Dave & Soph

Battersea, London

I don’t often get the chance to shoot many weddings in the Big Smoke, but when Sophia reached out with, “We are set on having Sally photograph our wedding, so we are more than happy to look at dates she’s available.” I didn’t hesitate for a second, I was on that train to London pronto! I’ve known Soph and her beautiful family for almost 11 years now, through photographing friends’ and relatives’ weddings, so when it was finally her turn, my heart just burst, this day had been a long time coming!

Soph got ready surrounded by her best girls, her mum, and her daughters, it was such a fun morning as I was getting all the lowdown on the hen do antics and plenty of reminiscing. Jimena Lemck was on hair and makeup, and I was obsessed with the dreamy space-buns-meets-ethereal style she created for Soph. It suited her and that gown to the ground. Speaking of the gown... oh my goodness. When I saw that embroidered Madi Lane dress, I think I nearly wet myself. I was not ready for that level of stunning, but wow, was I glad to see it! And just when I thought Sophia couldn’t surprise me again, out comes THE jacket. Picture this: Barbie’s dream version of a wedding denim jacket, fur-trimmed, covered in quirky badges, and totally fabulous.

Once everyone was glammed up and ready to go, we hopped into classic black cabs and made our way to the iconic Wandsworth Town Hall, where Dave was waiting, looking sharp as ever in his purple suit. The venue itself is just breathtaking, marble staircase, that incredible Grand Chamber, there’s such a sense of grandeur and history in every corner, it's honestly a dream space to tie the knot. The ceremony itself was so emotional, there wasn’t a dry eye by the time they were pronounced husband and wife. And of course, no big London wedding is complete without a red double-decker bus or two waiting outside!

Now, here’s where things got really fun… After the ceremony, everyone piled onto those iconic buses, however the reception venue was kept a total secret from most of the guests. As we made our way through the city, there was this bubbling sense of curiosity in the air. Where were we going? And then we arrived at the Battersea Barge. Docked on the Thames, with views of Battersea Power Station and the London skyline, it was the most unexpected and utterly brilliant setting for the evening celebrations, a floating venue with serious personality! As the sun started to dip, everyone headed up to the top deck for speeches. The light was proper golden hour magic and there was this lovely buzz in the air. You could hear the gentle hum of the river in the background, but mostly it was just laughs and a few happy tears. Afterward, we moved below deck where the real party kicked off—dancing, drinks, and some very questionable but enthusiastic dance moves!

Sophia and Dave’s wedding was packed with surprises, style, and soul. An unforgettable London day, and an absolute joy to capture from start to finish!

Personal Highlight:

Hands down, Soph’s bouquet. She crocheted the whole thing herself! Yep, every single flower! It was honestly the sweetest, most thoughtful detail and so perfectly her.