Alexander and Laura are from Russia, and they married just before Christmas at Chelsea Old Town Hall, the register office on the King’s Road. It was just the two of them in the UK, so the day was built around photographs across London, a short ceremony, and a romantic meal afterwards. It was an unseasonably mild day for December.
Westminster Bridge first
They wanted to start at Westminster Bridge, looking back across the river to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. It’s the view most people picture when they think of London.
A cab to Chelsea
From Westminster they jumped in a cab and headed across to Chelsea, with time for more photographs around the King’s Road before the ceremony. Laura wore Valentino, with matching Jimmy Choo shoes.
The ceremony, witnessed by two Chelsea Pensioners
With nobody else over for the wedding, they still needed two witnesses. Two Chelsea Pensioners from the nearby Royal Hospital did the job. It’s hard to think of witnesses more Chelsea than that.
Chelsea Old Town Hall has a neoclassical front on the King’s Road, with columns and a flight of steps that every couple stops on when they come out.
From there they headed off for a meal in one of London’s top restaurants to celebrate.
Congratulations to Alexander and Laura.
Planning a Chelsea Old Town Hall wedding
- Plan the time after the ceremony. A register office ceremony here runs for twenty to thirty minutes, so you’ll have more of the day left than you think.
- Pick your room early. The Brydon Room takes up to 38, the Rossetti Room 12 and the Harrington Room 8. The Harrington has more limited availability.
- Use the steps. Biodegradable confetti is allowed on the front steps, and that’s usually the picture couples frame.
- London landmarks are close. Westminster, the Royal Albert Hall and the river are a short cab ride away, before or after the ceremony.
- Just the two of you? You still need two witnesses, so sort that out before the day.
More about the rooms and hourly coverage is on my Chelsea Old Town Hall wedding photographer page, and for a small day with family, micro wedding photography in London. For another wedding there, see Liliya and Charles, who arrived by carriage down the King’s Road. If you’re marrying without guests, my London elopement photography page covers how a day like this works. There’s more of my work as a London wedding photographer on the home page, or have a look at my prices and send me your date.
