Europe Weddings

Ladies and gents, if you don’t know Amy of Bo Boutique already, you’ll be thanking your lucky stars you landed on this post. Because she has talent like I’ve never seen. She not only whipped up the gorgeous blooms below, but she is also responsible for that gorgeous gown gracing our screens. Amazing, right? Well, thanks to Ashlee Taylor‘s stunning images, we can get lost in all the lovely right here. 

From Ashlee Taylor…This inspiration shoot was first inspired by Amy Bowley of Bo Boutique, an up and coming Stylist & Floral Designer here in the UK. She wanted to create an ultra feminine and indulgent shoot with lots of bespoke details, which included making the amazing wedding gown which she created herself.

The gown is made up of layers of tulle in blush pink, white, ivory, cappucino, and grey, layered over blush satin and ivory lace, all of which were tirelessly hand sewn by Amy. The result was a beautiful couture style gown, rich in delicate hues and texture. We thought this shoot would inspire brides to be extravagant with their wedding details making them big, blousey and beautiful!

We went with a romantic and indulgent love affair theme, choosing to set the shoot in the stunning gardens of Hampsted Heath… with a soft pale and in-depth colour palette which allows the pops of floral colour to shine.

Our gorgeous real life couple were the idyllic fit, with Charlotte’s wild blonde locks and Justin’s handsome rugged looks, they made for the picture-perfect characters for our love story!

I photographed the entire shoot on film to capture the intricate and delicate colour palette, and enhance the romanticism of the shoot and the whimsical location.

We really hope you looking through our much loved shoot!

Photography: Ashlee Taylor | Floral Design: Bo Boutique | Wedding Dress: Bo Boutique | Cake: Let It Be Cake | Cake: Andi Freeman Cakes | Groom's Attire: Tommy Hilfiger | Bridal Accessories: Blackburn Bridal | Gardens: Hampsted Heath | Stylist: Bo Boutique

We are all about supporting small businesses around here, and this next one is a true gem! Located in London, England, Maids to Measure is a one stop shop for all things custom bridal party and we’re lovin’ on every inch. With photos from Claire Graham, there’s more where this came from right here. And you might want to hold tight because we’re going behind the scenes!

SMP: Tell us a little about Maids to Measure!
Maids to Measure is a specialist Bridesmaid company that allows brides to come to the studio and design their own dresses!
Alternatively brides can order dresses already designed (and named after the bride) through our website (or through one of our wonderful stockists).

SMP: You’ve designed some of the most uniquely beautiful pieces I’ve ever seen. Where do you get your inspiration?
We’re lucky as its the brides themselves that bring their own inspiration to the appointments and we convert them into dream dresses for their maids, catering for all shapes and sizes.

We’re constantly evolving and always welcome new ideas. We recently launched 6 new colours with Ciate London which have proven very popular (iced frappe, empress, apples & custard, ferris wheel, cookies & cream, regatta).

SMP: What’s it like to run your own dress shop?
There’s never a dull moment! I set up Maids to Measure with my sister India when from our own experience we found their were little options for fashionable bridesmaids. We’d find a dress but not in the right colour of vice versa, with Maids to Measure you can choose any design have it in any colour, size length or fabric etc allowing the girls to create unique dresses.

SMP: What was the turning point in your business where you knew it would really take off?
It started with us working from home, just doing friends weddings and then friends of friends and before we knew it we had random people contacting us, from then it simply snowballed and we knew our idea and concept had legs!

SMP: The most difficult part of entrepreneurship?
Never switching off, I live and breath bridesmaids and I think thats what it takes. Even when Im away I cant relax but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

SMP: One thing you wish you knew when first starting out?
Theres no end, once you have the website done or say the first collection completed you just want to update and change things again, always wanting to improve and better everything constantly.

SMP: Do you have any tips for someone hoping to follow in your footsteps?
You need to be prepared that it becomes your life and you have to be super organised, not just in terms of work but also for a work/life balance. Id be on my laptop 24/7 if I didn’t specifically schedule in lunch/dinner with friends or family, after all its them that have supported us on this journey.

SMP: What’s one thing you’d tell someone who’s hoping to start their own business?
You have to bee passionate about what you’re doing and have 100% conviction that its going to work, any doubts will cause problems down the line. Theres an amazing event by Flourish & Prosper that has some amazing speakers sharing their business stories, which I cant wait for.

SMP: Three things every fashionable woman should have?
Knowledge! of what to spend on (shoes and bags) and what to save on (jeans and jersey), the latest apple product and the confidence to wear what you want, how you want.

SMP: One thing you just can’t live without?
My fiance Andrew!!!

Photography: Claire Graham | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Maids To Measure

Move over Ladies of London, there’s a fab new Brit in town and she comes in the form of a stunning summer wedding captured by Caught The Light. This affair may be indoors but it’s wholeheartedly summer thanks to florals in every shade of sunshine by Hayford & Rhodes and simple details that scream chic. See even more of this light, bright beauty right here.

From The Bride…Hywel and I met two weeks after I arrived in London, five years ago. I’d just moved over from New York (ostensibly for a year…!) and happened to move into a flat with one of his best friends from university. One day I walked into the living room, saw this gorgeous Brit sitting there, and that was basically it. I was a goner. It took us a couple of months to make it official, but ever since then we’ve been happily living out our little London love story. I work as an account director for a branding & design agency, while Hywel oversees brand partnerships for the men’s health charity, Movember. We got engaged on a Saturday morning, lying in bed:

Me: “What shall we do today?”

Hywel: “Shall we get engaged?”

I’ve never been interested in a big, traditional proposal, so for us it was just right. After crying, laughing, family phone calls and a couple of Bloody Mary’s, we went into town to buy me a wedding ring! That night, we had friends over for a big Italian feast, shared our good news, and basked in the excitement. We got engaged in November, and knew right away we wanted to try to fit in a wedding within the next seven or eight months. Then the panic set in! Thankfully, we found One Marylebone fairly quickly, and once that was booked, everything else fell into place. We were able to give my American friends & family six months’ notice in order to book flights across the pond.

Our wedding planning was definitely a partnership – I was very lucky that my groom has event planning skills and industry contacts in spades! We share a similar aesthetic and are both pretty decisive, so we were able to keep the process moving along pretty quickly. The day itself was just absolutely amazing. It felt like ‘us’, which is exactly what we wanted. I walked down the aisle to The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” on the piano – just hearing the opening bars to the music now make me start to tear up! My grandfather, who is a federal judge in New York, delivered a sort of secular sermon with an incredible presence that moved everyone. Our friend Libby, who introduced us, read “I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart)” by E.E. Cummings. Hywel and I also wrote our own vows, which is much less of a thing here in the UK. It was wonderful to commit to each other in a way that was personal to us. I wouldn’t have done it any other way. Another friend, Miranda Heldt, a professional singer, performed the soulful “All over again” by Sharon Jones during the register signing. And then finally, we walked back down the aisle to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” by Stevie Wonder, which was such a fun, unexpected thing for our guests to hear after a heartfelt ceremony. It definitely changed the tone – it was time to party! I worked with the lovely Charlotte at Hayford & Rhodes on our flowers. For our ceremony, we chose beautiful silver birch trees for the front of the room. They added drama and a simple, natural feel to the space.

