I had worked with Grant's family many years before when I covered his brother's Barmitzvah, and Grant mentioned to me how he and Hannah would love me to cover their son's Barmitzvah one day if they are lucky enough to have a son. How lovely is that? Now I really feel part of the family.
The weather was just perfect, and one of the highlights of the day was the few quiet moments we had going around St John's Wood after the ceremony to take some outdoor photos. St John's Wood is where I grew up, so we started off with the location that was the view from my childhood bedroom window; the Abbey Road Zebra Crossing, made infamous by the Beetles in 1969. Hannah & Grant crossed the Zebra crossing (with their shoes on) to the delight of all the tourists who had gathered there.
Thereafter we went to Violet Hill where there is a beautiful, intimate, little park. The sun was setting behind the trees and the sky was all different shades of gold which made a wonderful backdrop for some romantic shots.

But probably the highlight of my day were the shots that we took outside the public lavatories in the park. Strange though this might seem, the Ladies and Gentlemen signs had just become illuminated and it tickled my sense of humour to use these signs together with Hannah and Grant for some of my more Vogue posing. They saw the funny side too, and I warned them that I didn't want to be asked to Photoshop out the toilet signs later on for their album. They looked at the images on the back of my camera and promised me that they would stay as they were.

Later on in the day, Grant made a wonderful speech which even brought tears to my eyes. He talked about Hannah his wife and how he was the luckiest boy alive to have a wife who wears a nurses uniform most days of the week. They are a beautiful couple inside and out. If I could bottle and sell all the love that they have for one another, I would be a very rich lady indeed!

Hayley Lehmann a Licentiate of BIPP since 2001, a Professional Wedding Photographer and Bar Mitzvah Photography.

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Requirements

When it comes to bridal attire, the three major denominations of Judaism - Reform, United, and Orthodox - have different requirements. Reform Judaism has few, if any, restrictions on dress. United synagogues usually require that a bride's shoulders be covered and no jewellery worn, while Orthodoxy places even greater restrictions on attire such as wearing dresses with long or three-quarter length sleeves, high-cut necklines, ankle-length skirts, and covered backs.

The following guidelines should help you find a gown that makes you look elegant and stylish, but check with your Rabbi first. Rules regarding bridal attire can vary even among synagogues within the same denomination.

Go Undercover

Covered shoulders is the most common requirement for brides marrying in a United synagogue. Most brides find a strapless or spaghetti-strap gown that comes with a wrap or bolero-style jacket. This provides coverage for the ceremony which can simply be removed for the reception.

Make a Change

Finally, if you think you've found the perfect dress - but the neckline is too low, the sleeves are too short, and so on - ask someone at the bridal shop if the designer can alter the dress. Of course, you can't turn a sexy, spaghetti-strap sheath into a demure ball gown, so be realistic. Some designers have styles that come in both short and long sleeved incarnations. Most others will make slight alterations, such as putting short sleeves on a sleeveless dress or raising a neckline an inch or two.

Pure Colour

A few final thoughts before you buy: Avoid gowns with too much colour. In Jewish custom, a white wedding dress symbolizes spiritual purity. But if white's not your colour, don't worry. As you can see on the Weddings section of our website, we have photographed brides in a variety of shades from the most delicate duck egg blue, to lemon and cappuccino. Also, ask the bridal shop to reinforce the hooks and straps that will hold the train in place for the Israeli dancing. Although we attend weddings with loads of safety pins and a needle & thread, our temporary attempts to hold the train up are not much better than the flimsey hook and eyes provided by most dress designers. And lastly, check that you can dance and move in your dress. It is all very well posing in front of the mirror at the bridal shop, but if your dress stops you from partying and having fun it can ruin your special day.

Hayley Lehmann is a Wedding Photographer Professional Wedding Photographer and School Photography.

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