Relaxed documentary wedding photography in London
I've lived in London since the age of 20 - moving from Somerset to attend King's College for university. Unbelievably, I've now been here for 13 years and have resided all over the city in that time; from my halls of residence on the Southbank near Waterloo, to Greenwich, Willesden Green, Islington, Shepherd's Bush, Pimlico, and West Hampstead. I now live in West Brompton (a tiny area squished between Chelsea, Fulham, and Kensington that no one has ever heard of), and have been here for over five years!
So in a nutshell: I know London really well. I've also had the pleasure of getting to know a plethora of London's amazing wedding venues since I began my photography career; from town halls and quirky pubs, to big stately homes and fancy hotels. The chances are, I'm probably familiar with your venue even if I haven't shot there before, and can hopefully recommend some amazing places for photos nearby! If you're just starting your planning journey and have no idea where to begin, you're more than welcome to get in touch and I can give you some recommendations!
Nice t hings ot her London couples have said!
"The photos you've sent over so far are absolutely fantastic!!!!! Thank you so much; we had an amazing time."
Anna & Darren
The Duke's Head, Putney
Bianca & Patrick
Stanley Hall, South London
"Thank you SO MUCH for being a lovely part of our day! The photos look amazing! And we loved the smoke bombs!"
"Thank you SO MUCH for being a lovely part of our day! The photos look amazing! And we loved the smoke bombs!"
"We saw the photographs and they look AMAZING!! Thank you so much, we love them so much and they couldn’t have come out better!"
"We saw the photographs and they look AMAZING!! Thanks you so much, we love them so much and they couldn’t come out better!"
Chris & Sonia
Brompton Oratory
Ben & Sam
Warwick Castle, Warwickshire
"THANK YOU SO MUCH, wow they are totally stunning and you have captured the day so so beautifully and naturally. We can't thank you enough; we will treasure these memories forever."
Stuart & Zakera
Winchester House
London Wedding Venues I Know and Love
Some of the awesome wedding venues I've been lucky enough to shoot at across London include:
Wilton's Music Hall
Bromley Court Hotel
The Brewery London
Cutty Sark, Greenwich
The Orangery, Gunnersbury Park
Winchester House, Putney
Richmond Hill Hotel
The Landmark London
The Lensbury Resort, Teddington
The Bedford, Balham
Chiswick House
The Swan at Shakespeare's Globe
The Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel
The Phene, Chelsea
St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel
Burgh House, Hampstead
Walthamstow Wetlands
Oaks Farm, Croydon
Warren House, Kingston upon Thames
One Whitehall Place
Stanley Hall, South Norwood
The Dickens Inn
Shoreditch Studios
Queen's House, Greenwich
Venue on Middle Street, Croydon
Shangri-La The Shard
The Rosendale, Dulwich
Clissold House
Pembroke Lodge, Richmond upon Thames
The Duke's Head, Putney
Landmark Arts Centre, Teddington
The Hare and Hounds, Leyton
Battersea Park Bandstand
MKII Studios, Hackney
On top of those, I'm familiar with the vast majority of London's town halls and registry offices. I'm local to Chelsea Old Town Hall and have worked there dozens of times. If you'd like to read more about getting married there, check out my blog all about it! I've also worked at the Old Marylebone Town Hall multiple times and you can find my blog about it here, as well as my blog about Wandsworth Town Hall.
I don't have individual blogs about other town halls (yet!), but I have written a guide to London's most beautiful registry offices, which covers quite a few of them. You can find that here. But if you're curious, I have previously worked at:
Islington Town Hall
Langtons House, Havering
Morden Park House, Merton
Hackney Town Hall
Hillingdon Registry Office
Kingston upon Thames Registry Office
Croydon Town Hall
Valentine's Mansion, Redbridge
Bromley Registry Office
St George's Town Hall, Tower Hamlets
York House, Richmond upon Thames
Brent Civic Centre
Enfield Registry Office
Feltham Lodge, Hounslow
Southwark Registry Office
Pembroke Lodge
Pembroke Lodge sits right in the middle of beautiful Richmond Park, and the whole thing is every bit as gorgeous as the above photo makes it look. The views from the rear are insane, and there are so many spots to go for photos that you'll barely have time to fit them all in! Bigger parties can enjoy the Belvedere; smaller the Russell Suite. Both are full of natural light and charming features. Oh, and the food isn't bad either!
Oaks Farm
A farm - in London?! Sounds mad, but it's real! This fantastic venue is ten minutes' drive from the centre of Croydon, but once you turn down the little road leading up to it, leaving the suburbs behind, it's like you've entered a different world. The venue is exclusively yours for the day, giving you the choice of the Stables, the Barn, the Orangery, and the garden to choose from for your wedding. Not sure how you'll choose, but you can get legally married outdoors here and it's seriously gorgeous. If you're planning a summer do, that's the one I'd go for!
Queen's House
I've got a big soft spot for Greenwich, where I lived for one enjoyable year during university. I'd happily move back, if not for the fact that I shoot a lot of weddings in Somerset, so need easy access to the M3 & M4! Greenwich is full of amazing, grand architecture, and the Queen's House, part of Royal Musuems Greenwich, is as majestic as the best of them. You can tie the knot in the light-flooded Great Hall, which has a gallery running around it - perfect for a second shooter to hop up to for some aerial shots during your ceremony! You're spoilt for choice for where to take your wedding photos; stay where you are, head down to the Thames, or up to Greenwich Park. Perhaps all of them?!
Wilton's Music Hall
This venue has so much character, and I fell in love with it as soon as I stepped through the doors. I mean, who doesn't want to get married in a historical theatre! It's in a great area too; with the cobbled streets of Wapping a few minutes' away, chock full of photo opportunities, and a stone's throw from the city centre and its many transport connections.