Seasoned Events worked with us to create our menu. Hywel and I love to host dinner parties, and we wanted our wedding to feel like the best one yet. We chose to have antipasti sharing platters to start, which really got people chatting and interacting with each other and the food. We served a delicious chicken breast with summer pea risotto cake and pea puree for the main, followed by truly decadent chocolate fondant. We worked with family friend and wine merchant, Simon Taylor, to choose a subtle Champagne, bright Sauvignon Blanc and yummy Pinot Noir to serve throughout the day. Our beer choice was just as personal: Camden Town Brewery is situated just down the road from our flat, and I’m a Boston girl by birth, so it only made sense to have Sam Adams for both our Yankee & British guests. We placed little cork-topped bottles of Welsh whisky at every guest’s place as name cards. Hywel’s entire family hails from the same area as that particular whisky distillery, and our relationship was definitely cemented over a shared love of neat whisky.

We hired huge light letters (H&L) to transform the space for the evening dancing. It really added fun to a space that is usually so elegant and refined. Plus they look awesome in pictures! Our phenomenal DJ had the dance floor packed from start to finish, and the whole thing just had such a fun & joyful feel to it. Some of our wonderful friends got us a guestbook & Polaroid camera to help us capture moments throughout the day. There are some pretty epic shots and very sweet notes in there.

My advice to every bride is simply to soak it all in. Everyone says it’s important to take a moment, just the two of you, to step away and just look at what’s happening all around you. Hywel and I were able to do that a few times throughout the night, and it was pretty incredible. I also made myself stay very present during the ceremony. It sounds like an obviously or silly thing, but someone once gave me that advice and I found it invaluable. Also, I found wedding morning yoga a really special and calming way to start the day! Oh, and pay as much as you can for a great photographer. It is the best investment you can make! After all, what are you left with after the fact, other than your photos?!

Photography: Caught The Light | Florist: Hayford and Rhodes | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Shoes: LK Bennett | DJ: Wedding Smashers Limited | Groom's Suit: Canali | Caterers: Seasoned Events | Ceremony & Reception: One Marylebone | Earrings: Tiffany & Co. | Groom's Cufflinks: Tiffany & Co. | Groom's Shirt: Thomas Pink | Groom's Shoes: Stemar | Hair & Make Up: Roseanna Velin | Professional Singer: Miranda Heldt | Wine Merchant: Simon Taylor

If you are a follower of blogger extraordinaire, Will Taylor of Bright Bazaar, then you know he fully embraces a life filled with color. The brighter and more cheerful the better. And his engagement session to his love is no exception to that colorful rule. Captured by Jean- Laurent Gaudy, this shoot outside of London is a little glimpse inside the beautiful world of Will and Toby. Click here for the full gallery.

From Jean-Laurent Gaudy Photography… This couple is one of the reason why I love my job so much. Will & Toby live near London. They are the sweetest, deeply in love, always smiling. Their engagement session was therefore so natural. I simply spent an afternoon with them capturing who they are with no artifacts.

Photography: Jean-Laurent Gaudy

Go ahead and let your imagination wander here, folks. This dreamy photo shoot from Maria De Faci Photography takes you straight to a beautiful afternoon wedding on the Thames with children laughing, yellow wellies, old bikes, desserts from Cakes by Robin, and an abundance of Bergdorf’s flowers everywhere. For more whimsy, make sure to check out the full gallery here.

From Maria De Faci Photography… This shoot of rustic, bohemian and natural wedding inspiration was born on the benches of the river Thames where the air is fresh, herbs are splendid and the river is creating a soft glow around all objects by beautifully reflecting and diffusing sunlight.

Our idea was to create a unique blend of natural elements like moss, leaves and flowers with lightweight naked Victoria sponges, innocent beauty of a young bride, kids and all shades of the rich foliage of English gardens.

We set up a tea table for two under a tree by the river on a vintage tablecloth (family heirloom of Katja Berg) , using some beautiful china and cakes, all generously decorated by fruits and flowers, and a big moss tree – a signature decoration detail by our florist Katja.

A retro bike, an umbrella and a pair of wellies in retro yellow colour added to the whole mise-en-scène the character of the English countryside and the refreshing feel of the weather outside.

Our model wore rich flower crown and a loose matching bouquet all in warm pale palette. Flower style and inspiration is by Katja from Bergdorf’s, she is a very talented Danish florist with a distinctive chic rustic style.We used vintage tablecloths, vases and china, vintage veils, handmade designer hair accessories, and the garden of a famous London boutique hotel.

Photography: Maria De Faci Photography | Cake: Cakes By Robin | Hair & Makeup: The Beauty Collective | Hotel: The Bingham | Accessories: Gillian Million | Flower Girl Dress: The Occasion Room | Flowers + Styling: Bergdorf's Flowers Of Copenhagen

It’s not every day a cultural beauty like this comes our way. But this morning, m’dears, we’re diving into one completely bespoke, impeccably planned affair celebrating what the joining of two families is truly all about. One part Jewish and one part Hindu, it’s a beautiful nod to both the bride and groom’s heritage, and you can see the love affair unfold through Aneta MAK’s lens right over here. 

From the Bride & Groom… I think most couples want their wedding to be a true reflection of themselves. Dan and I were no different in this respect, we wanted our wedding to showcase our passion for food and how we love to throw a good party, whilst also reflecting both our Indian and Jewish heritages.

Coordinating the religious ceremony was the most difficult aspect for us. We decided we wanted to have a joint religious ceremony rather than two separate Indian and Jewish weddings as we felt this would not be a true reflection of our future HinJew household, where both religions would be intertwined.

Our first task of finding a Hindu priest and a Rabbi who would be happy to work together was very difficult in itself. We then had to build our own wedding ceremony from Jewish and Hindu rituals. This was a political minefield to navigate: pleasing families, the priests as well as ourselves sometimes seemed impossible! We got there in the end however, and the result was a ceremony which incorporated both our cultures, families, and was completely bespoke to us.

Style wise I wanted to keep it simple, the Mandarin Oriental is a beautiful venue and so I opted for classic white, cream and buttermilk flowers. The table decorations had cascading orchids to add another dimension and soften the overall look. I didn’t have a colour scheme as I wanted the overall appearance to be natural and not too over stylised. Plus I had heard horror stories of brides being up all night ordering chair cover samples from China to ensure they were the same shade of duck egg blue as their bridesmaids dresses! I wanted to avoid slipping into this kind of bridezilla stress! The result was green bridesmaids dresses (they chose colour and outfits themselves), pink and grey straws, and neutral flowers.

My favourite detail or touch were the personalised flags we had commissioned. These were life size photos of us hanging over Knightsbridge at the entrance to our wedding. In the future if we buy a house it must have two flag poles so we can hang them once more!

TIP: Make freezable favours so they can be made well in advance and so are not a last minute chore. We made Florentines, white chocolate with lemon and lime and a dark chocolate and peanut variety. By all accounts they were yummy but having made 300+ I am now thoroughly sick of them.

Best part of the day was the party, Indian and Jewish dancing followed by some old school classics and of course a garage set! It was crazy! At the end of the night we were on such a high, we went to our room and ordered whiskey and room service and reflected on the day together.

My advice for anyone planning a wedding is to try and not get too bogged down in the details and to focus on what really matters to you. We had a brilliant day but we acknowledge it’s hard to take it all in at the time. As my husband says, the prominence of that one day increases with every day that passes. It was the best day of our lives, we know it now but we will know it even more in 50yrs time.

