Cambridge Graduate Hotel Wedding and Chinese Tea Ceremony
“We loved having you as our wedding photographer. Your warm and friendly approach made us feel very comfortable throughout the whole process, and we couldn’t be happier with the photos you took on our wedding day. We had a joyful time looking at them with our family and friends. We love how natural and candid the photos are and all the small moments in between. Thank you once again for capturing our wedding and composing a wonderful album for us - it exceeded our expectations!”
- Hannah & Nick
It was an absolute honour to photograph Hannah and Nick’s wedding at the Graduate Cambridge Hotel in April last year. Hannah and Nick are both Australian Chinese, who had moved to Cambridge for work. They had got engaged amidst the lockdowns in 2020 and were hoping to have their wedding in either Hong Kong or Australia, but given the circumstances at the time, they chose to get married in Cambridge.
Chinese Tea Ceremony
Hannah and Nick had wanted to do a traditional Chinese tea ceremony as a way to honour their families. If you are unfamiliar to this custom in Chinese weddings, the wedding tea ceremony involves the couple serving tea to their parents and elders, while blessings and gifts are given to the happy couple for their marriage. It’s a beautiful ceremony to observe and capture and, as a Chinese British documentary wedding photographer, understanding the nature in the exchanges allow me to anticipate and capture the shared moments of tranquility and reflection in an authentic and candid way.
My day started at Hannah and Nick’s home in Cambridge for the Chinese tea ceremony with Hannah’s family before the short drive through Cambridge to continue the ceremony at the Graduate Hotel with Nick’s family.
If you're planning a Chinese tea ceremony and wedding at a wedding venue, you'll need to choose a place that can accommodate both the tea ceremony and the wedding reception. Many couples choose to hold the tea ceremony in a private room or outdoor space, while the wedding reception can take place somewhere else in another function room.
Hannah looked beautiful in her red qipao or embroidered dress that she wore for the tea ceremony and had found in a Chinese wedding attire shop in London. She then changed into a traditional white wedding dress for their wedding at St Andrews the Great church.
Documentary Wedding Photography, Cambridge
St Andrews the Great Church is a Grade II listed church, located in central Cambridge. It was clear how meaningful this place was to Hannah and Nick as many of their friends they had got to know in Cambridge were part of the Church and had attended as guests at their wedding.
After the wedding, Hannah and Nick took the short walk back to their hotel reception and along King’s Parade to have some natural couple shots.
Graduate Cambridge Hotel Wedding
If you’re looking for a picturesque setting and city centre location, then the Graduate Cambridge Hotel is a perfect wedding venue for your special day. It’s nestled on the banks of the River Cam and has idyllic views looking out towards Mill Pond and Coe Fen. It’s also full of character inside with the main entrance hall and bar lounge styled to reflect the rich history and traditions of Cambridge. The wonderful staff are extremely attentive and will help make sure your wedding goes smoothly.
Scudamore Punting Company is conveniently based close to Graduate Cambridge where you can book one of their private punting tours for a truly memorable experience.
Natural and Candid Cambridge Wedding Photographer
I had a wonderful time documenting Hannah and Nick’s Chinese tea ceremony and wedding, capturing the special, authentic moments that will forever remind them of their magical Cambridge wedding with their family and friends.
Being a documentary wedding photographer, my approach is unobtrusive and natural. Nothing is staged and it’s important to me that, as the bride and groom, you can fully enjoy the day with your guests and see in your photos how it felt on the day. I pride myself on getting to know you as a couple as I’ll be capturing your most intimate and treasured moments of your wedding. Upon booking me as your Cambridge wedding photographer, I’ll stay in touch with you throughout the process of the planning and leading up to your wedding day.
If you would like to know more about my documentary approach in your wedding photography and how I’d work with you, find out from what my previous couples have said in their reviews.
If you’re planning on a Chinese tea ceremony or a wedding at Graduate Cambridge Hotel, and anywhere else, then I’d love to hear from you.