Bride and groom standing in front of boat at The Dockyard Chatham

We have something really cool for you today with this fantastic nautical themed wedding shoot at The Dockyard in Chatham, photographed by Caroline Nicholson Photography. We love the air of Hollywood sophistication that the team created, and with the yellow, navy and white colour combination this shoot is bright and fun with the nautical details running throughout…

“The brief for the shoot was easy given our location — we wanted a nautical themed wedding shoot with the sophistication of a Hollywood classic. I’d done a couple of shoots at The Dockyard in Chatham which were hugely popular, and wanted to do something to pay them back for allowing me to shoot there previously. The aim was to create a classic Kent wedding while showing off an incredible venue, as well as being styled to create timeless images with a fashion edge. I wanted to do a creative shoot, but go back to the whole reason I started shooting weddings — to capture the elegance and glamour of a couple in love. We had a real life couple, Clare and Karim, who had just married and loved it so much that they were dying to do it all over again.

“The venue is amazing and has been used for filming numerous Hollywood blockbusters. It’s currently being used for filming TV, with Mr Selfridge and Call The Midwife in residence. Our groom was styled by the team at an incredible men’s fashion label, Hawkins and Shepherd (formerly Pin Collar Shirts UK), who are currently dressing people like David Gandy in their handmade pin collar shirts and tailoring.

“Our stunning bride wore Ronald Joyce and Alfred Angelo, and Kirsty McCall was our utterly brilliant hair and make-up artist. I’ve worked with her several times on wedding days and she never ceases to amaze me with her speed and creativity. Once she was on board and Carl Thompson from Hawkins and Shepherd had worked out his themes for his outfits, the flowers and cakes etc, just fell into place. Essentially we just all had fun and created some images I’m truly proud of — it was a wonderful team effort, with the Dockyard giving us free reign over where we shot — it was a photographer’s dream!”

Nautical themed wedding cake table

Nautical themed wedding cake

Gold wrapped sweets Blue cupcakes

Bride and groom on stairs

Bride and groom Bride and groom

Bride and groom on stairs

Picture of bride and groom taken from above

Picture of bride and groom taken from above

Bride laying on stairs

Yellow bridal bouquet

Groom leaning against wall

Groom leaning against wall Groom's striped blue shirt and yellow tie

Bride and groom looking at cake table

Bride and groom at cake table Groom taking cupcake

Groom showing bride cupcake

Bride standing at window

Curly bridal updo Bride looking over shoulder

Groom with hand on bride's shoulder

Groom looking down at bride Bride looking up at groom

Groom sitting on chair

Groom's yellow tie and buttonhole

Bride leaning down to groom

Bride and groom standing on patch

Bride with veil

Bride standing on balcony

Bride standing on balcony

Bride and groom standing on balcony

Bride and groom walking through The Dockyard Chatham

Bride and groom at The Dockyard Chatham

Bride and groom standing in front of boat at The Dockyard Chatham

Bride and groom standing in front of boat at The Dockyard Chatham

Bride and groom boarding ship at The Dockyard Chatham

Groom with arms around bride's waist Groom behind bride

Bride standing at ship's wheel

Bride on ship deck Bride

Bride laying on couch

Bride holding yellow bouquet Bride looking at bouquet

Bride leaning back on couch

Groom sitting on couch Groom's white tie and buttonhole

Bride and groom on ship deck

Bride on ship deck with dress blowing in wind Bride on ship deck with dress blowing in wind Bride on ship deck with dress dropping to ground

Bride inside The Dockyard Chatham covered slip

Bride looking over shoulder Bride with veil over face

Bride spinning

Bride twirling dress Bride twirling dress

Bride holding dress out

Bride

Bride inside The Dockyard Chatham covered slip Bride leaning against beam

Bride and groom

Groom with striped turquoise tie Turquoise buttonhole

Bride and groom inside The Dockyard Chatham covered slip

Bride and groom

Groom jumping inside The Dockyard Chatham covered slip

Photography: Caroline Nicholson Photography

Venue: The Dockyard

Dresses: Supplied by Kiss the Bride

Menswear and Styling: Carl Thompson at Hawkins and Shepherd

Hair and Make-Up: Kirsty McCall

Cakes: Hayley Griffiths at Binky Bakes Cakes

Flowers: Karen at Rose Blossom

Models/Real Life Couple: Clare and Karim Alleebux