Photographer: Aneta Mak | Videographer: Kissing Gate Films | Florals: Wildabout | Cake: Le Papillon Patisserie | Stationery: Hello!Lucky | Ceremony: Mandarin Oriental Hotel | Reception Venue: Mandarin Oriental Hotel | Makeup: Roopa Chudasama | Hair: Daniel Galvin | DJ: Sliding Vinyl DJs | Bespoke Flags: Mandarin Oriental Hotel | Bride Indian Wedding Dress: Bibi London | Bride Jewellery: Mother Of The Bride's Own | Bride Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bride White Dress:: Pronovias | Cocktail Hour Band: Wandering Hands | Favours: Bespoke / By Bride & Groom | Groom Cufflinks: Lanvin | Groom Shoes: Prada | Groom Suit: Dress 2 Kill | Indian Jewellery: Kyles Collection | Jeweller: Keglim Laufer | Personalised Straws: The French Etiquette Via Etsy

Leave it to Jodie Chapman to send us one of coolest, chicest weddings that’s ever graced our pages. Held at London’s MC Motors/Castle Gibson warehouse, this gorgeous duo opted for an affair that spoke perfectly to their whimsical, vintage-loving style. Mark my words – this English “I do” has just set the bar for quirky weddings everywhere.

From Jodie Chapman… Sonali and Richard’s wedding took place at the coolest venue in London. MC Motors/Castle Gibson is a warehouse that is usually rented out for television/film productions, fashion shoots, and the occasional wedding. With the front of the building having the old-fashioned cinema style board, the wedding took on a little bit of a film theme, with guests collecting cinema tickets to tell them where they were seated, and images of Brando, Clark Gable and Grace Kelly adorning the venue.

Sonali got ready at their mews home in East London before heading to the church where she married her love. They then went on to MC Motors, where guests enjoyed drinks to the sound of the Basin St Brawlers jazz band and took pictures in the photo booth. After a vegetarian Gujarati feast, they partied the night away.

Photography: Jodie Chapman Photographer | Videographer: Roland Mihalszky | Florist: Scarlet and Violet | Ceremony: St Marys Church, Stoke Newington | Reception: MC Motors/Castle Gibson | Bride's shoes: Dune | Catering: Gujarati Rasoi | Groom's suit: Cad And The Dandy | Bride's dress: Candy Anthony | Bridesmaid dress: Butter by Nadia | Bridesmaid dress: Two Birds | Jazz band: The Basin Street Brawlers | Make-up artist: InParlour | Reception DJ: Wedding Smashers Limited | Wedding cheese cake: Cheeses of Muswell Hill

You may or may not have heard, but we sort of have a slight obsession with pretty pictures here at SMP. So when a brand-new vendor (+ uber-awesome photographer) like NovaMarkina Photography joins our family, we like to throw a virtual welcome party.  One that is solely dedicated to love-filled moments and drop-dead gorgeous imagery. See below for exactly what I mean…

From NovaMarkina Photography… With a passion for weddings that is absolutely contagious, Nova has been photographing weddings full time for the past five years. Specializing in a combination of both film and digital mediums, her style is the seamless blend of traditional, flawless portraiture and modern elegance. Photographing only a limited number of weddings each year, every client receives the utmost attention throughout their entire journey.

Receive $500 off any wedding package if contracted by May 1, 2014.  Simply mention this post in your inquiry.

[dotted]

Welcome to the family, NovaMarkina Photography!  We are so happy to have you! xo

You can’t help but love a crafty bride-to-be, especially one as creative (+ sweet) as this lovely lady. Because when it came time to ask her nearest and dearest to stand beside her on her Big Day, the oh-so-talented Rebecca D’Amato did so in a glittery, gold and fabulous way.  Think Christmas Crackers, beautiful calligraphy from Shannon Kirsten, yummy treats from Charbonnel Et Walker and fun-filled confetti.  See it all captured by Aneta Mak in the full gallery.

From Rebecca D’Amato… My fiancé and I moved to London last September during our engagement. After living here a few months we decided to plan our wedding here. Knowing that we are getting married as a destination wedding, I feel like everything we do, I want to make a little extra special for everyone. We chose to have a small bridal party, so I felt even more so I wanted to do something special. I wanted to do something pretty and “British” to ask my bridesmaids to be a part of our big day, so I thought of the fun Christmas Cracker tradition. Christmas Crackers are filled with trinkets and goodies and are such a fun treat! I had custom watercolor scrolls made for them, bought gold London key chains, I made my own confetti, bought my favorite British truffles (Pink Champagne! Charbonnel et Walker! Yum!), added a LONDON print that they could add to their desk to get them excited for the wedding. Everything was created in our wedding colors: pink & gold.

When my bridesmaids received them, they were ecstatic. It wasn’t something elaborate, but so pretty and sweet and special. Christmas crackers look really difficult, but truly you can buy the kits online and add some pretty goodies and ribbon, and voila, a fun surprise!

My dog, Sir Oliver, couldn’t help but be interested in the project, as well!

Photographer: Aneta Mak | Styling: Urban Flip Flops | Calligraphy: Shannon Kirsten | Address Labels: Rifle Paper Co. | Linen: Urban Flip Flops | Pencils: Earmark Social Goods | Truffles: Charbonnel & Walker

The idea of anything in an English garden automatically gets me giddy. So when amazing vendors like Perfect Events, Kristyn Harder Photography and Wild About team up to create a inspiration shoot in one such locale, it sort of feels like I hit the wedding jackpot. With no detail left unnoticed and pink + gold accents around every corner, this is one gorgeous gallery you just mustn’t miss.

From Nicole of Perfect Events…. I’m so delighted to share with you this utterly amazing bridal styled shoot full of stunning details for you to swoon over. The shoot is the result of an international team of outstanding vendors, Canadian Kristyn Harder Photography, bridal wear by Italian bridal couturier Federica Bruno Couture and the talents of London’s wedding industry finest – Perfect Events, Elizabeth’s Cake Emporium, Freya Rose, Wild About and more.

Held outdoors in the magical setting of Regent’s Gardens nestled in the middle of renowned London’s Regent’s Park, a Royal Park, the only one of the eight Royal Parks where you can get married. A truly beautiful and historic parkland, a quintessential English setting, what makes it even more special is the fact that it’s a rare tranquillity in Central London with 11 acres of private grounds, stunning scenery, beautiful lawns, a Secret Garden which we used for most of the shots, in particular secluded shots of our model bride and groom – a real couple Blake and Emily. You could be a millions miles away from London yet right in the heart of the city. There truly is no other venue like it in Central London, oh and did I mention location has the Royal seal of approval.

A gorgeous dessert table with metallic gold Chevron detailed wedding cake complete with exquisite sugar flowers, pearl covered cake pops, ornately decorated cupcakes some of which we suspended above the dessert table, along with paper pom poms and garlands, crystal glassware filled with delightful treats and elegant cream leaves table linen all encased by lush gardens and a pretty pond.

A pretty palette of blush pink and gold, a wedding table set under a historic tree, from the branch hangs a unique ivory chandelier overlooking vintage styled plates, metalic gold detailed stationery, white dessert dunes table linen, crystal vase with beautiful blooms, Gold Chiavari chairs dressed with ivory tulle tied elegantly to one side and silk handmade flowers.

A pergola beautifully decorated with fabulous flowers, accented by curtains of crystal beaded garlands and hanging candelabras formed the perfect backdrop for the couple and the most impressive Marie Antoinette inspired wedding cake.

