London venues and events Archives

We all love a Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding!

By Big Day WeddingsBarnet Wedding Photographers, London venues and events, London Wedding Photographers, Wedding VenuesNo Comments

Yes we do all love a Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding, especially myself David. What’s not to love? A renowned iconic venue on the world famous Kings Road. Great registrars and staff, even the guys that hoover up your confetti afterwards are charming and smile while they do it!

All around the venue you have great spots to grab some family and couple snaps, plus some I’ve discovered tucked away that not many others know about, so shhhhh….

However I’m not going to be renaming myself Mr. Chelsea anytime soon. By that I mean recently I was getting a bit concerned that was how people were beginning to see me, as all I’ve had time to post recently was some of my seven visits to the town hall this year alone. In fairness to myself, and for anyone reading this, I’ve also photographed another 39 weddings this year to date. From Gloucestershire to all the home counties, plus countless big days in and around central London, including well know and more obscure hipster venues, other town halls, to St Paul’s Cathedral (for the fourth time).

Anyway, as usual I worked closely with my couple beforehand in the lead up, to understand exactly what they were looking for. K and C were lovely to work with and were most concerned about noticing me during their ceremony at the town hall, as they both wanted to be in their special moments without distraction. You can read in the Google review they gave me at the end of this post how happy they were with that and everything else 🙂

They had a great crowd with them, and we had some extra fun doing the confetti throw afterwards on Chelsea Old Town Hall’s iconic steps, especially with C trying to catch some of the petals in his mouth as he went along.

After a few group shots on the Kings Road I took the couple to some of my favourite spots for a few naturalistic portraits.

Not far away was our reception venue, the always classy Ivy Chelsea Garden restaurant. For this more intimate wedding the couple booked the very beautiful The Glasshouse. It’s a brilliant space with a very special ambience, I loved it.

I love all my wedding days, just sometimes I love some a little bit more than others, and I absolutely loved this Chelsea Old Town Hall wedding with this super couple.

I would like to wish them all the very best for the future, and say thank you for the Google review too!

Here’s some other recent Chelsea Old Town Hall Weddings from the blog:

Find a Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding Photographer today

Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding with David

Chelsea Old Town Hall Weddings – Three recent 🙂

Chelsea Old Town Hall wedding Google review 2024

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Bride and groom and wedding car by Chelsea Old Town Hall

Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding with David

By Big Day WeddingsBarnet Wedding Photographers, London venues and events, London Wedding Photographers, Wedding VenuesNo Comments

Great to be back on the Kings Road London again for another fantastic Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding. The best thing for me (David) about the really enjoyable time I had with N and D was the level of communication we had before, during and after the day itself.

Bride comes down stairs Chelsea Old Town Hall wedding

Bride walks down aisle at Chelsea Old Town Hall

Wedding ceremony at Chelsea Old Town Hall bride and groom

Bride and groom hold hands Wedding ceremony Chelsea Old Town Hall

I think that’s a tremendously important thing to do. It’s essential to know what a couple is looking for from the very beginning, the kind of involvement and approach they want from the photographer, and any of the imagery they particularly like from your portfolio.

Confetti throw black and white Chelsea Old Town Hall wedding

Bride and groom by wall at Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding

I enjoy the spontaneity of the day, but I also believe it to be important to work to some kind of brief. I was particularly used to this when I photographed in fashion and the advertising industry for both online and magazine. Then our job of course is to exceed that brief.

Bride and groom on pedestrian crossing Chelsea

Chelsea Old Town Hall bride and groom in red phone box

It may sound ridiculously obvious, but if you want some couple shots along with all the documentary coverage of the day, then it should be planned ahead. You only need 15 to 20 minutes for this. You don’t need to pose or feel awkward or not be yourself. No with me 🙂 There’s no point in that. We will talk about a route and potential places to go as a team.

