Your London Wedding - May/Jun 2019 (Issue 65)

58 I nitially colleagues, Holly and Jonathan quickly became best friends, which gradually morphed into something more. And just a year after they became an item, the couple were enjoying a week’s staycation, soaking in the sights, when Jonathan proposed over cocktails at The Dorchester Hotel. “We’d already talked about getting married so it wasn’t a surprise in that sense,” remembers Holly. “The day itself was a surprise, although the setting made me think something was going on,” she laughs. Holly and Jonathan enjoyed their engagement for six months before they started to plan the big day. Overall, says Holly, it was an enjoyable experience. “We enjoyed researching and dealing with all the suppliers and venues but the last- minute bits of organisation and making sure everything was in place got a bit stressful,” she explains. The pair cite the venue hunt as among the trickiest part of the planning – tracking down a space of the correct size was hard enough but then, when they were guided by their family history to a fitting ceremony space – Clement St Danes church – finding a date in common with their chosen reception venue proved difficult too. “We really wanted the day to be memorable, fun and not too serious. The staff at ZSL London Zoo were excellent,” says Holly. SISTER ACT Dress shopping proved decidedly more straightforward, however, with Holly opting for the third (and final) dress she tried on. “I’d arrived at the boutique wanting a dress with lace sleeves but after I tried a sample, I knew that style wasn’t for me. My mum and my sister both chose a gown for me to try and I ended up going with my sister’s choice,” Holly reveals. Holly’s sister, Scarlet, also helped with her hair and make-up on the day and was maid-of-honour to boot, wearing a floor-length, 1920s-style gown in light blue. Jonathan chose a grey, three-piece suit from Hugo Boss, which he teamed with a metallic blue tie. His brother, Simon, was best man and chose a navy suit. ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL And with the ‘creatures great and small’ already installed at their reception venue, it was down to Holly and Jonathan’s chosen florist, Charley of The London Flower House, to bring the ‘bright and beautiful’ on the day. “Our brief was wild, colourful and seasonal – we didn’t have any specific requests; we trusted her expertise,” says Holly. “As for the colour scheme for the whole wedding, we wanted as many bright colours as possible.” In keeping with the setting, Holly and Jonathan placed an animal figurine at each place setting while the cake combined both elements with a spectacular cascade of flowers and an animal topper. “It was a real showstopper and contributed a lot to the décor in the room,” says Holly. And while the toy creatures were as cute-as-a-button, a certain visitor stole the show when he made an appearance at the reception. “Jack the armadillo was a huge hit with the guests,” says Jonathan. On the subject of entertainment, the couple were happy to be guided on the music front, with the musical director at Clement St Danes suggesting a choir for the ceremony and 1Entertainment helping to choose an appropriate soundtrack for the wedding breakfast before filling the dancefloor with a selection of classic disco hits. Holly and Jonathan report that the day itself passed without a hitch, although if there’s one logistical achievement they’re particularly proud of, it’s their choice of transport. “If I had to choose one thing that worked really well, it was hiring a London bus to transport all of the guests between the church and zoo. It meant we didn’t have to worry about people getting lost or left behind and everyone had a chance to mingle with a glass of fizz,” says Holly.