After being based in Greenwich for 3 of our formative years as a wedding video company and having shot at almost all of the major venues there it’s only right that’s what we consider to be the Confetti & Silk spiritual home. it’s where we cut our teeth in wedding videos.
With that unique position, it’s given us a valuable insight into what we consider to be the best Greenwich wedding venues.
Greenwich: History
Originally referred to as the Green wic (meaning port) the history of boats and all things naval are set in stone for the area. The park, which has seen us film many a sunset from as well as run multiple laps around on a failing fitness regime, dates to 1433 with the observatory built in 1675. Greenwich Meantime originates there as it was the place of the most accurate clock in the land at one time along with the saying ‘keep your eye on the ball’ coming from the ball atop the hill.
Our Favourite Greenwich Wedding Venues
We’ve shared some insider tips alongside our views of the venues we consider to be the best.
The Old Royal Naval College -The Queen Mary Undercroft
Want to get married on a film set? The venue has featured in many blockbusters and period dramas over the years from James Bond and Pirates of the Caribbean to Sherlock Holmes. This fantastic event space provides the option to have all parts of your day in the one place. Ceremony, dinner and dancing. With such fantastic grounds outside you and your guests won’t even notice turn around times. Take advantage of the unique architecture with the grand buildings and columns creating stunning backdrops for video and photo opportunities, as well as the Thames side location. Check out our same sex wedding filmed there last year below:
The venue provide in-house catering and a large bar area to ensure your guests are kept well fed and watered. The venue has 180 guests dinner capacity and 290 on their reception numbers to allow you to avoid any difficulties with having to cut guests to accommodate venue restrictions. Prices start from £3,000.
Insider tip:
Even if the London weather strikes, the column structures both within the Undercroft and those that are covered immediately outside allow for stunning creative video and photo backdrops, one less thing to worry about. Despite the sub- ground floor location the windows allow vast amounts of natural light in to compliment the venues high ceilings.
Queens House
Situated at the foot of Greenwich park the formal royal residence houses The Great Hall as the focal point for any ceremony or dinner. To mix things up afterward there’s the options to have a marquee at the back of the house or have evening reception and dancing in the fabulous atmospheric Undercroft area. Capacity wise there is a 120 option for anything in The Great Hall with an additional 30 taking it to 150 in the Undercroft.
Insider tip:
The obvious place to have photos is outside in the grounds overlooking the Naval College and down to the Thames, however the spiral staircase is simply stunning for portraits for both video and photo. The balcony gives a great extra dimension to video footage to overlook a ceremony or speeches too.
The Painted Hall
Looking for the one of a kind venue? This is it. Painted at the start of the 1700s by Sir James Thornhill taking 19 years to complete- yes 19! Described in newspaper articles as ‘the finest dining hall in Europe’ you simply can’t go wrong having your wedding in this venue. Re-opened in 2019 after restoration work, you can be one of the first to get married in this grandest of settings on its second coming.
A nautical theme runs throughout many weddings in Greenwich and here it is no different, there are many references to British cavalry in the painted The pillars create symmetry- great for taking incredible wedding videos. Imagine being a bride and making your walk down the aisle in the midst of such grandeur and sophistication, with all eyes in awe and on you for your special day. Truly spectacular.
With a 300 ceremony and 400 dinner capacity this is one for the bigger weddings.
Insider tip:
As weddings are only allowed to begin here from 4.30pm onwards the hall can often be darker by wedding portrait time except in the height of summer. It can be great to prioritise the portraits as early as possible, with then some stunning contrasting portraits created once the hall is in darkness and only illuminated by candlelight.
St Alfege Church
Where Henry VIII was baptised, the Grade 1 listed building forms part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. What we would class as a perfect sized church. providing a nice intimate atmosphere whilst still spacious. A welcoming vicar who allows us to capture our video however we like makes for great ceremony footage without the added worry of church restrictions on your videographers and photographers so common elsewhere.
Insider tip:
The entrance to the church is at the back away from the busy street, offering quite a private area for family and guest to mingle in after the service or to have some video and photos taken. Confetti is also allowed on the steps for the traditionalists!
Devonport House
Across the road from St Alfege this part of the UNESCO world heritage site Devonport House hotel sits beside the National Maritime Museum and has the added benefit of a large car park onsite operating on a first come- first served basis at reasonable daily rates. The grounds are much bigger than you think, make the most of the extremes of the front gardens for private moments with guests or your partner. Noise is minimal despite it’s central location. As it’s a hotel you can easily stay the night before the wedding to make the morning as stress free as possible. Upto 100 guests can be catered for.
Insider tip:
You can get a great group shot for your wedding video or photo from an upper floor window. The superfast wifi allows streaming of your ceremony or speeches around the world so friends and family can watch even if they can’t make it to the venue.
The Cutty Sark
This exclusive use venue is the only place in the world you can party below the hull of a ship. The teaclipper ship is suspended in a dry dock so you find yourself sitting under the ship itself with the copper hull above your heads during a sit down reception. You can also have your ceremony here on the Tween deck for upto 70 guests. When the weather holds it’s also a fantastic opportunity to get out on the top deck in amongst the masts and rigging. From here you have perfect views of the Thames, Canry Wharf and central London for both mingling and video and photos at sunset and once night has fallen.
Insider tip:
Arrive/depart by boat, either your partner and yourself, or all the wedding guests together. Private hire would be perfect and Cutty Sark will help you source this but the Clipper service can often be near empty on the weekends and has a fully stocked bar for the price of a regular travel journey in London!
Trafalgar Tavern
A Greenwich wedding video can also have the benefit of incorporating the river Thames in it, and nowhere more so than at the Trafalgar Tavern. Having become the preferred wedding videographers at the Trafalgar Tavern we were eager to find out a bit more about its wedding offerings. Weddings take place upstairs in the Nelson banqueting room which looks out over the Thames. Dark wooden floors, elevated ceilings and chandeliers work beautifully with your own private bar next door named the Admirals Gallery bar and can cater for up to 200 guests. Some opt to get married in the Nelson room whilst others use it for reception only..
Insider tip:
Its location right on the river is perfect for wedding day boat trips with guests, or having the river feature as a backdrop to your photos.
Submit a comment