Amy and Robbie were married at the Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy on a Saturday in July 2013. Amy got ready at The Royal Horseguards by the Thames, a piper walked everyone from the chapel down to the river, and the reception was at One Whitehall Place.
It was about as London as a wedding gets, and the sun shone all day, which in an English July is not something you can count on. In between the ceremony and the reception the whole wedding went for a trip down the Thames on a private boat.
Getting ready at The Royal Horseguards
The Royal Horseguards Hotel sits right on the river, with the London Eye across the water. Amy got ready there with her bridesmaids, and I found two of the young bridesmaids watching from the window.
Light off the river is soft and even, which is why a Thames-side room is a good choice for getting ready. Put the bride near the biggest window and most of the work is done.
The ceremony at the Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy
The Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy is a small royal chapel tucked behind the Strand, with stained glass, dark wood and a carved ceiling. It is quiet inside for somewhere so central. Amy’s godmother, Judy, did the flowers for the ceremony.
The chapel is not big, so I keep to the side and the back during the service and do not move around much. Afterwards we did the family photos outside in the sunshine, then everyone set off for the river.
A piper down to the river
Rather than putting guests in cars, Amy and Robbie had a piper lead everyone from the chapel through the streets to the pier. Tourists stopped to watch. It is a good way to move a wedding a short distance, and much better to photograph than a line of taxis.
On the Thames Princess
From the pier everyone went aboard the Thames Princess for canapés and drinks, with entertainment from Mickey Fordola. The boat went past the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, the South Bank and the Globe, St Paul’s, the Shard, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.
If you have a gap between ceremony and reception, a boat fills it well. Guests have a drink and something to look at, and the two of you get time to talk to people. For me the backdrop changes every few minutes, and Tower Bridge did not take long to arrive.
The reception at One Whitehall Place
The reception was at One Whitehall Place, in the National Liberal Club building just off Whitehall. It is a Victorian building with grand staircases and ornate ceilings, and the wedding breakfast was laid in a room lined with bookshelves. Big Day Catering did the food, Flower Ranger the flowers, and Jonathon Vinten played during dinner.
David Denman was the toastmaster for the speeches. After dinner there was a sweet table, a photo booth from Just Pose, a Will Smith lookalike, and The Talent filled the dance floor until the end of the night.
Thank you, Andri
A day with a chapel, a piper, a boat and a reception venue needs someone keeping track of the timings. That was Andri Benson of Always Andri Wedding Design, Amy and Robbie’s planner. With a good planner the timings are realistic and I am not chasing the light, which helps everyone.
Suppliers
- Wedding planner: Andri Benson, Always Andri Wedding Design
- Videographer: The Dreamcatchers
- Getting ready: The Royal Horseguards Hotel
- Ceremony: Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy
- Ceremony flowers: the bride’s godmother, Judy
- Piper: Piper for Hire
- Drinks reception: the Thames Princess, Thames Cruises
- Entertainment on the boat: Mickey Fordola
- Reception: One Whitehall Place, in the National Liberal Club building
- Caterers: Big Day Catering
- Reception flowers: Flower Ranger
- Cake: Let it be Cake, decorated by a friend of Amy’s
- Dinner music: Jonathon Vinten
- Toastmaster: David Denman
- Band: The Talent, via Monitor Music
- Will Smith lookalike: Shad Ellis
- Photo booth: Just Pose
Amy and Robbie
Congratulations to you both. A royal chapel, a piper, the Thames in the sunshine and a full dance floor at the end of it. Thank you for having me.
Getting married at the Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy?
My Savoy wedding photographer guide covers the chapel and The Savoy hotel next to it, how I cover a day there and what it costs. I am a London wedding photographer, collections start at £1,350 and your gallery arrives within a week. Send me your date and I will tell you straight away whether I am free.
Related: London wedding photography prices and wedding venues I have photographed.
More London weddings
For more weddings around the city, have a look at the venues I have photographed or my London wedding photography prices.
Farzana & BenedictAn intimate wedding in the Princess Ida and Patience Room, then dinner in the Pinafore Room.
Gerri & PaulA ceremony in the Smoking Room, champagne on the Terrace and a Cajun barn dance.
Patricia & ThomasThe Knightsbridge Room with immediate family, before their wedding in Italy.
Jane & DavidGetting ready above Mayfair, a ceremony for immediate family, then dinner at Fera.
