Chelsea Old Town Hall is one of my absolute favourite locations for London weddings, and I am lucky enough to have photographed many weddings there over the years. Everything about Chelsea Registry Office is perfect for a stylish London wedding – every event there has something special and unique about it. It is such a beautiful, iconic building, set on the fashionable King’s Road in the heart of Chelsea, making it the ideal venue for a London wedding.
After making your way up the famous steps of Chelsea Registry Office and through the blue door, you’ll find that the inside of the building is just as fantastic as the outside. There’s a choice of three rooms for your wedding ceremony. The largest is the beautifully elegant Brydon Room, which has space for 38 guests. If you have a smaller guest list then the equally lovely Rossetti Room might suit you, with seats for 12 people. Or for the most intimate of Chelsea weddings there’s the Harrington Room, which accommodates 8 guests. There really is something to suit all weddings.
One of my favourite images from my Chelsea Old Town Hall weddings is the confetti shot. It’s a wonderful moment as the newlyweds walk down the steps under a shower of confetti, thrown by joyful family and friends. There’s always a great atmosphere at that moment, as passing well-wishers cheer the happy couple as they step out onto King’s Road. It’s such a joyous moment on the wedding day, one that is a privilege to photograph. My aim is to capture the emotions of the day in one perfect image on the steps of the Chelsea Old Town Hall.
The iconic steps of Chelsea Registry Office also provide the perfect setting for the group portraits. Not only do the photographs look great, but it’s also so convenient, as the guests don’t have to walk far to have their photos taken. The King’s Road is always so busy and there is normally lots of applause from passers-by while we’re doing the group portrait photographs, which adds to the celebratory atmosphere of such a special day.
Then it’s time for some Chelsea wedding portraits of the couple on their own. Nearby Chelsea streets provide the perfect backdrop for some creative portraits. While the guests make their way to the wedding reception, the wedding couple and I take some time out to get some natural wedding portraits around the streets of Chelsea. There are some great locations really close to the Chelsea Old Town Hall, so the couple don’t need to be away from their guests for long. I love taking photos in St Luke’s Church Gardens, and at certain times of year we are treated to a splash of colour, either from the beautiful display of daffodils or the pretty spectacle of pink roses. Chelsea Farmers Market can also provide some fun, colourful backdrops for the wedding portraits. And I also really like the garden called Dovehouse Green, opposite the stunningly decorated Ivy Chelsea Garden. And if we’re lucky here a red London bus might drive into shot, as it makes its way along the King’s Road. Some natural walking shots around the quirky side streets of Chelsea always work brilliantly.
After taking a variety of memorable wedding portraits it’s party time! And within walking distance of the Chelsea Old Town Hall there are several stylish restaurants. They could all be the perfect venue for your wedding reception, so take your pick! One of my favourites is the Ivy Chelsea Garden, which is simply stunning. The entrance, usually surrounded by flowers, is a spectacular sight on the King’s Road. And as well as the wonderful main dining room inside, there is also the exquisitely decorated private Eden room, which can seat around 30 guests. The walls of the Eden Room are adorned with colourful vintage botanical prints, making it a beautiful place to celebrate with your guests.
Another fantastic restaurant on the King’s Road, just 10 minutes walk from Chelsea Old Town Hall, is the Medlar, an independently owned restaurant, which opened in 2011. It has gained many excellent reviews over the years and is one of the best neighbourhood restaurants in London. It also has a private room on the first floor, with south facing windows allowing plenty of natural light. It can seat up to 15 guests on one oval table, or larger groups of up to 28 on separate tables.
And of course, there is the famous Bluebird Chelsea within easy walking distance of Chelsea Registry Office. A modern European restaurant and bar with outside terraces and lounge, the Bluebird is a stylish establishment, making it the perfect destination to celebrate your wedding with family and friends. There are also four private rooms to choose from, so something to suit everyone.
If you’re planning to get married at Chelsea Old Town Hall and are looking for a wedding photographer please do get in touch on hello@alexakidd-may.com And to view more of my London weddings please take a look at my London Wedding Photography page
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