Windsor Guildhall weddings - everything you need to know
Are you planning a Windsor Guildhall wedding? Looking for inspiration for wedding venues in Windsor or Berkshire? As a Windsor wedding photographer, more than half the weddings I photographed last year were held at the Guildhall. I feel so lucky to have the Guildhall on my doorstep - it's such a stunning and historic venue. So I'd like to share with you all my tips for marrying at the Guildhall. Read on below...
To book your Windsor Guildhall wedding you need to contact RBWM (the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead). Bookings for the Guildhall can be made up to 12 months in advance of the ceremony (the RBWM registrars don’t take bookings further than 12 months and as you need to book the registrar before the venue, the Guildhall has to comply with the 12 month booking limit).
Ceremony bookings are for one hour from 10am with the last of the day at 5pm. You should contact the Registrar’s Office to complete the paperwork and confirm there will be a registrar available to conduct the ceremony. Their office number is 01628 796422 or you can email [email protected]
As you can see from the photos above, the Guildhall is a stunning venue - you can marry in grandeur watched over by paintings of royalty. The Windsor Guildhall are happy to arrange viewings of this stunning venue before or after you make your booking.
With such grand surroundings, do you need to be planning a grand wedding? Not necessarily! I have photographed weddings of all sizes at the Guildhall from four guests (including the bride & groom!), through small and intimate family ceremonies, to larger weddings with a hundred guests. The Chamber can seat a maximum of 100 people and is the Guildhall's largest room. The majority of couples I have photographed have chosen the Chamber as their ceremony room, even if they have only a small number of guests. Should you prefer a smaller room, the Ascot Room where Prince Charles married the Duchess of Cornwall, can seat 15 people and has beautiful stained glass windows along two of its walls.
The charges for a wedding ceremony depend on the day of the week, although if you live locally, it's worth remembering that RBWM residents receive a discount.
On the day, your guests should arrive 15 minutes before your ceremony. Most ceremonies last approximately 30 minutes, after which your guests will head out to the steps outside to greet you as newlyweds. Although confetti is not permitted inside the Guildhall, once the Guildhall's remarkable red doors are closed, they make a beautiful backdrop for confetti outside.
Should you be unlucky enough to have rain on your wedding day then, fortunately, the Guildhall has its covered area with its infamous pillars (there are a number of stories as to why the pillars stop a couple of inches short of the ceiling above them). Although this is a public thoroughfare and a little cosy with lots of guests, it is possible to arrange a few photos undercover away from the rain.
Once you've booked your ceremony date and venue, you'll be considering reception venues. We are fortunate that Windsor has a number of venues to suit all tastes and budgets.
If convenience is important, then across the High Street from the Guildhall you are spoiled for choice with three amazing hotels - The Castle Hotel, The MacDonald Hotel Windsor and the Harte & Garter. The Castle Hotel even has suites that overlook the Guildhall doors so you can get ready with a glass of champagne whilst watching your guests arrive from afar.
Although none of these hotels have outside grounds, Windsor provides a number of photogenic locations. The Long Walk
offers far-reaching views of Windsor Great Park as well as the Castle, and is just a five minute walk from the Guildhall. Permits are required for wedding photography on the Long Walk; whilst there is no cost and I sort this all for you, a permit will only be granted for weekday weddings and it's subject to no other events taking place on the Long Walk (also worth noting that groups are restricted to a maximum of ten people and confetti is not permitted).
The Guildhall Island itself with cobbled streets running down the side of the Castle is another attractive (and generally quieter) location for wedding photographs. Or five minutes from the Guildhall in the opposite direction is the River Thames which provides plenty of photo opportunities. You may even wish to consider a boat trip along the Thames for you and your guests. Beside the Thames, The Christopher Wren Hotel has a lovely reception room and balcony overlooking the river.
For venues further afield, you may wish to consider the gothic Oakley Court Hotel with it's film history (the location for The Rocky Horror Picture Show amongst others) and gardens overlooking the Thames. Reached with a short 10-minute drive it's still pretty handy for the Guildhall - Christopher Cars can provide Classic and Vintage wedding cars to whisk you there. Alternatively, you may choose a Windsor Carriages ride along the Long Walk to a more relaxed and informal reception at the Fox & Hounds pub on the outskirts of Windsor Great Park.
Once you've booked your venues and transport, you'll want to book a photographer (I'd love to capture your day!), as well as considering flowers, cakes and hair and make-up. Below are a list of people I've worked with before and can highly recommend. Enjoy the planning - it's such an exciting time - and please get in contact if you've any questions about photographing your wedding at the Guildhall and around Windsor!
