Michael & Cailey’s Portsmouth Registry Office Wedding, a Paddle at the Hot Walls and a Party at The Churchillian

Bride twirling under festoon lights with the groom at night, lit with flash, at The Churchillian, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth

Michael and Cailey, you absolute legends! A registry office wedding, a paddle in the sea, a wrestling match in the waves and a party on top of Portsdown Hill with the whole of Portsmouth glittering below. What a day!!

These two booked my All In package, so I was with them from the very first buttonhole to that twirl under the festoon lights up there. Grab a brew, this one’s a goodie.

Getting Ready

Bride pinning a buttonhole on her mum on the morning of a Portsmouth wedding

Can we just take a minute for this one? Cailey pinning a buttonhole on her mum. Look at her face! These are the moments I LIVE for, and honestly, mums like this are a treasure.

Bride getting ready, black and white, on the morning of a Portsmouth wedding
Bridesmaids in red with the bride in the garden on the morning of a Portsmouth wedding

Bridesmaids in red, the sun out in the garden and Cailey looking absolutely incredible.

Bride in her wedding dress in the garden on the morning of a Portsmouth wedding
Bride with her red and white bouquet on the morning of a Portsmouth wedding
Bride's son seeing his mum in her wedding dress for the first time, black and white, on the morning of a Portsmouth wedding
Bride's son wiping away happy tears on the morning of a Portsmouth wedding

And then her son saw his mum in her wedding dress for the first time. Cue the happy tears! My heart, honestly.

Wedding car chauffeur pinning a buttonhole on the bride's son, Portsmouth wedding

Even the chauffeur got stuck in, sorting out his buttonhole before we set off.

Bride and bridesmaid in the vintage wedding car on the way to Portsmouth Register Office

Then into the vintage car and off we go!

Portsmouth Registry Office

Bride's son helping her out of the vintage wedding car at Portsmouth Register Office, Hampshire

Cailey’s son was on hand to help his mum out of the car. What a gent!

Bridesmaids hugging outside Portsmouth Register Office
Guests hugging outside Portsmouth Register Office
Groom arriving with guests at Portsmouth Register Office, Hampshire

Meanwhile Michael was outside greeting everyone with the biggest grin. Nervous? Who, him?

Groom waiting at the front of the ceremony room at Portsmouth Register Office, Hampshire
Groom and guests in the ceremony room at Portsmouth Register Office, Hampshire
Bride walking down the aisle at Portsmouth Register Office, Hampshire

Here comes the bride! The ceremony was relaxed, full of smiles and over far too quickly, as registry office ceremonies always are.

Bride and groom during the ceremony, black and white, at Portsmouth Register Office, Hampshire
Bride and groom at the front of the ceremony room at Portsmouth Register Office, Hampshire
Bride and groom signing the register, black and white, at Portsmouth Register Office, Hampshire
Bride hugging a guest after the ceremony at Portsmouth Register Office, Hampshire
Bride hugging a guest after the ceremony at Portsmouth Register Office, Hampshire

Hugs. So many hugs. Pure joy.

Bride and groom walking through confetti at Portsmouth Register Office, Hampshire

And of course, CONFETTI!

Bride and groom with bridesmaids in the gardens at Portsmouth Register Office, Hampshire
Family group photo in the gardens at Portsmouth Register Office, Hampshire
Family group photo in the gardens at Portsmouth Register Office, Hampshire
Bride with her bridesmaids in the gardens at Portsmouth Register Office, Hampshire
Groom with his groomsmen in the gardens at Portsmouth Register Office, Hampshire

Family photos done quick and painless in the gardens (as always!), and the boys looking very sharp in navy.

The Hot Walls and a Paddle in the Sea

Bride and groom silhouetted in the brick tunnel at the Hot Walls, Old Portsmouth

Next we headed down to the Hot Walls in Old Portsmouth for some portraits. That tunnel is one of my favourite spots in the whole city, and look at those silhouettes!

Groom taking the bride's shoes off on the beach at the Hot Walls, Old Portsmouth

Now, Cailey LOVES the sea. So when she said she wanted to go in, off came the shoes and in they went. Wedding dress and all!

Bride and groom paddling in the sea at the Hot Walls, Old Portsmouth
Bride and groom's feet in the waves at the Hot Walls, Old Portsmouth

And then… it turned into a full blown wrestling match in the waves. Cailey and Michael grappling each other in the sea in their wedding outfits was hands down the funniest moment of the day. I was laughing so hard I could barely hold the camera straight!

Bride's shoes on the sea wall at the Hot Walls, Old Portsmouth
Bride and groom kissing by the Round Tower at the Hot Walls, Old Portsmouth
Bride and groom in the back of the vintage wedding car, Portsmouth

Sandy toes, salty dress and grins from ear to ear. Back in the car and up the hill we go.

Party Time at The Churchillian

Wedding breakfast and speeches at The Churchillian, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth

The reception was at The Churchillian on top of Portsdown Hill, and WOW those views! The whole of Portsmouth, the Solent and the Isle of Wight laid out in front of you.

Guests laughing at the reception, black and white, at The Churchillian, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth
Bride hugging a guest, black and white, at The Churchillian, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth
Bride laughing with a guest on the terrace at The Churchillian, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth
Family group photo on the terrace at sunset at The Churchillian, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth
Family group photo with views over Portsmouth at The Churchillian, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth

Golden hour on the terrace was something else. Big family groups, the sun dropping behind them and the city below. Doesn’t get much better than that.

Bride with friends on the terrace at The Churchillian, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth
Groom with a guest on the terrace at The Churchillian, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth
Older guests on the terrace overlooking Portsmouth at The Churchillian, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth
Groom carrying the bride in a field overlooking the South Downs at sunset, next to The Churchillian, Portsdown Hill

Then we nipped into the field next to The Churchillian, looking out over the South Downs, and Michael scooped Cailey up as the sun went down. Swoon.

The Dancefloor

Bride and groom's first dance at The Churchillian, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth
First dance, black and white, at The Churchillian, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth

First dance done and then the dancefloor went absolutely BONKERS. My favourite part of the evening!

Guests on the dancefloor at The Churchillian, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth
Bride and guests posing on the dancefloor at The Churchillian, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth
Guests celebrating on the dancefloor at The Churchillian, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth
Guests singing on the dancefloor at The Churchillian, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth
Guest carrying drinks across the dancefloor at The Churchillian, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth
Guests laughing at the evening reception at The Churchillian, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth
Guests at the evening reception with Portsmouth lit up below at The Churchillian, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth
Groom dancing with a guest at The Churchillian, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth
Guests partying on the dancefloor at The Churchillian, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth

And to finish, I stole them away for one last flash-lit shot under the festoon lights (that one right at the top!). Cailey twirling, Michael laughing. Perfect.

Michael and Cailey, thank you SO much for having me. You were an absolute riot and I loved every second!

Getting Married in Portsmouth?

If you’re planning a Portsmouth Registry Office wedding or a party somewhere with a view, have a nosy at my Portsmouth wedding photographer page and my guide to the best wedding venues in Hampshire. Then check my date and tell me all about your plans!

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