London Wedding at Fitzrovia Chapel


Sash and I have been online internet friends for a number of years, after a random twitter interaction brought us together. After years of following each other, and watching each others lives from afar, Sash found the wonderful Tom, and asked me to photograph their wedding. What a day. I started photographing them when they got engaged, they had an engagement session around their local area in Hampstead, and then again for their engagement party, where I got to meet their family and friends ahead of the wedding. This wedding was a total London celebration, with nods to their relationship throughout the day. It felt totally personal and significant, with many of the elements being DIY and home made - not that you'd be able to tell!

A cheerful wedding party celebrates on the grounds of a historic stone manor house in muted sepia tones.

London Wedding Photographer


The day started at the King William pub in Hampstead, where Tom and his best man got ready, which was also the venue for one of Sash and Tom's first dates. Sash got ready round the corner at home, with her maid of honour, they did their own hair and makeup, keeping the morning lowkey and simple, and all about the incredible Vivienne Westwood dress of absolute dreams! It was an absolute wash out of a morning, with torrential downpour, but they didn't let it dampen their mood, and I love how chic they look walking around with their umbrellas as they made their way to the ceremony in the vintage Rolls Royce. The ceremony was at the incredibly beautiful Fitzrovia Chapel, a venue in the heart of London, that you'd totally miss if you didn't know it was there. Completely unassuming from the outside, as soon as you enter it's like another world. Ornate, gold detailed ceilings and walls, warm and cosy, tiny and perfect for smaller, intimate ceremonies.

Editorial & Fine Art Photography
Black and white portrait of someone in formal attire running hands through hair in dramatic lighting.

I love city weddings for the fast paced atmosphere, the movement and chaos and slow moments in between.

Manchester Wedding
Ornate arched ceiling of a historic church interior features intricate patterns and pipe organ illuminated from behind.

Giving Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet vibes, Fitzrovia Chapel is a stunning intimate wedding venue

A wedding ceremony in a historic church with ornate arched doorways and decorative golden walls.
Black and white wedding ceremony photos showing intimate moments between a couple with white floral bouquets.

Fitzrovia Chapel Wedding Photographer


Sash and Tom opted to make the most of their time in the chapel, and in their two hour time slot, chose to do a first look, their couple portraits and family portraits, before all their guests arrived. Tom seeing Sash for the first time was a total highlight of the day for me, with them both being visibly overwhelmed and emotional, as the significance of the day hit them both, and lots of tears all round. As their guests arrived, they were greeted with the most incredible gospel choir, setting the tone and atmosphere for the guest experience for the day. Their ceremony was as expected, a super emotional one, with them taking in every second and the meaning of the words they said to each other. After a toast in the chapel, their guests made their way onto a big red vintage London bus, and Sash and Tom, in the last of the rain for the day, got into their vintage Rolls Royce together, and headed over to the Princess of Wales pub in Primrose Hill, where the rest of the day was then set.


Sash had lovingly and painstakingly made so many details of the day, from the beaded bag with both their initials, personalised hankies for each guest, porcelain name places, and of course, the show stopping trio of home made wedding cakes! Not only was much of the day DIY (table flowers too!), Sash and Tom have a real love for the antique, and much of their accessories and gifts to each other were vintage, second hand or antique pieces, which not only looked amazing and added to their own unique style, but gave so much character.

People dancing in a circle at what appears to be a rustic indoor venue with warm lighting and casual atmosphere.

Wedding Reception in London, Primrose Hill


After the formalities at Fitzrovia, the Primrose Hill portion of the day was a more relaxed, laidback affair. With short speeches from Sash and Tom together, and Sash's dad, before they cut and served the incredible cakes! Of course we used the rest of the daylight and the opportunity of the sun actually showing its face to have a wander round Primrose Hill, and take a few more couple portraits for that London city feel, contrasting to the real opulent intimacy of the Fitzrovia portraits. Into the evening, they shared a first dance with a live band, and evening food was pizzas for all their guests - perfect for them as Sash definitely used to use her instagram as a dedicated pizza rating social media.


I absolutely loved being a part of this day, alongside James Smith Weddings on video who was a total pleasure to work alongside. This wedding was planned with so much love and care into all the personal and significant details that really sets a wedding apart, and you could really feel the emotion that each hand made trinket, each considered word, each intentional location really meant to them. It was a relaxed and unassuming day, whilst also feeling utterly them and a joyous celebration of them both. A total and utter belter. Thank you S+T, you legends.


Venue - Fitzrovia Chapel

Reception - The Princess of Wales Pub

Dress - Vivienne Westwood

Video - James Smith Weddings

A romantic moment between couples dancing together in a dimly lit venue during a celebration or party.
Sequence of black and white wedding photos showing joyful couple celebrating with bubbles in an outdoor garden setting.
A romantic wedding couple poses in front of a classic red British telephone booth in an intimate dip pose.
A couple eating cake together in formal wedding attire at a reception venue in low lighting.
Person in a beige vest and white dress shirt adjusts their collar while holding a black coat in a dimly lit room.
A person in a dark suit buttoning up their jacket in a black and white photograph.
A series of black and white headshots showing different expressive poses and gestures.
A black cat walks along a windowsill while someone sits at a wooden table working in moody lighting.
Black and white wedding photography showing guests viewing artwork on a gallery wall at a wedding reception.
Elegant wedding accessories featuring white bridal shoes, pearls, and a delicate lace-trimmed note laid on dark fabric.
Figure in white dress moves gracefully across geometric patterned floor tiles in warm interior lighting.
Healthcare professionals in medical face masks and scrubs line up in solidarity during COVID-19 pandemic.
A black and white photo grid showing joyful smiles and candid expressions in a casual setting.
Wedding party walks down a rainy street with white umbrellas, creating a playful moment in black and white.
Gothic chapel interior with vaulted ceiling, stained glass windows and rows of dark wooden pews lit by soft lighting.

See More on Instagram

@esmewhitesidephotography