Clare & Sam – a NYE London wedding

Stoke Newington Wedding photography

And so, finally, to my last wedding of 2018, which took place on the very last day of 2018. Clare & Sam found me through my lovely former couple Georgie and Andy, which is still one of my all time favourites. Their East London wedding featured a ceremony at Newington Green Unitarian Chapel –  with ties to political radicalism, it’s one of London’s oldest non religious and non-conformist churches (and as an atheist I love the sound of their values and aims). This was not only their last wedding of 2018, but their last for a few years, as they close for refurbishment. Famous for being the place Mary Wollstonecroft worshipped, her likeness is sprayed on the wall by local street artist Stewy, and his works became something of a backdrop to the day.

Heading, then, up Stoke Newington’s Church Passage, past Stewy’s artwork of Malcolm McClaren to The Londesborough, a perpetual favourite for laid back east London weddings, and the scene of yet another Stewy artwork – his iconic fox. Their day was full of fun and carefully considered touches – Clare wearing Sam’s Mum’s beautiful wedding dress, best man Shaun performing the most incredible song which had everyone joining in, friend’s DJ’ing, tables named after footballers, everyone singing ‘Tiny Dancer’ and a whole lot of love.

What a way to close out 2018, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of 2019 holds in store.

A massive thanks to Rowan, who was my second shooter on the day when I was massively pregnant!

Ellie Gillard is a UK based alternative wedding photographer, covering London, Norfolk and the rest of the UK with a modern, creative outlook.