Vicki & Luke’s Flash-Lit Wedding at The Square Tower, Old Portsmouth
Some weddings you just know are going to be a good one, and Vicki and Luke’s day at The Square Tower in Old Portsmouth was exactly that. A dark, gorgeous, 500 year old fort. A groom who would rather do almost anything than have his photo taken. A warship setting sail in the middle of it all. And me, lugging enough lighting gear up and down those tower steps to earn myself a medal AND my daily step count. Buckle up.
“Couldn’t have asked for a better photographer. Her pictures are incredible!”
Vicki, The Square Tower, Old Portsmouth
The Square Tower, Old Portsmouth
If you have never been, The Square Tower is one of Portsmouth’s most historic and unique wedding venues. Built way back in 1494 during the reign of Henry VII as part of the city’s coastal defences, it sits right in the heart of Old Portsmouth, moments from the sea. Those original Tudor features, the beautiful vaulted brick ceiling and the thick ancient walls make for the most atmospheric, intimate ceremony space you could ask for. It is also, and I say this with total love, one of the darkest rooms I photograph in all year. More on that in a minute.
A Very Early Start (Thanks, Pompey)
The day kicked off with bridal prep at Vicki’s house, and by the time I arrived, a full three hours before the ceremony, her make up artist had already worked her magic. Vicki looked stunning and completely calm, which is exactly what you want. The early start was a very clever move on her part. Anyone who lives in Portsmouth knows the roads turn into an absolute car park on a match day, and Pompey were playing Cardiff. Funny that, being Welsh, although I will let you into a secret, I could not tell you the score if my life depended on it.
The early arrival was a blessing because parking near the tower was, predictably, a nightmare. I grabbed a space down the road, then got to cart ALL of my heavy lighting kit over to the venue. Steps well and truly got in that day. I set up nice and early, tested my lights, everything looking beautiful, so I nipped back to the car for a couple of extra light stands.
Just look at the giggles before we even left the house! And Vicki in that car? Pure joy.
The Groom Who Really, Really Did Not Want His Photo Taken
By the time I got back from the car, guests were already finding their way into the ceremony space, but there was one person notably missing. The groom. Now I had been warned in advance that Luke HATES having his picture taken, so I assumed he was hiding somewhere, and honestly, fair enough. I cracked on getting some detail shots and warming the guests up with a bit of banter before Vicki was due to arrive.
Luke did eventually appear, and then made it his personal mission to keep his back to me for as long as humanly possible. Challenge accepted, my friend.
The Ceremony (Where The Flash Earned Its Keep)
Here is the thing about The Square Tower. It is beautiful and it is DARK. There is basically no natural light in that vaulted room, and it always photographs really moody and dim. I have looked at other photographers’ work there, and my own from previous years, and this time I wanted to properly light it. So off camera flash it was. And I am not one to blow my own trumpet, but when I say I nailed it, I NAILED it. The brick glowed, the chandeliers sparkled, every guest was beautifully lit, and the whole room looks as rich and warm as it felt.
Vicki came in on her very proud dad’s arm looking absolutely radiant, and because there were no readings, the ceremony itself was lovely and quick. Short, sweet and straight to the good bit.
Confetti and the Great Groomsmen Payback
Straight out to confetti we went, and the groomsmen clearly had a score to settle. Something about payback from other weddings, I have no idea what went on there and I did not ask, but it involved paper bags absolutely stuffed with EXTRA confetti, handed out by the bride’s mum of all people. I love confetti. The more confetti the merrier as far as I am concerned. Payback was well and truly had, Luke got showered, and best of all I did not fall over on the confetti walk. Always a win.
And yes, that is a LOT of confetti. Payback well and truly had.