Wedding couple laugh in park by Chelsea Old Town Hall

What I do is look for spots that you will look good in, get you to potentially walk through them, or an interesting places where you can just talk and look at each other, perhaps react to something funny I might say, but most of all to feel relaxed and have a good time. At a Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding I know lots of places to go to quickly and near by, so that you don’t spend too much time away from your friends and family.

Chelsea Old Town Hall couple cross past London bus

Chelsea Old Town Hall wedding couple in red phone box together

N and D were open minded to this kind of collaboration, with ideas of their own too, and were delighted with the results, both planned and spontaneous 🙂

Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding couple stand by Mexican skulls Kings Road

Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding couple stand by Mexican skulls Kings Road BW

Need to see more Chelsea Old Town Hall Weddings then click on the blog links below:

We all love a Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding!

Find a Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding Photographer today

Chelsea Old Town Hall Weddings Three recent 🙂

Wedding at Chelsea Old Town Hall with Laura and James

By David Green

Chelsea Old Town Hall wedding couple in front of street mirror

Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding couple with Vintage Rolls Royce Kings Road

I put another version of this shot in because I really like this black and white contrasty look, so there!

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Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding couple by pink doors

Find a Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding Photographer today

By Big Day WeddingsBarnet Wedding Photographers, London venues and events, London Wedding Photographer, Wedding VenuesNo Comments

Well seen as I have worked at six Chelsea Old Town Hall weddings in the last three months, I felt entitled to write a confident blog title like ‘Find a Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding Photographer today’ and to speak from experience 🙂

Bride arrives in car Chelsea Old Town Hall wedding

I thought it also about time to do a quick post of at least one of them in an increasing busy but very happy schedule!

Wedding ceremony couple hold hands Chelsea Old Town Hall

Bride and Groom laugh inside Chelsea Old Town Hall

Chelsea is one of what I would call the “Big Three” main and famous town halls of central London. It’s busy, many couples want to get married there, and many photographers want to be the ones to do it. It’s also had it’s fair share of very famous couples too as any quick Google search will show.

Bride and groom leaving Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding

Small confetti throw at Chelsea Old Town Hall wedding

I (David) find I do a real mix of wedding timelines there. Sometimes it’s near the beginning of a longer day after groom and bridal prep, then on to a reception venue somewhere else. Other times it’s four or so hours, a half day, of ceremony, couple shoot and off to a local restaurant. And other times again, usually on a week day it’s two hours of ceremony and couple/family moments.

Bride and groom on Kings Road by Chelsea Old Town Hall

Bride and groom on Kings Road by Chelsea Old Town Hall crop

In peak times, like weekends I’m doing eight or nine hours if it involves a London Town Hall or Home Counties venue, sometimes four in winter. Week days I’m always very happy to pop to Chelsea for a couple of hours and help make great memories.

Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding bride and groom by red phone box

Bride and groom embrace by Chelsea phone box

Chelsea Old Town Hall wedding couple by red London phone box

Here I feature D and H. Nice to know that D is a wedding planner, so I was extra pleased she choose me for a two hour wedding coverage in the week. On thing I hear too often though, is people saying they wished they had booked me for longer 🙂

Bride and groom on crossing Chelsea Old Town Hall wedding day

This recent Thursday started with meeting H the groom first and then waiting for D to arrive in their Audi A8. They live in Chelsea so it wasn’t a long drive! This was an intimate ceremony with just both sets of parents involved, so a wedding party of four.

Chelsea Old Town Hall wedding couple walking in park

Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding couple laugh by pink door

Afterwards it was three people involved in that iconic confetti throw on Chelsea Old Town Hall steps.

Though small in number the throw was still great fun.

Chelsea Old Town Hall wedding couple by black railings 2

I did some quick group shots back inside, and then took D and H to some of my favourite spots in the surrounding area. Weather wise a typical English day, sunny, then overcast, then sunny, then: is it going to rain…?

Chelsea Old Town Hall wedding couple walking with dog

Finally H went of in the Audi to pick up their much loved dog so that we could involve him in the day and get him into some of the shots too.

