Autumn Weddings | Polly Alexandre Photography

Hilary and Ben – Claridges Wedding Photographer

October 7, 2014

I absolutely loved being Hilary & Ben’s wedding photographer, and by the time it came to their wedding, after doing pre wedding shoots in both Ibiza and Oxford, we knew each other pretty well. Hilary is a joy to photograph and has a great inner confidence and presence, and shares a fun and beautiful connection with Ben, a smart and well-mannered English gentleman.

The couple could have met at university, as they both attended Oxford University at the same time. However it was clear that by their extra curricular activities, it was obvious why their paths never crossed, Hilary spending her free time in restaurants and the library, and Ben mainly frequenting Oxford’s finest drinking establishments. However like all great love stories, there is a happy ending, and when two people are destined to be together, there will always be another opportunity for their paths to cross.

And so there was….. Hilary and Ben both secured jobs in the same City Bank, in the same department, and finally met. It was on an early covert holiday to Santorini that these star crossed lovers finally became a couple and made plans for a bright future together.

Hilary knows exactly what she wants, and I am honoured when she chose me to capture her wedding at Claridges. Her late grandfather was a photographer in China, her cousin shoots for Vogue and she herself is passionate about photography.

The couple (possibly giving more credit to Hilary here…!) planned a beautiful and elegant wedding at Claridges Hotel in London, and after a church ceremony, everyone headed to the quintessentially elegant Claridges for a beautiful reception. This really was a fairytale wedding, from the secret Vera Wang dress Hilary’s Mum ordered her as a surprise (in addition to the two she already chose herself!), to the long walk down the aisle in the grand St Pauls Church in Knightbridge, to the stunning multi tiered cake covered in hearts that Kristhanthi created for the couple. The real fairytale at the heart of the celebrations however is how Hilary and Ben met, fell instantly in love, and immediately knew they were destined to be together, becomign husband and wife less than 2 years after meeting.

It’s with this in mind I say a huge congratulations to such a smart, talented and lovely couple. Here’s to continuing your fairytale for many years to come! All my love xxx

Credits: Ceremony Venue: St Paul’s Knightsbridge; Reception Venue: Claridges; Bride’s Dress by Vera Wang; Hair & Make Up: Sarah Jagger; Florist: By Appointment Only Design; Cake: Cakes by Krishanthi; Videographer: Allora Visuals; ; Band: Florence Rawlings/ Young Guns; Stationary and all Paper Goods by Rose Ruby Paper Co

Renata & Johnny’s Day After Brunch at Grand Hotel du Cap, Cap Ferrat

September 28, 2014

For destination weddings I often cover the night before and day after events too. When Renata and Johnny married on the French Riviera, Johnny’s mother hosted a beautiful brunch the day after the wedding at the Grand Hotel du Cap in Cap Ferrat. Family and friends mingled in the sunshine over a beautiful brunch, tables laden with French cheeses, fresh breads, fruit and exquisite desserts, to the sounds of a jazz saxophonist.

You can see the couple’s wedding photographs here on my blog.

Mark & Liz: A Lancashire Wedding – The Inn at Whitewell

March 24, 2013

I travelled to many places last year and none surpassed the incredible natural beauty of Clitheroe, Lancashire, which I visited to capture Liz & Mark’s Wedding at The Inn at Whitewell, a beautiful English boutique hotel and country hunting lodge…..located quite literally in the middle of nowhere….And to make an already perfect day just that little bit better, we also had some of the best weather at a wedding. In October. In the North of England. Good old British weather: it never ceases to surprise!

Liz & Mark share a love of good food, wine and travel amongst other things…. and their wedding brought together all of these things…. in a beautiful and romantic setting, surrounded by the dramatic rolling hills of Lancashire. With her adorable twin nieces as bridesmaids, and the bride’s talented brother as stationary designer, this was a fun family affair with very much a focus on ‘living and enjoying the moment’, a phrase Liz shared with me a few weeks before the wedding.

To Mr & Mrs N: I hope you go on enjoying life and all the adventures it has to offer: you make a great couple and it was a joy to capture your celebrations…..with all my love for a bright and adventurous future together…. xxx

Venue: The Inn at Whitewell, Lancashire; Bride’s Dress: Maiden by Suzanne Neville; Hair by Kellie Hughes; Flowers: Linda Hardman at The Flower Shop; Cake: Betty’s Harrogate; Magician: David Lancaster; Band: A Few Good Men;

Kim & Chara – Wedding Photography at 45 Millbank, London

December 1, 2011

So…. what a day! You saw the sneak peek a few weeks ago, and now here’s the full post from Kim & Chara’s beautiful London wedding at Islington Town Hall & 45 Millbank. You wouldn’t guess it was spectacular gale force winds and rains would you? The smiles and happiness glowed throughout the day against a glamorous backdrop created by Kim herself. To read more about Kim’s ideas and planning process you can visit her blog or the website of The Pink Pumpkin her wedding planning consultancy. I will just share what Kim wrote to me about he images:

“You have such an amazing talent Polly; I really have no words to describe how happy we are with our images. Every time I look at them I have tears in my eyes. All my life I have hated having my picture taken and been so self conscious of what I look like and hyper critical of myself, and was so worried that I would be the same with our wedding pictures, but I love every single one of them and how you have managed to capture the love between Chara and I and all our friends and family. I have no idea how you do it, but everyone looks amazing in all the images, and we will treasure them, and the memories they contain, for the rest of our lives. We can never thank you enough!”

Kim’s Dream Team included : Hair by Severin Hubert, Make up by Mariam Jensen, Ceremony at Islington Town Hall, Reception at 45 Millbank, Dress custom adapted from Novia d’Art by her talented sister at Mamfii Bridal who also meticulously glued hundred of tiny crystals onto the bride’s black shoes, Flowers by Cindy Kirkland at Creative Works; Food by Kalm Kitchen, Photobooth by Say Fromage, Cake by Kim’s Mum, Cupcakes from Hummingbird Bakery, Band Andalus, DJ Mitch Matthews, Bar by Bars by Design. Wedding Reporting by Emma The Wedding Reporter (look closely and you’ll spot her in the background in a couple of shots with her little notebook!)

Thank you to Catherine Mead for second shooting (photographs of the boys before the ceremony above), and to Vicky for assisting.

{Please do not feature without permission, thank you}

Sneak Peek: Kim & Chara’s London Wedding

October 27, 2011

Kim is one very talented lady as wedding planner & owner The Pink Pumpkin . Here’s the first glimpse of her own wedding day when she married the love of her life, Chara. More coming next week with more happiness, joy and beauty….and smiles, lots of smiles.