We created a day look for the model, consisting of an ivory satin skirt, wonderfully textured bodice, in vogue delicate lace bridal cape which fell gracefully to one side, heavenly shoes, flawlessly natural, soft makeup – pink lips, on the eyes soft gold/peachy, fluttery, feathery lashes and the cool named eye shadow ‘Expensive Pink’ by MAC, stylish hair, gem encrusted hair accessory. And for the evening the model bride adorned a gorgeous fitted gown with lace bodice and ruffled skirt and exquisite metallic gold floral hair jewellery, subtle changes to the makeup – slightly darkened smokey eye lids whilst keeping the pretty pink lips.

And for a touch of fun giant ballons, photo booth style car and humorous props galore. A table plan of gold layed curves created the frame to a ladder of guest names.

Every single detail is truly amazing, you can seriously muse until your heart’s content – simply awe inspiring, exceptional, captivating and out of this world!

Photography: Kristyn Harder Photography | Florist: Wildabout | Wedding Dresses: Federica Bruno Couture | Wedding Cake: Elizabeth's Cake Emporium | Shoes: Freya Rose | Jewelry: Federica Bruno Couture | Makeup: Alison Cameron Makeup | Hair: Kasia Fortuna Hair Designer | Bridal Hair Accessories: Lila Lila | Chairs and Tables: Rosetone Event Furniture Hire | Linens: Over The Top Rentals | Menswear: Anthony's Formalwear | Photoshoot Location: Regents University London | Stationary and Accessories: Eagle Eyed Bride | Venue Decor: Mediterranean Occasions Venue Stylists | Wedding Planner/Stylist: Perfect Events

This day could give Will and Kate’s wedding a major run for its money. It’s that incredibly special. But once you get to know this London affair a wee bit little better, it really comes at no surprise. Because when a Brides UK editor ties the knot with Polly Alexandre on board, mass amounts of pretty are naturally bound to follow. Mark my words, SMPers, we’ll be obsessing over this one for a good, loooooong while.

From Polly Alexandre… I was hugely flattered when Polly, who was Lifestyle Editor at Conde Nast’s Brides Magazine, asked me to photograph her wedding to Rhys. Polly & Rhys met through a mutual friend 6 years ago and they managed to create a successful long term relationship whilst Rhys was working abroad. Born and brought up in London, it was a city wedding Polly decided upon, with the magnificent Royal Hospital Chapel in Chelsea as the location for the ceremony – particularly apt as it is a military chapel and Rhys used to be in the army himself. Polly combined blush pink with white and grey accents for a feminine but grown up look. She wanted the overall look to be polished and elegant & appropriate for a city wedding. Working with some of her favourite suppliers, she created a wedding that was stylish and classic, polished, so very English, and well, just overall incredibly elegant.

The ceremony was held at the Royal Hospital Chapel, chosen because Rhys used to be in the army and liked the idea of getting married in a military chapel. Afterwards champagne was served in vintage style saucer glasses, before red London buses whisked away the wedding guests to the super elegant Hempel Hotel. The hotel exudes a minimalist zen like calm with a lovely garden. In this garden the couple had a beautiful marquee with oversized florals. David Austin roses and stocks were used to make an impact in this big space. Then after some heartwarming speeches it was off down into the ‘nightclub’ area downstairs in the hotel for dancing late into the night.

Upon marrying, this globe trotting couple emigrated to Dubai to start a new life together. Polly & Rhys are a perfect match, an absolute pleasure to work with, and I wish them many years of happiness and love together….

Photographer: Polly Alexandre Photography | Cake: Peggy Porschen | Ceremony Venue: Royal Hospital Chelsea | Reception Venue: The Hempel Hotel | Brides Shoes: Valentino | Bridesmaids Dresses: Ghost | Calligraphy: Paul Antonio Scribe | DJ: Matt Maurice | Bridal Bouquets: Jamie Aston | Bride's Evening Dress: Luella's Boudoir | Brides' Dress: Amanda Wakeley | Brides' Veil: Amanda Wakeley | Flowergirl's Dress: Marie Chantal | Groom's Bespoke Suit: Hackett | Hair & Make Up: Sarah Brock, Award Winning Makeup Artist | Pageboys Outfits: Stella McCartney at Alex & Alexa | Photo Booth: Booth Nation | Reception Flowers: By Appointment Only Design | Super 8 Filming: Amabel Adcock

It’s Wedding Wednesday darlings! And do we have a lovely treat for you. If this stunningly sweet London wedding, packed full of DIY details isn’t enough, we’ve sprinkled in an interview with the fabulous photojournalist himself, Daniele Del Castillo of Del Castillo Photography. Daniele has an effortless way with the lens, so we’re beyond excited to hear a bit about his process!

SMP: What inspired you to become a wedding photographer?

DCP: I’m a photojournalist and that’s basically my background. I fell in love with weddings because it was the only way for me to cover the entire process of my product. When working for the editorial world you normally shoot, then there is a photo editor and after that a printer and a magazine… I wanted to have control on everything in order to provide the best to my clients getting out the best from each photo and wedding photography gave me this chance.

SMP: How did you translate your photojournalism and storytelling skills into weddings?

DCP: What I learnt from photojournalism is to preview the image and basically make a choice everytime. I don’t shoot thinking that I have to tell the entire story of the event (that’s just an illusion), I have to choose what to record and how to do that. Photojournalism is about being quick, respecting your subject always and not letting desire become more important than the photo and the dignity of subjects.

SMP: Can you walk us through a wedding day shoot?

DCP: That’s tough! A lot of the job is done before the actual day, meeting with the couple and getting to know them is the secret. I try to do the same with guests as well and that’s why everytime I cover a destination wedding, I really love to be there the day before. It gives me a chance to get to know the Bride and Groom’s family, friends and guests better. This allows the day of to flow more smoothly.

SMP: What is the most rewarding part of your job?

DCP: The best reward is when a couple is happy with my work. I’m very lucky, nowadays couples choose me because they love my style. Every wedding is different and couples normally have a lot of expectations on wedding photography. So managing to tell the story of their day, while showing them moments they may have missed is something that makes my heart really happy.

SMP: Where is the most interesting place you’ve traveled to for a wedding?

DCP: Here in Australia everything is so beautiful and every spot is fantastic, I really love the light here. But this year I shot an intimate wedding in one small little cozy town in Umbria in Italy. The light was fantastic and it was reflecting on the stones of this town during sunset, but more than the place is the couple and their story that makes a place unique and beautiful.

SMP: What advice do you have for brides and grooms on their wedding day?

DCP: I got married last year, so I can relate! The most important piece of advice I have is this… get stressed as long as you want while preparing your wedding but when that day comes being stressed can only ruin it. Drink, eat and always raise a glass for your photographer!

From Del Castillo Photography… We found the perfect venue in the charming Old Kitchen and Brew House at Kenwood (a National Trust building) and used it as our inspiration for an English kitchen/garden theme. This was carried through from the vintage botanical prints that lined the envelopes of the letter-pressed invitations, through Jess’s parents’ gift to James’s parents (roses bushes of the variety that featured in Jess’s bouquet – see below), to the plant label table plan, English garden flowers (with foraged blackberry bramble!), home-made jam favours, cork name-card holders and Jess’s floral wedding shoes.

