A Proper English Wedding, By Emilie White [Rf Wedding of the Week]

There’s nothing better than when a client “gets” you. For London-based, French-born photographer Emilie White, photographing the nuptials of Gemma and Jack was a dream come true because she and the couple were on the same page.

All Photos © Emilie White

“I really felt that my couple got my style and approach,” she says. “The first time I chatted to them, the groom, Jack, referred to Martin Parr and said that he was not after perfection, that if someone dropped wedding cake on the floor, he definitely wanted a picture of this. Of course, I’m not comparing myself to Martin Parr, but what this meant to me is that they understood my way of shooting a wedding—the fact that I capture the pretty and artistic portraits but also embrace the imperfect in a wedding day. I had carte blanche to do my thing, which is the best feeling.”

“Aren’t they just the best-looking couple?” White asks rhetorically. “Jack (a senior audio producer for an advertising agency) has got the British Mick Jagger type of body and quirkiness, and Gemma is just so sweet. Gemma works as a part-time accounts assistant and also takes care of their beautiful little girl, Willow. They both love music and dancing (as they wrote in their wedding questionnaire to me—”we love the stupid, I don’t care who’s watching, kind of dancing“), are huge Bowie fans and are both very creative and totally embrace their quirkiness. They met in a grubby little club in SoHo that they loved and went to very week. They even managed to find the very same DJ from that club to play their first dance song at their wedding!”

“I didn’t face any real challenges for this wedding,” White concludes. “Perhaps a bit of nerves in the morning while getting ready as it was quite busy with family and friends. But I just gave my lovely bride some space to herself and she was fine. I take time to meet my couples and gather all the information I need via a questionnaire prior to the wedding. It helps me in my creative process down the line as it allows me to get to know them. In this case, I really felt that Gemma and Jack trusted my artistic eye and I didn’t face any real difficulties. I had the privilege of photographing two amazing people, and their little girl, and Gemma was in a gorgeous custom-made wedding dress from the talented Hermione de Paula (with Gemma and Jack’s daughter’s name, their initials and wedding date embroidered on the dress). It was truly amazing to be there and capture their day full of love and emotions. A big thanks to Clare Tam-Im for her help on the day!”

Gear For the Day:

Two Canon 5D Mark III’s with fixed lenses— 35mm, 50mm, 85mm and 135mm—and a speedlite flash for the dance floor.

Venues:
Getting ready: Rookery Hotel
Ceremony: The Chapter Hall at The Museum of the Order of St. John
Reception: St Bart’s Brewery

Check out more Weddings of the Week, and email Libby Peterson or Jacqueline Tobin with submissions.