywardle.com
andywardlephotography.blogspot.com
[email protected]
FACEBOOK
@andywardlephoto
0161 4824959 / 0771 9560255