With an English groom and an Australian bride, we had a lot of guests that travelled long distances to celebrate with us (Australia, Canada, Ireland, Sweden, Hong Kong, USA) and James’s parents kindly hosted a pre-wedding gathering in their garden on the Thursday night before the wedding. This gave the families and travellers a chance to get to know one another and spend time with the bride and groom before the big day. It even featured fireworks! Jess’s parents bought a special thank you gift for the hosts – two David Austin ‘Grace’ English rose bushes – this is the flower that featured in Jess’s wedding bouquet.

Of course the wedding location also meant there were quite a few important people who sadly couldn’t join us, most notably Jess’s 93-year-old grandma Leila (back in Australia). We ensured she was a part of the day by serving ‘Grandma’s choc-hazelnut slice’ with tea and coffee during speeches. It was home-made by Jess and her mum using the recipe that grandma had handwritten. And seeing as there were so many out-of-towners among the guests, we brought in some vintage red London buses to transport everyone from the ceremony to reception venue.

The confetti thrown at the end of the reception was made up of rose and flower petals from James’s family’s garden, which were dried by his mum. Finally, Jess loves dancing and couldn’t let the occasion of a wedding dance go by without a bit of extra effort. The couple took classes with dance instructor Charlie Ballard at the famous Pineapple Dance Studio in Covent Garden. Charlie choreographed a fun, personalised routine to 80s classic ‘You Make My Dreams’ by Hall & Oates (the song choice was inspired by the scene in 500 Days of Summer)

DIY projects included envelope liners that Jess sought inspiration from the vintage botanical prints of Redoute and made her own envelope liners featuring magnolia, camellia and rose prints. Cork name card holders – A box of corks from the local wine bar were transformed by James’s family into name card and table number holders. The centrepiece vessels were humble zinc buckets that lacked presence – Jess and James’s mum Linda used hessian, foam wadding and garden string to give them a more rustic/substantial feel. The oak, ivy and blackberry garland that adorned the original cooking fireplace in the Old Kitchen was made from cuttings from James’s family home garden. Jam favours – The raspberries were picked from the local fruit farm by James’s sister Susie and mum Linda, then turned into delicious jam. The jars (from eBay) were decorated with personalised stickers (Vista Print), paper lid covers (which read ‘Thanks for jammin’ at our wedding’) and garden twine to match the centerpieces. The invitations, name cards, table numbers and individual menus were designed by Jess. All the weddings cakes were homemade by James’s mum Linda and sister Susie. We were hoping for a display to rival that of a rustic patisserie/bakery shop window, which would compliment the Old Kitchen venue. Linda and Susie’s cakes were as delicious as they were gorgeous. The bride and groom personalized the service with family members reading a passage from Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and ‘The Key To Love’. Guests threw confetti of flower and rose petals from James’s parents’ garden, which were dried by his mother.

[dotted]

Photography: Del Castillo Photography | Ceremony Venue – Burgh House | Reception Venue: The Old Kitchen for dinner + Brew House for cakes and dancing | Vintage Botanical Illustrations: Vintage Printable | Centerpieces inspired by: Lewis Miller Design | Signing Poster: Not on the High Street | Cinematography: Vin Nandra | Floral Design: Lock Cottage Flowers | Catering: The Company of Cooks | Cake: Homemade | Makeup: Erin Fuller | Hair: Mad Lillies Salon | Wedding Dress: Stephanie Allin | Seamstress: Ning Cooper | Veil: Custom designed by Bride | Shoes: LK Bennett | Invitations: Designed by Bride and letterpress printed by Harquil Printing

As someone who is completely obsessed with all things British (obsessed is an understatement), London weddings are pretty much my favorite thing ever.  So when a sweet set of English nuptials comes my way, I consider it a reason for a serious celebration.  Especially when that sweet set of nuptials includes a crazy cool vintage theme, an amazing Loft Studios backdrop and a stunning White Rose gown that will most certainly take your breath away.  See it all captured by Corrado Chiozzi right here in the full gallery.

From the Bride… The first thing that Paul and I decided was that we wanted to be married in London. Although neither of us grew up here, its where we have lived together for the past four years and is our favourite city.

We chose the Orangery in Holland Park for the ceremony as it is just beautiful without being fussy and we liked that it was a public place that we could visit again and again. April 6th turned out to be the sunniest day of the year so far and after the service, the weather was perfect to enjoy canapes on the lawn outside the service provided by Bovingdons caterers was warm, friendly and tasty!

With such a classic ceremony venue we wanted something a bit different for the reception, something that captured the urban side of London. The Loft Studios in Willesden was perfect and we were able to add our own touches that complemented the old brickwork, white tiles and wooden beams. We transported our guests from one venue to the other on the old routemaster buses. This celebrated the fact that the wedding was in London and fitted in to our vintage theme. The flowers to decorate the Loft were ordered online and arranged by myself, my Maid of Honour and my Aunt, who used to work in the floristry industry. We (with the help of my nan and the WI!) had collected jam jars for over a year and once decorated with lace and hessian, made excellent vases!

My husband and I both love anything vintage and this was reflected throughout. Some of our friends and family made cupcakes and these were displayed on a traditional dressing room table. This was fitting because the Lofts main purpose is a modeling studio. We hired a traditional fish and chip van for the catering (who doesn’t like fish and chips!?) and live music was provided by a friend of ours and his band, playing a range of covers from the 60s onwards.

For the favours we collected china tea cups, saucers and plates for the guests to have their after dinner drinks in and take home. We, with the help of family and friends, collected these from charity shops over the course of a year and our guests loved that they could keep these and use them over and over. We also used photos for our table plan and asked guests to stick their picture alongside their message in the guestbook.

The occasion was made even more personal by a painting on the wall of the two us by one of my husband’s work colleagues, painted in a 50s style. This was my wedding gift from him and it fit in well with the style of the reception. A big surprise we had in store for our guests was a flashmob dance halfway through the evening. My best girl friends and I studied Dance at university but seeing the boys bust a move certainly had everybody laughing!

The most important thing for us was that our wedding was a little different from the norm and reflected our own personalities. This was one of the main reasons why our guests had such a good time and the one piece of advice I would give to anybody planning a wedding is to do things the way that you want its worth a little bit of work and not giving in to the easy option! You also don’t have to spend lots of money to make the room look beautiful or to keep people fed and smiling.

Photography: Corrado Chiozzi | Floral Design: flowers4design.co.uk | Ceremony: Orangery at Holland Park, London | Reception: The Loft Studios in Willesden, London | Shoes: Nine West | Bridesmaid Dresses: Topshop | Catering: Fish and Chip Catering | Catering: Bovingdons | Hotel: Drayton Court, Ealing, London | Bar: ukmobilebars.com | Groom Shoes: Ask the Missus | Groom Suit: Topman | Groom Tie: T.M. Lewin | Rentals: Yahire | Transport: Omnibuzz | Vendor: White Rose

I’ve been lost in this gorgeous London wedding for ohhhh, about two hours nows. Maybe three. It’s just so beautifully captured by Sarah Gawler that the images keep calling me back. And the Bride and Groom sitting in those images? Some of the most stylish I’ve ever come across. With their gorgeously romantic ceremony and reception followed by what else? A masquerade ball – this wedding is simply one for the books. See why here.

From Sarah Gowler…Dennis and Maria were married last year in The Ritz, THE place in London for afternoon tea. They loved the opulence of the place and wanted their guests who (on the bride’s side) were mostly from Sweden to soak up this quaint London pass time. Then for the evening they went to The Savile Club for a masquerade party, dinner, dancing and more cake of course!

