London wedding photography Carlton Club / Wedding photographer London

Last year I had the amazing opportunity to do the central London wedding photography of a lovely couple Rachel and Dario.  And what a location – you can’t get more central than that for a wedding photography in Central London. The wedding reception took place in the Carlton Club which is just round the corner from the Ritz Hotel and the wedding church ceremony took place at All Saints Margaret street church near Oxford street.

The day started at the Carlton Club where the bride was getting ready. I’m proud to say the Carlton Club (www.carltonclub.co.uk) is the latest London wedding venue where I am one of the preferred wedding photographers thanks to the lovely Selina who is the Private Dining & Events  coordinator for the Carlton Club. Just like the Lansdowne club, where I’m also one of the recommended wedding photographers, the Carlton club is an old gentlemen’s club. Founded in 1832 in the aftermath of the victory of the reforming party, The Carlton Club was designed as a party political organisation, just as other clubs after the Napoleonic War were founded to satisfy particular interests. Now the Carlton Club is able to offer a full range of facilities including private function rooms for lunches, dinners, events and certainly a wedding reception in Central London. The Georgian building offers one of the most prestigious wedding venues in the West End. The unique charm and elegance of the Carlton Club are second to none combining style and traditions with modern facilities and resources.

From the Carlton Club my assistant and I jumped in a black cab and headed to the church. Being a wedding photographer in London is not easy in terms of parking so when I have such a Central London wedding photography job I often just get a cab or share the transport with the guests. I love to be a wedding photographer in Central London as very often even the bride takes a black cab. And with All Saints Margaret Street church being only 5 minutes drive from the Carlton club it certainly made sense for Rachel and her father to do exactly that – arrive in a traditional black cab which is a signature of London and makes a perfect addition to a wedding photography in London.

All Saints Margaret Street church (www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk) is a unique church in the heart of London. Before I met Rachel and Dario I didn’t even know about its existence despite the fact that the church which is just a block away from Oxford circus. The church had an extra special meaning to Rachel as her parents also had married there. The church is a true hidden gem and is very different from anything I’ve seen in London. It’s not surprising as it is regarded as one of the foremost examples of High Victorian Gothic architecture in Britain. It was designed in 1850 by William Butterfield, an architect strongly associated with Gothic revival church building and the Oxford Movement.

As the church is nestled among other buildings in this densely built-up area of central London there was hardly any light in the church. Luckily my newly bought camera allowed for the use of a very high ISO and the interior of the church’s rich colours came out magnificently. The colours look amazing when I visited the church with Rachel and Dario but on the wedding day they were gorgeous and provided a real treat for a Central London wedding photography. Following the wedding ceremony we had a very short time to do some of the group formal wedding photography photos in the church courtyard as the light was disappearing fast. Luckily the interior of the Carlton club is a glamorous setting for wedding photography so I wasn’t too worried that the creative wedding photography session of Rachel and Dario at the church was indeed a short one. Once we finished with the more formal family photography in one of the Carlton clubs rooms I spent some additional time with Rachel and Dario to capture some more formal wedding photography shots by the fire place as well as some more traditional wedding photography images on the beautiful stairs of the club and we finished with some more creative wedding photography photos where I shot Rachel and Dario on the stairs from above.

The whole wedding photography in the Carlton club including the family photos didn’t take more than 45minutes and Rachel and Dario joined their guests just as people were getting relaxed with a glass of champagne. While Rachel and Dario enjoyed time with their guests I rushed to the dining room to photograph all the table set ups and detail shots of the favours and table decorations. The wedding reception room was truly glamorous with rich red walls which perfectly complemented the colours of the church earlier in the day. I could already see how perfect it will all look in the wedding album.

The beautiful dinner was followed by more drinks and nibbles when more guests arrived at the Carlton club to enjoy the first dance of the newly married couple. When I originally met with Rachel and Dario we have discussed that after the first dance we might venture to the Ritz Hotel and take some more romantic and creative wedding photography but as Rachel and Dario were enjoying their party I decided not to take them away from their guests. However when I saw that they are taking a break from the dance floor I pulled them away for a couple of minutes to take a few photos of a more creative wedding photography. The wedding photo of Rachel and Dario in front of the red wall what is probably my favourite shot at this Central London wedding photography in the Carlton Club. It is certainly a perfect venue for any high end luxury wedding as it provides everything even the most discerning bride and groom could wish for: a splendid location in St. James’s in the heart of Central London, beautiful reception rooms and a spectacular grand staircase to descend in true style. A wedding like Rachel and Dario’s in this beautiful Central London wedding venue is a gem in the portfolio of any wedding photographer in London.

For further information on London wedding photography and to view our portfolio of wedding photography in London, Europe, France, Monaco, Italy, Cyprus, Greece, Portugal, Zurich and Russia please visit www.NeliPrahova.com or contact Neli on nprahova@gmail.com.