5 unique and alternative wedding venues in London
Okay, first-things-first, this was a difficult list to narrow down. London is full of absolutely stunning
wedding venues, it’s clear why people travel from all over the world just to
get married here. We’re spoilt for choice even within a 5-mile radius of my
studio. (You may remember I gave a run-down of my Top
10 wedding venues in West London last month.)
Well this week, we’re looking at
5 London wedding venues that break the mould. Five venues that radiate
originality, chic-quirkiness and alternative charm. If you’ve always dreamed of
getting married in London but want a venue that side-steps the traditional or
cliché, then these places are well worth a look.
Starting with The AsylumChapel for no reason other than the fact it allows us to skip through this list alphabetically. This Grade II listed
building is perfect for anyone wanting a bit of ‘dilapidated-chic’. Built in 1826, the Asylum Chapel suffered bomb damage
in WWII, but the result is a beautifully distressed interior, where peeling
paintwork and cracked plaster, combined with festoon lights, candles and
bohemian flower arrangements create a truly magical vibe. This Peckham based
venue is perfect for any couples looking to harmonise a traditionally elegant
look with a modern industrial feel.
2. The Conservatory - Barbican
The Barbican Centre is not known for its delicate beauty or historic elegance. This epitome of brutalist architecture was once voted London’s ugliest building, but hidden behind its glass and concrete exterior is The Barbican Conservatory - a spectacle of botanic magnificence. This conservatory is actually the second biggest in London, after the Princess of Wales Conservatory at Kew, (which you can read more about here).
The only way to describe this venue is that it’s how you’d imagine a futuristic metropolis would look long after humans have left, and nature is allowed to take over. Concrete structures peer from behind a backdrop of palms, ferns, exotic flowers and leafy vines. If you like the idea of a rainforest wedding and want a truly unforgettable venue located smack-bang in the heart of the city, The Barbican Conservatory might just be the place.
For those wanting to add a sense of nautical class to theirwedding, the famous Cutty Sark ship
in Greenwich is a wonderfully unique wedding venue. This beautiful ship is
located in one of London’s most gorgeous locations, the magnificent Old Royal
Naval College and sprawling Greenwich Park are minutes away and provide endless
opportunities for timeless and iconic wedding photographs.
You can actually take my word for this; I’ve used both the Cutty
Sark and the Old Royal Naval College as locations for photoshoots when
showcasing my dresses. So,
if you’re considering one of my dresses, I can assure you they’ll look
incredible in these locations!
Unique to The Cutty Sark is opportunity to entertain your guests
beneath its gleaming copper hull. This amazing space can accommodate up to 300
guests for ceremonies, receptions, dinner and dancing.
You can also choose the more intimate ‘Tween Deck which was
originally used to store the ship’s precious cargo. This space caters for
smaller parties of up to 70 guests.
Finally, for the real nautical
experience, you can move to the Cutty Sark’s open-air Weather Deck, which
offers incredible views overlooking the Thames with London’s famous skyline
providing a dramatic backdrop.
4. MC Motors
This East London warehouse caters for those couples looking for the height of
industrial-cool. This vintage, ‘Aladdin’s cave’ of a venue used to be a
mechanics, (hence the name MC Motors) it doesn’t come with a wedding licence,
but for a reception, it’s really pretty special.
Behind a
very unassuming entrance, the location oozes character. Following heavy bombing
during the war the whole space was adjoined by a skylighted roof, which has
left a perfectly untouched Victorian street running right through the middle
and floods the space with natural light.
According
to the location’s website “The space is complimented by a number of wonderfully
textured walls which have naturally dilapidated over the past hundred or so
years. There are also a number of different floors available with parquet,
mezzanine and oak boards all represented at various points. There are a large
selection of fantastic props displayed throughout the location”.
The Owners, Castle Gibson, have a selection of warehouse venues dotted around
Dalston and Stoke Newington - all very unique, and all can be transformed into
an incredible wedding venue.
Situated
deep within the historic vaulted cellars of the Grade II listed Ivory House at
St Katharine Docks, this subterranean venue exudes a sense of mystery, opulence
and exclusivity. Nestled between the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, The
Ivory Vaults offer 10,000 sq ft which comfortably fit 100 – 450 guests.
Nine
intimate vaulted private dining areas are interlinked by a vast open passageway
and offer an underground escape from the hustle and bustle of the streets
above. If you’re looking to whisk your guests away from the recognisable
streets surrounding Tower Bridge to a secret, private underground world where
they can dine and dance the night away, then The Ivory Vaults are well worth a visit!
