Cannizaro House London wedding photographers

Wedding photographers at Cannizaro House

Cannizaro House, West Side Common, Wimbledon, London SW19 4UE Phone: 020 8879 1464
 

Cannizaro House - A brief history

Built in the early 1700's in Queen Anne Style, a Baroque architectural style used for domestic buildings, usually elegant and simple compared to grand palaces, (typically involving a sweep of steps to a stone door-case, rows of sashed windows set with brickwork and stone blocks or 'quoins' emphasizing corners) it was originally named Warren House.

Famous visitors to Cannizaro House

For most of its history it has been owned by the Grosvenor and Drax families who have let it out to various wealthy tenants who in turn have used it to entertain royalty, prime ministers and politicians as well as famous writers such as Lord Tennyson, Henry James and Oscar Wild. In 1935 Emperor Haile Salassie lived there for a while during exile from Ethiopia when the Italian Fascists invaded and there is a bust of him in what were the old tennis courts.

The Italian influence

In 1813 Count St Antonio came to London representing the Italian Monarchy, a penniless but good looking and successful man in the ways of society, he sought a route to wealth and found it in the shape of Sophia Johnston, an heiress to an large fortune who he married in 1814. They leased Warren House and used it for grand society parties but it was clear that he was not at all interested in his reputedly ugly wife and he was soon off to Milan with his mistress where he was to become Duke of Cannizzaro. Sophia continued to provide for him despite his extended absence until she died in 1841 whereby she left her entire fortune to her errant husband and the House took his name albeit with a slight variation in the spelling.

The last private owners were The Wilsons who from 1920-1947 make considerable improvements in the gardens including the planting of Rhododendrons, Camellias and Azaleas.

In 1948 the Cannizaro House and gardens were bought by Wimbledon Borough Council and the gardens were opened to the public whilst the house became a nursing home until sold in the 1980s with the gardens still remaining in council ownership. These well maintained separate garden areas were kept open to the public and additions included a water garden, wild gardens, the Belvedere, an Herbaceous Border and the Heather Garden though the last two were to disappear through neglect and what was once elaborate Italian Gardens have not been maintained and have in the recent past been the site for art exhibitions and outside performances of plays and operas during the summer months.

Cannizaro House today

Cannizaro House was refurbished and made into a boutique hotel in the 1980's and with its classical features combined with modern interiors, this is one of the best hotels in Wimbledon. As you enter via reception you pass by the atrium's very modern neon green bar area to the left, it's relaxed lounge area straight ahead, a flamingo themed dining area further on to the left which in turn looks out onto the colourfully planted sunken formal garden.

With many function rooms on the right hand side both on the ground floor and on the first floor and now with the impressive new Orangerie, a £3million conservatory extension that replaces the old terrace, Cannizaro House is a wonderfully relaxed and friendly London wedding venue that is a pleasure for any good London wedding photographer to capture the unfolding day's celebrations.

The park at Cannizaro House occupies 34 acres and in 1987 was listed as Grade II in the English Heritage Register of Park and Gardens of Special Historic Interest. Along with some of the finest collections of Rhododendrons and Azalias in England it includes many fine rare trees including redwoods, pines, beeches, magnolias, maples and many more. The Friends of Cannizaro Park are also very active in maintaining and improving the gardens and they have recently established a herb garden.

Cannizaro House wedding photography opportunities

As a London wedding venue, Cannizaro House is a luxurious 4 star, fashionable and relaxed place to hold a wedding and or reception and for the London wedding photographer who knows Cannizaro House and the gardens intimately, it offers plenty of wonderful wedding photography and event opportunities such as pre-wedding photography shoots and birthday celebrations throughout the seasons.

There are a number of well appointed rooms notably The Oak Room, The Queen Elizabeth Room and The Blue Room that are licensed for wedding ceremonies and can be used for receptions, depending on the number of guests and all providing opportunities for fine wedding pictures.

For more informal and relaxed wedding photographs there are the communal areas such as the bar, the lounge and the new Orangery along with the now rather reduced terrace. For more romantic and personal wedding photographs there are a range of different gardens outside such as the sunken formal garden, the water garden, the Belvedere, the old Italian Gardens and many more hidden treasures.

All in all Cannizaro House is a London wedding venue that we enjoy working all year round and with its relaxed and friendly ambience and staff helping to create the right atmosphere it's a great venue for producing lasting memories.

 

Cannizaro House wedding photographer review

Hi Richard and Tina, thank you so much for our beautiful wedding photos, we love them! Thank you also for everything you did on the day, especially calming me down!! Lizzy and Jarrad, Battersea, London – Wedding photography at Cannizaro House, Wimbledon Common, London

Dear Richard and Tina, thank you both for bringing back our wonderful day. It was a whirlwind day for me, as it seemed to be over as soon as it began, your superb portfolio of wedding photos has me enthralled. Marie and Charlie, Wimbledon Chase, London – Wedding photographers at Cannizaro House, Wimbledon Common, London

Hi Richard and Tina, Our wedding photos are fabulous ! ...you have captured the magic of the day... you were also friendly...great fun and you put everyone at ease... Michael and Emma, Wallington, Surrey – Wedding photography at Morden Park House, Surrey and Cannizaro House, Wimbledon Commom, London

Dear Richard and Tina, thank you...we had a wonderful day...love our wedding photographs…amazing...fantastic …you were great on the day... Laura and Colin, Cheam, Sutton, Surrey – Wedding photographers at Morden Park House, Surrey and Cannizaro House, Wimbledon Common, London

Dear Tina and Richard, thank you for joining us on the day. As it was such a small wedding we were not going to bother about wedding photographs. Looking at the photographs now we are so pleased that we have these lovely pictures to remember the day Heather and Michael Brown, Wimbledon Park, London – Wedding photographer at Cannizaro House, Wimbledon Common, London

Hi Richard and Tina, thank you so much for the wedding photographs - we are so pleased with them and have had lots of excellent comments... you both made everyone feel very relaxed. Thank you ever so much again, bye for now. Claire and Osama Baldo, Purley, Surrey – Wedding photographer at Morden Park House, Surrey and Cannizaro House, Wimbledon Common, London

Many thanks Tina ... You worked perfectly...giving us a wide range of wedding photographs that captured the moment... Julia and Dave, Wimbledon, London – Wedding photographers at Morden Park House, Surrey and Cannizaro House, Wimbledon Common, London

 

 

Cannizaro House, West Side Common, Wimbledon, London SW19 4UE Phone: 020 8879 1464
For more information and to check our availability for your wedding day at Cannizaro House contact us today