The Savoy wedding photographer
The Savoy sits on the Strand, between Covent Garden and the river. I have photographed weddings there and around it for years, from small ceremonies in the private rooms to weddings at the chapel next door. This page covers what the building gives you, how I cover the day and what it costs.
The Savoy opened in 1889. It was built by Richard D'Oyly Carte, the man who produced Gilbert and Sullivan's operas, and you still feel that theatre in the building. Art Deco in some rooms, Edwardian in others, and private rooms named after the operas.
It is a hotel that photographs well without any help from me. The job is to keep out of the way of the day and know where the good light is.
What makes The Savoy
The arrival. Savoy Court, with the steel sign above and cars pulling in on the right, is one of the best arrival and departure photographs in London.
The rooms. Rooms that sit next to each other mean your guests can go from ceremony to drinks to dinner without trooping through the hotel. Farzana and Benedict married in the Princess Ida and Patience Room and had dinner next door in the Pinafore Room.
The bars. The Beaufort Bar, in black lacquer and brass, is one of the best indoor portrait spots in the city.
The river. The Embankment is two minutes away. Ten minutes by the Thames gives you a completely different set of pictures from the interiors.
How the day usually goes
Editorial when you need me to be, documentary the rest of the time. No barked instructions, no forty-minute group-shot list.
The morning
Preparations in the room or suite, quietly, in available light. I work from a corner and you soon forget I am there.
The ceremony
Two cameras, one wide and one long, from the back and the side. Nothing that interrupts it. The private rooms are intimate, so I keep still and let the moment happen.
Portraits
Fifteen or twenty minutes. Savoy Court, one room inside, and the river if the light is good. Then you are back with your guests.
The evening
Dinner, speeches and dancing, photographed as they happen. I work with the room's own light wherever I can.
The best places for photographs at The Savoy
You do not need all of these. Pick two and keep the portraits short.
Savoy Court
For the arrival and the departure. The steel sign, the lights, the cars on the right. It works in daylight and it works better after dark.
The Beaufort Bar
Black lacquer and brass. One of the best indoor portrait spots in London, and a good one to have in reserve when it rains.
One of the private rooms
The Gilbert and Sullivan rooms are small and full of detail. One frame in the room you married in is usually enough.
The Embankment
Two minutes' walk. The river, the bridges and the South Bank behind you. You can be out and back inside twenty minutes.
Winter at The Savoy
The Savoy is a very good winter venue. The interiors carry the day, and at Christmas the decorations do a lot of work for you.
Portraits by the river are best taken early, before the light goes, which in December means straight after the ceremony. I will tell you the time to aim for when we plan the day. There is more on this in my guide to winter weddings in London.
Weddings I have photographed at and around The Savoy
Two weddings, one in the hotel and one at the chapel round the corner.
Farzana and Benedict at The Savoy
An intimate wedding. Farzana got ready at the hotel, they married in the Princess Ida and Patience Room, and dinner was next door in the Pinafore Room. Portraits around the hotel in between.
See the wedding
Robbie and Amy at the Queen's Chapel of the Savoy
A wedding at the chapel round the corner from the hotel. Preparations by the river, the ceremony in the chapel, a piper leading the guests to the pier, and a boat down the Thames to the reception in Whitehall.
See the wedding
More venues nearby are on my Westminster wedding photographer page. Other London hotels include Claridge's and The Ritz, and the full list is on my wedding venues page. How I cover a day at hotels like these is on my luxury wedding photography page.
London wedding collections
Three collections for a wedding at The Savoy. Every image edited, your full gallery online within a week, high-resolution downloads with full printing rights.
Ceremony through to speeches.
- For a small wedding in one of the private rooms
- Ceremony, portraits and the drinks reception
- Every image edited
- Gallery within a week
Preparations through to the first dance.
- The one most couples book
- Getting ready, ceremony, portraits, dinner and speeches
- Every image edited
- Gallery within a week
Preparations through to the last dance.
- For a full day in the Lancaster Ballroom
- Everything from the morning to the end of the party
- Every image edited
- Gallery within a week
Full details, and hourly coverage for shorter days, are on my London wedding photography prices page.
What couples say
We had Barrie come by and photograph our civil ceremony / wedding registration at Old Marylebone Town Hall. We wanted it shot in an elopement style as it was just one of the many pre- weddings events …
Barrie was fab! He knew Old Marylebone Town Hall really well (even the registrars knew him). He made us feel comfortable and took us to really cute places to get some special shots. Would highly recom…
Barrie was the photographer for our civil wedding ceremony at Old Marylebone Town Hall and he was great! Professional, friendly and creative throughout the day. The photos are amazing, stylish and ple…
Barrie is incredible! He is a total pro and the best in the business! We love our photos so much. We got married at trading boundaries and he was the perfect photographer. So special. Thank you Barrie
Barrie was such a great photographer for our wedding from start to finish. He was so friendly and make us feel so calm and relaxed on our big day. The photos he took were amazing and we loved all of t…
Savoy wedding questions
Where are the best places for photographs at The Savoy?
Savoy Court for the arrival, the Beaufort Bar and one of the private rooms inside, and the Embankment for the river. You don't need all of them. Pick two and keep the portraits short.
Can we go outside for photographs?
Yes. The Thames is two minutes' walk away and Covent Garden is five, so you can be out and back within twenty minutes.
When do we get our photographs?
Within a week of the wedding. Every image is edited and goes into a private online gallery with high-resolution downloads.
Have you photographed weddings at The Savoy before?
Yes, in the hotel and at the Queen's Chapel of the Savoy round the corner. Farzana and Benedict's wedding in the Princess Ida and Patience Room and Robbie and Amy's at the chapel are both on this page.
How much does a Savoy wedding photographer cost?
My London collections are £1,350 for five hours, £1,800 for eight hours and £2,200 for eleven hours. A second photographer is £1,250.
Is The Savoy a good venue for a winter wedding?
Yes, one of the best in London. The interiors carry the day and the Christmas decorations help. Take the river portraits early, straight after the ceremony, before the light goes.
How many hours do we need?
Five hours covers a small wedding from the ceremony to the speeches. Eight hours covers preparations through to the first dance, which is what most couples book. Eleven hours takes you through to the last dance.
Getting married at The Savoy?
Send me your date and your running order and I will tell you straight away whether I am free. I read every enquiry myself and reply personally.
Rather use the longer form? Head to the contact page · See prices
Barrie was the photographer for our late November wedding at the Old Marylebone Town Hall and we are absolutely delighted with the photographs. He was able to capture all the crucial moments before, d…