LGBTQ+ Bistrotheque Wedding

London Weddings

Dec 8

Imagine being apart from the person you love the most for a whole year?

Ed and Mark were separated in different parts of the world for twelve months during the pandemic. Their love for each other got them through, and they celebrated their wedding just over a week ago, with karaoke, gorgeous cocktails, oysters and many tears all round. Dozens and dozens of friends and family who couldn't travel tuned in for the live stream, zoomed in to give speeches, and held parties around the globe.

"But who will play you in the movie of your love story?"

"Rhianna, and John Malkovich"

I feel very lucky to have met these two beautiful people, and very grateful to have captured their reunion celebrations.

Getting ready together

The two grooms got ready together at home in East London, with Mark’s Mum and Dad there to share the morning with them. Personally, I think it makes a lot of sense to spend the morning of your wedding or civil partnership with the person you’re getting married or partnered to, but some people prefer the anticipation of spending the night before separately. In terms of your photos, a shared morning can make for some slow, quiet moments between the two of you, before everyone else arrives.

Intimate wedding ceremonies

We then headed to the ceremony where Ed and Mark were joined by a handful of special guests. For me, this really works as a model; inviting a select few guests to share the ceremony before opening up the wedding to your wider friends and family. This gives you time to spend with your closest loved ones, and means you can get away with booking a smaller ceremony space! If you are in two minds about a smaller (20-30 people) wedding, dividing your day into these two parts can be a nice compromise.

Personalising your wedding ceremony

Ed and Mark invited two of their close friends to give readings at their civil ceremony, prompting tears from everyone in the room (including myself and the registrar). Your civil ceremony script can be personalised however you choose, as long as the legally binding part is spoken. Don’t feel restricted to the script you’re given and please, if you are a same-gender couple who receives a ‘Mr & Mrs’ script, let your registry office know! Ed and Mark also wrote their own vows to one another, which were utterly beautiful.

Group photos

After the ceremony we had some time to take photos in the park before leaving for the reception. In the photo below you see Ed and Mark’s wedding party, who’d been asked to wear something yellow to stand out as a group. I think this is a really lovely way of going about the ‘dresscode’ for your wedding party, without asking everyone to wear exactly matching outfits. It allows each individual personality and style to shine. We took some photos of the group strutting through the park arm in arm, and then some of Ed and Mark. On a busy wedding day, with lots going on, it’s often a good idea to break up the ‘couple photos’ into short bursts throughout the day, especially if you are hopping between locations. This maximises your time with your guests and means you aren’t away from the action for too long. Alternatively, you can choose to hang back while your guests make their way to the reception, and aim for a longer portrait session to give you a breather from everyone’s company for a while. A detour to get a coffee, or a pint, can be a good excuse for some time alone in the middle of the day.

Bistrotheque weddings: An industrial wedding venue in the heart of East London

After the ceremony we took a taxi over to Bistrotheque; a beautiful, industrial East London wedding venue. If you’ve never been, then please treat yourself to brunch. The food is excellent. Guests were served oysters, sharing plates of salads, cured meats and fresh bread. The space feels airy and open, with a clean, modern style. There is a second, smaller private dining area downstairs, which is a great choice for intimate weddings.

Here Ed and Mark were joined by dozens more guests, including those who lived far away, who joined us via Zoom link to share in the day. Speeches were delivered in person and over Zoom.

Couple Photos

As mentioned earlier, short busts of couple photos can work for a long and busy wedding day. We waited until the light hit just right, and the speeches were over, for a quick wander around outside the venue. Ed and Mark took their cocktails along for the walk, and we found the area right outside the restaurant is surprisingly quiet; ideal for a quick portrait session.

The wedding afterparty

After our time at Bistrotheque ended, we headed back to Ed and Mark’s home for an after-party in their garden and karaoke in the sunshine. It was really special to spend time with them and their closest friends at home, and I think it’s amazing how much Ed and Mark packed into their day. Planned right, you can have an intimate wedding reception, a massive party, and a house party all in one day.

I love couples who aren’t done after the reception and carry on with an afterparty - some of my favourite wedding memories are of the impromptu afterparties with the last ones standing piling into the couples’ home or hotel suite to continue the celebrations.