Katie & Will’s Story
When Katie and Will decided to get married, choosing an Islington Town Hall wedding was an easy decision. Katie grew up in Islington, so getting married just a short distance from her parents’ house meant they could celebrate somewhere that already felt like home. It also made it easy for family to be there, which was exactly what they wanted from their wedding day.
Their November wedding was everything I love about micro weddings. With Katie eight months pregnant, comfort was key and Katie and Will did everything they wanted to do, not what the rule book says. From arriving together in a taxi, to not wearing white, they chose everything to suit them.
One of the things I enjoy most about photographing smaller weddings is that there’s room for all those little moments that often become the ones people remember most. Katie and Will’s wedding was full of them – from an unexpected handshake while signing the register, to a huge and enthusiastic confetti throw and waiting for the minibus to arrive on Upper Street before heading off to celebrate with family.
If you’re planning your own Islington Town Hall wedding, I hope this gives you a little insight into what a day here can look like, along with a few tips I’ve picked up from photographing weddings at one of London’s most iconic town halls.
Why Plan an Islington Town Hall Wedding?
There are plenty of beautiful places to get married in London, but Katie and Will chose Islington Town Hall because being so close to Katie’s family home meant they could spend the day surrounded by the people closest to them without anyone having to travel far, and it gave the whole day a lovely relaxed feel.
One of the things I like most about photographing weddings at Islington Town Hall is that it’s on one of my favourite streets in London – Upper Street. Once you’ve stepped out of the Town Hall you’re immediately in the middle of everything, with independent cafΓ©s, restaurants and London buses trundling past. It feels unmistakably London, which I love.
Inside, there are several different ceremony rooms to choose from depending on the size of your wedding, and there are plenty of indoor spots to take you to for some quiet couple portraits away from the street crowds (those marble corridors!) before you step outside into the energy of London. We can do confetti and family portraits on the steps and from there your day can go wherever you want it to β usually The Vineyard pub over the road for a bottle of bubbles!
The Wedding Day
One of my favourite things about Katie and Will’s wedding was that from the moment they arrived together at Islington Town Hall, everything felt relaxed.
Booking one of the holding rooms before the ceremony turned out to be such a lovely idea. It gave them a chance to catch their breath, spend a few quiet moments together and say hello to family as everyone arrived, rather than feeling rushed straight into the ceremony.
Once everyone had taken their seats, it wasn’t long before Katie and Will were officially married. One of my favourite photographs from the whole day happened while they were signing the register, with Katie reaching across the table to shake hands with Will and quite literally seal the deal! It somehow summed them up perfectly and has become one of those photographs that still makes me smile.
After the ceremony, we gathered everyone on the steps outside for the bouquet toss and confetti. By this point it was already dark, with one of those crisp November evenings that somehow makes everything feel even more festive. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen so much confetti, which made for some wonderfully colourful photographs (and I was still finding bits of it in my camera bag afterwards!).
Rather than climbing into a wedding car, Katie and Will had organised a minibus with all their family to continue celebrating at a local restaurant. As I waved goodbye from the pavement, Katie spotted me from the top deck window, held up her hand to show me her new wedding ring and gave me the biggest smile through the window. That photograph ended their gallery perfectly.
Three Moments I’ll Remember
Every wedding gallery has a few photographs that I know I’ll remember long after I’ve delivered it. They’re not always the biggest moments of the day, but they’re usually the ones that say the most about the couple I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know.
The Handshake
I’ve photographed hundreds of couples signing the register, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone shake hands halfway through it before. It was such a funny, natural moment and completely unexpected β but completely Katie and Will!
The Confetti
Confetti photographs are always some of my favourites because you never quite know what’s going to happen. Katie and Will’s family definitely understood the assignment! There was confetti absolutely everywhere, lots of laughter and some brilliant reactions from Katie and Will. I’m so glad they went for it, even in the dark!
The Goodbye
My favourite photograph from the whole gallery wasn’t during the ceremony or the portraits. It was right at the very end. As Katie and Will climbed onto the minibus with their family, Katie spotted me from the top deck window, held up her new wedding ring and gave me the biggest smile before they disappeared into London traffic. It wasn’t planned and it only lasted a second, but it felt like the perfect way to finish telling the story of their day.
Gallery
Every Islington Town Hall wedding is different, but I hope Katie and Will’s day gives you a little glimpse into just how much you can fit into a small London micro wedding. Their wedding was proof that your day doesn’t have to follow tradition to feel incredibly special.
Here are a few more of my favourite moments from their day
Planning Your Own Islington Town Hall Wedding?
If you’re planning your own Islington Town Hall wedding and you’re looking for a photographer who’ll quietly tell the story of your day while letting you get on with enjoying it, I’d love to hear all about your plans.
Whether you’re inviting two witnesses or twenty guests, planning a morning ceremony or heading to The Vineyard for a bottle of bubbles afterwards, every wedding is different. My job isn’t to make your day fit a timeline or a list of photographs β it’s to photograph it just as it happens, and just as you are.
If that sounds like your kind of wedding, I’d love to hear what you’ve got planned. Get in touch here.
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