Getting Married at All Hallows-on-the-Wall: A City of London Guide

Tucked along London Wall among the glass towers of the Square Mile stands one of the City of London's quietest treasures. All Hallows-on-the-Wall was rebuilt in 1767 by George Dance the Younger, one of his earliest works, and it sits on the very line of the old Roman and medieval wall that once ringed the City. It is small, calm and beautifully Georgian, and it makes a wonderful place to marry in the heart of London. If you are thinking of getting married here, this is a photographer's guide to the church, how it photographs, and the corners of the City most couples never think to use.

Why it is such a beautiful place to marry

All Hallows is restrained where many City churches are ornate, and that is its strength. A single barrel-vaulted room draws the eye to a softly curved apse, the plasterwork pale and uncluttered, the light even and gentle. That calm, diffused light matters more than almost anything else for photographs: it flatters faces, holds detail, and lets me work without flash. Set among the modern towers of the City, a 250-year-old room against glass and steel gives the whole day a sense of place you only find here.

A few practical notes for couples

All Hallows-on-the-Wall is a working church, so a wedding here follows the usual Church of England steps, including a qualifying connection and the reading of banns. The church team will talk you through eligibility, dates and the order of service, so that is your first conversation. Practically, the location is a gift: it is moments from Liverpool Street, Moorgate and Bank, so guests arrive without fuss, and most couples move straight on to a reception nearby, which keeps the day relaxed and the travel short. City weddings often fall on weekdays, and the Square Mile suits that beautifully.

The light, and how the day flows

The even interior light suits a documentary approach. I photograph the ceremony discreetly from a fixed position, with no flash and nothing that pulls attention away from you and your guests. Because the church is compact, the day flows quickly from the vows to the steps outside, so we plan portraits to take only a few minutes and keep you among your people rather than marched around for an hour.

The little secret spots most people miss

This is where knowing the City pays off. Couples assume the photographs all happen inside, but the Square Mile is one of the most photogenic places in the world, and most of it is a short walk from the church door.

• Leadenhall Market. The ornate Victorian arcade is the most beautiful covered street in London. On a weekday afternoon, in the lull between the lunch and evening rush, there are pockets of calm that make for relaxed, characterful portraits.
• Guildhall Yard and the Royal Exchange. Open stone yards and grand Portland-stone facades give a sense of scale and occasion that a church interior cannot, and they are only minutes away.
• The narrow lanes and courts. The alleys around Lombard Street and Leadenhall are quiet, shaded and full of character, perfect for a private moment away from the crowds.
• The black cab. A classic black London cab against City stone is the most unmistakably London image you can give a couple, and there is a precise spot and a moment of timing to catch it cleanly.
• Old beside new. Step back and the historic church sits beneath the Gherkin and the modern towers. That contrast, centuries apart in a single frame, says the City of London like nothing else.

Why it helps to have a photographer who knows the City

The Square Mile changes hour by hour: busy at lunch, quiet by early evening, with the light moving fast between tall buildings. Knowing which lanes stay calm, where the sun reaches the stone, and when the streets clear means we use your time well and you are never left waiting or wandering. I have photographed weddings here and I know the City's rhythms, so on your day we move with intent rather than hoping for the best.

If you would like to see how a City day actually unfolds, read Harry and Lydia's wedding at All Hallows-on-the-Wall, see how I photograph weddings, or look through the collections. The City and central London are where many of my weddings happen, and I would love to photograph yours here.