Sophie and Rob - A wedding framed by London's icons

Sophie and Rob married three years ago (to the day, as I am writing this), and I still think back to this wedding very fondly. So I thought it was finally time to tell my experience of filming a momentous day in their love story.

An iconic London wedding captured by Reel Life Films

I relished the opportunity to meet Sophie and Rob in person before the big day. We met at a typical London pub and sipped wine whilst I got to know them better. I learned that he is a psychiatrist and she is a psychologist, which I found fascinating. Their professions share a closely related field of study, yet there are of course very clear differences. If I was a better writer or was approving of Chat GPT, I’m sure there’s a sentence to be written here in how these two careers compliment each other and that is a metaphor for their relationship.

Originally from Australia, now living and working in London, Sophie and Rob are childhood friends. Rob references in his speech that they actually were boyfriend and girlfriend for a very short and awkward period. They ultimately coupled at the end of school, just as they were developing their study which forced them to do the long distance thing. 17 years later and one move to the other side of the world, a very excitable Sophie is sitting in her suite in The Dorchester, sipping champagne with her lovely mother and glowing friends, moments before slipping into her dress (which was magnificent, as you can see, even had ‘her’ own name).

They wanted a film to reflect the intimacy and emotional element of their wedding, whist capturing the beauty and excitement of central London.

An iconic London wedding captured by Reel Life Films

Wedding ceremony at Brompton Oratory

I have to confess I hadn’t heard of The Brompton Oratory before Sophie and Rob enquired with me. When I googled, I was simply taken with the opulence and drama. I was already excited to see Sophie walking down the very long aisle, he blonde hair and white dress making her look angelic (which, she actually is). On the day, this effect was exaggerated by the bridesmaids dressed in black - in keeping with the black tie theme of the day.

Technically, capturing this ceremony was challenging. The building is of a nature in which light is absorbed by the vast space, and sound echos seemingly endlessly. But I came to love that echo in the film, it evidences the grandiose of the building and gives the spoken words weight and exaggerates the sacred moment.

An iconic London wedding captured by Reel Life Films

Sophie and Robs walk back down the aisle goes down as one of my favourite wedding moments ever. The sudden rush of realisation of actually becoming married, and her evidently huge excitement at this, compliments by that music, does it for me every time. I know I’m bias, and have to say this, but this is the perfect demonstration of the power of wedding videography.

An iconic London wedding captured by Reel Life Films

Portraits in Hyde Park

Sometimes the best thing one can do after ones wedding ceremony is immerse yourself into the everyday. Sophie and Rob were striking in The Rose Garden, glistening in the sunshine and totally loved up. They honestly didnt not need encouragement to show affection to each other for the photographer and myself. It is warming to see people take a break from their own thoughts for a moment to congratulate strangers. Who doesn’t love a bride and groom. Did I mention Sophie dress?

An iconic London wedding captured by Reel Life Films

Wedding reception at The Dorchester

How much style and elegance does ‘The Penthouse suite at The Dorchester’ concur. Well, I can confirm you would not be disappointed. London in a magical city to look over from a height. A city like no other, with modern and classical architecture in harmony. So, apologies, Sophie and Rob, for the amount of attention I payed to this in the film, but thank you for indulging me. Only I know you love London as much as I. The view and the weather were not enough for their guests, deemed the newlyweds, so they treated them further with a live singer who crooned Etta James and Nina Simone. Champagne and canapés also flowed.

Speeches were conducted informally, next to the wedding cake. Sophie and Rob conducted a speech together (why doesn’t everybody do this?) to thank everybody, then spoke separately about the value of their relationship. It was incredibly natural, and Robs speech balanced humour with emotion in telling the story of their formative years. He glowed with pride, and there could be no doubt this is a couple who seriously admire and respect each other. A line which stands out from Sophie speech is ‘We’ve known each other for 17 years. And I can honestly say when I look at you my heart still skips a beat’.

Iconic wedding at The Dorchester captured by Reel Life Films

So how did I fit all this into their film?

Sophie and Robs story was told so beautifully in their speeches, I knew that had to be the narration for their film. I used alot more establishing shots of London that I usually would, but because so many guests had flown from Australia, and because Sophie and Rob had moved to London together as a big new chapter of their lives together, London felt like a character in their story.

Sophie quoted a few lined from Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist in her speech which I totally identified with, so I know I wanted that to bookend the film. And I finished the film in black and white, to suggest a timeless love story.

London wedding videography

What next?

Sophie and Rob gave me a very touching review I’m almost embarrassed to share because it feels like gloating. But I am also proud, so I will share.

They told me they wanted to buy me a drink next time in London, and I never took them up on that, which I regret. It may be more difficult now considering they are now parenting. I hope they remember me in 20 years when I’m still filming weddings the Rob is writing his father-of-the-bride speech.