Sylvia and Joe found me through Joe’s brother, James. He’s a photographer friend of mine and, for reasons unknown, whenever a guest is the one who recommends me, I end up photographing them way more than I should. I had to tell myself to calm down this time because it was their wedding, not James’ personal headshot session. Could’ve easily made a “James Enjoying Himself” mini album. Still might one day.

The morning was in East London. Pretty relaxed. No big theatrics. Just people getting ready at the pace that makes sense. Coffee. Hair. Quiet chatter. A few laughs. Sylvia was calm, in that very grounded way some people are on their wedding day. No stress leaking out at the edges. Just… ready.

The ceremony was at St Anthony of Padua in Forest Gate. It’s a church that feels lived-in, not staged. People know where to stand. They breathe normally in there. The walk down the aisle wasn’t dramatics, it was just them. The kind of moment where you don’t need to say anything — you just photograph it and it says what it needs to say on its own.

Confetti outside the church was classic London wedding energy. Someone threw too early, someone threw late, someone threw directly into someone else’s face. Perfect. That’s the stuff.

Then Bow.

Sylvia and Joe’s Wedding Gallery

HAC Bow – A Photographer’s Dream

HAC Bow (Holy Trinity Bow’s Heritage and Arts Centre) is one of those venues that doesn’t try too hard. It just is good. One big hall, all open, everyone together. No one disappearing into side rooms or corridors. From a documentary wedding photography point of view, that’s ideal. The story stays in one place.

The light in HAC Bow is unreal. Tall windows, pale walls, high ceilings. The natural light moves through the space in this slow, soft way that makes everyone look good without anyone needing to be told where to stand. You know when you take a shot and you check the back of the camera and you go “Yep, we’re good”? That. All day.

Because the wedding reception happens in one space, the energy flows in one direction. Drinks into chatter. Chatter into speeches. Speeches into hugs. Hugs into dinner. Dinner into dancing. No big room turnover. No ushering. Just a wedding being lived at its own pace.

For Sylvia and Joe, the speeches were a highlight. Instead of staying seated, everyone stood up and gathered closer. It turned into this semi-circle of people leaning in, reacting openly, actually listening, which is a dream to photograph because the frames layer themselves. Real emotion sits right on the surface.

We stepped outside for portraits just after sunset. Five minutes, ten max. Nothing staged. No dramatic posing. Just a breather together on Bow streets. That in-between feeling where the day is happening around you but you get to step back and look at each other. That’s the part I love shooting.

And then, the dance floor. Joe went for it. Fully. No warm-up. Straight in. The kind of dancing that says, “This is my wedding and I’m having a genuinely good time.” It was brilliant to photograph because joy looks good on everyone and this room leaves space for it to move.

Weddings at HAC Bow

If you’re planning a wedding in East London, HAC Bow is a genuinely good call. It’s close to Mile End Station which makes life easier for guests. The hall can be styled up or left simple and still look great. It’s a dry hire wedding venue, which means you bring your own catering, decor, florals, everything. That freedom tends to make wedding days feel more personal and less like a wedding factory conveyor belt. Which also means the photography has more of you in it.

The space can host around 200 people which gives enough room for movement without losing intimacy. The kitchen and parking actually make a difference too, especially in London where those details matter more than you think they will.

I liked this wedding a lot. Not because it was “perfect” or overly curated or styled for Pinterest. It was good because it was human. Real moments. Real connection. Family leaning into family. The kind of wedding where you feel like you’ve known everyone there for years by the time the dancing starts. Those are the days that stay with you.

If you’re planning your wedding at HAC Bow and you want photography that focuses on real moments instead of staged ones, send me a message. Tell me what you’re thinking. I’d love to be there.