As weddings go, I've said time after time, I'm a fan of the unconventional. Your wedding day should be a reflection of your personalities, and a celebration of what you enjoy together as a couple.
Meet James and Sze-kie, who did exactly that. Their wedding broke the mould and went completely against the grain in terms of anything I've ever captured before, but do you know what? It was still an absolutely awesome wedding, and something a little different to the norm.
My day with James and Sze-Kie began at St. Johns House in Warwick. Despite its proximity to Rugby, it's actually a registry office I've never had the privilege of capturing before. However, like all the venues in Warwick, St. Johns House exudes a rich sense of history and charm. This unique atmosphere added an extra layer of beauty to the wedding I had the privilege of capturing in this historic town.
Ahead of time, I knew James and Sze-kie wanted a nice relaxed and easy going day, free of any traditional wedding expectations. I didn't quite realise just how relaxed it was going to be until the happy couple arrived together with James donning his tie around his head as if he was ready to head into battle.
No sooner had they both arrived, they were both pulled in by the registrars for their pre ceremony interviews, whilst myself and the guests filed into the ceremony room ready for them both to make their way up the aisle for the main event.
It's always nice to have a bit of company at the top of the room for the ceremony, and on this occasion I was joined by a couple of family members streaming the festivities to absent family members overseas to Sze-Kie's family in Hong-Kong.
Naturally, with James still donning his warriors tie, I wrapped up the "I do's", and headed into the grounds of St John's house for a few group shots and some more intimate photos with the couple on their own, where believe it or not, I did manage to talk James into wearing his tie in a more conventional fashion for just a handful of photos.
From then onwards, it was over to Tambayan in Kenilworth, to the first of the couples reception venues where the newlyweds and their guests would enjoy some food and drink together with their guests. It was such a lovely relaxed atmosphere with the Tambayan feeling more like a Filipino garden than a restaurant as its tables spilled seamlessly into the patio area surrounding the small dining area. James and Sze-Kie had also kindly catered for me too, so I took the opportunity to down tools for a just few minutes too.
In another unconventional twist, there was a second reception venue for us all to head over to next, the couples new house, which they'd only just moved into in the days prior to their wedding! It had obviously taken considerable effort to get their new abode ready, and it really did show, as onlookers would have genuinely had no idea they'd only been there a matter of days.
I've always been fascinated by the diverse wedding traditions from around the world. Even though James and Sze-Kie had chosen to break away from the usual wedding conventions, they were keen on including a traditional tea ceremony. Sze-Kie had provided me with an article to read in advance, so I had an idea of what to anticipate. However, in keeping with the rest of their day, it was a relaxed and personalized version of this tradition. It was a unique and delightful experience for me to document as the couple and their guests came together to savour tea and cake, celebrating in their own distinctive way.
The agenda for the rest of the day was without a doubt a relaxed one, and a refreshing change to the usual hectic schedule weddings usually follow. The sun came out, and what ensued was a variety of lawn games, and guests sitting in the couples garden lounging around and chatting ahead of a BBQ planned for the evening after my departure.
I want to take the opportunity to thank both James and Sze-Kie for their hospitality, and for welcoming me into their stunning new home along with their guests. It was a joy to share their day with them and I have absolutely no doubts whatsoever the newlyweds are going to enjoy a very long and very happy life together.
Peace, Love and Photos.
Jono x
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