Chetna and Rakesh had their Indian wedding at Middle Temple, one of the four Inns of Court, tucked between Fleet Street and the river. The ceremony was outside in the gardens, the wedding breakfast was an Indian feast in Middle Temple Hall, and the evening finished with a packed dance floor.
In between they went back to their hotel to change, so there are two sets of portraits from the day: traditional red and gold in the afternoon, black and a sharp suit for the evening.
Portraits round the Temple
Middle Temple is a maze of courts, passages and old doorways, and almost none of it is open to traffic. That makes it one of the easiest places in central London to take a couple for portraits. You walk five minutes and have a completely different background.
We used the Norman doorway of Temple Church and the steps at Pump Court. Inside, the panelled corridors are dark, and that suits red and gold bridal wear. It glows against old wood.
The ceremony in the gardens
The ceremony was held outside in Middle Temple Gardens. It was emotional, with a lot of tears from family, and that is what I watch for. I don’t direct anything during a ceremony. I pick two or three positions beforehand and work between them.
The moments after are often the strongest pictures of the day. Everyone wants to hold the bride at once, and you just need to be close enough and quiet enough to catch it.
An Indian feast in Middle Temple Hall
From the gardens everyone moved into Middle Temple Hall for the wedding breakfast. The Hall dates from the 1570s, has a double hammerbeam roof and oak panelling, and is where the first recorded performance of Twelfth Night took place.
It is a big, dark-panelled room. Colourful saris and sherwanis against all that dark oak photograph very well. If you are planning dinner in here, it is worth asking about candles and uplighting for later on.
A change of clothes at the hotel
After dinner Chetna and Rakesh went back to their hotel to change. Rakesh into a dark suit with a red cravat, Chetna into a black beaded evening dress. We used the time for a few portraits by the hotel windows, with London spread out below.
Outfit changes are common at Indian weddings, and I’d always build ten minutes of portraits into them. It is the easiest way to get two completely different looks into one album.
Back to the Temple for the evening
Then back to Middle Temple for the party. We also stopped in one of the courtyards for a portrait of Chetna in her evening dress, with the old lamps lit.
After that it was dancing, and lots of it. Indian weddings throw some of the best parties I photograph, and every generation was on the floor.
Chetna and Rakesh
Congratulations to you both, and thank you for having me.
Getting married at Middle Temple?
Middle Temple shares the Temple precinct with Inner Temple, and the courts, gardens and church are the same walk for portraits. There’s more on how the day works in my Inner Temple wedding photography guide.
For more, see my Asian wedding photography in London page, the unique London wedding venues guide, or have a look at my prices and send me your date.
More weddings around the Temple
Venues and weddings nearby, and more of my work as a London wedding photographer on the home page. For how the day runs in the Temple, see my Inner Temple guide.
Inner TempleNext door to Middle Temple: the Hall, the gardens and how the day runs.
Two Temple PlaceA Victorian house on the river, a short walk from the Temple gardens.
Neda & RezaGetting ready, ceremony, staircase and dinner, all under one roof.
Unique London venuesThe Gherkin, Middle Temple, the Oriental Club and more I have photographed.
