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Why the Old Royal Naval College is a Favourite London Wedding Venue

TLDR: A gorgeous Greek and English wedding in London, beginning with a Stefana crown ceremony at the film famous St Bartholomew the Great, followed by a Thames boat ride and candlelit reception at the stunning Painted Hall, Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich.


Bride and groom smiling and standing together in the Painted Hall with mural and candlelight

With a ceremony at the ancient St Bartholomew the Great and a champagne reception on a Thames river cruser in between, this wedding ended in one of my favourite places to photograph. Greenwich’s Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College. It had atmosphere, history, candlelight. And a very happy photographer!


This stylish London wedding seamlessly blended Greek Orthodox tradition with grand English architecture, beginning in the heart of historic Smithfield and concluding in the dramatic opulence of Greenwich’s Old Royal Naval College.


Getting Ready at The Rookery, Clerkenwell


The day began at The Rookery, a historic boutique hotel tucked away in Clerkenwell and just a very short walk to the church.


The Rookery Hotel sign and a close-up of the gold Stefana wedding crowns used in the Greek Orthodox ceremony

All the details - her dress, shoes, and the wonderful Stefana crowns all laid out with care, a mix of modern and Greek tradition.


Bridal gown, shoes, and bridesmaid dress set out in the Rook’s Nest suite at the Rookery Hotel in London

The bride got ready with her family and bridesmaids in a suite called The Rook's Nest. I always try to ensure that I take shot of the room name or number that the bride is getting ready in. I think it adds a little personal touch for the bride to remember as well as the reader here to take note of the personal nature of the location she got ready in.


Bride having her makeup done in soft round window light at the Rookery Hotel before the wedding ceremony

One of my favourites from the morning - the bride having her makeup done in the window light, with her tiara catching the glow. I think it's a wonderful moment.


Bride getting ready with her bridesmaids and mother helping her into her dress and jewellery at the Rookery Hotel in London

The soft light, old portraits, and layers of velvet and wood made for some beautifully atmospheric portraits. Hala's wonderful bridesmaids and her gorgeous Mum made the morning preparations wonderfully stress free and happy. It was time for me to travel the very short distance to the church



Iconic Ceremony at St Bartholomew the Great, London


Exterior and interior details of St Bartholomew the Great in London showing the historic Norman architecture, vaulted ceilings and ornate stonework before the wedding ceremony

The ceremony took place at St Bartholomew the Great, one of London’s oldest churches, located beside Smithfield Market and St Bart's Hospital. The iconic venue has featured in Sherlock Holmes, films Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Robin Hood and many others. So whilst looking around the church as I did earlier before going to see the bride earlier in the day - it was a strangely familiar location.


The Groom


Later I met the groom by the entrance to the church. He looked calm. A little excited. Ready to see her.


Guests and groomsmen arriving and chatting outside St Bartholomew the Great in London before the wedding ceremony

The groom was waiting nervously near the church. He looked calm. A little excited. He was accompanied by his groomsmen and the bride's father. Catching these details is always a great detail for me to catch - the name still attached to the groom's button hole - I am a dab hand at attaching these - after 20 years of shooting weddings.


Groom at St Bartholomew the Great with buttonhole before the ceremony

Walking Through Smithfield Market to the Church


Black and white photo of the ornate hanging clock inside Smithfield Market in London showing the time before the wedding ceremony

The bride’s arrival through Smithfield Market was cinematic. It was a very short walk from the hotel chosen for it's proximity to the church. Walking beneath the iron arches and cobbled streets with her bridesmaids carrying her dress, added a dramatic start to the day. The route to the church also paid homage to London’s layered history.


Bride walking with her bridesmaids and family through Smithfield Market and historic London streets on the way to St Bartholomew the Great for the wedding ceremony

When choosing a venue to get ready in especially in London, traffic has to be a high consideration to the planning of the day. A walk through the historic market made the journey quick and beautiful! The Verger met the Bride and her father by the entrance to the cathedral and accompanied Hala to her husband to be.


Greek Orthodox and Church of England Wedding Traditions in London


Hala and her family’s Greek Orthodox roots were woven throughout the day, creating a wedding that honoured both their heritage and the couple’s personal story.


The ceremony brought together both Church of England and Greek Orthodox traditions in such a beautiful way. The couple could not stop smiling throughout. It was so lovely to witness how much they were enjoying it all.


Ceremony begins inside St Bartholomew the Great with guests seated, bridesmaids entering, and the couple standing at the altar beneath the historic stone arches

 The Church of England part of the service included readings by family and friends, familiar prayers and the vows. All made more special by the cathedral setting and the warmth of the space.


Then came the Stefana. The crowns were gently placed on their heads and crossed three times. A sacred part of the Greek Orthodox tradition that symbolises unity and the Holy Trinity. What made it even more special was that the groom's father performed the crowning.


