Mayor’s Parlour wedding – Melanie & Joe

Mayor’s Parlour wedding photography

A Mayor’s Parlour wedding at Islington town hall for Melanie and Joe last Saturday. A small London wedding of just eight people, including the bride and groom. A wedding that included a good Samaritan!

But before that, it was Melanie and her bridesmaid (cousin) Lucy, getting ready in the flat. They were then joined by Melanie’s parents. The town hall was just a short drive away in the wedding car – although the streets were filling up with Arsenal fans on their way to the lunchtime kick-off. Soon it was time to follow the bride to the town hall. The wedding car, a vintage London cab, was waiting just down the street – with the bonnet up! A very stressed driver was tinkering away with the engine as he spoke on his mobile to a colleague and there was a strong whiff of burning hanging over the cab. The minutes ticked by, should another cab be called? Then the smoke from the engine decided it. The bags were rescued from inside and it was a question of when a replacement car could get there. At which point, in stepped the “Good Samaritan” – Ben.

Ben lives around the corner and was meant to be taking his family to the swimming pool, but instead, he rode to ‘rescue the damsel in distress’ 😉 Actually, Melanie was very calm, but you get the point? He offered her a lift to the town hall – the bride did get there on time!

After a quick game of ‘hide from the groom’, as Melanie was ushered into a room the size of a cubicle when she arrived, it was then time for the ceremony in the intimate surroundings of the Mayor’s Parlour.

( At this point I have to say something. What is that Arsenal shirt doing hanging up on that wall? Now an Arsenal shirt appears in everyone’s wedding photos. Not for some Spurs fans recently though. They came armed with a blanket to cover it up I’m told. Mr Mayor, they may be your local team, but you’ve got to move it from there! )

The town hall was busy on Saturday, at one point there were four brides outside at the same time, either coming out or going in. Just as Melanie & Joe left, a big wedding came out of the main council chamber. They then hogged the steps for a seemingly endless list of group shots. This party had come armed though, with some glasses and a bottle of fizz, as they waited for the steps to clear. It was then time to hail cabs and get across to the Fera restaurant at Claridge’s for the wedding meal. A few quick pics in Grosvenor Square and my coverage ended with the champagne toast.

Weddings don’t have to be big affairs.

Here are a few images from this small Mayor’s Parlour wedding…