Reception Venues
Transport
Event Decor & Floristry
Florists
Cakes
Hair & Make-up
Hair & Makeup by Jade Victoria
Ben & Mary's winter wedding at Windsor Guildhall & Oakley Court {wedding photography Windsor}
I start 2018 by wishing huge congratulations to Mary & Ben whose wedding on Saturday was my last of 2017. They said their vows at the wonderful Windsor Guildhall (where I've photographed eight out of my fifteen 2017 weddings!) and celebrated at the beautiful Oakley Court Hotel, another of my favourite Windsor wedding venues, and a perfect choice for a winter wedding with it's gothic interiors and open firelaces.
The bride looked absolutely stunning in Alexander McQueen, with the most amazing pair of Louboutins that looked like they had been made for the dress (I had major shoe envy!). It was a lovely intimate day, with close family and friends around them to celebrate. No Windsor wedding would be complete without a visit to the Long Walk for photographs by the Castle, before their vintage white Jaguar whisked them back to Oakley Court for a candlelit meal to celebrate.
What a great way to end the year! Mary & Ben, I wish you all the very best for a fantastic 2018 and a wonderful life together with your family - thanks for choosing me to capture the memories of your special day.
Planning a winter wedding {Windsor photographer}
"If I booked a summer wedding, I knew I'd spend the whole time hoping for sunshine and worrying about rain. If I booked and planned for a winter wedding, I would expect it to be cold and bad weather, and if the sun shone, it would be a bonus". Wise words from one of my recent winter brides. Summer weddings can be beautiful - long days, sunshine, balmy warm breezes; but we can't always rely on the British summertime to provide that.
Booking a winter wedding has other benefits - marrying off peak can mean access to venues that are sometimes fully booked years in advance for summer dates, some may also offer off-peak rates; if you're a fan of Christmas, snow or frost, then you can make this a feature of your wedding; and who doesn't love open fires, candles and mulled wine?
As I prepare for photographing two winter weddings over the next two weekends, I thought I'd share some of my tips for planning a winter wedding. Read on below...
Images from a styled winter wedding photo shoot - more details below.
Weather
It will definitely be cold; it will most likely be grey; there may be rain, frost, ice or snow. Plan for bad weather and you won't be disappointed. With this in mind you may wish to consider the following:
- When visiting and choosing venues evaluate their indoor space. You will spend most of the day inside so you want a beautiful backdrop as well as plenty of space so that your guests don't feel cramped. I've photographed winter weddings at the following local venues and all have been great: Royal Berkshire Hotel, Berystede Hotel, Oakley Court, Beaumont House and Stoke Place.
- What will you wear? If you are spending all day inside a single (warm!) venue then a strapless dress may work well for you. However, if you need to travel between venues, plan what you will wear to keep you warm. If you've ever fancied a long white hooded cloak, then there will never be a better time!
- If you need to travel between venues, consider the distance and whether bad weather might make travel more difficult - ensure you have contingency plans for your travel route in case of heavy rains, flooding or ice. Keeping your ceremony and reception all in one venue makes this one less thing to worry about.
Light (or lack of it!)
Other than the temperature, the other key difference with winter weddings is the lack of light. In the depths of mid-winter the sun will be setting at 4pm. If you'd like any photos in sunlight, then you'll need to consider the timings of your ceremony - planning your ceremony for midday or earlier afternoon ceremonies will give you time for photos before it gets dark.
Choosing a photographer
Ask your photographer if they've photographed a winter wedding before; photography is all about light and the reduced natural sunlight means they will need to consider other means for lighting your wedding images. I've photographed several winter weddings and have also specifically trained in lighting for winter weddings. I am skilled working with natural light (including window and electric lighting indoors) as well as flash and have a number of on-camera and off-camera options that I can choose from to bring to your wedding, depending on the kinds of images we're trying to achieve.
An experienced photographer will also understand how their equipment responds to the cold (e.g. avoiding fogged lenses and handling reduced battery life).
To go outdoors or not?
Once you've decided on your winter wedding and your venue, you'll be considering whether you wish to go outdoors for any of your photographs. As you can see in the slideshow above, bare winter branches and frost can make for some dramatic images. Ask yourself whether you're hardy enough to brave freezing temperatures to get some beautiful outdoor images? Will you be happy walking across potentially muddy ground in your wedding dress (this one seems to split brides down the middle - some say you're only wearing the dress for one day so just go for it, others are keen to keep the dress and shoes as pristine as possible)? If you have a beautiful backdrop and warm open fires inside, then you may prefer to stay there for your photos.
