Wedding | Ellie & Jake
Tell us a little about yourselves!
We're Ellie and Jake, 31 and 32, and have been together for eight years. We were first introduced through mutual friends who thought we'd quite like each other, with Jake making the first move via Instagram! The timing wasn't quite right though, and it was another two years before we finally met in a pub in Covent Garden. The rest is history. We're now joined by our six year old cocker spaniel, Bo. The little poser in the photos!
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
We chose Chelsea Old Town Hall for its iconic façade and perfect location, close to home. We also quickly discovered how lovely the registrars and staff were, which made the whole process so easy. We were also incredibly lucky to have the Chelsea in Bloom flower arch still in place for our big day. It was dreamy!
How many guests did you have?
We kept the ceremony really intimate, with just seven of our closest family joining us in the beautiful Rossetti Room. Afterwards, we headed to The Walmer Castle in Notting Hill, where we were joined by a wider group of 25 for drinks, canapés and a long, celebratory lunch. It was the perfect balance, a special, intimate ceremony followed by an afternoon of eating, drinking and celebrating with our favourite people!
What was your budget?
For the ceremony booking, floristry, photography, as well as food and drinks, we'd say we spent roughly £8,000 in total. We focused the budget on the details which mattered most to us!
Tell us about your outfits.
Ellie: Finding the perfect registry office outfit was much harder than I expected! I had about five contenders but finally found exactly what I'd been envisaging at Meshki. Timeless, elegant and just what I was looking for. I paired it with a cute bow veil from Gigi & Olive and a bespoke floral handbag by Lavender Green, which was the perfect personal touch. Jake kept things effortlessly classic in a Ralph Lauren summer suit. He looked handsome as ever!
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
For us, the most important thing was keeping the civil ceremony simple, intimate and special. It was a day for our nearest and dearest, with a timeless and classic feel. As we were also having a larger celebration abroad in June, we wanted this day to feel completely different. We wanted everyone to have the chance to properly spend time together and get to know each other, which made the whole day feel relaxed and personal. Honestly, it was everything we hoped it would be!
Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?
Keeping the day small and intimate was really important to us, as was having Bo, our cocker spaniel, be part of the big day! I also loved incorporating personal touches throughout, like wearing my nan's wedding ring and having Jake wear his grandpa's watch. It was really special to have these little details captured in the photos.
Any tips for couples getting married?
Honestly, just enjoy it! The ceremony itself goes by so quickly, so try to take a moment to soak it all in. Get organised in the planning process, focus on the things that really matter to you both, and try not to bicker over the little things (easier said than done!)
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
Jessica, our photographer: Jessica Gwyneth was an absolute dream to have capturing our day. I mean, just look at the photos! I genuinely love every single one. She struck the perfect balance between letting us do our own thing and stepping in with guidance when needed to capture the perfect shot. She made us feel completely at ease and somehow managed to capture all the little moments that made the day so special.
Lavender Green: Lavender Green were incredible from start to finish. I sent them my initial idea for a floral handbag and they completely brought it to life, creating something that was even better than I had imagined. They even delivered it literally to the steps of Chelsea Old Town Hall on the morning of the wedding! They also created the beautiful floral arrangements for our lunch, which tied everything together perfectly and looked absolutely gorgeous.
Marry Me in Chelsea: The registrars and team at Chelsea Old Town Hall were so lovely and welcoming. They made the whole process feel incredibly easy and relaxed, and were genuinely a pleasure to deal with in the run-up to and on the day itself.
Photographer: Jessica Gwyneth @jessicagwynethphotog | Florals: Lavender Green @lavender
greenflowers | Ceremony Location: Chelsea Old Town Hall @marrymeinchelsea | Celebrant: Marry Me In Chelsea | Ceremony Space: Rossetti Room | Catering & Beverages: The Trafalgar @thetrafalgar
chelsea; The Walmer Castle @walmercastlenottinghill | Dress: Meshki @meshki | Suit: Ralph Lauren @ralphlaure | Veil: Gigi & Olive @gigiandolive
