Film Photography | Polly Alexandre Photography

Hilary & Ben’s Oxford Pre Wedding Shoot

March 13, 2014

This shoot took place on a beautiful, hot, sunny day in Oxford, where Hilary and Ben both went to University….and believe it, or not, never met during all their years there. It took a few years later, and jobs in the same department of a City firm, for these two lovebirds path to finally cross. But once it did there they were firmly on one path together. Forever.

Hilary & Ben officially became husband and wife in October 2013. I was there to capture the magic and joy, and it was one amazing day. Coming soon to the blog!

Ying & Hong

December 6, 2013

” I love him because he is pure heart”

Ying, about her husband Hong

Ying and Hong are both from China, but actually met in the UK, when they were at university, on the same course. Such a bond this pair have they have both worked and lived together….not that anyone at the company where they work guessed they were a couple…they kept their relationship a such a secret the first many knew was when the two colleagues announced they were getting married!

It was Ying’s dream to play violin at her own wedding in an English castle, and it’s a dream that came true. The beautiful setting of Highcliffe Castle in Dorset was the setting for this fairytale wedding that Ying dreamed of…and her violin teacher, Terry, came along to play a specially chosen piece with her during the wedding breakfast. Alongside this beautiful hearttouching perfomance, they watched a beautiful animation about their love story and listened to funny and touching speeches. Ying was adamant that she would have wedding photographs on the beach……what might not be obvious from these pictures is that this was actually March….. in England… and when I arrived at the venue the hail was so bad we couldn’t actually get out of the car.

The weather however, like all good love stories, had a happy ending. From hail to rain, from rain to cloud, and from cloud to glorious sunshine…all on the one day. By the time Ying and Hong were pronounced husband and wife, the skies were blue and the sun was shining.

Ying and Hong, you are the sweetest couple, and I wish the sun shines in your lives together forever.

Credits: Wedding Venue: Highcliffe Castle; Brides Dress by Vera Wang; Shoes: Rupert Sanderson; Hair: Severin Hubert; Make Up: Make Up by Katie; Catering: Merlins

{The whole wedding was shot on film}

Kate & Alex – Wedding Photography at Ellenborough Park

October 27, 2013

As the chilly nights draw in once more, it’s sweet to think back to last seasons’ winter weddings, and I’m delighted to share Kate & Alex’s very English celebration held at Ellenborough Park Hotel, a country house hotel in the heart of the Cotswolds. Whilst I adore the sunshine, I also love crackling fires, cosying up indoors and the sweet warmth of being snuggling up inside with the ones you love, whilst the cold winds whip around outside. Oh, and I absolutely love Christmas.

Alex & Kate met in Cape Town, though they are both originally from England, and Alex proposed to Kate on New Years Eve with a yellow diamond ring. Their shared adventures took them thousands of miles away to the Serengeti in Tanzania, where they currently live. Kate brought a touch of Africa to the wedding by commissioning little handmade angels for the Christmas tree made by local African women, but it was back to their homeland they headed for their wedding. Kate’s Uncle owns the beautiful hotel and when Kate saw what a perfect venue it would make, it made the long distance planning all worthwhile.

Last year I actually shot more winter wedding than summer ones, and it’s sweet when the season is reflected in the wedding…. in this instance, from Kate’s imagination came mistletoe and pine branches, mulled wine and ivy, flickering candles and sweet homemade angels as escort cards. They continued to embrace the joy of winter by taking a skiing honeymoon to the Swiss resort of Crans Montana (when you live somewhere so hot, it’s a just a treat to have snow!)

This is a beautiful elegant English wedding that was both fun and elegant and celebrated the charm of winter…. my favourite touch just has to be the mistletoe hanging outside the church and the little tots of sloe gin given to guests as they arrived, ensuring the merry atmosphere started right from the ceremony….

To Kate & Alex: I wish you both a long and happy life together filled with even more smiles and adventures xxx

This wedding was featured in the September/October issue of Conde Nast’s Brides Magazine.

Credits: Brides Dress: Le Spose di Gio, Make Up: Emily Bell; Hair: Stuart Holmes; Flowers: Copelands; Cake: Contemporary Cake Designs; Ceremony Venue: St Peters Church; Reception Venue: Ellenborough Park Hotel; Videographer: Gorgeous Films; Band: Wired

My Formentera Holiday – Cala Saona

June 13, 2013

Formentera is a tiny island, one of the Spanish Balearic islands, just 9 miles long and barely a mile wide, that can only be reached by boat from Ibiza. It’s like a younger, sleepier, more rural version of Ibiza, although really it has it’s own character entirely. We escaped to Formentera for a few days sleep and sunshine. There’s not a lot to do there, but that’s exactly why we went…. time to slow down, restore the energies and press pause on life.

I loved:

1. Cala Saona. A wild and deep beach, surrounded by wild grasses and trees, and red clay cliffs. Waves crashed into onto the beach, transporting me away to another world as I lay in the sun.

2. Cala Saona Hotel. The only place to stay, set at the back of the beach. Less than £50 a night, it was great value, clean, comfortable, the best sea views & had a lovely pool area and great service.

3. Driving round on a moped with the wind through my hair & my arms wrapped tightly around my husband

4. Shopping in San Francesc, the island’s capital. I especially loved the beautifully curated Balafia shop with a stylish mix of fashion & interiors. I picked up this pretty dress in the softest cotton and the most perfect mint green colour from French label Germaine des Pres (which even rolls up into a teeny tiny bag: perfect for travelling!) & this pretty cotton covered notebook. Also worth a visit is Mandala, a clothes shop that stocks Havianas and great summer dresses. I picked up a lovely long white dress by Bobi, a LA based label that’s new to me, and another white dress by Italian label Ra-re. You can never have too many white dresses for summer! Being the end of the season they were also in the sale too. Bonus!

5. Sleeping. Pretty much the whole time, when I wasn’t eating.

6. An amazing sunset – the kind that only a cloudy sky can bring…dramatic reds, oranges, blue-purples…

7. Feeling part of nature

8. Spending time chatting with my husband, our legs dangling over the port whilst we waited for the Balearia captain to finish hia siesta and drive the boat back to Ibiza.

If this tempts you, you can see more images of Formentera on my blog here and here.

Oh, I love summer…..and it’s about to start all over again…. this time tomorrow I will be sunning myself whilst wondering round a French Chateau (all in the name of work of course…)…mmmmm, can’t wait…!

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

April 26, 2013

More from this beautiful area in the French Riveira…..I’ll be off there again this June for another very special wedding and I can’t wait! Have a lovely weekend everyone! xxx