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St Pauls Cathedral

St Pauls Cathedral wedding photographer couple pose outside photo

London Church Weddings, to home counties and beyond!

By Barnet Wedding Photographers, London Wedding Photographer, Wedding VenuesNo Comments

Farm-Street-Church-wedding-recessional-shot-London

London church weddings, we love them! Well any church wedding, although about fifty percent of all ceremonies we cover today are also in licensed and interesting civil venues. We love them too of course!

The reason we thought about writing about church services around the capital and home counties, is because we were asked recently to show a couple at a meeting some extra wedding images taken in churches. They were concerned about available light levels and where would their clergy allow photographers to shoot. The images in this piece were lifted from recent blog posts and were what we showed our couple to answer their questions. They actually booked us there and then.

Wedding-couple-pose-after-ceremony-at-St-Pauls-Cathedral-wedding

Needless to say after ten years of fantastic experiences with wedding photography from St Pancras to St Paul’s to St Tropez (yes we have done them all) we are very well versed with capturing beautiful imagery in churches whatever the light levels and position we find ourselves in.
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As every wedding day is different, so is every church and it’s clergy that we work with. Some vicars and priests are very relaxed with little restriction on what a photographer can and can’t do. Others have a very clear set of rules and some of whom send us them before the big day. We generally aim to find out well in advance so that we can plan, and we are always very respectful in the midst of a wedding ceremony.

Enfield church wedding shot

We are mindful that a wedding service is an incredibly special and intimate moment for both the couple and their friends and family. Wherever possible we photograph from a distance and put our cameras into silent or semi silent mode.

Wedding-at-St-Stephens-Walbrook-London-photo

Bride-and-groom-walk-down-the-aisle-at-London-Hampstead-wedding

It’s very important at this time to be as unobtrusive as possible. For the couple this part of the day passes so fast that the photos of what actually happened become even more critical to reliving the moment that their commitment to each other became a “real” marriage.

Wedding-vows-at-St-Stephens-Hampstead-London

Italian Wedding CeremonyBride-walks-down-the-aisle-at-Hampstead-wedding

Some of the most important shots to capture well at any church wedding are the brides processional and the the corresponding recessional at the end of the newly weds. The exchange of rings, that first glance when the groom sees his bride to be, and of course the first kiss as man and wife are essential too.

Newly-weds-walk-down-church-aisle-photoBride-and-her-father-walk-down-the-aisle-for-church-weddingWedding_ceremony_at_Shoreditch_church_LondonSt-Georges-Cathedral-London-wedding-recessional-photoIslington_church_wedding_interior_shotwedding_ceremony_in_Hitchinwedding_recessional_shot_essex_chirchSouthwark_cathedral_wedding_ceremonyBride_in_aisle_Essex_wedding_dayJust_married_at_Shoreditch_church_imageWoking_wedding_service_imageFirst_look_between_couple_All_Saints_BlackheathWedding_ceremony_St_James_church_LondonSt_Peters_Italian_church_wedding-2marriage_vows_at_St_Helen's_Bishopsgate_LondonWedding_procession_St_Helens_Bishopsgate_LondonSt_Barts_wedding_photo_LondonWedding_at_St_Peters_Italian_London

Featured images here are London church weddings as diverse as St Paul’s Cathedral, The Italian Church Clerkenwell, St Bartholomew The Great, Southwark Cathedral, St George’s Cathedral, Shoreditch Church, St Sophia’s Greek Cathedral in Bayswater, Farm Street Church Mayfair, St Stephen’s Hampstead and many many more.

Here’s some links to a few of the previous writings and wedding images from the churches showcased in this post:

St Paul’s Cathedral Wedding Photographers & Skinners Hall Reception

Lansdowne Club and Farm Street Church Wedding Photography

Shoreditch Wedding Photographers. Claire & Jamie’s big day in East London.

Smithfield Wedding Photographer

Greek Wedding Photographer London & Saint Sophia Cathedral Bayswater

Southwark Cathedral wedding with Butlers Wharf, Tower Bridge & Vinopolis reception

By David Green

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Bride and groom on escalator by London St Pauls Cathedral

St Stephen’s Walbrook and Corney & Barrow Central London Wedding Day

By London Wedding Photographer, Wedding VenuesOne Comment

Another fantastic wedding day in central London for Louise and Kenton, and another chance for myself and Joanna to learn a little more of the history of the nation’s capital!

Wedding at St Stephens Walbrook London photo

Our coverage started at St Stephen’s Walbrook right in the heart of the city near bank station. It’s a beautiful church designed by Sir Christopher Wren which served in many ways as a template for his later creation St Pauls Cathedral. It was interesting for us too as St Pauls wedding photographers to see how some of his architectural ideas took shape.