In any case, you may need to have a contingency in case of heavy rain (whether that's to stay inside, or have wellies and umbrellas ready and waiting!). My professional equipment is all weatherproof, so I'm happy to photograph in all weathers, depending on what you'd like to do. I also bring sheets for you to stand on for images whilst we arrange your dress, to keep it as protected as possible whilst it's on the ground.
If you'd like group photos, your guests may prefer to stay indoors. Is there a space in your venue that can accomodate group photographs. It's worth discussing with your photographer how you will arrange your group photos, and what's the maximum group size achievable in your indoor space.
Theming
One of the opportunities that a winter wedding affords you is to go all out with your theming. The images above were inspired by Disney's Frozen, aiming for the appearance of the hardened ice queen. Pinterest is an excellent resource for ideas (you can start by checking here which is the board we used to plan the above photoshoot), whether it's ice blue, snowflakes, a warm hygge-style theme, or Christmas-reds you're bound to have fun planning your theme.
For styling options you can add a little sparkle and glitter or could opt for warm fabrics such as velvet and faux fur. What accessories will you choose to keep you warm - from shrugs and capes to stylish winter footwear?
If you've booked a winter wedding date and looking for a photographer, or considering a winter wedding and would like to discuss your photography options, then please get in touch.
The images above were created with the following creative team:
Photography: Photography by Abi Moore
Organisation and styling: Little Star Events Wedding Fayres
Venue: Royal Berkshire Hotel
Dresses: Sophie Grace Bridal
Hair and make-up: Wedding Hair and Make-up by Natasha Wiggins
Cakes and macarons: Gifted Heart Cakes
Flowers and room decor: Seventh Heaven
Bouquet: Bows and Bouquets
Toastmaster: Nigel Worsfold
Luna the owl: CSR Falconry
Model: Jemimah Scott
Victoria & Richard's Berystede wedding {photographer Ascot Berkshire}
I'd like to wish huge congratulations to Victoria & Richard after photographing their wedding on Saturday! I arrived at the Berystede early in the morning to Victoria being interviewed for her wedding video whilst her bridesmaids were having hair and make-up done amidst laughter and a few tears as Victoria told the story of Richard's proposal - including her asking him if he needed a Gaviscon after mistaking his nerves for indigestion! The laughter and tears continued throughout the day, with an emotional ceremony at All Saints Church in Binfield, then back to the Berystede for fun with their friends and family, including an oversized garden gnome in West Bromwich Albion kit and a magician performing some amazing tricks.
I wish you both the very best for a happy life together - many congrulations!
All about Autumn family photoshoots {photographer Windsor}
Autumn is my favourite time of year - crunching through fallen leaves, bonfires, warm snuggly jumpers, hot chocolate in the warm after a crisp country walk, the promise of a festive season just around the corner. So it's no surprise that it's also my favourite time of year for photo sessions too - not least because of the autumn colours and the golden light we get.
For everything you need to know about a family photo session outdoors during Autumn, please read on...
Why go outdoors?
It's a good question - when I have a studio kit that I can bring to you - why would you go outdoors for a photoshoot? My style is relaxed, natural and all about having fun. Most kids I know are happiest when they're outdoors, breathing fresh air, with the space to run free. The light outside can also be awesome and at this time of year, I cannot get enough of the rich autumn colours. In short, the photos look great and it will be much more fun for the whole family!
What happens on an outdoor photo session?
We'll meet at our agreed outdoor location (more about that shortly) and we'll go for a walk. I'll start by chatting to the kids and getting to know them, putting them at ease in my company. Depending on their age and what they like, we might go hunting for bugs or fairies, we might be looking for trees to climb, or exploring in the woods (going on a bear hunt?).
It will take about an hour and a half. During our walk, I'll get natural photos of them playing as well as stopping every so often for some portraits together as a family. Whilst these are more composed, they shouldn't feel formal or posed - I encourage everyone to have fun, chatting together, telling jokes or tickling - it should feel (and therefore look) very relaxed and natural.
It will be fun - these are memories you'll be looking at for years to come, so it's important that they are genuine memories of a fun day out!
Where will we meet?
I have lots of great locations I use around Windsor, Maidenhead, Burnham, Ascot and Bracknell - we'll pick one that works for you and fits for your family (are you looking for a meadow where the kids can run free or do you have climbers that need trunks and fences they can climb on?!). I'm also looking for new locations around Marlow, Henley and Reading, so please let me know if you know of a hidden gem.