Bride groom and dog by wall Chelsea Old Town Hall

All in all a memorable and very enjoyable weekday wedding at Chelsea Old Town Hall.

Chelsea Old Town Hall bride stood by street mirror

Bride and groom with dog in street Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding

Bride and groom on their wedding car Chelsea Old Town Hall

Here’s some other recent weddings at the town hall from the blog:

We all love a Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding!

Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding with David

Chelsea Old Town Hall Wedding

By David Green

Chelsea Old town Hall wedding couple get in bridal car

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Two grooms hand in hand outside Old Marylebone Town Hall wedding

Another great Old Marylebone Town Hall Wedding

By Big Day WeddingsBarnet Wedding Photographers, London venues and events, London Wedding Photographers, Wedding VenuesNo Comments

Every year I (David) or we (David plus one) photograph an Old Marylebone Town Hall Wedding day. I’ve worked out that’s on average six times every twelve months. That’s every kind of wedding from small to large, same sex, fusion, multi national and every single one of them has been a joy.

Two grooms at Old Marylebone Town Hall Wedding

Two grooms laugh and walk by Old Marylebone Town Hall

Wide shot grooms walking by Old Marylebone Town Hall wedding

When we are not roaming the home counties covering big days, you can usually find us every other weekend or significant week day capturing a wedding ceremony at one of the main central London Town Hall’s. That’s Old Marylebone Town Hall of course at 97-113 Marylebone Rd, London NW1 5PT, Islington Town Hall at Upper St, London N1 2UD, and Chelsea Old Town Hall at King’s Rd, London SW3 5EE. Honorable mentions too for Camden Town Hall, Stoke Newington and Woolwich.

Two grooms with sunglasses Old Marylebone Town Hall wedding

Groom and groom by black doors Marylebone wedding

Old Marylebone Town Hall wedding grooms embrace

J & S opted for an intimate ceremony with just close friends and family for their same sex wedding at Old Marylebone Town Hall. This one I did by myself, and I was delighted to find out that their registrar was Alison who has worked at the Town Hall for 30 years. She is very relaxed, efficient and friendly and has married countless well known figures including Paul McCartney’s latest wedding to Nancy Shevell.

Groom and groom chat by Marylebone wall London

Two grooms together behind Old Marylebone Town Hall

Stars of this day were of course J & S. We met outside the town hall and had ten minutes to get some couple shots before meeting the registrars inside. I feel like I know every inch of the surrounding area from experience, so I made the most of the short time we had.

Two grooms romantic moment at Old Marylebone Town Hall wedding

Grooms walk through Old Marylebone Town Hall corridors at wedding

Groom and groom at Old Marylebone Town Hall wedding by rose window

Two grooms by window gay wedding Old Marylebone Town Hall

The ceremony was a tender and loving affair in the Marylebone Room, an intimate space perfectly suited to the atmosphere of the couple.

Grooms entrance Old Marylebone Town Hall wedding ceremony

Same sex wedding at Old Marylebone Town Hall

Signing the register Old Marylebone Town Hall gay wedding

Grooms recessional Old Marylebone Town Hall wedding ceremony

Once the signing of register was done and the boys recessed out of the room, we had another five minutes to take some shots before that iconic confetti moment on the front steps of the town hall.

Two grooms on balcony Old Marylebone Town Hall

Grooms walking down stairs after Old Marylebone Town Hall Wedding

Two grooms hand in hand down stairs Old Marylebone Town Hall

It’s a busy place, so the way things usually work is that wedding parties after the confetti shot generally move to the right hand side of the steps for their family photos if needed. This means any other weddings that are happening afterwards can also get their confetti shots too.

Confetti throw two grooms Old Marylebone Town Hall wedding 2

I have to say that weddings at Old Marylebone Town Hall unfold like a Swiss train timetable. The staff ushers and security have got it all down to a fine art!

Confetti throw two grooms Old Marylebone Town Hall wedding

I had a lovely time with J & S and their families, and they were kind enough to write me a stellar Google review too.

