For this blog, I wanted to share with you a beautiful wedding I recently worked on. I met with Monica and Manuel last year and they were well on their way planning their epic wedding to be held in central London. The venue was hired on a dry hire basis, which means they needed extra support with planning and managing the day, and that’s where I came in!
They hired me 8 months out. We had a couple of site visits and some regular zoom calls during the process, with me ultimately giving them advice, assisting with design and styling elements, creating their timeline, liaising with suppliers and tying all the loose ends before the big day.
With Indian and Polish heritage on the bride’s side and Spanish on the groom’s, their Spring wedding was a fantastic fusion of culture and traditions. Set in the heart of London at the Kimpton Fitzroy Hotel, this was a special destination wedding for friends and family around the world, to come and celebrate with them. Not only were Monica and Manuel a wonderful couple to work with but I was extremely excited to work in this recently renovated hotel which oozed Great Gatsby vibes with an exciting, modern twist.
The wedding morning began with Monica and her closest ladies enjoying the elegant bridal suite with preparations, toasts and pictures to start the day. Jump to the beautiful reveal of Monica in a stunning Suzanne Neville Dress, completing her wedding look with subtle glam hair and makeup by Delilah Blakeney.
The wedding ceremony took place in the Grade II Heritage listed ballroom of the hotel, decorated with warm splashes of coral, orange and pink florals from Flowers by Eve – a lovely addition to the Spanish and Indian touches scattered throughout the day. I, and the guests, loved the Niche string quartet that accompanied the bridal party, ending with Monica and her dad.
After the “I dos” and happy cheers from the wedding party, the celebrations continued in the Palm Court – a delightfully bright space with decadent marble arches and olive trees. A space made even more spectacular by the street food style spread of Indian cuisine. Caterer, Laguna, served up a delicious menu with traditional Indian dishes, flavours and aromas.
With so many of their party travelling to London, Monica and Manuel encouraged guests to explore the area or take some time to recharge before gathering back in the Palm Court for drinks and canapés, with the beautiful soundtrack of Spanish guitar. During this time, we also did a quick transformation of the ballroom with more detailed colouring within the flowers, napkins and candles on the tables.
Once all guests were seated, a delicious Indian family style feast and dessert buffet was served. The wedding breakfast followed with heartfelt speeches, cutting the cake and the couple’s first dance. Monica also requested a father daughter dance which I don't see much and actually made me well up, it was so sweet!
Another lovely treat for the day was the couple’s outfit change from their chic dress and smart suit to gorgeous Indian clothing, showcasing bold reds and bright golds that simply lit up the room ready for the evening entertainment. Wedding band, Jukebox Nation didn’t disappoint either with their energetic playlist keeping the party going until the clock struck 12 and the whole day being captured beautifully by Georgina Piper Photography.
This was such a lovely wedding and one I will hold close to my heart for so many reasons. Monica and Manuel, thank you for trusting me with your special day and I wish you all the happiness in the world.
Photography: Georgina Piper Photography
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