Ever wondered what it would be like to fuse Peaky Blinders with Steam Punk fantasy? As avid fans of the show, enthusiasts of steak punk and anything Tim Burton related, Charlotte and Clifford decided to take their wedding day to the next level and shape it around what they love. Their wedding was a perfect blend of vintage charm and quirky creativity; making it a celebration to remember. Dive into their story and get inspired by their unique and creative twists!
Getting Ready Photos
On the morning of their spring wedding, I met Charlotte and her bridal party at her and Clifford’s home in Lee-on-the-Solent. Before I even made it through the door, I was greeted by their three CUTE dogs who were individually dressed in their steampunk outfits. I knew from that moment that this wedding was going to be such a vibe because even the dogs were dressed the part! Charlotte was in the garden finishing off having her make-up done, so we spent some time here catching up, getting some photos with the dogs, and candid shots before she and the girls got into their outfits. Once everyone was ready, we took some more photos around the house and in the garden before I made my way to photograph Clifford and his groomsmen arriving at the church.
Arriving at the Church
In true Peaky Blinders style, Clifford and his groomsmen arrived looking fresh and dapper… riding in a 1960s Gold Cadillac. Shades on, window down, cigar in the suit pocket – and a massive grin. Love it! We used this time to photograph Clifford and his Groomsmen before guests began arriving and the priest ushered everyone into the church, awaiting the arrival of Charlotte and her bridal party.
Before the Ceremony
Charlotte and her dad arrived in a cream Morris Minor and spent a little time chatting with friends and family before making their way into the ceremony. Emotions were high, the sun was gleaming down and there wasn’t a cloud in sight. A hot day to be wearing black but it looked so good against the bright blue skies. It was amazing seeing everyone dressed up. Sometimes wedding themes can fall short if only a handful of people take part in the theme, but the commitment from their guests was unrivalled!
During the Ceremony
The ceremony and reception took place at their local church and community centre, St Faith’s Church, which is just a stone’s throw from Solent beach. The church itself was beautiful, with blue ceilings and stain glass windows almost identical to the blue skies you could outside. During the ceremony, the sun was perfectly positioned to cast a gleaming light over Charlotte, illuminating her next to Clifford. It was a wonderful moment to capture and after hearing Cliffords speech later in the day, I think it was as if by a beautiful coincidence, highlighting how much light, love and warmth she brings into his life.
Family Photos & Guests
After the ceremony, Clifford and Charlotte celebrated being newlyweds with warm embraces and endless congratulations from friends and family! When putting together their timeline, we allocated an hour here to grab candid photos, family and friend photos and general shots of people chatting amongst themselves. The sun was way too bright at the front of the church, so we ended up moving around to the rear of the Church into a secluded spot – which looked so lovely thanks to the exposed brickwork, green ivy and purple Hydrangea. Clifford & Charlotte also swapped out confetti for bubbles and we had a great time ushering everyone together to capture this bubble shot.
Visiting Clifford’s Mum in a Care Home
The hour or two between the end of a ceremony and the start of the afternoon reception is typically used for portrait photos of the newlyweds. However, Clifford & Charlotte decided to swap out this time and instead, have all the immediate family travel over with them to spend time with his mum Sally, who is in a care home with Dementia. Clifford is my mum’s cousin, making Sally my Great Aunt. It was such a beautiful touch to the day, and made for very emotional photos. We laughed, cried, reminisced, hugged, and Clifford and Charlotte told Sally all about their wedding day so far. Here are a few photos that only capture a fragment of how truly special this time together was.
Evening reception & dance floor shots
After spending the afternoon with Sally, it was time to make our way back for the evening reception to tuck in the unbelievable buffet food, speeches, cake cutting and dance floor fun. Clifford & Charlotte had their reception at St Faiths Venue, which is adjacent to the church where they got married. More tears were shed, laughter roared during the speeches and Charlotte had to hold back the queue for the buffet at one point. The food was honestly…unbelievable. I’ve been to my fair share of weddings and so far, this was the BEST buffett I’ve ever had. As the day turned to night and empty bottles piled up, guests started spilling onto the dancefloor to cut shapes and do the cha-cha-slide, making for some amazing photos.
It was such a pleasure capturing Clifford & Charlotte’s wedding and seeing their vision for a Peaky Blinders and Steampunk-themed wedding come to fruition. Let this be your sign to plan your wedding day in a way that makes is truly unique, special and authentic to you! Clifford & Charlotte hired me for a 10-hour package and I delivered their wedding gallery in 4 weeks with over 890 photos.
Kind words from Clifford…
“You made our day so amazingly special and there are pictures I will treasure for the rest of my life. You were ruthlessly professional, never without a smile on your face no matter how tired you were or how stressful the size of Charlotte’s family is and trying to squeeze them all in! Thank you for everything I know I haven’t had the time to sing your praises as properly as they deserve to be sang. But thank you for everything and forever grateful, can’t recommend you enough.”
Wedding Photographer in Lee-on-the-Solent
If you’re based in Lee-on-the-Solent and are looking for a documentary wedding photographer, I would love to hear from you! Simply get in touch via my contact form and i’ll be in touch with my availability and full pricing guide.
