SUMMER WEDDING AT KENSINGTON PALACE ORANGERY, LONDON
H & S
Hannah and Schalk’s Kensington Palace Orangery wedding in London began with preparations in South Kensington before a ceremony at St Mary Abbots Church.
The July wedding combined some of London’s most beautiful historic locations. Preparations began at Number Sixteen in South Kensington before the ceremony at St Mary Abbots Church. Guests then walked through Kensington to the reception at the elegant Kensington Palace Orangery, where an outdoor drinks reception unfolded before dinner inside the light-filled glass pavilion.
With around 140 guests for the ceremony and 100 seated for dinner, the day blended relaxed celebration with classic London grandeur. Schalk is South African, and the couple would later continue their celebrations with further weddings in South Africa, making this London wedding the beginning of a truly international celebration.
GETTING READY AT NO. 16, SOUTH KENSINGTON
Hannah chose Number Sixteen in South Kensington for the morning preparations, which is a lovely place to start a wedding day in London. The rooms are full of natural light and there’s enough space for everyone to move around comfortably, which makes a huge difference once hair, makeup and dresses start appearing. These quieter moments before leaving for the church often produce some of my favourite photographs, when the excitement is building but the day still feels calm.
CEREMONY AT ST MARY ABBOTS
St Mary Abbots Church in Kensington is an extraordinary place for a wedding ceremony. The soaring ceilings and long aisle create a real sense of occasion as the bride walks in, and the light through the stained glass adds a softness that photographs beautifully. Churches like this also give the ceremony space to breathe, which means there’s time to capture not just the vows but the small reactions from family and friends that couples often miss in the moment.
RECEPTION AT KENSINGTON PALACE ORANGERY
After the ceremony at St Mary Abbots, guests walked through the park to Kensington Palace Orangery. Summer weddings here can spill out onto the lawns and terrace before dinner is called inside. It also gave Hannah and Schalk a few quiet minutes together for some portraits in the gardens around the Orangery, away from the crowd at sunset.
“WHAT ARE YOUNG PEOPLE TO DO IN SUMMER BUT MARRY?”
(Jane Austen)
DINNER, SPEECHES & DANCING
CREATIVE TEAM
CATERER | The Recipe Team | @therecipeteam
VENUE | Kensington Palace Orangery | @historicroyalpalaces
CHURCH | St Mary Abbots, Kensington
VIDEOGRAPHY | Clementine Cusack | @clementinecusack
FLORAL DESIGN | Lavender Green Flowers | @lavendergreenflowers
LIVE MUSIC | Sternberg Clarke Music | @sternbergclarke
BAND | She Plays Live | @sheplayslive
ACOUSTIC MUSIC | Wandering Hands | @wanderinghands
PRODUCTION | Vibration Production | @vibrationproduction_
EVENT TEAM | Historic Royal Palaces | @historicroyalpalaces
ACCOMMODATION | Number Sixteen Hotel, South Kensington | @firmdale_hotels
WEDDINGS AT KENSINGTON PALACE ORANGERY, LONDON
Kensington Palace Orangery is one of the most elegant and distinctive wedding venues in London. Originally built in the early eighteenth century as a greenhouse for Queen Anne’s orange trees, the space now hosts celebrations in a beautifully light-filled setting surrounded by the gardens of Kensington Palace.
With its soaring windows, classical architecture and views across the palace grounds, the Orangery feels both grand and intimate. Guests can gather on the terrace and lawns for drinks in the summer months before moving inside for dinner beneath the high ceilings and ornate detailing that make the room so distinctive.
What makes weddings at Kensington Palace Orangery so special is the sense of space and atmosphere throughout the day. From drinks in the gardens to dinner in the elegant gallery and portraits across the surrounding lawns, there are beautiful moments and backdrops at every stage of the celebration.
It’s a venue that works wonderfully for documentary wedding photography, where natural light, movement and genuine moments unfold throughout the day. Set within the grounds of Kensington Palace in west London, the Orangery offers couples a setting that feels both historic and relaxed in the heart of the city.
If you’re planning a wedding at Kensington Palace Orangery and looking for a London wedding photographer, you can explore more work in my London wedding photography portfolio.
PLANNING A WEDDING AT KENSINGTON PALACE ORANGERY?
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The Orangery itself hosts receptions rather than ceremonies. Many couples choose nearby churches such as St Mary Abbots in Kensington for their ceremony before celebrating at Kensington Palace.
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The Orangery can host large receptions and elegant seated dinners. Hannah and Schalk had around 100 guests for dinner, which worked beautifully within the space.
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Yes. The church is only a short distance from Kensington Palace, making it possible for guests to walk between the ceremony and reception venues, especially on a beautiful sunny day. There is private car access for the couple and elderly guests.
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Summer weddings work beautifully here. The Orangery’s large windows fill the room with natural light, and outdoor drinks receptions can take place on the terrace and gardens.