bike shed shoreditch Wedding
town hall hotel & bike shed Wedding
AMY & HUSSEIN’S BIG COLOURFUL WEDDING AT BIKE SHED SHOREDITCH
Some weddings stay with you because of the people, some because of the atmosphere, and some because they manage to be all of those things at once. Amy and Hussein’s wedding at The Bike Shed in Shoreditch was one of those days: big, colourful, wonderfully unconventional and full of the kind of unfiltered joy that makes documentary wedding photography such a pleasure.
With Amy’s Jewish heritage and Hussein’s Somali background, this was a celebration that brought two cultures, two families and a whole lot of fabulous people together. Add in nine bridesmaids, nine groomsmen, a room full of kiddos, traditional dancing and one seriously cool East London venue, and you have a wedding that was never going to be short on character.
Getting ready at Town Hall Hotel, Shoreditch
Amy began the morning at the gorgeous Town Hall Hotel in Shoreditch, with her bridesmaids, many of whom had flown distances to be there. It was a lovely setting for prep, with plenty happening as everyone got ready and the excitement steadily built. Hair, make up and food, nails and perfume, trying and fitting, plus lots of fizz! Meanwhile, Hussein was with his nine groomsmen in a funky private apartment nearby. These two have a real sense of style, and that carried through every part of their fabulous day. While the two groups were getting ready, their guests began gathering at The Bike Shed, arriving throughout the morning. There was a lovely sense of anticipation, with a couple of gorgeous little ones already waiting at the venue for Amy to arrive.
A Wedding at the Bike Shed, Shoreditch
The Bike Shed is a pretty special East London wedding venue. Housed within four huge Victorian railway arches, just off Old Street, it’s a motorbike-inspired club space with a character all of its own. Exposed brickwork, industrial architecture and generous open spaces make it a brilliant setting for couples looking for something a little different. For Amy and Hussein, the arches offered the perfect backdrop for a celebration of this scale. One of the arches was set up for the ceremony and later for drinks & dancing, while another had been transformed into a dining space for their 200 guests. The outside terrace provided a little breathing space between the festivities. And with a guest list bringing together so many different backgrounds, generations and personalities, there was never any shortage of things to capture.
MY HIGHLIGHTS
Here’s a selection of my favourite images from Amy & Hussein’s wedding party at The Bike Shed
A Joyful Ceremony beneath the Chuppah
By the time everyone had gathered for the ceremony, the atmosphere was already buzzing. Hussein waited at the top of the arch beneath the chuppah, traditionally used in Jewish wedding ceremonies, with their celebrant. Then the bridesmaids began their entrance, making their way down the aisle in pairs, dancing happily as they went. And when Amy arrived on her dad’s arm, the response was absolutely wonderful. It was such an enthusiastic welcome! The ceremony brought together personal vows, readings and the exchange of rings, with a few Jewish traditions woven into the proceedings. 7-blessings, wine and breaking the glass – and then they kissed and the celebrations began.
Hugs all round and time for Portraits
After After the ceremony, guests spilled outside onto the terrace for drinks, hugs and the chance to catch up. With family and friends coming together from different walks of life, it was one of those lovely parts of a wedding day when everyone begins to relax into the celebrations. Not long after, I whisked Amy & Hussein away to take some portraits nearby, heading towards Arnold Circus, one of Shoreditch’s hidden gems. It’s a wonderful little pocket of greenery amid the surrounding busy East London streets, and a brilliant spot for photographs. The bandstand has even appeared on screen in the fab spy thriller, Black Doves! We had time and space to wander, take photographs and let Amy and Hussein enjoy a few moments together. You could see how much it meant to them to finally be there, married and surrounded by everyone they loved after months of busy planning. They’re a gorgeous couple, who naturally connected. No elaborate posing or endless direction needed. Just two people who were completely happy in love.
Dinner, Speeches and a Room full of Love
When we returned to The Bike Shed, guests were seated and the room erupted as Amy and Hussein entered. With guests on their feet, shouting and cheering it was a brilliant moment, full of spontaneous energy that makes a wedding come alive. Speeches followed, with loving words from parents and best friends. And a sweet moment when the couple’s daughter said a few words of her own. Dinner brought everyone together around huge sharing platters without any sense of a formality. Children were running about, friends were catching up, families were getting to know one another, and the room was alive with conversation and laughter. It felt less like a carefully choreographed event and more like one enormous, happy gathering of people who were genuinely happy to be there.
Celebrating Somali and Jewish Wedding Traditions
One of the things I loved most about Amy and Hussein’s wedding was the way they honoured both of their cultures, and created a celebration where both had a place. After dinner, the festivities moved into traditional Somali Buranbuur, a form of Somali women’s poetic performance traditionally associated with celebrations and important occasions. It was a wonderful way to bring Hussein’s Somali cultural traditions into the heart of their wedding. And then came the Jewish dancing too – the much-loved hora, one of those traditions that makes for brilliant photos. The energy builds, the circle of dancers grows, and suddenly Amy and Hussein were raised up, surrounded by everyone who hustled to get up front! The two traditions were different, but they shared something important: music, movement, community and the joy of celebrating together.
Final Thoughts – A Wedding full of Colour and Joy
I left as the dancing was well underway, having photographed a day that had offered everything that I love about weddings. A loved up stylish couple, full of personality and clearly completely besotted with one another. Their wedding was a reflection of that, bringing together two cultures, two families and generations of friends and relatives in a space that suited them perfectly. There were no shortage of beautiful details, but what stayed with me most was the feeling of the day. The enormous welcomes, the happy chaos, the children weaving between everyone, the different traditions, the laughter and the sheer enthusiasm with which everyone celebrated Amy and Hussein. It was colourful, energetic, inclusive and full of life. And for me, that’s what documentary wedding photography is all about. Being there to observe the moments as they happen, to notice the little interactions and the big emotions, and to tell the story of a wedding as it genuinely felt. Amy and Hussein’s wedding at The Bike Shed was an absolute joy to photograph, and a lovely reminder that some of the most memorable celebrations are the ones that bring different worlds together. Amy and Hussein, thank you for having me along to document your brilliant day. And big thanks to Charlie my fab second photographer on the day!
If you’re getting married at the Bike Shed and looking for a photographer who will document your day discreetly and authentically, I’d love to hear more about your plans.. You can get in touch via my contact page or just call 07956419207 to chat to a real person! Want more wedding inspo, here’s a wedding I shot at The Film Shed, that you might want to have a peek at.
ARE YOU GETTING MARRIED AT THE
THE BIKE SHED?
If you’re getting married at the fabulous Bike Shed in Shoreditch, or Town Hall Hotel or any other London venue, like my relaxed style of photography, and want more information, I’d love to hear more about your wedding plans and chat about working with you!
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