What should we do to prepare/ do we need to bring anything with us
?
The main consideration is what to wear (so that gets its own question, up next!). We'll have a consultation on the phone before your shoot where we'll discuss what you're looking to get from your photos. It's great if you can tell me things about your kids: Are they Paw Patrol, Minecraft or Disney Princess fans? Are they wary of dogs (we'll pick a location where there are fewer dog walkers)? Is there anything specific that makes them laugh?
I'll also discuss what you're most looking forward to, or equally anything you're concerned about, as it's just as important that you feel relaxed and enjoy yourself. If there's anything you're less happy with when you see photos of yourself, then please tell me, as I have lots of tips for flattering ourselves in photos.
On the day, I recommend ensuring everyone has been well fed, visited the toilet and is dressed for the weather. Please bring drinks and snacks, as well as tissues or baby wipes, that way we're fully prepared for unexpected hunger pangs or runny noses.
What should we wear?
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This is the big question I get asked - there's a quick answer and a longer one! The simple answer is you should all be comfortable, so don't wear clothes that you wouldn't normally - particularly if you're a casual kind of family (which most of my clients are), don't feel you have to dress up for your photo session. There are a couple of guidelines that I recommend for everyone: The first is to keep it classic and simple with block colours, and avoid big pictures/ prints/ wording on clothing. Whilst your kid's favourite top may have their fave cartoon character emblazoned across it, it will draw your eye in photos, so ask yourself if you really want that hung on your wall (if the answer is yes, then go for it, I've never turned anyone away from a shoot for not following my clothing guidelines!). The second, particularly relevant in Autumn, is to layer clothes, so you can add or remove layers should running around make the kids hot, or if it suddenly gets a lot cooler. |
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Teaming neutrals with denim ensures a classic and timeless look for your images.
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In the family image below, neutrals and denim have been combined with burgundy for a classic look that works well with autumn colours.
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Try picking a colour and all wearing its different shades, teaming it with neutral greys or blacks. Here I've picked a quirky pumpkin-coloured scheme to work with the Autumn theme, but you don't have to be that bright...
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...If orange is not your thing, then choose different shades of a colour that's more you. This is the same family from the image above, working layering by removing the neutral jackets to reveal various shades of blue. Blue is a perfect contrast with the rich reds and browns of Autumn.
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Nature's colours during autumn are rich and bold, so a rich and bold colour palette works well - try a contrasting palette of burgundy, navy and mustard yellow.
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Below you'll see a rare photo of me with my family (I'm usually the other side of the camera), taken by the fabulous Nina Mace Photography based in Camberley. I wanted to go for a bold colourful scheme for our family, but none of us suits yellow, so we opted for blues, burgundies and purples which work well together
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What if it rains?
A bit of rain doesn't bother me, my equipment is all waterproof, so I'm quite happy if you'd like to go out and do some puddle jumping. If, however, you'd prefer a
drier session, I'll be watching the forecast in the days before our session and if it looks like it might be rainy, we'll agree a contingency plan. Despite it feeling that we live in a rainy country, it's rare to have days where it rains non-stop. The photo of me with my family above was taken about 20 minutes after it stopped raining - we have a great one from the start of our shoot with the light glinting off the raindrops! We may agree to make a call an hour before the session and meet up if there's just a few showers. If it looks more torrential, then we can always postpone to later in the day or another date.
How do I book?
I was hoping you'd ask! You can see my prices here, then give me a call on 07968 620835 or drop me a message via the contact page to find out my availability and get booked in.
Jess & Adam's Windsor Guildhall & Cliveden House Hotel wedding {photographer Berkshire}
I'd like to wish Jess & Adam huge congratulations after photographing their wedding on Friday. There was barely a dry eye in the room during their emotional ceremony, including from their youngest son who wanted cuddles from his mummy during the vows - although as Jess summed it up - "it was imperfectly perfect" and I couldn't agree more! And how handsome was their eldest son as ring-bearer (with both boys in suits to match their dads)?! We then headed off to Cliveden for their reception, with drinks on the terrace overlooking the parterre - such a stunning location for a wedding. Thanks for asking me to photograph your day for you - it was an honour and a pleasure - I wish you a very happy life together!
