Houses of Parliament Wedding Photographer
Could you ask for a more British wedding venue? With a terrace on the Thames, it’s one of London’s most prestigious.
Photographing weddings at the Houses of Parliament
The Houses of Parliament remain one of the most interesting places I’ve worked as a London wedding photographer. The Palace of Westminster sits on the Thames beneath Big Ben. The House of Commons now hosts weddings in rooms once reserved for a select few, from civil ceremonies to dinners overlooking the river.
Lydia and Chris’s wedding here was one of those days that push you to be a better photographer. Arriving in a busy London with Big Ben towering overhead was a reminder that it would be a fantastic day, with a certain amount of added pressure. Yet they were one of the most relaxed couples I photographed all year. Their ceremony was at St Margaret’s, the church beside the palace where Winston Churchill married Clementine Hozier in 1908, and from there it was a short trip across to Parliament. You can see the whole day in Lydia and Chris’s Houses of Parliament wedding.
About the Houses of Parliament
The Palace of Westminster was rebuilt after a fire in 1834 destroyed most of the old palace. Charles Barry designed the new building, with Gothic detail by Augustus Pugin, and the work began in 1840 and took around 30 years. Westminster Hall, built in 1097, survived the fire and is the oldest part. The palace is Grade I listed and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Westminster Abbey and St Margaret’s Church.
For weddings, the Members’ Dining Room in the House of Commons overlooks the Thames and is licensed for ceremonies of up to 150 guests. Westminster’s ceremony guide also lists the oak-panelled Jubilee Room for up to 60. Receptions can move to the Terrace Pavilion, a heated marquee on the Commons Terrace whose glass doors give uninterrupted views of the river. Guests pass through Westminster Hall and Central Lobby on the way in, which is quite an entrance.
A wedding day at the Houses of Parliament
Lydia got ready in a hotel just across the river, with Big Ben framed in the window behind her shoes and the London Eye just outside. Her dress hung against the glass, she put on her lipstick in front of deep blue curtains, and her veil caught the light as it settled. Meanwhile the groom and his groomsmen, in morning suits with white rose buttonholes, made their way through Westminster’s streets past black cabs and red buses.
London weddings have a pace of their own, and Westminster has more going on than most. I love the contrast: grand Gothic Revival interiors and centuries of history, with the busy city carrying on all around. Weddings are a reflection of the people there, not the venues, and even in a building this impressive a relaxed couple makes for a relaxed day.
Why couples choose the Houses of Parliament
- About as British as it gets. Big Ben overhead, Westminster Hall on the way in and the Thames right outside the window.
- Ceremony and celebration together. A licensed dining room and a riverside pavilion mean you can marry, dine and celebrate in one building.
- A terrace on the Thames. The Terrace Pavilion opens onto the Commons Terrace, giving guests fresh air and the best view in Westminster.
- Allow time for security. Parliament uses airport-style security, with average visitor waits of up to 30 minutes, so build it into your timings.
Questions couples ask
Can you get married at the Houses of Parliament?
Yes. The Members’ Dining Room in the House of Commons is licensed for wedding ceremonies, and Westminster’s ceremony guide also lists the oak-panelled Jubilee Room for smaller ones. You can also marry nearby, as Lydia and Chris did at St Margaret’s, and cross over for the celebration.
How many guests can the Houses of Parliament hold?
The Members’ Dining Room takes up to 150 guests for a ceremony, and Westminster’s guide lists the Jubilee Room for up to 60. The Terrace Pavilion holds up to 200 for a standing reception.
How much does a Houses of Parliament wedding photographer cost?
My full-day photography collection is £1,750 and full-day film is £1,500, with travel and accommodation included. See prices for what’s included.
Do you film weddings at the Houses of Parliament?
Yes, on their own or alongside photography. See my London wedding videography for films and what’s included.
Weddings at the Houses of Parliament
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