Your London Wedding - September/October 2020 (Issue 73)

REAL WEDDINGS 37  D espite going to school together and growing up in the same town, it wasn’t until Lucia and Kilian finished university that they became friends. “I was on a gap year and Kilian was on a placement year,” Lucia explains. “We spent a lot of time together and we ended up going out. I don’t think anyone would have put us together in our school days!” When it came to popping the question, Kilian managed to keep it a total surprise, despite there being a few clues. “It was Kilian’s birthday and both our families had gathered together to celebrate,” Lucia remembers. “His sister had flown in from Germany, which was a little odd as it wasn’t a big birthday! Kilian began giving a speech – which was also a bit odd in retrospect – but it soon turned into a proposal!” When Lucia could pick her jaw up from the floor, she of course said “Yes”. The super-organised couple had most things ticked of the to-do list within a couple of months, starting with setting the date at Town Hall Hotel for 10 th August, 2019. We caught up with Lucia to get the lowdown… PUTTING THEIR STAMP ON Choosing the elegant Town Hall Hotel for their venue was a great starting block for their planning. “The mix of Edwardian and Art Deco architecture alongside beautiful styling helped guide us with our aesthetic choices,” Lucia explains. “We wanted a really sophisticated wedding, without being boring or overdone.” The couple’s vision for abundant green foliage, white flowers and gold accents was brought to life by florist Hazel Gardiner Design. “I can’t tell you how brilliant Hazel was,” Lucia says. “We knew what we wanted and she just got it. Her floral design is exquisite and she is brilliant to work with. The foliage went perfectly with the venue – the ideal partner to all the dark wood panelling and moody interiors.” The centrepieces comprised flowing greenery around brass candlesticks, with elegant stationery nestled among it, topped off with homemade favours. “I made my own votive candles,” Lucia says. “I designed labels to match our stationery and bought all the equipment. It was a real labour of love, and Kilian took over when I gave up – which was quite early on!” The stationery followed the pared-back elegant theme. Hand-painted signage from All Frills Studio hung around the venue. “There was a statement welcome sign, table plan and our favourite quotes,” Lucia says. “The signs were beautiful and turned out to be a great investment as they now hang in our flat.” A fun element was brought to the traditional venue with neon lights, giant white balloons, huge disco balls and a tree adorned with hanging lights. As luck would have it, one of the couple’s best friends, Julia Robinson, is a talented cake designer. “She immediately understood our request for a simple but impactful cake,” Lucia says. “It was a