The importance of wedding photo albums
My wedding packages are all-inclusive of your digital images as well as a beautiful album to showcase your favourite memories from the day. Whilst the digital images give you a library of photographs to remember your day, without an album they will often remain forgotten hidden away on your hard drive. An album brings your day to life, telling the story of your day so that you can live the memories over and again. It's also a treasured heirloom for future generations - I love to look through the wedding albums of my parents and grandparents - picture your children and grandchildren looking through your book in years to come!
I offer three main albums in my wedding packages - the mini book, a small but elegant album for smaller weddings; the display book, which has an innovative magnetic acrylic cover to show your album off as a display piece; and the designer album, which is fully customisable to suit your day, your colour scheme and your individual preferences.
To give you a taster of the albums, I've videoed a couple of recent albums that I've designed. There is also a slide show below that gives you a taster of a few more. To view my wedding collections and pricing, please look here. Or please contact me for an album price list (the Designer Album is available as an upgrade to all wedding collections).
Display Album
Designer album
A selection of recent album designs
Jessë & James family-focused marquee wedding {photographer Windsor}
I've known Jessë & James a year or two now after photographing their little boy a few times since he was little, so I was delighted when they asked me to photograph their wedding. It was a long drive to Suffolk, but it was totally worth it for the beautiful setting with a marquee on Jessë's grandmother's farm. The farmhouse was built the same year Jessë was born so it was very meaningful family location for them. James and his dad were dressed in their family tartan, complete with a mini kilt for Jessë & James' little boy; whilst there was a blush pink and rose gold theme for the girls (and the amazing five-tier cake!). Thanks for choosing me to photograph your day - it was an absolute pleasure to see you all again and share your special day - wishing you all the very best for a happy future together!
Denise & David's rainy Windsor Guildhall & Danesfield House wedding {photographer Berkshire}
I'd like to wish Denise & David huge congratulations after photographing their wedding on Saturday. It was a very rainy day but that didn't dampen spirits of the happy couple. We found some lovely undercover locations at the Guildhall and at Danesfield House and even managed to pop outside between showers. It was a small ceremony with just a few very close family and friends in attendance, as Denise and David will marry in their native Malta next year. As the registrar said, despite the large room, the Guildhall always manages to feel cosy however few guests there are, and it was certainly full of love. It was a pleasure to photograph, having met Denise & David for engagement photos earlier this year. Wishing you a very happy life together and an amazing celebration in Malta next year!
Improving my newborn photography skills
"Learning is a journey, not a destination"
Longtime followers of my blog will know my views on training: I believe that there is always something else to learn and something new to experience. It's a reason why I love to share my training experiences here and shout about it - by training, I am improving my skills, which ultimately can only benefit my clients.
Every year, I set a training budget and a training plan, with priorities for what I'd like to learn during that year. Top of the list this year was a one-to-one newborn photography training workshop with the amazing Claire Elliott. As part of my ongoing quest for development, I have been mentored by Claire for the last three years, through my membership of The Guild of Photographers. It is her mentorship that has helped me to gain Qualified Status with the Guild, as well as win monthly awards with them.
I've specialised in photographing families since I started the business seven years ago, so why train specifically in newborns? Photographing newborn babies is quite different to photographing older babies, toddlers and children. As soon as little ones can move, they are pretty much in charge of the session - they decide how long they'll sit still for (if at all!) and where they're going. However, newborn babies need a certain amount of posing. I am keen to offer a comprehensive service for all families, whether you are expecting a baby, have a newborn or older children.
When posing and photographing newborns it's important to take care of their safety and wellbeing. Whilst I have been photographing newborns throughout my career, I was keen to advance my skills to be more confident in posing babies whilst ensuring their comfort. Claire, in my opinion, is one of the best in the business and had lots to share with me. As well as posing, we focused on lighting, wrapping babies for a more natural look, and tips for settling babies (some of which are amazing and as new parents you will be keen to learn to!).
The day started with some theory and the basics of setting up the equipment and lighting. We had a model in during the morning, which Claire talked me through in detail how to pose, light and photograph. In the afternoon, we were joined by a second model, and this time it was my turn to direct the session; posing, lighting and photographing the baby according to what I'd been taught that morning. Claire was on hand to supervise and answer any questions I had, as well as provide additional tips along the way.
In the slideshow above, you can see some of the images taken during our session. You can also see one of me in action settling on our the little models, and finally, I've shared an image taken in a newborn session since the training workshop - I was happy to be able to implement everything I'd learnt (all the settling tricks worked!) and provide my clients with some beautiful images. I'm looking forward to photographing lots more babies soon - if you'd like to book in for a newborn session, it is best to photograph your baby within their first two weeks, so please get in contact to book your session.