Wedding Photography at RIBA, 66 Portland Place
I've photographed weddings at a fair number of London's landmark venues, and RIBA at 66 Portland Place is one I keep being glad to see come up in an enquiry. It's the Royal Institute of British Architects' Grade II* listed headquarters — 1930s Art Deco, floor-to-ceiling windows, triple-height columns, carved stone detail throughout. It photographs like almost nowhere else in London, because almost nowhere else in London looks like it. Twenty years of London wedding work, the same editorial-meets-documentary approach I bring to a Mayfair ballroom, applied to a building that's genuinely one of a kind.Address66 Portland Place, London
StyleGrade II* listed, 1930s Art Deco
CeremoniesLicensed for civil ceremonies & partnerships
CapacityIntimate (10–25) up to 400 in the Jarvis Hall
Outdoor spaceThree roof terraces
Why RIBA
66 Portland Place has been the Royal Institute of British Architects' home since 1934, and it's a Grade II* listed example of 1930s Art Deco and Swedish-influenced Modernism — the kind of building architects themselves rate as one of the finest of its period in the country. For photography, that means real architectural material to work with in every direction: the triple-height entrance, the carved stone reliefs, the floor-to-ceiling glazing that floods the upper floors with daylight.The building holds a civil ceremony and civil partnership licence, so the whole day can happen on site — ceremony, drinks, wedding breakfast, dancing — without a change of venue. Three roof terraces give you genuine outdoor options in the middle of central London, which is rarer than it should be at a building this central.It suits a couple who wants their wedding photographs to look considered rather than generic — design-conscious, a little architectural, editorial rather than traditional-hotel-ballroom.The Spaces
The Jarvis Hall
The building's largest space — wood-panelled, with raked seating available and natural daylight through its own windows. It holds up to 150 for a standing reception, 80 for a seated wedding breakfast, and up to 400 for a full theatre-style ceremony. If you're bringing a proper-sized guest list, this is the room that takes it.Florence Hall
A first-floor room in the same Art Deco language as the rest of the building — more intimate in scale than the Jarvis Hall, and popular for ceremonies and receptions that don't need the larger room's footprint. Worth asking RIBA directly for current capacity figures when you enquire, as I don't have a confirmed number to publish here.The Roof Terraces
Three of them, which is unusual for a central London building of this age. Useful for a drinks reception, a smaller outdoor ceremony, or simply somewhere to take five minutes of air — and a genuinely different backdrop to the panelled interiors.A Sense of My Style
I haven't photographed a wedding at RIBA yet — these are from other London weddings, to give you a feel for the style. I'll add photos from here as soon as I shoot at RIBA.
How I Work at RIBA
Editorial for the portraits, documentary for the rest of the day — the same split I bring to every wedding. A building this architectural rewards a bit more considered composition in the portrait session: the columns, the stonework and the glazing all give you frames that look nothing like a standard hotel-ballroom wedding. For the ceremony and the reception, I stay out of the way and let the day run itself. Quiet throughout.I'll always walk the specific room you've booked with you before the day, so nothing is being worked out for the first time when your guests arrive.Portraits Nearby
Portland Place runs straight up to Regent's Park at its northern end — a few minutes' walk for couples who want greenery alongside the architecture. Marylebone High Street and the streets around Oxford Circus are close by too, if you'd rather keep the portraits urban.Packages
RIBA weddings follow my standard London wedding photography packages — see full pricing here. Every collection includes the full edited gallery, hi-res downloads and a private online gallery, with me as your photographer start to finish.Your RIBA Wedding Photographer
I'm Barrie Downie — a London wedding photographer with twenty years behind the lens, working at the editorial end of the craft. My approach comes from photojournalism: I react rather than direct, so what you end up with is a record of what actually happened, made in a building that does a lot of the visual work for you. I only take on a limited number of weddings a year, which is what makes a one-week full gallery turnaround possible.If you're planning a wedding at RIBA, I'd love to hear about it. Get in touch here to check date availability.RIBA Wedding Photography FAQ
Is RIBA licensed for wedding ceremonies?
Yes — 66 Portland Place holds a civil ceremony and civil partnership licence, so the ceremony, reception and wedding breakfast can all happen on site.How many guests can RIBA hold?
It depends on the room — the Jarvis Hall takes up to 150 for a standing reception, 80 for a seated wedding breakfast, and up to 400 theatre-style for the ceremony itself. Smaller rooms, including the Florence Hall, suit more intimate weddings. Confirm exact numbers for your date directly with RIBA's events team.Is there outdoor space?
Three roof terraces, which is unusual for a building this central — useful for drinks receptions or a smaller outdoor ceremony.How quickly do we get our wedding photos?
Your full edited gallery within one week of the wedding, delivered through a private online gallery with hi-res downloads and no watermarks.Tell Me About Your RIBA Wedding
Currently taking bookings for 2026 and 2027 weddings. I read every enquiry myself and reply personally within a couple of hours.Get In Touch