Me & My Wedding: An Elegant Day For Childhood Sweethearts
The Engagement
We got engaged in November 2018 in our flat in London. Ted had planned a night out for our anniversary – a meal in Soho and ice-skating at the Natural History Museum – and when we got back, we watched a film. At the end, Ted got down on one knee to ask me to be his wife. Of course, I said yes! It was low-key, but very special and intimate.
The Rings
My husband designed my engagement ring – it has a trilogy oval setting, with a centre diamond surrounded by two smaller oval diamonds on a white gold band. It’s everything I could have wanted. For our wedding bands we chose simple matching Welsh gold bands from Clogau.
The Non-Negotiables
We are both massive foodies, so our wedding menu was really important. We’d thrown an engagement party, so there were already some ideas to drew on, which helped narrow things down. We also wanted a great photographer we trusted and a hair and make-up artist who understood my vision.
The Venue
We decided on The George – my husband’s family has celebrated so many milestones there, which meant we knew the staff; it was a bit of a no brainer in the end. The hotel didn’t need much décor, either, as it’s a beautiful Georgian building. We chose to have singular flowers on the tables and the private dining room was scented with Jo Malone’s Orange Blossom – a traditional fragrance for weddings.
The Dress
My dress came from Halfpenny London – it was the first shop I visited, and I found it during my first appointment. Kate’s designs encompassed everything I wanted for my special day – classic, beautiful, and with just a subtle nod to fashion. I went with the Mayfair dress because I wanted something romantic, but also a little bit sexy. The way it moved was so elegant – it was perfect.
The Accessories
I wanted to keep my accessories as simple as possible – I didn’t want anything to take away from my dress. My diamond earrings were a wedding gift from my mum and came from All Diamond London – the four oval diamonds are paired together to look like a flower. My shoes were the Indi Pearl style from Charlotte Mills – the tulle bow on the front with the little polka dot detailing went perfectly with my dress. The block heel also gave me the comfort and confidence to walk down the aisle. My mother-in-law and her best friend made my veil as a wedding gift, which was really special.
Hair & Make-Up
All of Vithya Visvendra’s brides look so beautiful. I went with a simple glow-y base for my skin, and a slightly smokey winged eye with a nude lip. My hair was tied into a braided low bun with a middle parting. I wanted something elegant, and because my wedding dress had quite a low back, it was the right choice.
The Bridesmaids
I had six bridesmaids – a mix of my close friends and cousins. Their pink dresses came from Pretty Lavish. I wanted something elegant, and the girls also carried a single lilac rose which looked beautiful with the colour of the dresses.
The Groom & Groomsmen
Hiring the morning suits from Moss Bros. was an easy choice. We went with light blue shirts and paired them with ivory waistcoats for the groomsmen, while my husband wore a double-breasted waistcoat from Neal & Palmer.
The Flowers
My mother-in-law’s friend Kate did the flowers. She is so creative and understood my vision for the day. I’d given her a colour palette of ivory and white for my bouquet and told her to go for a wild, undone look. We had two milk churns outside the chapel and Kate decorated the interior with lots of hydrangeas and a stunning centrepiece on the alter. All the other decorations were kept on the minimal side so the flowers could make the right statement.
The Ceremony
Ted and I met at school, so our school chapel felt like the most obvious place to have the service. It was a venue that held so much meaning for us, but particularly for my husband who spent many Sundays singing as part of the chapel choir when he was young. Our school reverend also conducted the ceremony. I walked down the aisle to music played by a string trio – including my now brother-in-law on the cello. We then walked out as a married couple to All You Need is Love by The Beatles.
The Photographer
We knew Soozana Pvan would be incredible, and she didn’t disappoint. She’s the kind of person who makes you feel so at ease – and she’s so fun, too. We’ve asked her to take the photos at our Hindu ceremony next year as well.
The Food & Drink
After the ceremony, we had a champagne reception on the chapel lawn. The food at The George was delicious. They’re known for it, which is a big part of why we went with them. We sent out some menu options to our guests beforehand so they could decide what they wanted. It’s great to give guests a choice if budget allows.
The Cake
Our cake was a family affair – it was baked by my husband! He’s a very good baker, so I knew it was in capable hands. It was a four-tiered vanilla cake, sandwiched with a vanilla and morello cherry buttercream. Delicious.
The Entertainment
For our entertainment, we hired Rubbish Portraits. Lucie Sheridan (the owner) drew live three-minute portraits at her artist booth, which turned out to be great keepsakes for our guests. In the evening, we had a party with dancing at my in-laws’ house – it was very low-key, but still special and intimate.
The Day Before/After The Wedding
In the run up to the wedding I treated myself to regular Sunday Riley facials at Hershesons and I had one the day before – it was the perfect way to destress and left me with a gorgeous bridal glow. The morning after the wedding, my husband and I had breakfast in bed at The George – another treat.
Advice For Other Couples
Get things booked as soon as possible to ensure you secure the vendors you want and stand your ground on the things that mean the most to you. Most importantly, enjoy the day and take the time to drink it all in. It goes by in a flash – I wish I could relive it again at half the speed.
Photography Soozana Pvan
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