Your London Wedding news and ideas from around the capital

Your Wedding Scent experience launches at Holiday Inn London Brentford

The Waterfront at Holiday Inn London Brentford Lock has launched a Your Wedding Scent experience as the ultimate addition to special days. Upon booking weddings at the venue, couples can book and embark on a sensory journey at the Experimental Perfume Club in Covent Garden to create their own wedding scent.  The luxe blending experience offers a fully private consultation for two in the perfumer's alcove, guided by an in-house expert who profiles scents from award-winning collections. The experience includes a glass of prosecco with some treats and a full-size 50ml eau de parfum, created and personalised on the day. It's a one-to-one experience and is priced at £390 for two.

Make sure your big day is protected

A wedding is a special day for a couple, but it can also be an expensive one. Between venues, caterers, photographers, dresses, and entertainment, the costs can add up. For those planning a wedding, it's important you insure yourself against anything that could go awry just before, or on the big day. For those aiming to tie the knot this year, Alex Cross, Insurance Director at Tesco Bank shares his top tips on things to consider for your wedding day to make sure you're covered so things can run as smoothly as possible.

Book Camilla Joy Photography to capture memorable moments

Camilla is a British photographer that orchestrates her artistry in the realm of weddings and events. With a treasury of expertise gathered from capturing opulent and lavish celebrations across the globe, she cherishes the art of offering an intimate and bespoke experience to every client. Camilla's skill effortlessly entwines the curated elegance of posed moments with the ethereal spontaneity of natural captures on a wedding day, yielding exquisite heirlooms that bear the influence of floral design, fine art, and fashion influences. She says, "From painting as a child, to capturing family events throughout my college years - creativity is something that has been following me closely for as long as I can remember.

New vases from BHS to elevate big-day styling

BHS is delighted to present its newest offering for 2024, a collection of glass vases in an array of beautiful styles, shades and sizes. The extensive and diverse range caters to all interior schemes, revitalising the home with a fusion of modern sophistication and timeless charm that redefines home decor - making them perfect for big-day gift lists or thank you gifts. Alternatively, the range would also make gorgeous vessels for table centrepieces for your wedding blooms, which you can the recycle after the day and use for years to come.

WoodWick® reveals its latest collections

WoodWick® reveals its latest collection designed to effortlessly elevate the home with its unique fragrances and contemporary designs - perfect for big-day gifting. What's more, the gorgeous colour palettes would also suit spring and summer wedding themes adding aroma to your ceremony or reception, evoking memories of your wedding day for years to come. Created to make a statement with its one-of-a-kind multi-sensory experience, the WoodWick® Spring/Summer 2024 range re-energises the home and adds an extra layer of sophistication. With the soothing sound of the crackling wicks, and trend forward scents evocative of the brighter days ahead, this collection is sure to add a bold, yet stylish, touch to the home.

Mariola Zoladz is a professional photographer based in London

Mariola Zoladz is a wedding, portrait and documentary photographer who has been snapping beautiful moments since 2015. She's had the pleasure of shooting hundreds of weddings in the UK as well as stunning locations like Italy and France. Mariola is an artist at heart and loves bringing out her clients' true essence with a creative touch. Every wedding she covers is like a unique adventure. She's all about capturing genuine emotions, colours and composition; the little things matter to her. Her photos have a timeless, cinematic feel with a classic and editorial flair. She seamlessly blends digital and film photography to tell stories. What inspires her?

New cake stands launched in Spring pastel shades

Innovative UK cake stand brand, Prop Options has launched a new, sophisticated range of interchangeable pastel-coloured cake stands, giving couples and cake designers bountiful colourful options when it comes to displaying their wedding cakes. Known as the Reeded Stand, these pastel-toned contemporary cake plinths have removable top plates, allowing designers and couples to mix and match colourways for a truly unique, fun, yet elegant, design. Prop Options is bringing out six colourways in its Pastel Reeded Stand collection, namely pink, lavender, green, yellow, blue and 2024 colour of the year, Pantone Peach Fuzz. The stands are also available in white, black, and gold.

New Smeg products ideal for wedding gifting this season

Whether you're compiling your big-day gift list and looking for inspiration, or you're a guest attending a wedding in the coming months, these new items from Smeg makes wedding gifting easy! Adding to its of portfolio cooking essentials, Smeg has introduced its first countertop scales. The KSC01 Kitchen Scales are a welcome addition for both budding bakers and professionals in the kitchen. Joining the likes of stand mixers and cookware in Smeg's portfolio, the brand's all-new digital scales are both outstanding in design and packed with its advanced technology.

Let there be brunch! Olivia Gibson reviews Sunday Brunch at InterContinental London Park Lane

Situated at one of the capital's most prestigious addresses, InterContinental London Park Lane presents modern luxury in the heart of Mayfair. Inspired by its location overlooking the Royal Parks, the hotel features elegant natural interiors and award-winning seasonal cuisine. With an array of dining experiences, guests will surely enjoy delicious dishes served using high-quality ingredients by expert chefs. I had the privilege of visiting the property with my partner to review the Sunday Brunch with Unlimited Tipple, where we ate perhaps a bit too much while we enjoyed glasses of prosecco and bloody Marys. Set in the elegant surroundings of the hotel's main restaurant, Theo Randall at the InterContinental, we enjoyed a banquet fit for a king.

