Abney Park Chapel Wedding

Unique wedding venues in East London

Abney Park Chapel is finally opening its doors to weddings in 2024. I had the great pleasure of having a look around the gorgeous old chapel recently and am stunned by how awesome this Hackney Wedding Venue is. The restoration and refurbishment has been done very sympathetically, the character of the old ruined Chapel has been retained. The interior is fresh and contemporary (no longer filled with wildlife – sorry pigeons) with warm flattering lighting. On my visit to Abney Chapel the interior was completely empty , a wonderful blank canvas. Because the Abney Chapel has been deconsecrated there’s no altar. This super cute Hackney Venues space is for weddings and functions only.

Stoke Newington Wedding Venues and Reception Venues

When you arrive to Abney park your first glimpse of the Chapel is through the trees and foliage. The Chapel sits in the centre of the Abney Park Cemetery woodland in its own beautiful clearing. I’m excited to see Abney Chapel interior when it’s been dressed for a wedding with flowers and seating. A mezzanine level with fixed seating for thirty or so guests looks over the main space. The balcony is reached via a cute spiral stair-case inside one of the exterior towers and is the perfect place to put your most rowdy guests.

Best Hackney Wedding & Reception Venues

The chapel is nestled in the center of Abney park, a gorgeous wooded and dilapidated cemetery in Stoke Newington. The entire wood is over-grown and feels kinda magical. When you are strolling around this park it feels like you are anywhere but Central London, its N16’s best kept secret. Abney Park has been a hidden gem to us Stokey locals for years so it’s a pleasure to get to share it with the rest of London. Stoke Newington is chocca bloc full of stylish wedding reception venues that are all walkable from The Abney Chapel. For small and intimate weddings The Clarence Tavern have a cute private dining area for 30 or so guests. The Londesborough Pub is only ten minutes away and throws a wicked party. If you’re up for a slightly longer stroll then Jones & Sons in Dalston host a fabulous wedding reception too.

East London Chapel Wedding

If you enter the park via the Stoke Newington Church Street gates then the woodland can, at first feel tricky to navigate. But there’s a periphery track that circles the whole park and the Abney Chapel is basically right in the middle.  There are well-maintained bark paths to walk on, the paths criss cross each other in a delightful muddle. Its all part of the charm and you wouldn’t be the first person to get utterly lost in these woods! (Beware of potential for mud, particularly in the winter months obvs. Long floaty wedding dresses might need to hitched up a tad. I’m a huge fan of wedding dresses and wellies though!) The main entrance from the bottom of Stamford Hill has a pretty path that runs straight to the Chapel, its where guests will arrive to and the route to Abney Chapel is less complicated but equally attractive. I’m sure clever couples will pop a few signs up for more intrepid guests.

Best secret Wedding Locations in East London

My family and I love walking our dog in Abney Park. Bird song replaces sirens and you can feel a million miles from civilisation. As a Stoke Newington Documentary Wedding Photographer an Abney Chapel wedding particularly excites me. A bride and groom can enjoy a stroll around this amazing area for their Mr and Mrs portraits. The over grown, almost tunnel like wood land paths are dreamy and make for a wonderful back drop. I have photographed many countryside weddings. The opportunity to have a countryside wedding in central London is completely excellent. If I could plan my own wedding all over again, I would definitely pick Abney Park Chapel as my venue. Maybe my wife and I will renew our vows ! I could be competing with you for availability, you don’t know a wedding photographer do you?😁   

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I’m happy to be included on the Hackney Venues preferred supplier list. The Abney Park Chapel is part of the Hackney Venues family, along with Hackney Town Hall, The Glass House and Clissold House, all venues I’m familiar with. I’m super chuffed to have a wedding booked at the Chapel later this year, bring on August! If you would like to see examples of some Real London Weddings then check out my Portfolio. My Journal is kept up to date with all my weddings and helpful listings, most recently a helpful blog on My fave London Wedding Reception Venues. I would love to be involved in your celebrations, you can check my availability by using my Contact Form. In the mean time, happy planning and get yourself to Stokey for a look around.