[dotted]

Photography: Sarah Gawler | Floral Design: By Appointment Only Design | Ceremony Location: The Ritz | Reception Location: The Savile Club | Cakes: Maki’s Cakes | Masks: Venice Masked Ball | Bride’s Evening Dress: Vivienne Westwood | Evening Clutch: Lulu Guiness | Veil: Twigs & Honey | Shoes: Top Shop | Groom’s Suit: Adam Waite | Shoes: Irregular Choice

I know that I probably say that at least once a week but I don’t know that I’ve ever loved a wedding like I love this affair.  I literally want to crawl through my computer screen and live in this beautiful space and it has EVERYTHING to do with the gorgeous imagery shot by Aneta MAK Photography. She captured London cool infused with old world glamour in a way  that will make you want to throw on some sparkly heels, grab a scrumptious cocktail and join in the merriment or at least plan a wedding that looks exactly like this beauty; lace veil and all. See even more right here in the full gallery.

From Aneta MAK Photography… I would love to share a gorgeous London wedding with you at a very unique venue, MC Motors, frequently used for high end fashion shoots (eg. Keira Knightley, Kate Moss, Erdem campaign, etc) and as a filming location. It is full of character ranging from a mixture of architecture from different London eras, an eclectic assortment of furniture and art, dilapidated and textured walls – all lit by beautiful natural light through their glass ceiling and victorian sash windows, illuminating the elegant details so lovingly put together by the bride and Charley, the wedding designer and planner from London Bride. Peter and Gemma, helped by Charley, created an understated and elegant celebration, with just the right mix of the best from early to mid 20th century fashion and design, a nod to vintage and some good old fashioned Scottish partying, with fun and dancing by provided by a traditional scottish ceilidh band for the first part of the party.

From Charley Beard of London Bride… I worked closely with Peter and Gemma to bring to life their brief of ‘distressed elegance’ for their November wedding. Peter and Gemma are a super stylish couple and were keen for their wedding to reflect them and their London lifestyle – combining their love of the urban city but with a sophisticated, creative aesthetic and the key was very much to enjoy their day with all their wonderful friends and family. The ceremony took place at the beautiful art-deco Town Hall in Islington, after which guests were treated to Champagne aboard a London Routemaster bus to the reception at an urban warehouse location in the seriously hip creative hub of London, Dalston – which is just around the corner from their home.

Peter and Gemma had some precious time together with their photographer Aneta before arriving by classic black London taxi which was actually driven inside the trendy al-fresco style atrium bar. We transformed the warehouse, which is essentially a film and photographic location, into two decadent spaces for drinking and for dining and dancing. Champagne was served and oysters were hand-shucked to guests, whilst the young children could play in their own play room created just for them!

As huge foodies, the catering was a key element to the day and the menu reflected their love of enjoying London’s culinary delights with an oyster shucker, home-made terrines by the Groom’s brother (who is a chef), indulgent cheese boards and a hearty evening hog roast. As a nod to the Bride’s Scottish heritage and family, after dinner guests took part in a traditional (and very lively!) ceilidh dance followed by a brilliant DJ party set. With the meal taking centre stage, inspired by indulgent supper clubs, the table decorations were elegant but with a relaxed bistro feel. The couple thought of every last detail – the bride sourced antique brass candlesticks, and wine was served in hired vintage cut glass decanters which were interspersed with relaxed white and raspberry florals.

The menus, each tied with a mini sparkler to be used for the toast completed the bespoke gold foiled and screen printed stationery suite, and the couples friend hand drew the table plan onto an ornate mirror for a touch of luxury. With a keen eye for fashion, the Bride’s dress was designed by Halfpenny London and for the evening she swopped her delicate lace shrug for beautiful embellished and sparkling detail for a glamorous transformation. In keeping with the theme the florists draped ivy from the industrial walls, poles and ceiling beams and festoon lighting was hung to provide warm lighting for the dark winter’s evening. The couple added thoughtful touches such as taxi cards so that guests could make their way home safely and for a nightcap there was of course an abundance of Scottish whisky served on a whisky trolley. The whole day was full of fun, food, style and sophistication and with many suppliers involved everyone did a fantastic job of bringing it all together.

Wedding Photography: Aneta MAK Photography / Ceremony Venue: Islington Town Hall in London, England / Reception Venue: MC Motors in London, England / Wedding Planning + Design: Charley Beard of London Bride / Floral Design: Flower Appreciation Society / Cinematography: Ewan McNicol (family friend) of Lucid Inc. / Wedding Catering: Roast Hog + Oyster Meister (mobile oyster service during cocktail hour) / Wedding Cake: Groom’s Mother / String Quartet: Tyburn String Quartet / Ceilidh Band (Traditional Scottish Dancing): Lochnagar Ceilidh Band /  DJ: Wedding Smashers / Vintage Hire: Classic Crockery / Lighting: Peachy Productions / Transportation: Routemaster Transport (red buses)+ Black London Taxi / Wedding Dress: Halfpenny London / Bride’s Shoes: Rupert Sanderson / Hair: Severin Hubert of Hepburn Collection / Makeup: Mariam Jensen / Groom’s Suit Tailor: Cad and The Dandy

I don’t even know what to say about this wedding, except that I love it. I loved it the moment I first laid eyes on the stunning shoes and the vintage gown. I love every single bright and happy color. I love the red, double decker – so indicative of the city in which the soiree took place. But most of all I loved the joy. The overwhelming joy spilling out of every image from Catherine Mead, and especially in the bride’s contagious smile. So when you’re ready to add a whole lot more joy to your day, click here for the full gallery!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

My dad was actually getting married on Saturday the 25th September 2010. I was my dad’s florist and best man so had quite a busy few days. On the morning on the 23rd I had to go to the flower market at 3am in the morning to get all the flowers for the wedding arrangements. I then had to go to work! James had said he wanted to take me for dinner so we could spend and evening together before things became very hectic with dad’s wedding. I didn’t know where we were going and thought we were just having a low key dinner so was very pleased that I had bothered to washed my hair when we arrived at the Waldorf hotel on the Aldwych. I did comment that the venue was vey posh for a Thursday night but it wasn’t unlike James to take me to places such as this. We had a cocktail in the bar and then a lovely dinner. During dinner James surprised me with a trip to Galway in Ireland. We were to leave the day after dad’s wedding. I was over the moon with the trip so much so that I didn’t stop talking for the rest of the dinner! In the end James had to interrupt and ask me to stop talking and to close my eyes. He put the ring in my hand and asked me to open them. I couldn’t believe it. I just burst into tears. I didn’t even say yes I was so shocked! In the end he had to ask again “will you be my wife?” Of course I said yes. That hardest things was not telling anyone until after dad’s wedding as we didn’t want to over shadow someone else’s day.

Delfina is a very contempory venue in a very quirky part of town. It is a restaurant but with a large white room which can almost be treated like a blank canvas. James and I wanted somewhere we could make our own and really show off who we are as a couple. Delfina is an events space so the team there have great experience in putting on all sorts of events so are a great help and inspiration. There was a great black and white checker board dance floor which I loved and you could do all sorts with the lighting there which really made the room. There was also a really cool outside space, which is sometimes hard to find in the heart of London. Also I am from London and we both live in London so we really wanted our wedding to be in London.

