Why I love photographing weddings at the Asylum Chapel
- The light is sublime
- It is great in all weather
- It is well located for a variety of good reception venues, including AMP Studios, Brunswick House, Tanner Warehouse, and 100 Barrington.
- The colour and tones provide a great backdrop for photos, and it’s great for my style of documentary wedding photography
- Needs no additional styling to make it look great
- It will WOW your guests
Run by Mavericks Projects, the Asylum Chapel in Caroline Gardens is a favourite amongst many wedding photographers. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, however. If your idea of a great London wedding venue is a modern and contemporary building with pristine fixtures and fittings, maybe drop this one from your list. If you love the idea of a grand building with tons of history, an interior that is crumbling yet grand, and so unbelievably photogenic, read on.
Some useful information for weddings at The Asylum Chapel
- How much is a wedding at The Asylum Chapel? Price – £1400 to £1850. Onsite co-ordinator £240
- Capacity – up to 120 guests for the wedding ceremony
- There are two time slots. 9am-2.30pm (suggested ceremony time 11am/12pm) 3.30pm – 8pm (suggested ceremony time 4/5pm)
- It’s licensed for ceremonies (Southwark registrars) and canapés only (no food trucks or sit down meals)
- You can have a car pull right up to both the front and back doors. (The back door is where the wedding party make their entrance and where the married couple exit after the ceremony. The front door is where guests come in and where guests leave the room after the ceremony. Sounds confusing. I promise you it’s not!). Parking is available on Asylum Road.
- Great indoor and outdoor space perfect for my reportage approach
- Routemasters can stop on the road in in front of The Asylum to take you to the reception venue
- There is no license for live music, so background music only (this can include jazz/string quartets)
- Pets are welcome.
You can read about the Asylum’s history on their website, but one thing to make clear is that it was never a building used to house ‘lunatics’. Instead, the word is used in its older sense, meaning sanctuary. So now we’ve got that cleared up, let’s look at what makes The Asylum Chapel so darned special.
Look at any photo of a wedding in the Asylum, and, if the photographer knew what they were doing and didn’t flash the hell out of the scene, then you’ll notice that the light in there is incredible. The light floods in through the high stained-glass windows and sends shards of diffused light into the room. The interior is exposed, crumbling stone, with pastel decals on the walls. The old altar area in front of which you say your vows is completely covered in candles. This creates an ethereal glow and makes a ceremony at The Asylum an almost spiritual experience.
As well as this amazing interior, The Asylum Chapel also has good outdoor space. Although wedding receptions were once permitted at The Asylum, now only ceremonies and drinks receptions are held there. I have photographed weddings with an indoor afternoon tea, as well as weddings with a gin cart. Bringing your own coolboxes of fizz is also an option.
The ethereal light, crumbling walls & stunning stained glass windows of this WWII bombed chapel create the perfect atmosphere for a London wedding.
These are AMAZING. We are buzzing!
Anna & Sam – married at the Asylum Chapel
Contact details and address for The Asylum Chapel
How to get to The Asylum Chapel
You can plan your journey or check public transport with TfL. There is free parking on Asylum Road.
If you like the Asylum Chapel you might also like Wilton’s Music Hall and Paradise By Way Of Kensal Green.
See some weddings I have photographed at The Asylum Chapel
If you’re planning a wedding at The Asylum Chapel and would like to find out more about having me document your day, I’d love to hear from you!