Hackney Town Hall Wedding Photographer | Catherine + Miles

Catherine and Miles got married at Hackney Town Hall in their fifties, with many children, their daughter and a crowd of friends and family around them. It was my first time as a Hackney Town Hall wedding photographer, and the building was a lovely surprise.

Arriving by bus

Catherine and Miles arrived by bus, so I waited outside for them. I wanted to follow their story from the moment they stepped off, and it was worth the patience. Friends and family were already arriving, and within minutes there were hugs happening everywhere, all at once. These are the moments I love most: nobody posing, everybody simply delighted to see each other.

A ceremony room made their own

Before the ceremony, the couple decorated the ceremony room themselves, which gave the wood-panelled space a personal touch. They walked in together, right after the children and their daughter. The children carried the rings, so the whole family was part of the moment.

Confetti, and a few minutes for the two of them

After the ceremony came the confetti outside the town hall, as it always should. Then I borrowed Catherine and Miles for my usual 10 to 15 minutes of relaxed portraits. They didn’t need any direction. I only had to follow them while they enjoyed the moment, and then they went straight back to their guests.

Drinks upstairs and dinner on a red bus

The celebration carried on upstairs in the Town Hall, with drinks and canapés. After that, the couple headed to dinner on a red London bus, which felt like the perfect way to end a day that began with one.

Hackney Town Hall as a wedding venue

Hackney Town Hall is on Mare Street. It opened in 1937, was designed by Lanchester and Lodge, and is a Grade II listed Art Deco building. Photographing there for the first time, I was struck by how grand and solid it feels, inside and out. The wide front steps, the staircase and the wood-panelled ceremony room give a photographer plenty to work with. The light is good and the backgrounds are clean, so the day can unfold without any staging.

A few practical points if you’re planning a wedding here:

• The ceremony room (the Lanchester Suite) is limited to 30 people. That count includes your witnesses, any children and the photographer.
• Hackney Council only allows biodegradable confetti, thrown at the bottom of the steps, not on them.
• The council’s rules can change, so check the details with the Hackney Registration Service when you book.

Looking for a Hackney Town Hall wedding photographer?

I’m Francesca, an award-winning documentary wedding photographer based in South London, with over 15 years of experience. I photograph weddings across London, Kent and Bromley, from Islington Town Hall and Chelsea Town Hall to pubs, townhouses and private homes. I stay for the moments, not the clock, so the story of your day gets told in full.

If you’re planning a town hall wedding, I’d love to hear about it. Check my availability or have a look at my packages.