Matt & Loz’s London Wedding at Asylum Chapel & The Lordship Pub
Written by Melissa Woods
Images by Matt Parry Photography
For couples searching for Asylum Chapel wedding inspiration or dreaming of a relaxed London pub wedding reception, Matt and Loz’s day is proof that breaking tradition can result in a day to remember!
The couple married at one of London’s most iconic, alternative wedding venues — the atmospheric Asylum Chapel and celebrating afterwards at The Lordship Pub. The wedding was intimate, high-energy and personal to Matt and Loz. From handwritten vows and curated playlists to champagne, charcuterie and a fringe-trimmed cape, every choice was led by what the pair wanted, rather than expectation.
Planned in just 10 months, this London wedding stripped away anything that didn’t feel authentic and focused instead on love, music, connection and atmosphere — a perfect example of how modern couples are redefining what a wedding can look and feel like.
How It All Began
Matt and Lauren’s relationship began in the most organic way possible. Introduced by a mutual friend in their hometown, they quickly became part of the same friendship group after Matt returned from living abroad. The connection was instant, but instead of rushing anything, they stayed friends while their feelings quietly deepened. When the timing finally felt right, they both went for it! What followed was a relationship built on trust, laughter and a shared sense of doing things their own way — a foundation that would later shape every decision they made about their wedding.
The Proposal
The proposal took place during a ten-day campervan road trip around north-west Scotland, on the Isle of Mull. On their third night, Matt suggested a sunset walk along the completely deserted Calgary beach. Lauren, ever practical, negotiated a “quick stomp” so they could get back to the van before it got too cold to cook dinner. Matt, struggling to stay engaged in the logistics of the conversation, laughed, dropped to one knee and proposed right there.
Fortunately, they had the beach entirely to themselves for the tears, laughter and inevitable hyperventilating. Afterwards, they returned to their campervan, cooked steaks over the fire and discovered that, actually, it wasn’t too cold after all.
The Planning
Originally, Matt and Lauren had imagined a long engagement, but after attending a few friends’ weddings, they had a moment of clarity. They didn’t want to wait. They wanted to be married. From that decision, everything flowed quickly and deliberately.
Planning took around ten months, and from the very beginning, one thing guided every choice: vibe. They wanted a day that felt joyful, high-energy and deeply relaxed, without constant clock-watching or rigid structure.
The vibe we were going for was like Christmas Eve, when you go to the pub with all your pals and family, and catch up with everyone over the sound of the band… there’s all this excited energy in the air.
To make that happen, they chose suppliers they trusted completely, places that felt right instinctively, and made peace early on with letting go of anything that didn’t actively serve the feeling they were trying to create.
The Photography
Matt and Lauren booked MNT Member, Matt Parry Photography. Matt is a firm favourite among modern couples. His alternative and artistic style speaks for itself, capturing your day at its most raw and beautiful.
“We came to the Un-Wedding show knowing we wanted to speak to Matt because we’d loved his work online. He recommended venues for us based on the vibe we were going for too, one of which we ended up booking (The Lordship). His work speaks for itself really, it’s beautiful, it’s cool, it’s creative. But importantly it captures the day and the energy PERFECTLY, and fit our style exactly. They’re the coolest wedding photos I’ve ever seen, although it’s possible I’m biased.”
The Ceremony
The ceremony mattered deeply to Matt and Lauren. They didn’t want something performative or overly polished; they wanted something honest, vulnerable and intimate. That’s why finding the right celebrant was crucial, and meeting Hannah from Cherry and Fern Celebrations at The Un-Wedding Show felt like an immediate yes. They connected straight away, trusting her to hold space for a ceremony that reflected who they are and why they were choosing to marry.
They exchanged their own vows in front of the people who know them best, grounding the day in meaning and intention. It was emotional, raw and beautifully resonant, setting the tone for everything that followed. For both of them, it remains their favourite part of the entire wedding.
The Outfits
Lauren’s original vision was simple and fluid, something understated with a cape-like layer. After trying on multiple dresses that didn’t quite feel right, she found a Caroline Castigliano design that immediately clicked. The clean silhouette felt like her, and detachable sleeves added an unexpected layer of autumn drama at the final fitting. To elevate the look even further, a family friend created a bespoke fringe-trimmed cape that brought Lauren’s vision fully to life. Worn down the aisle and again for the reception entrance, Lauren’s advice:
“Ditch the veil guys, go for a CAPE!"
Matt’s look was equally intentional. From the outset, he envisioned an all-black outfit with a cropped jacket, wide-leg pleated trousers and Cuban-heeled boots. After ruling out a high-fashion option, he found the perfect alternative on the high street, proving that style and authenticity don’t need to come with an extravagant price tag. He paired the suit with a sheer black shirt featuring a built-in cravat, creating a look that was chic, alternative and completely aligned with the day’s aesthetic.
Together, they looked effortlessly cohesive, expressing themselves fully and authentically.
