Jim is one of my best friends from school so I was really chuffed to be asked to be his Asylum Chapel Wedding Photographer. He and Priya are super chilled lovely people and they wanted their wedding to be the same. Needless to say, they succeeded admirably. Their wedding was held in a Grade II listed building in Peckham called the Asylum Chapel. It’s standard church service days were cut short in WWII when it was bombed. It’s now a fantastic atmospheric space used for weddings and all things art related. It oozes character and is super popular for wedding couples wanting something a little different. Asylum Chapel Weddings are frequently featured in online wedding blogs and I was fortunate to have already shot Chris & Cathy’s wedding there a couple of years ago. I knew I was in for a treat.

I met Jim in a pub that morning with his siblings and some best mates for brunch. He was in good form and the bubbly went down well. From there I travelled to their flat with his sister Lucinda to get a few shots of Priya and her family getting ready. Priya wore a super stylish Alessandro Francalanci dress that couldn’t have suited her better. It was then time for the main event…

Although I knew it beforehand, it surprised me how quickly it got dark. This was a winter wedding and the sunset was at 4pm which was the same time as the start of the ceremony. Lit with candlelight, fairy lights and some uplighters the chapel looked very pretty and atmospheric. Lucinda sang as Priya came down the aisle which was beautiful. After the ceremony I took a few very quick shots of Jim and Priya both out the back and inside the chapel before they greeted their friends and family out the front. Sparklers were held in celebration.

We took black cabs to Brixton East 1871 for the reception. Brixton East is an ideal London spot for a wedding reception with it’s two floors – one for eating and the top for partying! The food created by Gunpowder Restaurant was superb. It was designed with Jim and Priya in mind and included elements of Priya’s Mauritius heritage. Jim’s brother Ben’s speech with slideshow recalling the “cool” and “not cool” parts of Jim’s life thus far was particularly memorable.

Craig David unfortunately couldn’t perform for Jim and Priya this evening despite Priya’s frequent requests, however DJ Hanna Hanra and DJ Shorebitch admirably filled his imaginary shoes. It was an awesome evening full to the brim of dancing, drinking and group hugs.

Thanks so much Jim & Priya for asking me to be your Asylum Chapel Wedding Photographer! Here are some of my favourite moments of the day.