The Bedford
I only discovered this amazing south London pub venue recently, when I shot there for the first time, and loved it - other than worrying that perhaps I wasn't cool enough for it! It's VAST, with a circular room in the centre full of funky coloured lights and red velvet curtains (and often a stage - the venue hosts lots of events). If you aren't fussed about outdoor space, but really want lots of character, and to set a party mood, check this one out. You can find it in Balham, literally next door to the train station - how convenient!
Fulham Palace
This period gem is one of my local venues! The historic home of the Bishops of London, you can find Fulham Palace next to Bishop's Park, in the west of (surprise!) Fulham. It's all absolutely stunning, including the striking courtyard out the front, and the pretty walled garden to the rear. You're also right by the River Thames. With seven event spaces there is something for everyone, and if you're as much of a history geek as I am, you'll love this place.
Winchester House
Just a short hop across the river from Fulham Palace is the next venue on my list! You can find it in Putney, and despite being so close to the bustling high street, it's serene and calm. The large events space upstairs is full of natural light and has views out over the Thames. Downstairs, a walled garden overlooking the river gives you loads of outdoor space, and if you want to get closer to the water, there's a handy gate at the rear. With a jetty leading literally right there, you could walk right into the river if you wanted to. But considering you probably don't want to ruin your wedding outfits, hover about a metre from the water for some waterside pictures with a stunning backdrop.
Chiswick House
Also fairly local for me is this grand and gorgeous stately home, sat in vast grounds. You can tie the knot in the historic conservatory, which is absolutely magical, before enjoying the surroundings for your drinks reception and photos, and ending the day in the garden pavillion, with room for up to 200 of your nearest and dearest. If you want to keep things more indoors, you can also hold your whole wedding in the house itself.
My London Wedding Venues Bucket List
It goes without saying that London has HUNDREDS of wedding venues and it would be a challenge for any one photographer to work at all of them. However, I've got a few on my mental bucket list that I'd ADORE to shoot at! If you're eyeing up one of these, please message me. I'd genuinely be so excited!
Syon Park
You'll find a few orangery/conservatory type venues on this list as I LOVE them. The natural light and true to life colours work wonderfully with my light and bright editing style, and I'm a sucker for greenery, flowers, and a bit of history. This one is particularly gorgeous, and I can attest to how romantic it feels in there once the sun starts to dip and the candlelight ramps up, as my wife and I went to a Disney songs by candlelight event there a few years ago. It's dreamy!!
Kew Gardens
Here's another one! There are lots of venue options here, and all are gorgeous and full of natural light. Plus you've got the gardens themselves for oodles of wedding photo spots, or just to escape to if you need a breather - weddings are amazing but also overwhelming! And if any of your guests happen to forget a wedding present, there's a handy gift shop on site.
Asylum Chapel
Coming in at number three with an entirely different vibe is this quirky venue in Peckham. It's ridiculously cool, has so much character, and is perfect if you want something a bit more offbeat and/or dark and romantic. I've been lusting after this one for years - will you be the couple to put me out of my misery?!
Barbican Conservatory
Another conservatory, but with more of an industrial edge than the others on this list. You might not think of the Barbican as a wedding venue with lots of greenery, but take a look at this hidden gem and your mind will be completely changed. It's also located in the middle of the City, with great transport links for your guests, and the option for a meander into town if you want some traditionally London-esque wedding pics.
Fitzrovia Chapel
Despite the name, the chapel was never consecrated, so anyone can tie the knot there! It's opulent, historic, and damn beautiful. It's also a stone's throw from Oxford Street so really well connected and/or very handy in case you need a bit of retail therapy during your wedding reception. I wouldn't judge, and I may just see you in Selfridges.
Battersea Arts Centre
If you've ever watched Portrait Artist of the Year on Sky Arts you'll recognise this one. It's full of character and history, and has several different beautiful events spaces. A short hop away is beautiful Battersea Park for your wedding photos, and Clapham Junction with its plethora of connections is also close. Definitely check this one out (and watch Portrait Artist of the Year - it's so soothing!).
Natural History Museum
I live close enough to here that I could walk to your wedding - though that is by far the least important reason why I'd love to shoot here. The DRAMA of the grand entrance hall; the generally amazing setting; the wedding photos with DINOSAURS!! I did an engagement shoot here a few years ago and there are so many different options for photos, inside and out, and Hyde Park is within an easy walk if you fancy some shots with greenery.
Strawberry Hill House
It's a white castle! I mean, how could you not love this place? The inside is a spectacular as the outside, and it's situated in amazing grounds for your perfect outdoor summer drinks reception. You're also right by the River Thames if you want any waterside photos, and if for any reason the venue runs out of booze, there's a Majestic Wine a few doors down.
Horniman Museum
The last orangery on my list, but by no means the least! This one is stunning, and the venue also comes with a really cute bandstand, perfect for smaller ceremonies or wedding photos. There are also lots of animals, including fluffy alpacas, on site!
So why should you choose me as your London wedding photographer?
Check out some real Somerset weddings (and helpful info!) on my blog!
I know this city and its wedding venues really well, so if you want recommendations or photo location ideas, I'm your girl. I also absolutely love my adopted home and really enjoy shooting here and exploring so many amazing places! London has so much variety; from gritty city venues to amazing palaces and stately homes out in the suburbs. There really is something for everyone.
My style of working is very relaxed and natural; I'll spend most of the day in the background telling the story of your wedding while you and your guests enjoy every minute! There's no cringe, minimal posing, and hopefully a lot of fun.
Sound good? Then hit the button below and drop me a message! I can't wait to hear all about your amazing wedding plans.
