Tucked away between the skyscrapers in the hustle and bustle of city life is Merchant Taylors’ Hall, an incredible hidden gem of a venue. This 14^th-century, Grade II listed building is at the heart of London’s square mile and has a long history of hosting the fanciest events. The contrast of the serene, historic charm against the surrounding ultra-modern skyline creates a unique atmosphere for gorgeous, luxury weddings in the capital.

Space, light, and award-winning images

The space and light here provide amazing opportunities for Merchant Taylors’ Hall wedding photography. My creative brain loves finding ways of framing emotional moments with the rich tones of the opulent décor to capture weddings in a unique, artistic style. I’ve actually won some awards for shots taken here, so I have a lot of love for this venue in particular.  

The imposing Great Hall with massive high ceilings, stained glass windows, and gilt chandeliers is one of the most impressive ceremony rooms I have ever seen. The room is surrounded by an overhead walkway that offers an excellent vantage point for photography, and (as you’ll see shortly) for making a rock-star-style entrance to your wedding breakfast!

Emily and Ricki’s wedding at Merchant Taylors’ Hall

I joined Emily and Ricki on what would turn out to be the hottest day of the year, working with my awesome second photographer Tom to ensure we could capture every moment of their luxurious day. We started by capturing them both getting ready, in separate rooms. Emily and her bridal party were in the enormous Drawing Room and Kings Gallery overlooking the courtyard, meanwhile Ricki and his groomsmen enjoyed the atmosphere of the Gothic-style Court Room.

The high ceilings, huge windows and classic décor of the Drawing Room were the perfect setting for Emily and her seven bridesmaids to get ready together. Hairdressers Chloe Westley and Mel Pellegrini, and make-up artists Jules and Roseanna worked calmly as the girls relaxed and drank champagne, with me snapping away in the background and chatting to the squad as they were getting their glam on.

As Emily got into her dress the whole wedding party rallied around to fasten buttons and help her into her shoes. Emily’s strapless lace gown by Sophia Tolli and pearl shoes from Charlotte Mills looked stunning with her delicate veil. I captured some dramatic black and white portraits and silhouettes as she shared an emotional first look with her dad, in the soft window light of the hallway.

Meanwhile, Ricki and the boys were toasting with a glass of Japanese Single Malt before making their way to welcome guests and await Emily’s grand entrance.

An emotional wedding ceremony

After a calm walk down the stunning staircase, the bridesmaids entered the Great Hall, followed by Emily on her dad’s arm. The hall had been decorated with pillar candles and arrangements from expert Florist, Floral Jems, using cascading foliage and gold details to match the gilt chandeliers.

My documentary approach means I place moments and emotions at the heart of my work, and the light from the 3-metre-high stained-glass windows made this emotional ceremony an absolute dream to capture. Witnessed by nearly 200 guests, Emily and Ricki sealed the deal with a kiss and were showered with confetti (in the longest confetti tunnel ever) as they walked out into the courtyard as husband and wife.

Architectural contrast and drinks in the sunshine

As Emily and Ricki’s guests enjoyed fizz and cocktails in the September sunshine, I captured everyone relaxing, chatting and congratulating the newlyweds. They’d mentioned to me beforehand that it’s rare to have all of their loved ones in one place, so these memories of everyone catching up, hugging, and enjoying the day were really important to them.

Family photos took place in a shaded corner of the courtyard, giving us softer light and ensuring no one was taken away from the party for too long. A large group photo of a wedding this size can sometimes be a challenge, but I had an ideal vantage point from the balcony of the Drawing Room, where Emily and the girls got ready earlier.

Then it was time for a short walk with Emily and Ricki for some portraits, they were keen to make sure these were relaxed, natural, and as quick as possible. This was great, as that’s also exactly how I prefer to work.

“Ben understood our dislike of posing for photos and is the master of the documentary style photography that we wanted.”Emily and Ricki

As the streets were relatively quiet (the only place in London that is quieter at the weekend!) they could wander freely in the road with drinks in hand, and huge smiles on their faces. We got the shots of this gorgeous pair in only 5 or 10 minutes, meaning they could get straight back to where the fun was at, knowing we had those perfect mantlepiece images in the bag. They also had a few quiet moments in the courtyard before entering their wedding breakfast, and trust me they needed it, because the next bit was WILD!

Rock-star entrance to The Great Hall

With everyone seated, the happy couple were announced into the room. Guests looked up towards the balcony as Emily and Ricki appeared, accompanied by ‘The Best of You’, by The Foo Fighters playing at full volume. The room went wild, cheering, clapping, and waving napkins as they took opposite sides and came back together to enter the room.

The energy was incredible, and I had to fight through the crowds to capture the chaos (thanks to all their lovely guests who gave me a helping hand!). I saw my chance to grab a photo from their seats at the top table, facing out into the crowd as they shared a cheer and a kiss.

It was such an awesome experience, and as a massive Foo Fighters fan, I was singing along too! It’s honestly a moment I don’t think I’ll ever forget as a photographer. Epic!

The speeches took place from the raised top table after everyone had tucked into lovely meals with wine flowing freely. We used the space available to capture different angles, photographing people speaking, as well as guests raising their glasses and enjoying hilarious anecdotes and touching, emotional moments throughout. Including the award-winning image I was talking about earlier, of Emily and Ricki raising a toast in front of their guests.

Party atmosphere and cooling off in the fountain

Evening cocktail hour is my favourite, as it’s when everyone kicks off their shoes to relax… quite literally! It was still scorching hot, and the fountain proved irresistible to some. Singing and dancing started in the courtyard, with plenty of rock classics as people prepared to party.

Emily and Ricki cut their cakes (both regular cake and cheese from Neal’s Yard Dairy), with Emily’s Grandfather’s QEII British diplomatic sword. Then they then took to the floor for their first dance. Their band were brilliant, combined with DJs in between sets they had everyone dancing for the whole evening. The newlyweds were lifted on chairs for a traditional Jewish wedding dance, surrounded by guests loving every minute of celebrating with them.

Joining Emily and Ricki to capture their Merchant Taylors’ Hall wedding photography was a day I will never forget. Everything was awesome, from the luxurious venue and top-notch hospitality to the off-the-charts party atmosphere. As I was leaving, I noticed one guest taking a break for a little alfresco snooze by the fountain – proof of just how energetic the party was! What an epic night!

Looking for a Merchant Taylors’ Hall wedding photographer?

I work across Hertfordshire and the rest of the UK, capturing emotion, fun, and authentic moments. If you’re looking for relaxed, unposed, and awesome wedding photography, I would love to hear from you. Just get in touch and we can chat about your plans.