My theme was sort of 1950’s London meets Italy. My dad’s side of the family are Italian hence the Italian church and the Italian theme. A mix on vintage and Italy. A white wedding but with an informal air. We just wanted people to have fun but to really come away thinking how ‘Jen and James’ that day was. My dress was an original 1950’s vintage dress. I bought it from a specialist vintage dress supplier called Elizabeth Avey. My mum and I spent a day out trying on dresses in three different dress shops – all vintage as I knew that is what I wanted. Elizabeth was the last dress shop we went to. I had found a dress in each of the previous two shops, which I loved and thought, might be the one. My appointment at Elizabeth’s was at 6pm so I was quite tired by this time. Trying on even more dresses began to confuse me. However, when I put on my dress and came out to show my mum, mum said there was a renewed energy about me and I came out prancing around like a show horse. I didn’t want to take it off. I just knew I had found the one! It was fun and girly. I didn’t want anything too serious! A mix of tulle and Chantilly lace. It was perfect! I didn’t really have a colour scheme apart from a LOTS of colour. My florist described the colour scheme as a riot of Technicolor! Like when films were first in colour and the sky was so blue compared to a girls overly red lips.

I made my table plan, menus, place cards and table name cards. My table plan was actually an old garden gate, which I painted white. I then tied three tiers of string through the gate. On the string I attached A5 recycled paper with real rose petals in it with the list of guest names per table. I attached small paper roses to the gate which where also used in the favours. In front of the gate I had two old tea crate that had been planted up by the florist. One crate said Jennie & James Est 3.9.11 and the second one said please take your seats. The menus, James and I printed on the same paper. We decorated the menus with the same paper roses but we also made small bunting designs out of string and all different paper and decorated the menus with this. I bought vintage looking typewriter stamps and stamped out each of the place names with these stamps. I also stamped a massage on old luggage tags and put one of these in every guests place again with vintage paper roses decorating the tags. Our table name signs were photos of James and I holding up signs with the table names on. This linked back to our invites.

The whole day was the best day of my life! Particular favorite moments included my dad actually giving me away. I couldn’t stop shaking but he was as nervous as me! First seeing James at the alter. He says my bottom lip was trembling but he was pleased I kept it together otherwise he said he would have broken down. James’ mum and brother welcomed me formally into the family by giving me a signet ring with the family crest on during the best mans speech. That was very moving. James telling me I looked beautiful when he first saw me! And finishing the night in a Salsa club with James, my dad, brother and Stepdad and a few friends. There was a old couple in the club who were regulars. The man took hold of me and the women took James and the whole club made space for us on the dance floor and they taught has a dance. They then told us their secret to a long lasting marriage, which was never forget to laugh.

Photography: Catherine Mead / Flowers: Cave London / Ceremony Location: St. Peter’s Italian Church / Reception Location: Delfina Restaurant / Invitations: Made by the couple / Shoes: Cerise Wedge by Aruna Seth / Dress: Original vintage 1950’s wedding dress bought from Elizabeth Avey / Headdress: Vintage Headdresses / Groom’s suit: Gresham Blake / Favours: Balloon Mad / Band: Andalus

I’m a firm believer that every day needs at least a small dose of glamour – however you choose to weave it in (using your fanciest coffee mug totally counts). Well today lovelies, you are getting enough glamour to hold you over all week by way of this London beauty captured by Polly Alexandre Photography. It’s traditional elegance meets dream wedding, all planned and designed by Kim Balasubramaniam (the bride). You can see all the gorgeous right here.

From the Bride… My husband and I still can’t believe how perfect our wedding day was. Each time we reminisce or flick through our beautiful photo album, we’re reminded of what an amazing time we had. Although first and foremost it was an opportunity to celebrate our 10-year love story with our family and friends, as a wedding planner and stylist myself, we wanted our wedding to feel decadent and glamorous. It was always going to be about the details! We chose to marry in London — we both fell in love with the statuesque building that is Islington Town Hall for our ceremony. Although we had 150 guests, the room itself was round, so the ceremony felt very intimate and personal. Each guest received a bag on arrival that my Mum had made (I had seen similar on SMP before and searched high and low for the perfect lace trim; I actually ended up shipping it in from New York!) that we had filled with handmade goodies such as postcards of our children’s book readings, the order of service, delphinium petal confetti and heart-shaped shortbread. We wanted to make a lot of the items for the wedding ourselves, both to save money and to make everything as personal as possible, and I was determined to prove that DIY details can be glamorous! 

We hired two iconic London buses to transport guests from our ceremony to the reception, which everybody loved. On arrival, we served signature cocktails garnished with rose petals, delicious canapés and had a Spanish guitar band to entertain everyone. In the main ballroom, a mix of round and banquet tables were laid with cream linens and lined with numerous vintage crystal and silver receptacles. These were filled with church candles and roses – we had over 1,000 roses and spent months collecting silver trays, crystal vases and bowls. Amongst many other things, we handmade our napkin rings from black velvet ribbon and diamante clasps to echo our stationery suite, made wish bracelet favors for the ladies, created crystal-trimmed place names and designed escort cards that were tied to even more roses. During the drinks reception, our photographer Polly Alexandre whisked us away for our couple shots. Even though it was the greyest, rainiest day London could throw at us, we were blown away when we saw how beautiful all the images were. You would have thought it was the most perfect weather, and Polly managed to capture every single detail of the day in her beautiful, inimitable style. We will cherish our photographic memories forever.

We wanted our wedding to be the greatest party we’ve ever thrown, so in the evening, the emphasis was on fun! We hired a fabulous DJ, had free-flowing cocktails running all evening and had a photo-booth that we customized with our own logo and props. We made boxes of pashminas and flip-flops for the ladies to use and take home with them, each of which had a little hand made tag on them that coordinated with all the other items from the day. The dance floor was full all night, with guests only taking a break to feast on the fabulous cake my Mum had made for us and the Sri Lankan “short eats” that Chara’s Mum had also made. We managed to incorporate elements of all our favorite things in life into our wedding, from Chara’s love of football and my love of shoes, to our passion for travel and even our two cats. We thought carefully about every item we included and had our guests’ enjoyment in the forefront of our mind when planning everything. It really was the most emotional and special day, and looking back, we wouldn’t change a thing.

Wedding Photography: Polly Alexandre Photography / Ceremony: Islington Town Hall in London, UK / Reception: 45 Millbank in London, UK / Wedding Design, Styling + Planning: Kim Balasubramaniam (The Bride) / Floral Design: Cindy Kirkand of Creative Works / Wedding Details: DIY by the Bride, Her Mother + Sister / Catering: Kalm Kitchen / Wedding Cake: DIY by Bride’s Mother / Cupcakes: Hummingbird Bakery / Bar: Bars by Design / Band: Andalus / DJ: Mitch Matthews / Photo Booth: Say Fromage / Paper Straws: Peach Blossom via Not on the High Street / Wedding Dress: Adapted from Novia d’Art + Custom by Mamfii Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Karen Millan + Swarovski Crystals Glued on by the Bride’s Sister / Bride’s Tiara: Halo & Co. / Hair: Severin Hubert of The Hepburn Collection / Makeup: Mariam Jenson / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Maids to Measure / Bridal Preparations: The Sanderson Hotel / Groom’s Suit: William Hunt via Hugh Harris / Groom’s Shoes: Kurt Geiger

Picking a favorite wedding in our new Fashion & Beauty E-Mag would be complete torture for me because I love them all in an embarrassing way, but this one made my heart do flips. Flips for each image by David Jenkins, flips for how the stylish Bride paired her David Fielden gown with a white blazer, and flips because this wedding is just the epitome of classic elegance…with a stylish twist. It’s seriously a dream, and the gallery? Beyond. Believe it or not – it just gets better, because we have another fab giveaway from BHLDN below!

