Natalia & Will – The George in Rye Wedding
It’s been ages since my last The George in Rye wedding, and I have to say it was worth the wait. This was one of my favourite wedding days in recent memory – genuinely top tier from beginning to end. It’s hard not to talk about this one in superlatives.
Vintage Glamour
Natalia was married in an exceptionally beautiful vintage gown, originally worn by Will’s grandmother in 1961 – it’s not often a dress comes with that kind of provenance. Complementing its heritage was the sublime cut and how marvellously it suited Nat. The deep V-back and pleated skirt made for an effortlessly glamorous look, especially when paired with blue Manolo Blahniks, Dries van Noten gloves, and a fascinator from Herald & Heart, based just round the corner in Rye. Needless to say, Nat is one of the most stylish brides I’ve ever photographed.
A bracing dip at Camber Sands
While Nat was getting ready at The George, Will and a large group of guests made the short drive down to Camber Sands for a pre-game swim. Despite it being June, it was pretty brisk and – from what I could tell – required a healthy dose of courage. Will, naturally, led the charge.
Will is English and Nat is half-Russian, half-Ukrainian. The ongoing war added real poignancy to their day, with several family members unable to attend and one appearing by a very emotional video call. Weddings often sit at the confluence of joy and heartache, and I’ve rarely seen that balance so clearly embodied as I did here.
A wedding procession back to The George in Rye
The ceremony took place at Rye Town Hall. One of the things that makes The George work so well for Rye Town Hall weddings is geography – they sit at either end of the same street. It’s perfect for documentary moments as everyone makes the short walk through town to the ceremony. Even better, after the wedding, the Town Crier leads the couple and their guests in procession back down the road, announcing the newlyweds at the top of his voice. It’s not a tradition I’ve seen elsewhere, but it’s completely brilliant – inclusive, a bit mad, and clearly loved by everyone who happens to be passing by.
All that said, what made this wedding truly special wasn’t the style or the setting, but the people at the heart of it. Will and Nat were a joy to work with and, despite being inordinately cool, never took themselves too seriously. Silliness and laughter were always close at hand. In short, I simply adored their energy – these guys have proper values and the confidence that comes with that – but they were also immense fun, just check out the late-night dance floor action!
Enough from me. The pictures tell this story far better than words ever could. My thanks to everyone at The George in Rye wedding team (especially the lovely Anna), all of the guests who made me feel so welcome, and above all Will and Natalia for trusting me with their day. They also went above and beyond and very kindly sent me a bottle of Laphroaig a few weeks back. Thanks guys – whisky may just be the way to my heart!
