Honestly, we’d been looking forward to this wedding for a very long time, and have been referring to Danielle and Joseph in our correspondence with them in the run up to the day as our ‘romantic-comedy duo’. Ever since their Engagement Shoot in north London, where Joseph practically got naked in search of photographic hilarity, you’ll notice this is a running theme, we knew this day would be nothing if not hysterical. Before the day we were bouncing ideas around for photos, when a Bride and Groom request shots in their bedroom once the guests have gone home, you know they’re not the most conservative couple!

Our day started in Hampstead Heath Men’s Swimming Pond at the crack of dawn, where Joseph went to perform the ritual of Mikveh, which purifies the Groom on the morning of his wedding, a new beginning and a new married life. Jewish laws dictate that one should be totally naked when performing this ritual, but Joseph removing his shorts under the intensely watchful eye of the lifeguard was slightly awkward. We then spent time with Danielle’s amazing family as they got ready for the day, with all the parents, siblings, Grandma, dancing, cousins and neighbours that this entailed.

The ceremony was held at the very beautiful Lauderdale Road Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue and was officiated by none other than the perennially inspirational and eloquent Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis. It’s difficult to describe exactly what an honour it is for a young couple to be married by the serving Chief Rabbi of the UK, there are probably no secular comparisons which convey how special it truly is. Rabbi Mirvis knows both families very well, having watched Danielle and Joseph grow up in the Jewish community in north London, so he spoke personally and passionately about these two amazing people, and their awesome families.

Guests then made their way to one of our regular haunts the Marriott Grosvenor Square in Mayfair, to party the night away. Whilst we’re more accustomed to photographing corporate events in this great room, it was made to look truly stunning and a perfect setting for celebration, by our friends at Uptown Events.

On stage performing some amazing live music, were the brilliant Muzika along with Udi Ullmann. To say the guests were boisterous and up for a party is like saying the equator is ‘quite warm’… for most the evening this didn’t look like a suave dance-floor at the Marriott Grosvenor Square, but the poshest mosh-pit we’ve ever photographed. We may have we just coined a new phrase… Poshpit. Whatever the phrase, the energy was electric. The speeches were breathlessly hysterical, risqué and heartfelt in equal measure, the final words being given by Danielle, the love in the room was palpable. It was our pleasure as always to work with videographer extraordinaire Charlotte Armitage. Guests were treated to great food by Celia Clyne Banqueting, who we also thank for making sure our team was well fed!

As promised, our day did end with Danielle and Joseph in their bedroom. We must reiterate, this was at their request – as much as we like to give our clients everything they could photographically ever want, we don’t outstay our welcome! So we were shooting from 08:00 – 02:00, 18 hours solid of humour, emotion, glamour, romance, fun, partying, music and mayhem. We loved it.

Here are a few of our favourite shots…