ORLEANS HOUSE GALLERY WEDDING
This might be one of my all time favourite venues for intimate small weddings. Orleans House Gallery is a Grade 1 listed building near the Thames, and is the perfect spot to host your smaller wedding ceremony.
I always spot guests looking up in awe at the ornate ceiling and being delighted at how beautiful the quiet location is.
GETTING MARRIED AT ORLEANS HOUSE GALLERY
Orleans House Gallery is the perfect wedding venue for an intimate ceremony. It’s an amazing octagon shaped room which looks straight out of a movie set. With its high ceilings and ornate decor, it makes any ceremony feel delightfully fancy.
You can only use the venue for your wedding ceremony, photos and some light canapés and drinks afterwards. So it’s worth reading on to where I recommend for you to get ready, and celebrate your reception.
Even though you can only have your ceremony here, you can really make most of the venue. The main hall can be filled with chairs for the guests and you don’t need to rush your ceremony so that everyone could enjoy the space.
Ceremony and drinks capacity is capped at 60 people.
Your ceremony will be performed by someone from Richmond Registry Office. But you can always personalise your ceremony with readings from family, string quartets or a friend playing the bagpipes (like Natalie & Max did!).
After your ceremony, you can use the gorgeous stairs to exit the building, head back into the gallery while your guests exit, and them come out for some confetti and hugs.
COCKTAILS, CANAPES & CAKE AT ORLEANS HOUSE GALLERY
Most of my couples will spend some time at Orleans House Gallery before heading onto another venue for their reception.
You can host a drinks reception outside on the lawn, with champagne, cake and canapés. This gives you a chance to mingle with your guests, and take some family photos either inside or outside.
If you’d like – this is the perfect time for you to have your couples photos inside the Octagon Room once the team have moved out all the chairs.
WHERE TO GET READY FOR YOUR WEDDING AT ORLEANS HOUSE
Orleans House Gallery is exclusively for ceremonies only. So you and your guests will have to get ready somewhere else. You’re so close to Richmond, that you have quite a few options to pick from.
Here are my recommendations from previous couples;
Richmond Hill Hotel: Conveniently close by with plenty of rooms, this is a great option to get ready. The bar is fantastic for groom’s portraits, and if you’re open to doing a first look, you can use the Richmond Hill Viewing point too.
Petersham Hotel: Just down the road from the Richmond Hill Hotel is the luxury Petersham Hotel. I’m a big fan of their staircase, and the fact that they’re across the road from the terrace gardens which is a great spot for photos.
Bingham Riverhouse: Right on the Thames, you’ve got the Bingham Riverhouse which has hotel rooms too. You’ve got great views, and award winning chefs to start and end your wedding day!
WHERE TO HOST YOUR WEDDING RECEPTION AFTER ORLEANS HOUSE
ORLEANS HOUSE GALLERY WEDDING PRICES
Ceremonies at Orleans House Gallery vary in prices depending on the days of the week you choose to get married.
If you’re using the room for just your ceremony you’re looking at between £1115 – £1650, and if you’d like to add on an additional hour thereafter for reception drinks, you’d need to add an additional £160-240 dependant on the day.
You can find out more about prices here.
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY AT ORLEANS HOUSE GALLERY
I never get tired of photographing the Octagon Room. From you walking down the aisle perfectly framed by the large ornate door to the way you both look saying your vows surrounded by the incredible gilded walls and ceilings.
After your ceremony, you’ve got the steps that make for a great confetti exit, and the grounds to the front and sides for family and couple’s photos.
During your drinks reception at Orleans House, we can sneak back into the now empty Octagon Room for a little moment just on your own, and more photos.
