Photographer Emmylou Kelly & Paul’s Intimate Family Registry Office Wedding

This past weekend, wedding photographer Emmylou Kelly married her husband Paul, celebrating with family and friends after months of privately keeping something very special to themselves.

Before their big celebration wedding, Emmylou and Paul had already married in an intimate registry office ceremony, attended only by their children, their daughter Eren and son Thomas – a very intentionally private moment, so that their family could celebrate together without distraction.

Emmy and Paul’s legal, civil ceremony was held at Old Marylebone Town Hall, an iconic, Grade II listed building in central Westminster and hugely popular for stylish city weddings. The couple travelled from their home city of Manchester and stayed at The Ned, where they both got ready separately before travelling by Uber to the registry office.

Emmylou chose a midi-length Self Portrait dress paired, paired with kitten heels from Carvela and Paul wore a pale blue suit by Moss Bros. Emmylou carried a simple bouquet of chamomile by All For Love London to complement but still her dress take the spotlight.

Jessica Lily was the couple’s sole witness and photographer, documenting the morning, ceremony and walk through London afterwards with relaxed tenderness. Following the service, the family walked to Carlotta for lunch before returning to The Ned, where the day ended early and without formality, all wrapped in a bubble of love!

Emmylou – thank you for asking us to share your ‘first’ wedding day – sending you all the love and congratulations!

We ordered executive cars from Uber and drove separately in black Mercedes to the registry office. Paul wore a pale blue suit from Moss Bros.

I’ve watched many ceremonies and vows and at the moment it was my turn, all the failed vows popped into my head. I remember seeing a reel where the groom sounded as if he has a northumberland accident when he said ‘that I know of no legal reason why I’ and he became really confused with what he was saying and the whole service erupted.

This happened to me and all I could think of as I said it was, ‘why I pet’. I couldn’t stop laughing and must have tried five times to say it. The registra was getting a little frustrated and eventually I got through it but it kept popping into my head through the rest of the ceremony so I had little giggles all the way through.  

I could only think of one person, and that’s my good fiend Jessica Lily. She knew all about our recommitment to each other as it happened. We’ve worked together since the beginning of covid and I’ve always loved her work. Her style suits that fast paced city wedding and has an editorial feel without being staged. 

As we’d kept our wedding a secret, I was actually really conscious I’d run into a fellow photographer at Marylebone as I normally do when I’m photographing a wedding myself. Jess checked the space before we left the building and noticed our friend Sammy Taylor was shooting a couple. I knew she’d be discreet and she came over to say hello and congratulate us. It was really lovely of her.

Paul and I had met 19 years ago and had children together but we were both in different places and we separated just two weeks before covid.

It was then that I was able to work on one of the aspects of my life which contributed to the separation, my career. When I was finally in a good place again. Three years later, when I was finally in a good place, we made our way back to one another.  Everything was fresh and it was like a whole new relationship.

Paul proposed to me on a beach in Ibiza, very quietly and discreetly. We’d had the most perfect day and it was magic. I couldn’t have wished for anything more. And then we watched the sunset at Space.

After being together for so long, we knew we couldn’t wait for the big party. We planned the civil ceremony in two months and it was torture having to wait that long! Marylebone is so beautiful and considered. The rooms are styled beautifully for weddings. 

The whole experience was so special and I felt incredibly calm and at peace.

We gave ourselves plenty of time but time always runs away with you on the wedding day and I should maybe have given myself more time. I will for the next one! I rushed a little getting into my dress.

We chose not to have anyone else with us during the ceremony, other than Jess who was also our photographer. This was about our family and I wanted the children to experience a special day. I didn’t want to be distracted with our friends.

I’m so glad we did it that way. Our big wedding is all about our friends but the civil wedding was intimate and just for us. 

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