The Details
Flowers were by Longacres Garden Centre in Surrey, whose relaxed, creative approach perfectly matched Matt and Lauren’s vision. Rather than chasing trends, the focus was on colours and textures that felt comforting and familiar, with a palette inspired, somewhat playfully, by a bottle of Laurent Perrier Rosé.
Much of the stationery and signage was designed by the couple themselves using Canva, allowing them to save money while maintaining full creative control. Vinyl records doubled as table numbers, adding a personal, music-led detail that felt completely natural to them. Every design choice was guided by one simple question: does this feel like us?
“Anything that wasn’t an authentic expression of us or our love, we binned off. Like a cake - we’ve never understood what a cake represents, so we didn’t do it.”
Champagne & Charcuterie Reception
Following their ceremony at Asylum Chapel, guests were treated to champagne and charcuterie, giving everyone time to mingle, connect and soak in the moment before travelling together to the reception. Thoughtful touches ensured everyone felt included, with alcohol-free options and sparkling water offered alongside the fizz.
“Our welcome drinks at the pub were aperol/hugo spritz and we offered frozen margaritas as a post-dinner cocktail to get the party started. We offered ‘Trips’ and sparkling water for our sober friends… btw they were incredible, food was really great but the staff and the manager on the day and in the lead up were a complete dream. I’d recommend them to anyone”
The celebration continued at The Lordship Pub, where the atmosphere shifted seamlessly into something lively, relaxed and joyfully unpretentious. Aperol and Hugo Spritzes flowed during welcome drinks, frozen margaritas appeared after dinner, and the band brought exactly the right level of energy to the room. Music was central to the entire day, with carefully curated playlists for every moment, ensuring the soundtrack always matched the feeling.
Guests left heartfelt and hilarious messages on an audio guestbook, while an old-school video camera captured candid moments throughout the day, creating memories that feel raw and real rather than staged.
Redefining Traditions
Matt and Lauren kept the traditions that felt meaningful and reshaped them on their own terms… exactly as it should be. Lauren wore white because she loved the dress. Her dad walked her down the aisle because it felt right. Speeches were spread across the day so each one had space to land emotionally, and rings were chosen from The Great Frog, worn proudly on the right hand.
“I actually really hate the “giving away” tradition but for a lot of personal and family reasons it felt significant and important for my dad to walk me down the aisle. He has a special relationship with Matt so seeing them have a hug and a moment was lovely.”
Many traditions were intentionally left behind. There were no bridesmaids or groomsmen, no bouquet toss, no formal first dance and no posed photographs. None of it felt necessary. What mattered was presence, connection and joy.
Instead of a traditional gift list, Matt and Lauren invited guests to contribute to experiences on their nine-month backpacking honeymoon. From cooking classes to wildlife encounters, each gift has become a shared memory, with messages, photos and video calls keeping loved ones part of the journey long after the wedding day itself.
The Best Part Of The Day
“The feeling of love in the room was overwhelming, but our favourite part of the day was our ceremony. It felt really special, was exactly the way we wanted to get married and it set the tone for the rest of the day. It was authentic, vulnerable and honest and this resonated throughout the room in a really beautiful way.”
Planning Advice For Other Couples
While wedding planning inevitably came with moments of stress, particularly around family dynamics and decision fatigue, Matt and Lauren found that planning within a shorter timeframe helped prevent overthinking. A screen-free campervan trip to Cornwall shortly before the wedding gave them space to reconnect and remember what the whole thing was really about.
“Start with WHY you’re getting married in the first place, let that be your North Star. Then think about what you want that to feeeeeel like, and then make intentional decisions that will actively impact that feeling or intention and you will end up with a day that feels right, feels authentic, and that you can actually enjoy.
Want to commemorate you and your love and have people witness it? — Spend time and money on your outfits and photos and have many many entrances (and maybe a cape).
Want it to be all about family? — Have family in your bridal party, make time for intentional speeches, make your decorations or favours really personal, spend time on your seating plan.
Want to get the docs signed and have a big booze up? — Ditch the expensive traditions and get yourself to the town hall and meet your pals at the pub later.
Ultimately what matters is marrying your partner in way that feels meaningful to you. And that one annoying relative will get over it (we all have one). And as exciting as this all is, sometimes logistics and operations is boring, so as often as possible, plan with champagne in hand.
Excellent advice!
Inspiration For Your Modern Wedding
If Matt and Lauren’s wedding has you dreaming of a celebration that feels authentic, joyful and entirely your own, come and meet the suppliers who make days like this possible.
Buy tickets to one of our upcoming The Un-Wedding Shows to connect with photographers, celebrants, florists and other wedding creatives who get it, or explore the Book of Love Directory to find your dream wedding team and start planning a day that feels like home.
Because the most memorable weddings don’t follow rules — they follow feeling.
Suppliers Featured
Photographer: Matt Parry Photography
Celebrant: Cherry and Fern Celebrations
Ceremony Venue: Asylum Chapel
Reception & Food: The Lordship
Florist: Longacres Garden Centre