Wedding vows at St Stephens Walbrook London Church

The altar sits in a fantastic circular area below Wren’s dome design, and wedding ceremonies tend to take place at the end of the aisle that faces the entrance doors. We are guessing though because it is circular it could be anywhere! There is also a very imposing pulpit that I’m grateful the clergy let me use to take some larger group shots.

Husband and wife near Bank Station on London wedding day

Louise arrived in an open topped car with her bridesmaids and walked between a fairy light illuminated aisle to Kenton waiting near the altar. Musicians were ready to play them on and accompany all the hymns. It was by all accounts a passionate and heartfelt ceremony, and afterwards drinks and food were served for all at in the rear courtyard of St Stephens.

Wedding couple stand by Bank Station

Once the guests had made their way to the reception venue Joanna and I spent a little time on foot with the bride and groom taking some central London shots around Bank Stanton, and heading towards St Pauls, great fun.

The wedding reception venue was the lovely Corney and Barrow restaurant and bar in Paternoster Square. Personally I’m a big fan of this area and I was delighted to photograph the bouquet toss here and find some deckchairs for Louise and Kenton to sit in with St Pauls behind them.

Wedding couple on deckchairs by St Pauls cathedral London

While guests sipped complimentary drinks and canapés, the bride and groom and their closest family enjoyed a traditional Chinese tea ceremony in an adjoining room.

Dinner was served by the friendly and efficient Corney & Barrow team followed by speeches, cutting of the wedding cake and dancing the evening away in the shadow of St Pauls. By all accounts another fantastic central London wedding day.

Couple at Corney & Barrow wedding reception

For history fans here’s a wikipedia link to St Stephens Walbrook: St Stephen Walbrook on Wikipedia

For previous wedding in central London take  look at these blog posts: Central London Weddings

Best London wedding photographers

Wedding day at Asia House and Sketch in central London

Bridal bouquet toss in front of St Pauls cathedral London image

By David Green

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Stationers Hall wedding shot in central London

London Stationers Hall Wedding Photography

By London Wedding Photographer, Wedding VenuesNo Comments

One enduring memory that will stay with us from Alex and Kwame’s wedding day, is the sight and sound of them, newly married and full of love, singing and dancing down the aisle with all their friends and family. It certainly was a great ceremony in south London ringing with the sound of laughter and song, and conducted by a fantastically charismatic clergy.

Bride prepares for her wedding at Stationers Hall

We met the couple in 2014 to talk about their wedding day and begin the planning, which would start with Alex getting ready at her mothers house in Streatham. She would then get picked up by a traditional London white wedding cab, and make her way to the New Testament Assembly in Tooting.

Wedding couple with flowers in Holborn

Meanwhile Kwame would be there with his groomsmen overseeing the final touches before the big arrival of his bride.

Makeup being applied to bride before her London wedding day

Alex walked down the aisle to a fantastic solo performer singing a special song for her arrival, creating very memorable moments for all. The ceremony was upbeat, musical and joyous, and a fitting celebration of the couple’s faith and cultures.

Bride comes down the aisle in London church

After our time at the church the wedding party made their way to the reception venue at central London’s Stationers Hall near St Paul’s Cathedral. In the outside courtyard there everyone enjoyed complimentary drinks and a variety of pre wedding breakfast nibbles.

First kiss for husband and wife at South London Ghanian wedding ceremony

The Stationers has been a city of London company since before the great fire of London in 1666. Unfortunately like most of the centre of the capital its buildings were destroyed by the blaze. However by 1670 work had begun on restoring the buildings and hall to the fantastic structures we see and enjoy today. The main entrance is featured as the first wedding image on this post, with the couple canoodling in front of their Hackney carriage.

Dancing down the aisle at a London wedding ceremony image

While the wedding party had a chance to enjoy the history of the reception venue, we took half an hour to shoot some quirky and also some traditional wedding portraits of the couple in the surrounding area, and taking in Holborn too. As usual we had plenty of relaxed fun, and that as always was reflected in the final photos.

Bride and groom hold hands outside their wedding in central London

Technique and experience is essential in wedding photography, but so are people skills. If you do not engage with your subjects whoever they may be, then you will struggle to create “engaging” photos of them. Especially in a small time frame in public places.

Phone boxes and bride and groom in Smithfield Market London

Fashion photographers have it easy, compared to wedding photographers, despite what they may tell you. We know we have done plenty of both!

Photo of wedding couple near Farringdon Station

Back to Stationers Hall we shot a mixture of reportage and some requested family photos. Dining took place in the fantastic main hall, followed by speeches, dedications and the cutting of the wedding cake.

Ghanian wedding couple pose near London Stationers Hall

Here’s another wedding that we did nearby with some of the same and similar locations: Smithfield Wedding Photographer    
By David Green

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