Hackney Town Hall Wedding Photography | Olivia & Michael
Getting married at Hackney Town Hall
Olivia was the third member of a group of friends who form a local book club to ask me to photographer their wedding. Not only they are a truly inspirational group of women but they know how to put on a wedding that defies tradition and a rocking good party.
I joined Olivia and her 9 (!) bridesmaids who were getting ready at the couple’s flat near Victoria Park. There were girls, clothes and champagne everywhere but despite the surface chaos there was laughter and smiles as they climbed over each other to get ready in the canal side flat.
Hackney Town Hall is the closest registry office to my home but amazingly I had never photographed a wedding there before. I was thrilled to be shooting in the The Atria, a state of the art venue space in the Grade II Hackney Town Hall. The space is bathed in natural daylight from the glass roofs, but shielded from the elements making it perfect for all weather and has the feel of being in a courtyard. The front entrance to the original Assembly Hall offers a grand entrance of a sweeping staircase - perfect for a big group photos and a the confetti shot.
After the ceremony guests travelled by a couple of London buses on to the reception venue, Oval Space, a warehouse-style venue offering a view of the iconic Bethnal Green Gas Holders from it’s two terraces - a perfect space for a summer wedding.
As the sun was setting we took a stroll along the canal for some portraits before heading back to the dance floor.
The Atria at Hackney Town Hall
This unusual space with copious amounts of natural light, high ceilings and large windows feels super modern whilst also retaining period features and chandeliers. It is a sumptuously grand art-deco style space, it’s original 1930s building having been renovated recently. It has a capacity of 100 dining or 200 standing or theatre style. It’s perfectly situated in Hackney, a stone’s throw from the station and also the green spaces of Victoria Park or London fields - both of which make beautiful backdrops for wedding portraits after the ceremony.
Oval Space Bethnal Green
A popular venue in East London for weddings, parties, corporate events and every other type of function. It offers a super versatile and extensive space in the heart of this fashionable area. The warehouse-style space is finished to a high standard and boasts and iconic view of the Bethnal Green Gas Holders giving the venue an industrial feel. The space itself is a blank space that can be dressed with lighting, flowers and props to create any style or theme for your event. Two spacious terraces make it a perfect spot for summer weddings. It has been hosting events since 2012.
Documentary wedding photos in Hackney
Olivia and Michael are very much my usual sort of couple. Relaxed, friendly, fun and looking for a photographer who would capture their day without making the wedding all about the photos. My way of working is discrete and unobtrusive. I work with small digital cameras (Fuji XT2s), mostly without flash so that I can capture the special moments of your day as they unfold naturally leaving you to enjoy your wedding and the time with your family and friends. The majority of the day I am working exclusively in a documentary fashion - watching and waiting for moments to unfold. Focussing on storytelling and context. I do of course make time for family photos as I know how important those are when you have your entire family brought together for a short period. Couple photos tend to be more of an organic wander through the local streets and a time for you to catch up on the events of the day whilst capturing some natural and fun portraits of the two of you.
Are you planning on getting married at Hackney Town Hall?
Get in touch to discuss your wedding plans and photography.