7 top tips for including your pooch in your wedding

Considering including your pooch at your wedding? Here are 7 top tips from Petpals. With 57% of UK households boasting a furry friend, it is no wonder many couples dream of having their beloved dog join them on their special day. In fact, a whopping eight in 10 Brits say they would want their four-legged companion to be part of their wedding festivities. But before you entrust your pooch with the role of ring bearer, it is essential to be well prepared to ensure that your big day is nothing short of paw-some for both you and your pup. Here, Kevin Thackrah, Director of Petpals, the UK's longest-established pet-care franchise, shares some top tips on how to seamlessly incorporate your canine companion into your wedding day.

How to avoid guests over indulging on alcoholic drinks on the big day

One in six (16 per cent) wedding guests admit to driving home the morning after a wedding, when they could still be over the alcohol limit, reveals new research1 from Direct Line Motor Insurance. In a bid to remind drivers about the risks of getting behind the wheel after celebratory drinking, a car was crashed into a three-metre-high wedding cake outside Blenheim Palace2, one of the UK's most instagramable wedding venues.

With one in five (20 per cent) guests saying they have been driven home by someone they thought was over the drink drive limit, the morning after celebrating nuptials, the smashed wedding cake highlights the risks involved with driving the morning after.

6 Star Wars cocktails for the ultimate Star Wars hen do

Calling all brides-to-be and their intergalactic squadrons! Prepare to elevate your hen party to new heights as leading hen party company Fizzbox teams up with magical tavern, The Cauldron, to concoct a range of Star Wars cocktails, perfect for celebrating the bride's journey to the galaxy of marriage! Set your blasters to fun as The Cauldron's mixologists transport you to a galaxy far, far away with their selection of otherworldly drinks inspired by the iconic saga. From Darth Vader-inspired concoctions to drinks that will have you feeling like you're partying on the Millennium Falcon, there's something to delight every Jedi bride and her entourage.

Wedding homeware from Addison Ross

The heart and soul of British luxury Addison Ross, is a family owned British brand started in 1978; from a small business, it has now grown into a global sensation with a vast offering including an exquisite range of luxury homeware essentials that create the ideal wedding tablescape or wedding gift. A recent collaboration with India Hicks, saw the launch of a beautiful new photo frame collection, which India (King Charles' Goddaughter) used for her own wedding photos. These wonderful frames can also be used to create special moments at weddings including framing seating charts or cocktail menus!

The most popular wedding cars of 2024 and how much they will cost

As we head into the Spring/Summer wedding season, many couples will be tying up the last elements of their weddings before the big day. Often left to the last minute is transport, with many couples wanting to arrive and leave their wedding venues in style. Nationwide Vehicle Contracts decided to investigate which cars are the most popular when it comes to wedding hire, and also how much hiring one will set you back. To work out the most popular wedding car of 2024, Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has analysed Google search volumes, Google search trends and TikTok data including the number of posts per model, monthly searches and the YoY search trend.

How to enjoy alcohol responsibly on your wedding day - from London expert

There's no pressure to drink or abstain. Experienced bartender and director of bar hire company Spin & Shake, Bryan Levato has provided his expert insight into enjoying alcohol responsibly on your wedding day. He says, "Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime celebration, and as an experienced bartender I've seen firsthand how important it is to drink responsibly on such a memorable occasion. Remember, you want to cherish every moment for all the right reasons. By pacing yourself and staying mindful of your alcohol intake, you can fully enjoy the festivities without the negative consequences of excessive drinking."

Young Brits looking to get hitched face saving for 30 Months

Young couples are faced with saving for over 30 months to reach their wedding savings goals, according to new research from Nationwide that charts what Brits are saving for in 2024.One in six young people are currently putting money away for their dream wedding. On average, these love birds are aiming to save £17,000 in preparation for their wedding – although the costs will likely be higher as many will also benefit from contributions from family and friends. Based on average monthly individual savings of £282, it would take a typical couple saving a combined £564 around 31 months to reach their target.*

Venue spotlight: Lambeth Assembly Hall

There are so many reasons to celebrate your wedding reception in Lambeth Assembly Hall, here are just a few...It's a dry hire venue for receptions for up to 250 guests and boasts a whole host of historic features providing ample stunning photo opportunities. Its practical layout and excellent facilities, allow couples the space and freedom to tell their own story and create an unforgettable day for themselves and their guests. Whether you're hoping for a traditional celebration or a unique occasion, VenueLambeth can tailor everything to you and support you in creating something special to suit every budget and style of wedding.

Spring Bank Holiday weekend is set to host second highest number of weddings for 2024

The team at hampers.com, who strive to bring joy and wholehearted togetherness through gifting, recently undertook a study to determine the most popular dates for weddings in 2024, surveying almost 2,300 UK adults who were set to get married this year. When asked what date they were getting married on, the most popular dates were found to be were these here...

Need a helping hand with your groom's speech? Check out these top tips from Speechy

'The Speech Surgery' with Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy & author of The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches'. My groom isn't naturally romantic. How can I help him with his speech without actually writing it for him? Well, no one will be expecting him to be reciting sonnets and he doesn't need to have a personality transplant, but it would be nice if he managed to deliver at least a few suitably sweet lines in his speech! Send him a few good blog posts (including this one) and encourage him to get the advice & feedback from his friends (ideally, married ones who have been through the speechwriting process before).

Indulge in Vera Wang x Chopin vodka this wedding season

With the 2024 wedding season fast approaching, brides and grooms-to-be are looking for ways to impart luxury to their special day. From elevating their drink offering with expertly crafted cocktails to creating a sophisticated monochrome look, the Vera Wang x Chopin vodka has all the assets to make one's celebration stylish and memorable. Vera Wang x Chopin vodka comes from a unique partnership blending the refined style of iconic fashion designer Vera Wang with the unparalleled craftsmanship of Chopin.