Winter wedding at St Pancras Renaissance Hotel

St Pancras Renaissance Hotel

I do love a big wedding, summer or winter, and recently had the pleasure of photographing Jackie & Adrian’s big winter wedding at the stunning St Pancras Renaissance hotel. Big weddings are always busy affairs with lots going on and lots of stories to tell. I love that I can get lost in them and shoot away without being seen. So from that perspective, as a documentary wedding photographer, big weddings are an absolute dream. I’ve shot weddings all year around at the St Pancras hotel from small, intimate ones on the Grand Staircase to big 200 guest weddings in the Hansom Hall, where Jackie & Adrian were hosting their London themed wedding. Their day started separately in the hotel for Jackie and at home for Adrian, so the talented Adam de St Croix was working with me that day as my second photographer. This meant we could document the day from different angles and really make the most of our coverage. The wedding ceremony was at 3pm so I had lots of time to capture Jackie’s preparations with the bridal party, including Adrian’s three beautiful daughters, and lots of little flower girls. It was a busy morning with hair & make-up, flowers, dresses, lunch, family and guests coming and going. But I love it so the busier, the better. The rooms are bright and spacious as you can imagine, in their gothic splendour. With tall floor to ceiling windows which really help brighten up the rooms on dark winter days.

Wedding Ceremony in the Long Gallery

Winter weddings are always much harder to shoot as the light is lower, and fades much quicker as sunset is much earlier during the day. But I’m always well prepared and having worked at this venue several times, I know what to expect. And the atmosphere at a winter wedding is so special. Once Adrian and the groomsmen had arrived, they greeted guests in the Long Gallery and awaited Jackie’s arrival. As you can see, it’s a long room with a long aisle so she certainly made a big entrance. After the ceremony with some lovely singing from one of Adrian’s daughters, they exited to Beautiful Day by U2 and their drinks reception got underway in the Ladies Smoking Room, another room I’ve also shot weddings in. There was a superb band called Wandering Hands entertaining guests during drinks, and the room quickly packed out with fast moving waiters serving copious amounts of fizz and canapés, whilst trying to dodge fast moving children who were getting rid of all their pent up energy! I headed into the station to take a few shots with the newly weds, walking back through the hotel onto the grand staircase for some family photos. Meanwhile guests were getting into the swing of things with a few dance and sing-offs (you know who you are :)) and everyone was clearly enjoying themselves.

Dinner in the Hansom Hall

Dinner was called and guests slowly made their way, snaking down the stairs towards the Hansom Hall, a monumentally impressive room. Jackie & Adrian had a fabulously talented wedding planner, Bimla of Bimlabee Productions on board to organise the entire wedding, and the big theme was London. She brought their ideas to life in the most magnificent way – with a stunning London backdrop for the band, tube signs and table names, as well as union jack sofas and an old London red phone box as their photo booth, it was mad! Jackie & Adrian made their big entrance and speeches got underway with a slightly nervous father of the bride kicking things off. There were a few tear jerking moments during the speeches and Adrian fought hard to hold his back too. Once done, they all kicked back and enjoyed a feast in celebration of their big day with cheeky dirty Martinis making their way round after dinner. The party didn’t stop. Cake cutting (what a cake!!) and lots of dancing, it went on and on. The band were insanely brilliant and the couple danced their first dance to Electric Dreams, so a big thumbs up there for a massive 80’s fan here!!

This loved up pair wanted a big day to celebrate and bring their loved ones all together. Days like this don’t happen very often, though it was clear from the speeches that Jackie & Adrian’s parties at home are a bit legendary, this one skyrocketed as a day none of them would forget. A generous big-hearted couple who clearly always put others before themselves. Thanks for choosing me Jackie & Adrian to capture your fabulous celebrations, it was my absolute pleasure and you guys are a class act!! A massive shoutout to all those involved on the day, including Bimla who was an absolute joy to work. If you’re looking for a wedding photographer for your St Pancras Renaissance wedding, here’s another wedding I’ve shot you might want to take a look at Summer Wedding at St Pancras Renaissance or another London winter wedding here.