Wedding | Rebekah & Sam

Tell us about yourselves!

Sam and I have been together for almost seven years. We first met while studying at Cambridge but didn’t reconnect until a few years later at a friend’s birthday dinner in London. We were sat across from each other and spent the whole night engrossed in conversation. The next day he asked me out to play crazy golf, and we’ve been inseparable ever since.

We now live in Islington with our Chow Chow, Bruce. I work as a product manager in fintech, and Sam is a science and technology consultant. Life in London is a mix of boozy nights with friends, walks with Bruce on the Heath, and hunts for the best pastries in North London. Our calendars are always full, but somehow it just works.

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

Food has always been central to how we celebrate, so Perilla was an obvious choice. It’s been our favourite restaurant in London for years — the place we go back to for birthdays, anniversaries, and long dinners over wine. Honestly, there wasn’t any other option.

We wanted the day to feel relaxed and really like us — nothing formal, just great food, good wine, and all the people we love in one room. Getting married in London felt natural. Islington has always been home for us: had our second date at Indian Veg on Chapel Market, and know the area inside out. The town hall felt perfect — small, intimate, and familiar. Sharing the day with friends and family in a neighbourhood that means so much to us made it feel really special.

How many guests did you have?

We had 40 guests on the day — literally just our best friends and closest family. We wanted it to feel intimate and to put the focus (and the budget) on amazing food and wine rather than a huge guest list. The next day we threw a big fancy dress party for our wider circle of friends and family, which gave us the best of both worlds.

Tell us about your outfits!

I wanted something I could, in theory, wear again and not a dress that would spend the rest of its life in a box. I went for a mini dress from The Own Studio with crystal droplets, tailored for a fitted look that felt modern and very London. I paired it with metallic Amina Muaddi heels — I’ve always loved her fluted heel — and added an elbow-length two-tiered veil for a bit of drama while walking to the town hall.

Sam wore a wool pinstriped suit from Canali with a silk shirt I bought him for his birthday. We weren’t trying to be traditional, but our outfits ended up coordinating in a way that felt intentional without being overdone.

Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?

One of our favourite ideas actually came from my mum — she suggested hiring a vintage cream London bus to get us from the town hall to Perilla. Normally it’s just a seven-minute drive, but we thought, why not make it an event? We stocked the bus with bottles of Tillingham Col’23 sparkling wine (from the vineyard in Rye where we got engaged) and went on a little sightseeing loop down to St Paul’s Cathedral and back. It was such a fun way to stretch out that “just married” feeling and kick off the celebrations.

Having Bruce there was also really important to us. He was our ring bearer and completely loved being part of the day — though he was mostly buzzing to be around all his favourite people. We’d lost our first chow chow, Sidney, while we were engaged, so having Bruce there felt like a way to honour him too.

Any tips for couples getting married?

Just do what feels right for you. Don’t worry about ticking boxes or following traditions you don’t care about — your day should feel like your relationship, not anyone else’s idea of a wedding.

We also focused on making it easy and fun for our friends and family. We wanted it to feel like a really great night out rather than a formal event, so we kept the guest list small, made it easy for people to get there, and spent our energy on good food, drinks, and atmosphere. If you get those things right, the rest usually falls into place.

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?

Jessica Gwyneth was amazing. She encouraged us to create a Pinterest board of photos we liked and the vibe we wanted to capture, which was such a good idea. The shots she took on the tube literally stunned me — she brought our vision to life perfectly, and the photos feel effortlessly us.

Joe and the team at Perilla couldn’t have done more to make the evening perfect. We were able to curate the menu, and they were so generous with their time during the tasting. The wine pairings were amazing. When our floral arranger cancelled last minute, they even arranged the flowers on the tables for us — nothing was ever too much trouble, and they made us feel completely welcome.

Photographer: Jessica Gwyneth @jessicagwynethphotog | Flora: Octavia Flowers @octaviaflowers.ldn | Ceremony Location: Islington Town Hall @sayidoislington | Reception Location: Perilla @perilladining | Makeup Artist: Maayan Winter @maayanwintermua | Dress: The Own Studio @theownstudio | Suit: Canali @canali | Shoes: Amina Muaddi @aminamuaddi