Your London Wedding - Jul/Aug 2019 (Issue 66)

AL FRESCO VENUES 37 KENSINGTON PALACE PAVILION Surrounded by parkland, Kensington Palace offers a welcome retreat from the nearby hustle and bustle of London. Its understated elegance makes the palace an ideal companion to the Royal Parks’ tranquil gardens and pond. As one of London’s most beautiful and architecturally impressive buildings, the calm, peaceful façade provides a stunning backdrop for wedding photography. Ceremonies can take place in the Palace’s King’s Gallery, which seats up to 150 guests or The King’s Drawing Room, where 100 loved ones can witness your vows. For receptions, the Kensington Palace Pavilion temporarily replaces the Orangery at Kensington Palace, which closed in January, 2018 for a conservation and building project. Kensington Palace Pavilion is a purpose-built, one-of-a-kind building, offering two flexible spaces for receptions (800 guests) and dinners (300 friends and family). The blank canvas spaces are fronted with floor-to-ceiling glass, maximising the glorious views of the Sunken Garden and the Cradle Walk that surrounds it – the perfect spot for outdoor food stations, not to mention picturesque photographs. Ceremony licence? Yes – in the palace’s State Apartments Contact: hrp.org.uk | 020 3166 6115 CLISSOLD HOUSE Nestled in one of London’s most loved green spaces, Clissold Park, and surrounded by 55 acres of lush green parkland, Clissold House has proudly stood for more than 100 years and has become one of the most recognisable features of the Hackney skyline. The charming interiors of this 18 th -century mansion house elegantly complement its beautiful park setting. Each room, with its neutral tones and original sash windows granting views over the park, is bathed in natural sunlight. Wooden floors and a stunning spiral staircase give the feeling of grandeur but on an intimate scale. Ceremonies for up to 60 loved ones can take place in the first-floor Drawing Room, where the large windows and terrace grant 180˚ views over the New River and park beyond. Alternatively, the Dining Room can accommodate 50 friends and family or the second-floor New River Room and Church View Room can seat 30 nearest and dearest a-piece. The same spaces are available for receptions – the largest, the Drawing Room, can cater for 60 diners or 80 guests for a less formal affair Ceremony licence? Yes Contact: hackneyvenues.com 020 8356 5505