Brighton Royal Pavilion Weddings
Everything you need to know about Brighton Royal Pavilion Wedding Venue!
If you’re considering Brighton Royal Pavilion as a possible wedding venue, then hello! This is the prefect post for you! I really love shooting weddings at the iconic Royal Pavilion. It’s one of my favourite venues in Brighton and is such a unique location. I’ve been lucky enough to shoot lots of weddings there over the last few years and during all seasons. I’ve shot huge weddings in the Music Room where its been full to capacity, as well as intimate 4-person weddings in the Red Drawing Room. The Royal Pavilion is ideal for couples looking for something a bit different – the Regency splendour, opulence and incredible decor make it a truly fabulous and grand place to get married in and definitely provides the wow factor without costing the earth. Photographically, it’s a great match for my style of photography and offers lots of different areas to be photographed in.
Wedding Ceremonies at Brighton Pavilion
Ceremonies take place in both the smaller Red Drawing Room or the fabulously grand Music Room.
The Historic Red Drawing Room is the most popular ceremony room. It’s a stunning room retaining most of the original 1820’s original decorative scheme of George IV with incredible red wallpaper, exotic art adorning the walls and palm tree pillars. Its windows overlook the main entrance to the Pavilion with a private entrance for those getting married. It seats a maximum of 44 people including the Bride & Groom/ couple getting married. You can have your ceremony there between 10am and 5pm throughout the year.
The Music Room is the most stunning ceremony room and is easily the most impressive room in the Pavilion. With beautiful decor, grand and ornate fireplaces and stunning enormous lotus shaped chandeliers across the ceiling it cannot fail to impress. The room seats a maximum of 90 people including the Bride & Groom/ couple getting married. You can have your ceremony there in the evening only, once the Pavilion is closed to the public after 5pm.
Wedding Receptions at Brighton Pavilion
If you’re planning to hold your wedding reception drinks and / or dinner at the Pavilion as well as your ceremony, there are a number of lovely rooms available. The King William IV Room situation on the first floor is another beautiful room featuring Chinese style hand-painted wallpaper and is a lovely bright room, ideal for smaller weddings seating up to 60 guests. The Adelaide Rooms and balconies are also located on the first floor overlooking the Royal gardens, and is a fabulous location for summer weddings. It include a suite of 2 rooms and balcony seating 54 for dinner or 75 for a drinks reception. Stunningly decorated like the other rooms, it’s bright and airy and a perfect setting. Lastly, the Music Room is also available as a reception room for dinners.
The Royal Pavilion from a photographer’s perspective
On first arriving at the Royal Pavilion, you and your guests will either walk through the India Gate or through the Pavilion Gardens towards the main entrance into the Pavilion. Then onwards to either the Red Drawing Room or the Music Room. There is a a lot of space in either room and lots of options for photography too. The Red Drawing room has lots of art and beautiful features and is a wonderful backdrop to wedding ceremonies, and the room is gently lit from the huge windows facing out onto the gardens. It’s a quiet escape from the busy streets of Brighton too. There is a small waiting room and side entrance where the bride or couple getting married can sneak in without being seen before the ceremony. The Music Room will have your guests looking in awe if you choose to get married in the dazzling splendour of this most impressive state room. It really is an extraordinary room! With is Chinoiserie style, painted dragons, gold ornate ceiling, beautiful draped silk-satin curtains, not forgetting the gilded dome, this regal setting will make you feel like a King or Queen! Honestly it’s one of the most impressive rooms I’ve ever seen and I love shooting in there.
A venue for all seasons
I’ve shot weddings during all seasons at Brighton Royal Pavilion, and I’ve photographed in most of the available rooms. This has allowed me to see how the space can be used in all temperatures and weathers. In the spring and summer months, the light in the Red Drawing room is usually wonderful. However, during the late autumn and winter months, the natural light goes more quickly so to make the most of it, try and book your ceremony, ideally before 2pm. If timing doesn’t allow it, don’t worry, I’ve shot weddings there at 5pm and later. The terraces are ideal for family group photos and couples photos, and if you want it, a big group photo too during the spring & summer. The space is perfect for groups particularly during the hot summer months where the terraces offer your guests a bit of shade and cool breeze. Bio-degradable confetti is allowed on the lawns too. Don’t worry if it rains – the terraces at the back are covered and so is the entrance at the front so they can still be used for group photos and portrait locations. And we can always use the gorgeous soft light from the Red Drawing Room windows for couples portraits. In winter, typically group photos are done in the Music Room where it’s warm and dry.
Brighton Pavilion Wedding Photography Top Tips
As a historic building the Pavilion’s rooms are low lit to preserve the decorative details and works of art. It helps that I have lots of experience of shooting there and handling the low light, which can be a real challenge. Having shot weddings at the Pavilion throughout the year, the lighting is not a problem for me. If you’re getting married in the Red Drawing Room you’ll have access to the stunning Music Room and terraces, to have some photographs taken in. Usually you’ll be whisked off ahead of your guests to take some couples photos or you can go through to the Music Room all together to do family group photos, before having a bit of time alone. If your wedding is before 5pm, the public will be in there, but there are ways to have photos taken without anyone getting in the shot. I know the staff at the Pavilion well and they’re always super helpful! Your guests can also have a tour by arrangement.
The ideal place for family group photos is in the Regency lawn terraces, or the King’s lawn terrace. Groups are naturally framed by the elegant arches and the natural lighting. The building is stunning after dark particularly if it’s lit up with all the coloured lighting. It’s worth planning some time for a photos outside if you’re having either a late winter ceremony or celebrating into the night in one of the reception rooms. During the summer months it may not get dark until 10pm.
The Pavilion is in a great location in central Brighton, just a short walk away from the Lanes and seafront. If you want shots in and around the Pavilion, be sure to schedule enough time to walk there and back, especially in heels! If you don’t have much time, the Pavilion gardens also offer some nice locations for couples photos and are very close by. Do check if any other events are being held there on your wedding day – Pride is the big one that can disrupt all of Brighton so you don’t want to get stuck in traffic unable to get to your wedding. In November the ice rink is installed for the winter months and there is no access to the lawns and access to the terraces is limited. I can still photograph small groups on the terraces using a bit of creativity! If there are any exhibitions, film nights or events on in the Music room these may affect access for photos too.
Plan ahead if you want to incorporate some of this gorgeous building to feature in your wedding photos. I always make time with my couples to plan the route around the building and time for any group photos there or at your reception venue if you are having your ceremony only at the Pavilion. That way it’s all worked out in advance and timings won’t go astray.
Why I love shooting here
Brighton Pavilion lends itself well to weddings and events all year round. It’s such a unique Brighton landmark, and will not fail to impress. It has lots of space and a natural flow around the building from space to space. Having shot so many weddings there, I know how to make the most of it photographically. The staff are amazing and know all the history, and nooks & crannies of this stunning building. They’re always on hand to help and ensure you guests have the best day there. And being a Brighton venue, they’re relaxed and understand how important it is that you enjoy your special day there.
As a creative documentary wedding photographer, I work with as much available light as possible. I shoot naturally and candidly during wedding ceremonies, without the use of flash which I find to be distracting during such quiet moments. My aim is to be as discreet as possible whilst capturing those special moments for you. Knowing this venue so well allows me to make the most of it on your wedding day. You can’t go wrong choosing it as the venue for your perfect wedding!
If you’re planning a wedding at the Brighton Royal Pavilion and are interested in taking to me about your wedding photography get in touch via the link below.