Amy and Ted contacted me from their home in Los Angeles because they had booked Somerset House to host their fabulous London wedding. Over a Zoom or two I heard all their plans and built a wedding photography package to suit their schedule. My day started in the shiny new Battersea Power Station Hotel, The Art’otel. Amy was with her gang enjoying a glass of bubbles and riding the wave of excitement. Ted was conveniently staying in the same hotel so I was able to nip down and meet him as he rounded up guests for the first taxis to the venue, Somerset House.
Battersea Power Station Art’otel Wedding Photographer
Amy and her father followed the groom and wedding party to Somerset House in a hired Range Rover. I said my goodbyes to the awesome hair and make up team and jumped in my own taxi, sharing with the stylish bridesmaids. We nipped across Waterloo Bridge to the wedding venue providing the American bridesmaids a fabulous view across London. Wedding guests at Somerset House weddings have a few options for accessing the actual building. Amy and Ted were suggested to use the Thames River Side entrance where there is a limited amount of parking, drop off only. Other guests preferred to come in from the Strand entrance and walk across the Magnificent (capital M!) Georgian Quadrangle. In the summer the fountains in the Somerset House courtyard add a wonderful element of jeopardy for unaware walkers. In the winter the whole square turns into a winter wonderland of Christmas trees and ice skating.
Getting Married in Somerset House Portico Rooms
The Portico Rooms at Somerset House are light and bright and have two of the most amazing balconies in London. The balcony at the ceremony end of the Portico Room over looks the Somerset House Court Yard and out onto The Strand. The rear balcony over looks the Thames and the SouthBank. As a spot to grab a drink and a selfie its not too shabby! Somerset House it a magnificent Palace on the North Bank of the Thames. The Georgian Building has high ceilings, huge windows for natural light and a talented team of organisers behind it. Its a lovely touch that you are able to have in-door confetti. Ted and Amy were showered in confetti on their way back up the aisle having tied the knot, glorious.
Somerset House Portico Rooms Wedding Photographer
The newly minted Mr and Mrs were keen on having a balcony portrait taken from the court yard up. We also had a really fun group picture a little later of the entire wedding party in the court yard, a little confetti was held back for this moment. I took relaxed and natural portraits of the happy couple strolling around Somerset House. There are general public knocking about too but everyone was fun and respectful.
Number 11 Pimlico Road Wedding Reception
No 11 Pimlico Road is a fun bar/ restaurant which hosts excellent wedding receptions. The bar area is a traditional pub and the upstairs is a function room and dance-floor. The star of the show at No 11 Pimlico was the food! Wow, this was nother level canapes! With the amount of cocktails being consumed a ton of good food was necessary to soak it up, No 11 Pimlico really stepped up. I was floating about the party, Amy and Ted didn’t want any more ‘official’ photographs, just a fun document of the party. Dinner and speeches followed before the DJ kicked off. Americans know how to party. The noise levels were amazing during the speeches and the dance-floor was packed. It always makes me smile when a dance-floor has the mix of the older generations couples dancing together while around them swirl a mix of guests absolutely smashed, shirts off dancing on the tables, nothing but awesome!
Booking a Somerset House Wedding Photographer
I am based in Hackney in East London and photograph weddings all over the UK. Its fair to say the majority of my weddings are in London and Somerset House is an absolute Fave. There aren’t many London wedding venues that share the style, grandeur and history of Somerset House. Kew Garden’s springs to mind but Somerset House is unique in that it is slap bang in the middle of town. If you would like to view more of my wedding photography then check out my Portfolio or more of my Journals. You can get in touch and check out my availability through my Contact Page. I am always happy to grab a coffee and chat through your plans, feel free to pick my brains if you are searching for your perfect wedding venue.
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John Sanders is a London-based wedding photographer with over 10 years of experience. He specialises in non-intrusive documentary photography that captures raw emotions, stories, and stunning locations across London and the South East.
