Portsmouth wedding – Claire & Lewis

Natural reportage wedding photography coverage of a Portsmouth wedding

A Portsmouth wedding for Claire and Lewis – relaxed, chilled, smiley and very happy! A real warmth to this wedding day. A wedding day how it should be – without fuss or formality. Just good food (“the best restaurant in Portsmouth!”) and drink, with close family and friends. A timetable that they created, rather than the set agenda of some wedding venue or hotel. A timetable that fortuitously managed to dodge most of the major showers – on a day of strong sunshine, downpours and dramatic skies!

Coverage starts pretty early, at Florence House, a boutique hotel in Southsea. Claire was getting ready here with her family and bridesmaids. Friends and colleagues, from the salon Claire works at, on hand to fix hair and make-up. A short drive then to the Square Tower, in Old Portsmouth. Built in 1494 during the reign of Henry VII, the Square Tower has had a varied history, it was designed as part of the fortifications to protect the rapidly expanding Naval Port. The tower was also used as the home of the Governor of Portsmouth, a semaphore signaling tower, a provisions store for the Royal Navy and as a gunpowder store. A simple ceremony in the Lower Hall – with the jovial Steve as co-ordinator. Back outside, as the champagne was poured, before heading back in and up the stairs to the roof. A great view of Portsmouth and an even better view of the dramatic dark skies, slowly heading along the coast, towards the tower! Time enough for drinks and as the storm clouds gathered above – a quick confetti run, before a dash in the rain, to the waiting vintage bus.

Then on to Rosie’s Vineyard in Southsea. More drinks in the conservatory, before the speeches, with ‘a few dreadful jokes’. Into the restaurant for some excellent food (can I have that recipe for the risotto, please?). Outside the sunshine had been replaced by a heavy downpour again. But by the time people were heading back onto the bus – the sunshine had returned – nice timing. A long route along the seashore then, towards the Historic Dockyards. Here the evening reception was to be in Boathouse 4. More fizz. Some brief pictures outside – Claire had the giggles throughout… With the sun dipping below the horizon, the dancing then began…

Here are few images from Claire and Lewis’s day – a Portsmouth wedding…