Remi and Daniel’s Bournemouth civil wedding had plenty to photograph before the ceremony began. There was the last of the getting ready, a white dinner jacket against the hotel’s dark railings, and Remi’s dress catching the light in the doorway. By the time they stood together for their vows, the photographs had already begun to tell the story of the day.
These are photographs from their own wedding gallery. The portraits outside The Connaught Hotel and the civil ceremony each have a different feel, so I’ve kept both in the story.
Getting ready, with time for a portrait
In the preparations, Remi sits in a white robe while the finishing touches are made to her hair. The portraits that follow give a closer look at the lace sleeves and the shape of her dress. A doorway makes a simple frame around her, with enough room to see the full length of the fabric.
Daniel’s white jacket and black bow tie stand out against the darker staircase railing. His portrait is relaxed, with an arm resting on the rail. It’s a useful reminder that a groom’s photographs deserve a few minutes of their own, especially when there’s a good patch of light nearby.
The two of them together
One of my favourite frames brings them together through a mirror. Daniel is in the foreground, while Remi appears in the reflection behind him. You can see both of them without making it another straight-on portrait.
Outside The Connaught Hotel, the doorway and brickwork give the pictures a recognisable setting. The closer photographs keep attention on their faces. Remi holds her bouquet between them; Daniel leans towards her, and the next frame catches her laughing.
I like to leave room for both kinds of photograph. A wider portrait helps you remember where you were. A close one brings you back to the person beside you.
Inside the civil ceremony
The ceremony photographs move into a bright room with tall windows and pale walls. In the wider views, you can see Remi’s veil falling behind her and guests sitting close to the couple. The room belongs in those pictures because it gives the vows their setting.
Then the camera comes closer. Daniel looks towards Remi as she speaks, and she holds a small card in her hands. There are smiles during the vows and reactions from the guests. Those changes of expression are easy to miss if every photograph stays at the same distance.
The photographs of the guests are part of the day too. People lean forward, watch the couple and laugh together. When the wedding is over, those are the faces you’ll want to find in the gallery alongside your own.
Planning your own Bournemouth civil wedding
If you’re arranging a civil wedding in Bournemouth, tell your photographer the ceremony time and where you’ll be getting ready. Discuss whether you want portraits beforehand or afterwards, and leave time to get between the two places. A short ceremony can still have a full photographic story when the preparations and time with your guests are included.
You can see Remi and Daniel’s wedding gallery, or browse more of our wedding photography. To talk about your own date, send us your Bournemouth wedding plans.