The Stefana crown ceremony performed by the groom's father during the Greek Orthodox part of the service, surrounded by candlelight and floral arrangements

All of this under the soft candlelight and ancient arches of St Barts. Honestly it may have been a grand setting but the ceremony itself felt so warm and welcoming. Just genuinely lovely.


Church of England vows being exchanged by the bride and groom with smiles and a relaxed sense of connection in front of the priest

Hala and Nick walked back down the aisle as husband and wife, smiling at everyone broadly.


Bride and groom walking back down the aisle together as newlyweds at St Bartholomew the Great, with guests lining the pews and cameras raised

After the ceremony we quickly slipped to the cloisters for a few portraits and a moment to pause.


Couple portraits just after the ceremony inside the cloisters of St Bartholomew the Great, framed by gothic windows and soft natural light

The light through those old stone windows. I stole my bride and groom away for only a few moments - so important on a day that moves so quickly before returning them to their awaiting guests outside.


Classic London Moments: Routemaster Bus to the Thames


They stepped out into a flurry of confetti and smiling faces. It was one of those moments that I always feel so happy to be part of.


Confetti is thrown as the newlyweds leave the church and head toward a classic red London Routemaster bus waiting to take guests to the reception

After the ceremony, guests boarded a classic red Routemaster bus. A quintessentially London moment. Then they headed to the River Thames, where a private river cruise boat awaited them for their river reception.


A River Thames Wedding Cruise Past London's Landmarks


The wedding river cruise reception on the Thames offered panoramic views of Tower Bridge, the Houses of Parliament, and London’s skyline, a unique photo opportunity for a very lucky London wedding photographer like myself!


Views from the River Thames during the boat journey to Greenwich, including the London Eye, the Elizabethan paddle steamer, and Big Ben with the Houses of Parliament

With champagne flowing and guests enjoying the trip, it provided a moment of celebration and relaxation between two iconic venues.


The couple and guests enjoy iconic river landmarks including Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf, while the bride and groom share a quiet moment together on the boat deck

The wedding celebrations were held in one of London’s most awe inspiring venues. The Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich. Guests arrived by boat to this architectural masterpiece, where centuries of maritime history met baroque grandeur for an unforgettable reception.


A Historic Wedding Reception in the Magnificent Painted Hall: The Old Royal Naval College Greenwich


As the boat journey concluded, the wedding party arrived at the Painted Hall. Often called the Sistine Chapel of the UK. Its gilded murals and baroque architecture created a jaw dropping setting for dinner and speeches. It was genuinely breathtaking.


Arrival at the grand Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, with its dramatic baroque Painted Hall set up for the wedding reception

Portraits Under the Colonnades at Greenwich


The colonnades at Greenwich always give you something special. The light and space make taking portraits of my bride and groom feel effortless. The view back across the river. Just the two of them with those grand pillars and the Thames in the background and obviously the shortish Scottish photgrapher giggling gleefully in the background.


Couple portraits under the elegant colonnades of the Royal Naval College, wrapped in soft light and architectural symmetry

A Painted Hall Banquet That Felt Like a Masterpiece


The bride and groom enter the reception, take their seats at the head table, and are greeted by a toastmaster and speeches under candlelight

Guests were welcomed into a hall filled with flickering candelabras rich floral arrangements and timeless elegance.


A wedding speech is delivered at the long head table in the Painted Hall, surrounded by candlelight and dramatic baroque frescoes. very last supper

The top table in the Painted Hall really is something. It runs almost the entire length of the room and always makes me think of a scene from a painting. All that candlelight and everyone gathered round gave it the look of the Last Supper.


The speeches were filled with wonderful stories and humour surrounded by candlelight and towering art. Toasts in both English and Greek paid tribute to the couple’s families and cultures.


A collage of reactions from guests and family during the speeches, with laughter, toasts, and warm expressions

A Quiet Moment in the Painted Hall


Before the dancing started we had just enough time for one last set of portraits.  The couple stood in the centre of the Painted Hall surrounded by candlelight and that incredible ceiling. It was calm and still for a moment. Just the two of them in one of the grandest rooms in London.


The bride and groom pose together for a final portrait in the candlelit grandeur of the Painted Hall, framed by historic murals

First Dance as Husband and Wife


The newlyweds danced together - their first dance as husband and wife. The formality of the day drifting off as the party began.


The couple share their first dance surrounded by friends and family, followed by parent dances filled with emotion

Why the Old Royal Naval College is a Dream London Wedding Location


The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich really is one of the most spectacular places to photograph a wedding. The Painted Hall, with all its drama and candlelight. I have photographed here several times and each time it still manages to takes my breath away.


Paired with a Church of England and Greek Orthodox ceremony at the incredible St Bartholomew, and a river cruise reception in between, this London wedding had everything - including the weather! History, atmosphere and iconic views and still a day that was personal to my bride and groom


f you’d like to find out how I photograph weddings like this one in London, Surrey or Berkshire, take a look at my wedding photography pricing page.






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