This intimate, Summer Chelsea Old Town Hall wedding started with photos in the waiting area. A gorgeous room with a checkered floor, a beautiful staircase and not to mention a wall of flowers. This Bride and Groom opted for a small micro wedding with just their closest family and friends, followed by a big reception in Hungary. So I was practically considered a guest, which is my all-time favourite – I even had the three-course meal at the table with them! Perks of the job!
With a micro-wedding, I like to start about half an hour before your ceremony. This enables me to capture your guests arriving and interacting before your main event—the ceremony! And that we get some photos on the stairs too, we can’t let those go to waste.
Candid Wedding Photos of the Guests
Some more mingling with the guests to capture the candids before the bride arrives with her Dad.
Wedding Ceremony
Time for the ceremony in the Brydon Room. Quick side note the room has been re-decorated since this wedding, it is now pale green but with the same furniture. You can see photos of the refurbishment on their site.
This room has enough room for me to move about during your ceremony, meaning I can capture both your guests’ reactions along with yours and your small details like exchanging rings. See if you can spot Laura’s best friend live translating the ceremony for her parents.
Those post-ceremony hugs are always heartfelt moments to capture, they’re so genuine and make my heart happy!
Time for Confetti and Group Photos
Time for some confetti on those iconic, Chelsea Old Town Hall steps! I’ll organise your guests into two lines on either side of them. I recommend having your confetti in a basket or bucket and nominating a guest or two to pass it out. Then your guests can grab a handful or two to enthusiastically throw into the air as you walk by them! If like Laura and Phil you have your confetti in little personalised packets then I tell your guests to pour it into their hands so they can launch it right.
After their group photos on the steps we all jumped into black cabs to their wedding reception venue; The Thomas Cubitt Pub in Belgravia. A spectacular spot for your couple portraits! The area is full of impressively, grand houses you and I could only dream of living in!
Wedding Couple Portraits
For your couple photos, I like to keep them relaxed, natural and candid. So I’ll tell you where to stand, If you’re feeling awkward also how to stand. But usually, I’ll give you some direction like looking at each other, having a chat or walking towards me etc. And if you’re happy to play around with high fives and twirls then we’ll get some of those too! The energy you bring is the energy I’ll capture! I want you to be able to look at your wedding photos and see that they scream you!
Thomas Cubitt Pub, Micro-Wedding Reception
Now back to the pub for that delicious three-course meal and some toasts to the very happy couple! – do note I don’t expect to be given a three-course meal at the table at every wedding, that part is up to you and your budget. I’m also happy to bring my own lunch along if needed, just let me know beforehand.
If you’re having a sit-down meal in a private space or restaurant and you think it’ll be awkward having photos there, think again. As long as there’s enough room for me to move around the room, then it won’t be awkward. Remember I’ll be mingling with your guests and getting involved in the conversation too. If you have speeches, even better. I love capturing your reaction and your guests, so the smaller the guestlist the more photos of everyone you’ll see with less area to cover!
That was Laura and Phil’s fabulous micro-wedding at Chelsea Old Town Hall followed by a meal and some speeches at the Thomas Cubitt pub in Belgravia. I have some wonderful ideas on how to make your micro-wedding better than a big wedding, you can find them here.
Are you getting married soon and still looking for a candid London wedding photographer? Look no further!
A quick introduction – I’m Lottie a bookworm and pinot grigio groupie who loves to party. I’m a wedding photographer who loves capturing relaxed, fun weddings in and around London. You can see more of my work in my gallery or see more weddings from this venue on my Chelsea Old Town Hall wedding photography page. Or if you are you ready to chat about your wedding? Get in touch to check my availability.
Wedding Vendors:
Wedding photography by me
Ceremony Venue: Chelsea Old Town Hall
Reception Venue: Thomas Cubitt Pub
