Mandarin Oriental Mayfair wedding photographer
London's newest Mandarin Oriental is a small, modern hotel on Hanover Square. I have not photographed a wedding there yet, so this guide sticks to what the hotel publishes and what I know of the streets around it, where I have worked for twenty years.
Mandarin Oriental Mayfair opened in the summer of 2024 on Hanover Square, just off Regent Street. It is a very different hotel from its older sister on Knightsbridge: small, modern, with a rooftop bar and private residences above.
This is not a ballroom hotel. It suits a smaller wedding, a dinner after a church or register office ceremony, drinks on the roof, or a weekend where the hotel is where everyone stays. If you are looking at the Knightsbridge hotel instead, my Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park guide covers that one.
Have I photographed a wedding here?
Not yet. I would rather tell you that than pretend. What I do know is Mayfair, because I have photographed weddings and pre-wedding shoots in these streets for twenty years.
Claridge's is a few minutes' walk from Hanover Square, and the Oriental Club on Stratford Place is just across Oxford Street. I have photographed weddings at both. The portrait spots, the light at different times of day, where the taxis stop and where the crowds are: none of that changes because the hotel is new.
For most of the day I am documentary. I stay out of the way and photograph what happens. The one part I direct is the portraits, fifteen or twenty minutes at a time that suits you, and you are back with your guests before anyone notices you had gone. You can see how I photograph weddings in London on the home page.
BarrieThe rooms at Mandarin Oriental Mayfair
What the hotel itself puts forward for celebrations, and what to ask before you book.
Hanover Bar
The rooftop bar, with an outdoor terrace and views across Mayfair. The hotel offers it for private events. For photographs, a roof at the end of the day is the obvious draw, so check sunset times against your booking and ask whether the terrace can be yours alone. The events brochure has the capacities for each space.
The Atrium
The hotel's restaurant, which it puts forward for celebrations, with champagne receptions and set menus. It is the natural choice for a wedding breakfast. The restaurants here have changed a few times since the hotel opened, so check what is running on your date.
The rooms and suites
A small hotel, so a quiet place to get ready. If you are having the whole weekend here, book the rooms where you will be getting ready early and ask for ones with good window light. It makes the morning photographs.
A legal ceremony?
The hotel does not publish much about ceremonies, so ask the events team directly whether a legal ceremony is possible on site, in which space and for how many. If it is not, the options below are all close.
Ceremony venues within reach
Three good options within walking distance or a short taxi ride, if the ceremony is not at the hotel.
St George's, Hanover Square
The Mayfair parish church, round the corner on St George Street, and one of London's best known wedding churches. You will need a connection to the parish or the church to marry there, so check the rules early. From the church door to the hotel is a two minute walk.
Mayfair Library
One of Westminster's register office ceremony rooms, on South Audley Street, about fifteen minutes' walk away through the best streets in Mayfair. Walk back rather than drive. The portraits take care of themselves on the way.
Old Marylebone Town Hall
Westminster's other register office venue, a short taxi ride north across Oxford Street. I photograph there often and my Old Marylebone Town Hall guide covers the rooms and the steps.
Where to take portraits near Hanover Square
You do not need a car. From the hotel door you have plenty within a few minutes' walk, and Mayfair is one of the best parts of London for portraits.
- Hanover SquareThe garden in the middle of the square, right outside the door.
- The Georgian streetsBrook Street, Maddox Street and the streets towards Grosvenor Square, with black railings, painted doors and very little traffic at the weekend.
- Regent StreetA minute away, for something busier: the curve of the buildings, black cabs and red buses.
- Stratford PlaceAcross Oxford Street, the quiet cul-de-sac in front of Stratford House, where I photographed Kasia and Kireth's wedding at the Oriental Club.
Fifteen or twenty minutes is enough. If the ceremony is at St George's or Mayfair Library, the walk back to the hotel is the portrait session, and nobody has to wait for you.
What I have photographed around the corner
None of these were taken at the hotel. They are from weddings in the streets around it, so you can see how the area photographs.
