London is the best backdrop in the world for a wedding, and not only in its country houses. Hotel ballrooms, rooftop terraces, galleries, restaurants and riverside warehouses all give your photographs and film a style that is completely their own.
We love city weddings for their energy: the black cab to the ceremony, the walk past the crowds, confetti on the steps, cocktails as the lights come up, and portraits on the street after dark, when the city glows. It is a modern, editorial look, and it suits couples who live and love in London.
Where we photograph in the city
- Hotels. Grand ballrooms and boutique hotels, from The Hempel to the West End.
- Town halls and register offices. Chelsea, Marylebone, Islington and more: see intimate weddings and civil ceremonies.
- Landmark venues. Museums, banqueting halls and galleries: see our guide to London wedding venues.
- Rooftops and riverside spaces with the skyline behind you.
- Restaurants and private dining rooms, for smaller weddings where the meal is the celebration.
How a city day runs
- Getting ready. Often in a hotel suite or at home, with window light, last-minute nerves and the people closest to you.
- The journey. A black cab, a vintage car or a walk through the streets, which makes some of the best photographs of a city wedding.
- The ceremony. At a register office, a church, a temple, a gurdwara or your venue, covered quietly and within the rules of each place.
- Portraits. Twenty relaxed minutes on nearby streets, steps, bridges or garden squares, guided rather than posed.
- The reception. Drinks, dinner, speeches and the first dance, then a few minutes outside for night portraits.
After dark
The city’s best light often arrives when the sun has gone: shop windows, street lamps and the glow of taxis. We take a few minutes away from the party for night portraits, lit simply and quickly, so you are back with your guests before the next song. In winter that window comes early, which is one more reason we love a city wedding in December.
Planning a London wedding
- Allow for traffic. Central London journeys take longer than the map suggests, especially on a Saturday. Build in a little time between getting ready, the ceremony and the venue, so nothing is rushed.
- Choose portrait spots close by. The best city portraits are often a five-minute walk from your venue. We look at the area before the day so we know where to take you.
- Check the rules for public places. Quick, informal portraits on a street or in a square are usually fine, but some parks, landmarks and private estates need permission for photography or filming. We will tell you if your chosen spot might need it.
- Think about the light. Ballrooms and basements can be dark. We bring quiet, flattering lighting for the evening, and our films are shot on cinema cameras that love low light.
Photography and film, together
Most of our couples book wedding photography and wedding films together, so one team plans your day and nobody gets in anyone’s way. Photography starts from £830 and film from £1,430. City weddings bring every culture together, and we cover them all: Asian, Jewish, Muslim, African, church and fusion weddings. See all our collections.
Your questions, answered
Do you charge for travel within London?
No. Travel is included within 50 miles of our studio in Beckenham, which covers the whole of London.
Do we need a permit for portraits on the street?
For quick, informal portraits on public streets, usually not. Some parks, landmarks and private estates have their own rules, so we check your chosen spots and tell you if permission is needed.
Will night portraits take us away from the party for long?
No. We plan them for a natural pause, often between dinner and dancing, and they usually take just a few minutes.
How many hours of coverage do we need?
Our minimum is two hours, which suits a register office ceremony and portraits. Most couples choose between six and ten hours for a full city wedding.