Serious swoon fest, right? If you are looking to recreate the pretty for your own party, we think this sparkly BLHDN clutch would be the perfect compliment. And because we are on cloud nine with e-magazine happiness, we are giving it away (a $250 value)! Just lets us know which wedding from the e-magazine is your favorite (we know it’s hard) in the comments below and we’ll announce a winner on Friday, July 6th!

From the Bride…Despite both of us being from Toronto, Matt and I chose to host our wedding in London, our home together for the past four years. We wanted our wedding to reflect the excitement and elegance of the city. We chose the central London venue, the In & Out Club (navalandmilitaryclub.co.uk), not only because it is a beautiful English club, but it would also host our civil ceremony, reception, a seated dinner and dancing all under one roof. Guests were free to roam the grand house and find tucked away parties in different rooms. There were leather sofas by the grand fireplace in the bar where dancers could rest their feet and girls could slip out of high heels.

I loved the portraits on the wall and the elegant rich colours. Set with massive amounts of flowers and candles this would be a romantic spot in the beautiful St James Square near Piccadilly Circus. The venue is a spectacular place, but like many London clubs it is a bit tired and frayed around the edges. While this is certainly part of the charm, we needed grand flowers to showcase the venue. Moyes Stevens (moysesflowers.co.uk) did a fantastic job with the flowers creating something truly unusual and bespoke to the venue. We had a few large displays around the club which made the rooms feel even more glorious and elegant. For the tables, I preferred low arrangements so guest could see over each other and conversation would not be interrupted. I chose tulips as they are one of my favorites and perfect for a spring wedding. My bouquet was a mixture of pink roses and peonies.

We were very much inspired by a 1920s, Great Gatsby-style party. I wore a vintage influenced dress by David Fielden (davidfielden.co.uk) which I altered to make almost entirely backless. The dress was light and easy to wear and dance in which made me very relaxed throughout the evening. Shoes were Dior pumps. Arriving and leaving the venue I wore a white blazer from The Kooples (thekooples.co.). The straight edges of the blazer gave the outfit a very modern, urban look in contrast to the vintage style elsewhere. The dress code was black tie, which I think looked fantastic in the venue.

For the ceremony I wore a birdcage veil which was custom made by Vintage Rose (vintagerosebridal.co.uk). We arranged the chairs in a semi-circle which felt really intimate and small despite there being 108 people. The ceremony was short and sweet which both Matt and I appreciated as well as our guests. Sparking wine and Pimms were served in true English style at the reception. For dinner, I wanted it to feel like a classic dinner party which encouraged conversation amongst the guest rather than being interrupted by speeches. There was no classic head table – each table sat 12 people. Matt and I sat at a round table with our wedding party, their guests and a few close friends. Since we were marrying at Easter, we wanted a subtle holiday theme to the meal. For place cards, I hand gilded gold eggs and my mother wrote each person’s name on card which we tied to the eggs with ribbon. The wedding cake was made by Katerina Janakova at Villandry (Villandry.com) which was an almond and lemon cake with marzipan icing. Katerina dressed the cake with flowers that mirrored the embellishment on my dress.

We had the fantastic 1920s French jazz band Benoit and His Orchestra (benoitandhisorchestra.com) play in the evening. The music was lively and although few people knew how to dance to the 1920 music, everyone was dancing. The music was also not overwhelming for those that preferred to sit in the bar with a cocktail and chat with other guests. At 12am the guests departed in black taxis. A few of us gathered at the Green Room in the Gore Hotel (gorehotel.com), another classic London venue in Chelsea for a nightcap to close a wonderful celebration Matt and I will remember forever.

Venue: In and Out Club, St James Square, London, England / Dress: David Fielden / White blazer: The Kooples / Shoes: Christian Dior / Veil: Vintage Rose / Photography: David Jenkins / Flowers: Moyes Stevens / Cake: Katerina Janakova at Villandry / Band: Benoit and His Orchestra

We’re taking a little cyber jaunt across the pond for this perfect-in-every-way photo shoot by Caroline Joy Photography. With lush landscaping, loads of pretty petals, mismatched vintage china, and a poofy cocktail style hat a la Kate Middleton, it’s no wonder we’re totally smitten with it! And once you get a peep at all the pretty in the full gallery, we know you will be too!

Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

From Caroline Joy Photography… I’m so excited to share this wedding shoot set in the gorgeous English countryside, just outside of London. Special swoon-worthy items to note: the mismatched china settings, the ponies meandering about, the soft tones of pink and cream in the floral design, the bride’s Kate Middleton style veil/cocktail hat, the quaint English manor with unruly gardens and low stone walls, the ribbon table runner, the thatched roof houses and the detailed cupcake designs. Fun fact: Highclere Castle, where Downton Abbey is filmed, was right around the corner from this shoot! :)

Photography: Caroline Joy Photography / Photo Shoot Location: A Private Residence in Highclere, UK / Event Styling: Jillian Manger of Mimi Nicole Event Design Boutique / Floral Design: Blush Floral Design / Wedding Cakes: Gifted Heart Cakes / Wedding Dress: Blue by Enzoani “Caldera” / Cocktail Hat: Beverley Edmondson Millinery

Since the Royal Wedding (or if we’re really being honest, since the first time my nine year old eyes first spied Prince William), I have had a slight love affair with all things British. And thanks to this intimate, yet beautifully grand, British fête I DO Wedding Consulting sent over – the side of my heart that lives over the pond has grown in spades. Captured by Micaela Scimone Photography, the soiree is the bees knees, absolutely cracking, and oh-so-ace. Best of British to you if you think you’ll be at all productive once you’ve visited the full gallery!

I wanted a very traditional, English venue in the center of London. I love this city and we wanted to showcase it in the best light for our American guests as well. My husband had been to a wedding at this venue years ago, which is a very historical house in the middle of London’s St James area; however, they only have a few weddings per year at this venue but we were lucky enough to be one of them.

The colors and style were driven by the venue, built in 1756 for the Spencer family. The house is very grand with stunning architectural detailing. We did not want to detract from the interiors and architecture, but instead complement it. I knew that I wanted a dress inspired by the past, and I chose one that felt very antique and rich in history – yet it is a new dress.

Our wedding was a mix of English and American traditions. For example, we chose to walk down the aisle to a Marvin Gaye song – sung by a fantastic singer from New York City, but we also had several traditional English traditions such as a toastmaster and a formal dinner prior to any dancing.

The dinner in the Great Room, with red damask fabric lined walls and artwork owned by the Queen of England was something special. And our dessert buffet was a bit of America that the pastry chef had never seen in the UK.

Venue, catering + desserts: Spencer House / Event Planning + Design: I DO Wedding Consulting / Photography: Micaela Scimone Photography / Videography: Quintessentially TV / Floral Design: John Carter Flowers / Entertainment: Strong Sensation Band / Chuppah: inGenious Productions Ltd. / Marquee: Peppers Marquees / Lighting: Focus Lighting and Productions Limited / Invitation Printing: Mount Street Printers / Wedding Cake: Peggy Porschen Cakes Ltd.