Kasia and Kireth at the Oriental Club
A winter wedding three days before Christmas, in an 18th century townhouse a couple of minutes from Bond Street station. The closest thing I have to a Mandarin Oriental Mayfair wedding: same streets, same light, same walk.
See the wedding
Sam and Matt, dinner in Mayfair
A ceremony at St Paul's, then a long family meal in a private dining room in Mayfair. A good example of the ceremony-elsewhere, dinner-at-the-hotel shape that suits Mandarin Oriental Mayfair.
See the weddingMore on the area in my Mayfair wedding photographer guide, which covers the other hotels and venues nearby, or browse all the London wedding venues I have photographed.
A small hotel wedding across a few places
A wedding at Mandarin Oriental Mayfair will usually spread out: a ceremony at St George's or Mayfair Library, a walk through the streets, then dinner in the Atrium and drinks on the roof. That is easy to cover, as long as the timings allow for the walking, and it gives you far more variety in the photographs than a day in one room.
Documentary for most of the day. I do not move guests around or stop things to fix the light. Two cameras, one wide and one long, no barked instructions and no forty minute group list. If your day has a specific running order, send it to me early. Knowing what is coming and where to stand is most of the job.
For a small wedding with a register office ceremony, half day or hourly coverage may be all you need. For a full hotel weekend, see luxury wedding photography.
What Mandarin Oriental Mayfair wedding photography costs
My prices are the same here as anywhere else in London, priced by the hours you actually need.
Ceremony through to the speeches.
- For a smaller wedding with dinner at the hotel
- Ceremony at St George's or a register office
- Portraits on the walk back
- Drinks on the roof
- Dinner details and speeches
Preparations through to the first dance.
- The standard full London wedding day
- Getting ready in a suite at the hotel
- Ceremony, portraits and drinks
- Speeches and cake
- The first dance
Preparations through to the last dance.
- For long days with more than one venue
- Everything in Classic
- Time for the walk between venues
- The evening party
- Mayfair after dark
A second photographer is £1,250, and worth considering if people are getting ready in different places. Albums are separate. The full breakdown is on my London wedding photography prices page.
What couples say
A few words from couples I have photographed in London and beyond.
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…
Mandarin Oriental Mayfair wedding questions
When did Mandarin Oriental Mayfair open?
In the summer of 2024, on Hanover Square, just off Regent Street. It is a new building, a small modern hotel with private residences above.
Is Mandarin Oriental Mayfair the same hotel as Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park?
No. They are two separate hotels. Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is the grand Edwardian hotel on Knightsbridge with a ballroom, and Mandarin Oriental Mayfair is the smaller, modern hotel on Hanover Square. I have a separate guide to weddings at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park.
Can you get married at Mandarin Oriental Mayfair?
The hotel hosts celebrations in its Atrium restaurant and rooftop Hanover Bar. Ask the events team whether a legal ceremony is possible on site. Nearby, St George's Hanover Square and Mayfair Library both hold wedding ceremonies.
Where are the best places for wedding photos near Mandarin Oriental Mayfair?
The rooftop terrace at Hanover Bar, Hanover Square outside the door, the Georgian streets towards Brook Street and Grosvenor Square, and Regent Street a minute away.
Have you photographed a wedding at Mandarin Oriental Mayfair?
Not yet. I have photographed weddings and pre-wedding shoots in the streets around it, including at the Oriental Club on Stratford Place, and weddings at many of London's grand hotels, Claridge's among them.
How much does a Mandarin Oriental Mayfair wedding photographer cost?
My London collections are £1,350 for five hours, £1,800 for eight and £2,200 for eleven. A second photographer is £1,250. The prices are the same at every London venue.
When will we get our photographs?
Within a week of the wedding, in a private online gallery, with every image edited.
Getting married at Mandarin Oriental Mayfair?
Send me your date. I read every enquiry myself and I will let you know straight away whether I am free.
Rather use the longer form? Head to the contact page
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…