Asylum Chapel Wedding Photographer
Looking for an Asylum Chapel wedding photographer?
I was the Asylum Chapel wedding photographer for Dou and Checca’s wedding in Peckham, and I loved every minute. I did not expect to find anything so unique and rustic in the heart of London. It was magical. If you are planning a wedding here, or just thinking about it, this is what Asylum Chapel is like, where it comes from, and how I photograph it.
A wedding with Turkish and British culture
Dou and Checca had an international wedding, mixing Turkish culture with British traditions. Checca also lived in Italy for a few years, so there was a little bit of Italy too. They both work in the arts. Dou is a videographer and Checca works in theatre production. People who spend their lives telling stories were always going to pick a wedding venue with a story of its own.
I could see how much they loved each other. You could feel it in the quiet looks before the ceremony, in the long hugs from family and friends, and in the way they laughed under the confetti. This is the documentary wedding photography I love: nothing staged, just real people and real feelings.
Asylum Chapel, a gem in the heart of London
Asylum Chapel is in Caroline Gardens, in Peckham. From the outside, you see big white columns and a clock. Inside, it is rough and beautiful: old brick walls, peeling plaster, stone plaques and stained glass windows. Nothing has been made to look new, and that is why Asylum Chapel is so special. For a wedding photographer, every corner has character and every photograph tells you where it was taken.
Why couples choose Asylum Chapel for their wedding
Couples who choose Asylum Chapel want something very different from a hotel ballroom. It has a wedding licence, so you can get married here, and a ceremony in Asylum Chapel feels close and personal, even with lots of guests. The building does the decorating for you. Flowers, candles and a few lanterns are all you need. For photography this is perfect, because every photograph looks like it could only have been taken here.
The history of Asylum Chapel
The story of Asylum Chapel is as interesting as the building. It was built from 1827 as part of the Licensed Victuallers’ Asylum, a home for retired pub landlords. The architect was Henry Rose, and the year 1827 is still on the front, above the clock. Here, “asylum” means a safe place, a shelter.
The Second World War changed everything. Asylum Chapel lost its roof and was badly damaged inside, and for many years it stood mostly empty. Some of the stone plaques and part of the stained glass survived. In 2010, artists started using the space again. Today Asylum Chapel is an arts venue and a Grade II listed building, and you can still see the marks of its past.
How the light works at Asylum Chapel
The big challenge here is the light. Very little comes in. The windows are small and high and the walls are dark, so I had to work out how to make the most of Asylum Chapel.
Window light and the open door
I look for where the light falls inside Asylum Chapel: daylight from the high windows, the glow of the stained glass, and the open door at the end of the aisle. When the bride arrived, the door lit her in a way I could never have planned.
Candles, warm lights and my off-camera flash in Asylum Chapel
There were candles along the stage and warm lights on the walls. They make soft, golden pools of light. I use them like natural spotlights, so portraits and quiet moments sit in a warm glow. When it is too dark, I use my off-camera flash, which I love. I keep it away from the camera and use it gently, so the light looks soft and the mood of the room stays. Black and white also works very well here, because of the rough walls and strong contrasts.
The ceremony at Asylum Chapel
Guests sat on old wooden chairs, each with an order of service. The couple stood in front of the arched alcove of Asylum Chapel, with candles all around them. There were nerves, a celebrant reading from her notes, tears during the rings, and a kiss that had the whole room on its feet, with phones and cameras up. I stayed quiet at the sides and in the aisle and let the photographs happen on their own.
Drinks, canapés and a red London bus
After the ceremony, the couple chose drinks and canapés. Guests raised a glass under the stained glass windows of Asylum Chapel, then came out onto the steps for confetti and bouquets in the autumn leaves. The photographs from this part of the celebration are full of movement, colour and laughter. Then a red London bus took the guests to Lordship Lane, while the couple stayed behind for a little time on their own.
Group photographs and couple portraits
At Asylum Chapel, I keep group photographs quick and simple, usually on the steps just after the ceremony, while everyone is still together. Once the guests had left on the bus, the couple and I stayed for some natural portraits, with no posing: a candlelit moment among the plaques, a laugh in the autumn light, a quiet kiss in the back of the taxi before it set off. Every wedding photographer loves a place that does half the work, and Asylum Chapel does exactly that.
Dinner at The Lordship Pub
The guests had already left Asylum Chapel and reached Lordship Lane when the couple set off in a black London taxi. I jumped in with them to keep the celebration going. At The Lordship Pub in East Dulwich, guests welcomed them by waving white napkins in the air, and the toasts and laughter carried on around long tables. A guest book with pencil portraits of the couple was one of my favourite little details of the wedding to photograph. If you like pubs, read my guide to weddings at The Lordship Pub, and what I wrote about the light at The Rosendale.
Tips for a wedding at Asylum Chapel
If you are planning a wedding at Asylum Chapel, here are a few tips. Ask your wedding photographer how they work in low light, and ask to see a full gallery of photographs from a real wedding. Use candles and warm lights, because Asylum Chapel looks best in a warm glow, and your photographs will too. Plan time for portraits outside Asylum Chapel, where the steps and Caroline Gardens give your photographs light and space. And if you are going on to a second venue, like Dou and Checca, leave a little time for the journey, because that is often where the most fun photographs happen.
Planning your wedding at Asylum Chapel?
If you are getting married at Asylum Chapel, or thinking about it, and you want a documentary London wedding photographer who already knows how the light moves in Asylum Chapel, I would love to hear from you. See more real stories in my portfolio, or get in touch and tell me about your date.
