I (David) really enjoyed my role as a Hall Place wedding photographer on 31st October, which of course as half the planet knows is Halloween.
It seems every year I get booked for a Halloween wedding, and invariably it is also a spookily themed celebration of love too.
I’ve just won the Wedissimo Wedding Awards for 2025, and one of the images that contributed to that as top Award for Wedding Fashion was the one from Hall Place shown below. Backstory to follow:
I was delighted to be chosen for the marriage of L & J at Hall Place in the London Borough of Bexley as I love a bit of history. These two choses a grade 1 listed stately home which was originally constructed in 1537 by rich merchant Sir John Champneys, who was also Lord Mayor of London. It’s been added to and expanded over the centuries, and is a mixture of gothic splendour and beautiful classic English architecture and gardens.
It’s gothic elements really resonated with L and J, who I would loosely describe as an alternative wedding couple, lovely people too. I have to say as well very friendly and helpful staff work at Hall Place on wedding days too which is always very helpful.
L was eight months pregnant, which I think she handled really well, and her bump was also a star of this show. The fairly intimate ceremony with about 25 friends and family was held in the Tudor Kitchen, a suitably gothic space.
After a heartfelt exchange of vows and well conducted ceremony (amid a fair amount of pumpkins and skulls!), they had a drinks reception out in the ancient courtyard.
We used this time to wander through the grounds and have some couple portraits. We also me up with Jambs Owl Experience (see them here: Jambs Owls Experience at Hall Place and Gardens, who gave two beautiful owls for L and J to meet and also incorporate into their pics as they both love this breed of bird. Plus they have kind of slightly scary piecing eyes…right?
This was a shorter day for me, so after going back to the drinks reception and doing their family photo requests and a bunch of candids, I got on my broom and flew back off into the London night!
For a little more info on my image win from this Hall Place Wedding day and the Wedissimo Wedding Awards in general, take a look at the link below:
Winner of the Wedissimo Wedding Awards 2025! David Green – Big Day Weddings
And here’s my Google review received after the wedding:
Text says: “Had such an amazing experience with David from day number 1. We both knew he would be perfect for our alternative wedding and understanding our vision. He was always willing to listen and took into account everything we asked for while adding some amazing ideas to it!
On the day he made both of us feel super comfortable (both me and my husband are introverts) but on the day we completely forgot our worries.
I would strongly recommend David without a doubt!”