Magdalene College Wedding Photographer, Cambridge

“Jack, we love the photos! There are some absolute beauties in there. Our favourites are the natural shots of us laughing or looking at each other. You have captured perfectly the happiness we felt that day. We also love the ones of the kids doing their thing! We can’t wait to look through these with our families.”

— Yoko & Ramsey

It's not often that my wife is more excited about a wedding venue than I am, but in this case she probably pipped me at the post. The absolutely beautiful Magdalene College in Cambridge was where she spent a very happy three years getting her degree. Like her, many of it's alumni hold a great deal of affection for the college and some, like Ramsey, even decide to get married there years later. They commissioned me as their Cambridge Wedding Photographer for their wonderful wedding celebrations.

I had visited the college a few times before with my wife and had always wanted to photograph a wedding there so I was thrilled when Ramsey and Yoko invited me to do so in October last year. Magdalene College suits itself so well to weddings. There are plenty of wonderful old rooms for the bride to get ready, a pretty quad with the famous Samuel Pepys library at one end for the ceremony, a candlelit wedding breakfast in the grand Formal Hall and plenty of little gardens here are there for the guests to spill out onto afterwards.

Yoko and her bridesmaids got ready in one of the Tutor's studies as the guests started to arrive downstairs. As a documentary wedding photographer I'm always delighted when the entire day is at one venue as I can quietly and unobtrusively capture both aspects of the beginning of a wedding. It's hugely helpful in telling the story of the day that I am able to capture both a sense of the excitement of the bridal party and the hustle and bustle of the guests before the ceremony at the same time.

When everyone was seated, the bride made her way down the aisle escorted by her proud father. They got married in the shadow of the Pepys Library in a beautiful ceremony with readings from friends and family.

After the ceremony, champagne was served in the gardens next to the river under the shade of the fruit trees. I love this part of the day. As the bride and groom chat away with their guests, it is easy for me to do what I love most - blending into the background and quietly capturing little moments that help to tell the story of the wedding day.The Formal Hall was a beautiful setting for the wedding breakfast. As there was such an international crowd in attendance, guests were asked to say little toasts to the happy couple in different languages from around the world - a really special little touch which led to a particularly enthusiastic toast which was my favourite photo of the day.An afternoon tea with some magnificent looking cakes and lawn games in the Pepys Library garden rounded off a special day. I had such a great time capturing Yoko & Ramsey's wedding. I hope you enjoy looking at the photos as much as I did taking them.

CONGRATULATIONS YOKO & RAMSEY!