Civil Ceremony | Valentines Mansion & Gardens | London

A lovely, intimate morning of celebrations with Navinder & Urvasha’s nearest and dearest at Valentines Mansion & Gardens.

Tucked away in East London, and Ilford to be specific, Valentines Mansion & Gardens is a little bit of an oasis, hidden away from the hustle and bustle. You could think that you were anywhere but London, such is the calm and serenity of the location. So no wonder Navinder & Urvasha chose this venue for their super intimate civil ceremony.

Exploring the Location

It was also a chance for me to venture to East London. The side that I don’t often see as much as the other parts of London. Arriving early on a warm, sunny morning, I had the opportunity to have a wonder around the grounds. And there are many lovely little spots to discover, including the walled gardens, rose garden and water canal. All offering their own unique and beautiful backdrops.

It wasn’t long before guests from both sides arrived and greeted each other near the entrance to the Mansion. Navinder had also arrived as he mingled with his guests, looking calm, but no doubt a little nervous.

The doors opened as guests filtered their way into the building to take their seats in the ceremony room, overlooking the gardens. With Navinder waiting at the front, Urvasha made her entrance for her short walk to meet her husband-to-be.

A Beautiful Ceremony

There was a nervous energy, but that soon turned to excitement as the ceremony got underway. There were plenty of laughs and tears as the ceremony concluded, allowing guests to cheer and congratulate the happy couple. Outside, guests lined the covered archway for the confetti throwing, which guarantees great reaction shots.

After a chilled moment with their closest friends and family, we took advantage of the grounds for a few couples portraits. This was a chance to put my new-found knowledge of the area to the test.

It was an absolute pleasure documenting Navinder & Urvasha’s Civil Ceremony at Valentines Mansion & Gardens. As an Asian Wedding Photographer, intimate weddings alway bring a different energy, and this one had it in abundance. Here are some frames from their epic celebrations.