We love a Fitzrovia Chapel wedding. One of the best things about photographing in London and the home counties is the sheer variety of venues. We appreciate that, it helps keep us fresh and is a challenge we always relish. For E & R’s special day they chose three iconic spots in central London.
The day started with E getting ready at The Dorchester just off Park Lane central London, a venue we have been very happy to work in many times. A very relaxed start there and a chance to get to know mum and dad a little and of course the maid of honour and bridesmaids.
A fairly short convoy cab ride away, beating bride and dad to the church, we arrived at the ever amazing Fitzrovia Chapel in Pearson Square.
Fitzrovia Chapel in Westminster for those who haven’t been looks to my eye (David) something that could be in Vatican City Rome, it really is that impressive and golden inside!
It was built between 1891 – 2 but work with the interiors didn’t fully finish until 1929. Well at least there was something positive about 1929 considering it was the year of the great Wall Street stock market crash and the beginning of the Depression era!
It’s gothic, it beautiful, you can record songs there, fashion shoots, art exhibitions, performances you name it and of course you can get married too in its vaulted splendour. A real hidden gem in Westminster central London.
Photograph there in winter and you have to make an artistic choice, discreet soft flash or purely ambient. Purely ambient is pretty easy though we’ve seen quite a lot of previous wedding coverage there that is very dark and not particularly flattering, so diffused flash became the order of the day and worked very well.
Especially love the moment E comes through the arches with Dad, and R’s anticipation moments before. The registrars for the ceremony we knew, they really are a great team in Westminster, and thank you to the helpful staff on hand at Fitzrovia Chapel itself.
Afterwards there was a short drinks reception we used as a chance to get ten minutes outside with the newly weds for some shots, and then it was time to make our way to one of London’s most famous and iconic restaurant The Ivy.
What to say about The Ivy. Well we have both photographed and dined there many times. It is probably one of the most famous celebrity frequented restaurants London has. Starting in 1917 as an Italian Café it morphed over time into a restaurant frequented by some of the most famous actors of the day from Sir Lawrence Olivier, Vivien Leigh, Sir John Gielgud, Noel Coward and many many others in it’s history. It’s in the heart of theatreland, beautifully decorated and you cannot see in from the outside which David thinks is one of it’s biggest assets: privacy.
It’s also a fantastic place for a small to medium sized wedding reception. The first floor (we’ve worked at the top as well) is beautiful with a bar, socializing and dining area.
E & R arranged a fantastic three piece jazz band that kept the evening swinging, through another drinks reception, the wedding breakfast, first dance and beyond. It was a special ambience, great staff as well as fantastic guests all combining to make it a very memorable Ivy wedding reception.
Take a look at some related central London wedding days and receptions on the blog below:
Best London Engagement Shoot from Covent Garden to Leadenhall Market
More of our favourite wedding images from in and around London in the past year
London’s best wedding venues that are both iconic and alternative
London Engagement shoot at Southbank and Tower Bridge again
By David Green