Civil partnership ceremony in Islington Town Hall council chamber

Civil partnership ceremony photography

The sun shone on Paul and Rob’s civil partnership ceremony at Islington Town Hall in London on Saturday. The forecast had been for torrential rain. It would maybe have been more appropriate for light drizzle, as this was two Mancunions getting hitched.*

The day began covering two grooms getting ready, on different floors of the Apex hotel near London Wall. I often don’t get to shoot a groom getting ready – now there was two of them – and no makeup artist, just family and friends on hand. The air conditioning was on overdrive in Paul’s room, as he delayed putting his shirt on. Down two floors, Rob was chilling with champagne and friends. Then two taxis for the grooms and two Routemaster buses for the masses. North we headed, to Islington Town Hall. Given the recent hot and humid weather, Paul and Rob had issued fans to all the guests – Paul was very attached to his fan!

Islington Town Hall

A short wait followed, as another wedding ceremony finished and photos were taken on the town hall steps. But then, on into the circular council chamber, it was time!

It was a civil partnership ceremony conducted by smiling registrars ( yes, some do! ) with readings by two friends and Rob’s father. The emotions got to Rob. But a quick-witted registrar responded quickly with a box of tissues. There were other tears all around. Then the ‘posed’ shot, not that we did that. Instead, after Paul leaned towards Rob, the surrounding friends and family raised a noise, urging them to do it, to kiss. They obliged.

Reception at their local pub

Back to the buses! North again! To Tufnell Park. To Paul and Rob’s stomping ground. Past their home and onto their local pub, the Tufnell Park Tavern. To keep things smooth, Paul and Rob had hired wedding planner, Aimee Dunne, to oversee the rest of the day. It was time to drink, eat and party!

Meanwhile, the weather caught up with the forecast. The sky clouded over, the light darkened, a breeze stirred and the first drops of rain fell. By the end of the speeches, the thunder boomed and the lightning lit up the gloom. But the speeches weren’t gloomy. Given the easygoing nature of these two guys, the speeches were funny, emotional and poignant. Speeches from two grooms and from two of their closest friends. There was talk of ‘no pink shirts’, of how they met at a West London barbeque, of Paul Calf, Manchester, lawyers and the word “excessive”. But as Paul mentioned, how lucky they were “as two gay men to be able to hold such a ceremony” – denied to many for so many years.

After speeches – dancing! I eventually left to the sound of Kylie reverberating around the tavern – so Rob had got his way with the song list!

Here are a few images from this civil partnership day…