Two grooms by Old Marylebone Town Hall lion

Two grooms by Old Marylebone Town Hall lion BW

By David Green

Here’s another recent Old Marylebone Town Hall Wedding here on the blog:

Old Marylebone Town Hall Weddings

Two grooms hold hands Old Marylebone Town Hall wedding

And here’s the Google review from the day:

Google review Big Day Weddings Old Marylebone Town Hall

Two grooms walking by Old Marylebone Town Hall London

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St Albans Registry wedding couple run past wall image

St Albans Registry Office Wedding photographers

By Big Day WeddingsBarnet Wedding Photographers, London venues and events, London Wedding Photographers, Wedding VenuesNo Comments

When you book your St Albans Registry Office wedding photographers, you may or may not know you are booking one of the most unique and also famous buildings not just in Hertfordshire, but the entire UK.

St Albans Registry office wedding venue

Bride arrives at St Albans Registry wedding

I (David) thought that seen as we’ve/I’ve worked at this lovely venue now about ten times that I really should write something about it. If nothing else to be a heads up for anyone considering it for their wedding ceremony.

St Albans registry wedding ceremony 2

St Albans registry wedding ceremony crowd laughing

I love a bit of history and this place has it in spades! St Albans is a beautiful town, a jewel as far as I’m concerned in Hertfordshire, and I often find any old excuse to go shopping there, usually on a Sunday with the family. It was an important Roman settlement and among many other places of interest has a stunning cathedral and grounds, not to mention a brilliant comedy festival in the park.

St Albans wedding couple by wall hand in hand

The registry office itself was the governor’s residence for what was formerly St Albans prison. The prison itself opened in 1867 and closed at the beginning of the first world war. The entrance gate and outer walls still exist, along with of course the part used for the registry office. I love to use those old walls whenever I can in the time I have before heading off to reception venues. The doors to the registry were famously used in the 1974 much loved BBC comedy series “Porridge” starring Ronnie Barker, as the entrance to the fictional Slade Prison. Note the camera phone selfie with myself and the wedding party towards the end.

Wedding couple walk past St Albans registry walls wide shot

Wedding couple walk past St Albans registry walls

I’ve chosen to show my most recent visit as a St Albans Registry Office wedding photographer to be the focus of this blog post. This was a Saturday and my lovely couple were N and R tying the knot officially before their summer wedding in Cyprus. Unfortunately I was already booked on that particular date 🙂

Bride and groom laugh by St Albans Registry doors

I was as usual there in good time to refresh my memory of the venue and to look where the light was best for pics, this is something I ALWAYS do. It doesn’t matter how often you do a venue, one way or another it is different every time.

Wedding couple kiss at St Albans Registry office gates

Bride and groom sit on stone bench St Albans Registry wedding

N and R arrived in separate cars and it soon became apparent there had been some crossed wires and the bridal bouquet and confetti had been left at home by mistake! Good news though that the ever helpful, and I have to say really friendly registrars at St Albans, had an emergency bouquet to hand, which I rather liked anyway 🙂

St Albans Wedding Registry couple in gardens

This was a very intimate wedding, the couple and four guests including one best man and his partner, one sister and the bride’s best friend.

St Albans Registry Office Wedding couple sat on bench in grounds Bride and groom by canon St Albans Registry wedding day

Once the ceremony was done and everyone had a good cry, I took N and R around the grounds (admittedly rather small). I made sure to get plenty of the old prison walls and doors in their shots. Plus a very well preserved 1840 siege canon that imposing sits at the front of the registry office.

Wedding couple together at St Albans Registry office

Wedding-couple-laughing-at-St-Albans-Registry-office-gates

Wedding couple pose by canon at St Albans Registry Hertfordshire

Although I visit a great variety of venues as a London and Home counties wedding photographer, I’m really looking forward to returning to St Albans registry in the near future!

Big Day Weddings selfie St Albans Registry Office