Richmond Wedding Photographer | Winter Wedding at York House, Twickenham
Winter Wedding At York House, Twickenham
Late last year, I had the pleasure of photographing a winter wedding at York House in Twickenham. It’s a venue I know well and genuinely enjoy working at - if you’ve read some of my previous blog posts, you’ll already know it’s one of my favourite London wedding venues.
York House is a beautiful Grade II listed building set right by the River Thames, with well-kept gardens that always make the perfect backdrop for wedding photography. It’s home to the Town Hall of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, and offers several licensed spaces for wedding ceremonies, including the Terrace Room and the Salon. Most weddings I’ve photographed here have taken place in the Terrace Room, so I was especially looking forward to this one—it was my first time photographing a ceremony in the Salon.
York House Wedding Photography
The couple had planned a small, relaxed ceremony that brought together friends and family from across the UK and Cyprus. There was a quiet warmth to the day, and the ceremony itself was very touching - full of laughter, emotion, and a few happy tears. After the ceremony, everyone moved into the Winter Garden, a beautiful room at the back of the building overlooking the gardens. Here, guests were welcomed with drinks and canapés, and the atmosphere quickly shifted into celebration mode. This part of the day is always one I enjoy. With the formalities behind them, people naturally relax into the moment. I often use my long lens when photographing the drinks reception as it allows me to capture conversations and interactions as they happen, without disturbing or directing.
Later, I stepped outside with the newly wedded couple to take a few portraits in the gardens. Even in winter, York House Gardens have a lot to offer visually. Bare branches, the restored Japanese garden, the sunkan garden and of course the Oceanids (or Naked Ladies) fountain. We were lucky with the weather too: a clear, crisp day with a low golden sun that made everything feel calm and bright. For privacy reasons, I can’t share the full set of photographs here, but the portraits we created in that the golden hour light were pure magic.
Couple portraits on Richmond hill
Once the group was ready, we made our way over to Richmond Hill Hotel, just a short drive away. The couple chose this spot because of the time they’d spent together on Richmond Hill in the early days of their relationship. We arrived at the perfect time, just as the sun was setting, casting warm colours across the hill. Considering the grey skies we’d had in the days leading up to the wedding, it felt like we hit jackpot. We took a few more wedding portraits here, soaking up the rays and taking a moment to relect.
Richmond Hill Hotel: The Perfect London Wedding Venue
Richmond Hill Hotel was looking particularly festive, with winter decorations outside and cosy details indoors. I’d visited before during my time living in Richmond and while teaching kids & teens photography workshops with Sharp Shots Photo Club—but this was my first time there as a Richmond wedding photographer. The outside and the inside of the hotel felt very Christmasy with the enterence decorated with a beautiful winter arch display, and stunning christmas trees inside the reception room. It all looked like the perfect setting for the fist wedding dinner and speaches, with friends and family members speaking between courses and creating a fun, vibrant and uplifting atmosphere to the evening. There was no sense of rush—just people enjoying themselves and celebrating love two people have for each other.
Soon after the speaches were done, it was my time to leave. But not before I took one last shot. A ‘portrait’ of a very special present which arrived some time in February and which I cannot wait to meet and photograph very soon!
Richmond Wedding Photographer
If you are planning a wedding at York House, Twichenham or at Richmond Hill Hotel (or both), and you would like to discuss different photography packages, please get in touch. I try to be as flexible as possible and cater for couple’s needs when it comes to photography coverage, so drop a line or give me a call to get your custom wedding photography quote. I look forward to hearing from you!
About Me
I am a London and Surrey wedding and family portrait photographer, with a focus on natural, honest storytelling. Rather than heavily staged photos, I focus on real moments—quiet gestures, shared glances, and the atmosphere that makes each wedding feel personal. I aim to create images that feel true to the people in them, and to the day as it unfolded.
If that sounds like the kind of photographer you’re looking for, I’d love to hear from you.
Intimate Small Wedding in Surrey
The wedding industry has been hit hard by the pandemic with so many weddings postponed multiple times last and this year. Very few weddings went ahead, and those that did had a changed format.
This couple decided to go ahead with their wedding, while keeping with the goverment guidlines at the time of the event. It was a small and intimate wedding, with only family and closest friends present. There was something so nice and special about photographing a small wedding. It was all about what really matters - the couples’ love and dedication to each other. It was lovely to observe interactions between family members and friends, and document this special day for them.
The wedding started with a pricate ceremony at St Michael’s and Angels church in Michleham. After exchanging their wedding vows, the newly married couple and the wedding party headed to the family home, where the garden was used as an intimate wedding reception venue. It was a chilly spring day, but everyone wrapped up warm and enjoyed drinks and canapes in the place meaningful to the couple.
This wedding provided me with so many nice opportunities to capture intimate moments. If you are planning a small wedding, and are considering hiring a professional small wedding photographer who will capture the laughter, joy, tears, small details, and clinking of the glassses then send me an email to discuss your requirements.