Liz & John

Asylum Wedding Photography

I’ve produced photography for a lot of DIY weddings in my time, but they are usually at the home of a parent, not an Asylum. However, Liz and John chose a (then) little-known space in Peckham, South London to host their wedding celebrations. Asylum was formerly the chapel of a complex of almshouses for retired pub landlords called the Licenced Victuallers’ Benevolent Institution Asylum, later known as Caroline Gardens. Gutted by an incendiary bomb during WWII it has been patched up over the years, and since 2010 has been run as an art space.

The couple had enlisted the help of an army of family and friends to help them put together the day. This began at the bride’s flat with Liz’s pals helping with wedding flowers and on hair and make-up duty. Another friend was in charge of the catering for the day, so was running around with armfuls of supplies. Once ready the wedding party headed to Asylum.

Caroline Gardens Chapel Wedding Ceremony

Asylum isn’t an air-conditioned venue by any stretch, so there was frantic wafting of orders of service by the gathered wedding guests. However, what it lacks in mod-cons and luxuries, it more than makes up for with gorgeous natural light. The ceremony included a couple of readings and a Beatles singalong by the congregation, with John’s mum on piano.

Once the ceremony was over the guests headed outside. There they chatted and snacked on nuts and a leg of very nice looking ham. Meanwhile, inside the chapel the aforementioned small army got to work. The ceremony layout was changed into a dining one, with all hands on deck laying tablecloths, cutlery and wine. The starter of sharing platters was in place ready for the guests’ return.

The happy couple made their entrance and immediately got started with the speeches. Then we had a few more speeches in between the starter and the main course of lamb. Then more between the main course and the dessert of pavlova. With the wedding guests fully fed, watered and spoken at, there was time to chill out a little in the Asylum gardens. Then the bus arrived to start whisking people away for stage three!

East Dulwich Tavern Wedding Reception

The double decker wedding bus made the short journey from Asylum to East Dulwich. There the guests reconvened in the function room above the East Dulwich Tavern for the evening party. There was a modest wedding cake, a great band and as you would expect, lots of dancing.