Portraits, a Chair, and a Veil With a Mind of Its Own
Right after confetti I ran up to the top of the fort walls for a big group photo of the whole wedding party. The sun was behind me, which was not the kindest thing to do to everyone’s eyeballs, but needs must for a shot like that. Then Luke, in his own words, wanted to rip the band aid off and get the couple portraits done. We started nice and easy under the arch, then I popped him under Vicki’s veil to really relax him, and would you believe it, he loved it. A few laughs, a few kisses, sorted.
Vicki really wanted her family formals up on the rooftop, and what the bride wants, the bride gets. Only there was not a single cloud in the sky, a big yellow sun, and precisely zero shade. So up I went, hauling my light stand and AD200 up even more steps, and found a little turret where at least we had the sea behind us rather than a brick wall. Then I realised I was too short and everyone was a step higher than me. Cue another run down those narrow steps to fetch a chair to stand on. A few guests got very concerned for my health and safety and insisted on holding the chair while I flashed away. Shooting back into the sun with flash lifts all those harsh shadows, no squinting, no raccoon eyes, and we kept that gorgeous Portsmouth Harbour view in the background. Teamwork.
More from the rooftop and that veil with a mind of its own. The bridesmaids were cheering, the veil was flying, and the old stone tunnel gave us this beauty.
The Moment Luke Actually Smiled
Once the room was set for the wedding breakfast, I grabbed the details before bags and clutter took over the tables, then stole the couple for ten minutes outside now that the sun had softened. And this is where I earned that medal I mentioned. I got Luke to SMILE. Properly. His mum later told me he never smiles for photos, and that in every single school photo he ever had, he scowled. So I will be accepting my award in the post, thank you.
Exhibit A. The man who never smiles for photos. Smiling. You’re welcome, Luke’s mum!
Waving Off HMS Queen Elizabeth
While the couple sat down to eat, I noticed guests kept drifting outside in little groups. Ever the nosy one, I went to investigate, and there it was. HMS Queen Elizabeth was due to be deployed at any moment, and crowds had gathered along the water to wave off the flagship. Naturally I started documenting it, and as her departure got closer I dashed back in and asked Vicki and Luke if they fancied coming to witness it. Of course they did. Everyone out together, waving off that enormous ship, is a genuinely special moment and one you absolutely do not get at every wedding.
Cake, Speeches and a Whole Lot of Games
Back inside for a quick cake cut and straight into speeches, and because I had already set my flashes up, I was ready to go. The speeches were short, sweet and funny, exactly how I like them. Then, because Luke is very much not a dancer, there was no first dance. Instead the couple played their own music through the speakers and set up loads of games for everyone, Jenga, cards, hook a duck, the lot. It was brilliant. At one point I spotted Vicki having an impromptu dance with her dad in the middle of the crowd, so I legged it upstairs to grab an aerial shot looking down on the pair of them. Super sweet, and one of my favourites of the day.
Hook a duck has never been so competitive. And once the music kicked in, everyone was up and dancing.
What Vicki Said
“Emma was amazing!! Very happy and bubbly, couldn’t have asked for a better photographer. Her pictures are incredible! I wish I could give her higher than 5/5”
Vicki & Luke, The Square Tower, Old Portsmouth
Thinking About The Square Tower for Your Wedding?
Vicki and Luke, thank you for a genuinely brilliant day. Fun from the very first bag of confetti to the last game of Jenga, and I felt like part of the party the whole way through. The Square Tower is one of my absolute favourite places to shoot, it is steeped in history, right by the sea, and only a stone’s throw from home for me.
If you are planning your own day there, have a read of my Square Tower wedding photographer page, or see why lighting it properly makes such a difference in my flash vs no flash at The Square Tower post. You can also see more of my work as a Hampshire wedding photographer and a Portsmouth wedding photographer.
Fancy a fun, candid photographer who will light your day beautifully and probably make a fool of themselves to get you laughing? Get in touch here, I would love to hear all about it.
Planning a Hampshire wedding? Have a nosy at my guide to the best wedding venues in Hampshire, all ones I’ve actually photographed!
