Your London Wedding news and ideas from around the capital

Scentscape your wedding day with Yankee Candle

Scentscaping your wedding day is a trend that's going nowhere! Finding the right fragrance to shape the atmosphere of your wedding is an exciting part of the wedding planning journey you can do together - beats the wedmin too! Yankee Candle, and sister brand WoodWick, boast a wide collection of candles in all shapes, colours and sizes that would work perfectly for your nuptials, reception and big-day gifting. Imagine walking into you ceremony with the scent of pink cherry and vanilla surrounding you, or at your winter reception Pumpkin Cinnamon Swirl from Yankee's new collection will certainly set the tone of the proceedings and reflect the time of year. Once you've found your favourite candle, it's also something you can purchase time and again to evoke memories of the special event, alternatively gifting loved ones who supported you on your wedding day with a candle to the big-day fragrance will be a gift where guests can reminisce too!

Paperchase unveils wedding and hen party products collection

The beloved brand Paperchase has recently launched an exclusive collection of wedding and hen party products. The new range features a wide selection of unique and sophisticated wedding staples and novelty hen products for great value prices, from stationery to decorative accessories. It is perfect for those tying the knot this year or planning a spectacular hen do. Looking for luxurious wedding invitations? but want to keep costs down? Well, the Ginger Ray Wedding Invitations with Envelopes (10pack with envelopes) with a classic cream finish they combine style with affordability for those looking to advertise their big day with a stunning opening number.

Exchange vows at The Berkeley in London

The Berkeley provides a picturesque setting for a wonderfully romantic ambience, enveloped by the Georgian terraces of Belgravia that offer a stunning vista of St. Paul's Church and the iconic Hyde Park. The staff is committed to enhancing elegance, luxury and hospitality to unparalleled levels – it truly is an experience like no other! Explore a flexible event space in one of London's top 5-star hotels, suitable for various occasions. It has a contemporary design, impressive 3D ceiling and unique lighting. The grand ballroom can cater to up to 250 guests for ceremonies and meals as well as 180 for dancing. The nearby Belgravia Room boasts ample natural light and a private terrace, perfect for intimate ceremonies with 40 guests, dinners for 80 and receptions for 150. The Wilton & Knightsbridge Rooms offer a sophisticated and cosy setting, with the choice to combine or keep separate.

Richard Payne Photographer is a must-have for your wedding celebration

Richard Payne is a talented photographer based in London with more than 15 years of experience. Richard tells us: "Before I started shooting weddings, I was mainly doing magazine work shooting fashion and portraiture with some documentary thrown in. I think it's those early days that have kept my eye in and can still influence my work today.

"I shoot in two formats: digital and 35mm black and white film. My actual style allows me to shoot very discreetly and unobtrusively. I will document what unfolds in front of me rather than orchestrate it. Whether it be travelling on a 15-hour bus journey the length of Sri Lanka or a hop down the M20, I've covered pretty much every scenario there is. Please look around my website and get a feel for what I do, but I am still a firm believer in the personal touch—the quick meet over a coffee, a chat at a wedding fair or anywhere we get the chance to engage for a quick moment to actually see the actual book I offer. You will get to hold some black and white hand prints and hit me with any questions that you may have."

Planning for the night ahead – wedding nightwear from Chelsea Peers

West London based designer brand Chelsea Peers has an glamorous array of wedding nightwear for any bride on their special day, to complement the bride's style and luxurious taste. When wedding planning, you mainly focus on the particulars of the actual ceremony and the events of the day, however what about your first night as husband and wife? With Chelsea Peers, the elegant draping allows the bride to maintain an effortless silhouette while adding just a touch of splendour. For a spectacular wedding night, consider the chic and comfortable Satin Fringe Trim Long Pyjama Set – Ivory, that features a swishy flared shape that has plenty of movement, combined with smooth, lustrous satin.

The Speech Surgery: modern day etiquette with Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy

The Speech Surgery: modern day etiquette with Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy, and author of The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches: Some say addressing guests as 'ladies and gentlemen' is a mistake these days... what is the Modern newlywed speech etiquette? Let's start by saying (again) there are no wedding speech rules. When it comes to etiquette, it's simply a case of common sense and being polite. Honestly, that's it. When it comes to addressing your audience, 'Ladies and gentlemen' is becoming less common for two reasons.

Studio FIX opens its doors on High Street Kensington

Studio FIX opens its doors on High Street Kensington, offering three studios with six different class concepts. The spacious studio will be one of the first locations in London to offer Lagree Megaformer classes, a patented exercise machine that offers a high-intensity, total body workout while being low-impact — it's loved by many celebrities! Other class concepts will include yoga, boxing, HIIT-style conditioning and strength-based lift classes, offering something for all levels and fitness goals, guaranteeing a holistic experience in one place without needing multiple gym memberships. Furthermore, Studio FIX's boxing classes are adaptable to wheelchair users, ensuring inclusivity. Prioritising upper body strength, the class provides a unique experience where able and disabled individuals can train together.

Creative ways to preserve and display your wedding bouquet

Your wedding day is one of the most magical days of your life, so you'll no doubt want to hold onto your memories for as long as possible. Here, Clare Price from framing specialists Wall Space shares their tips for preserving your wedding bouquet for years to come. Preserving your wedding bouquet can be a wonderful way to keep the memories of your special day alive. Techniques like drying and pressing are some of the best methods of flower preservation, and there are countless ways to show off your preserved blooms in your home once you're done. With the tips and ideas below, you can create lasting reminders of your cherished moments and remember your special day for years to come.

Discover Your Wedding Scent experience in London

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.

Experts reveal five wedding trends set to be huge this Summer

With the new season comes new colours and trends, and with that being said, experts at Diamonds Factory have predicted five wedding trends that are set to be big this Summer. Couples will step away from the traditional colour scheme "Stepping away from the traditional black and white formal attire, we expect to see many wedding parties embrace colour this Summer. We saw the mismatched bridesmaid dresses trend resurge in popularity in late 2023, and predict this trend will take off even further this Summer, especially now it's getting warmer and with people experimenting with colour more.

The Speech Surgery: how long is too long?

The Speech Surgery: how long is too long? Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy explores this. My groom says he's finished his speech and he's really happy with it but it's almost 2,000 words long. Is that too much? Yes. All speeches should be under ten minutes long. It seems obvious but I've seen several speeches (generally the best men) go well over half an hour, oblivious to the yawns or heckling. That's no more than 1,300 words maximum, allowing for pauses or laughter on the day. Remind your fiancé that his first draft is just the start of the writing process.

Wedding favours for Kids: ToyChoc Box

PLAYin CHOC's ToyChoc boxes are a fantastic choice for entertaining kids at weddings. These eco-friendly, vegan, and allergen-free treats come in 100% recyclable packaging. Each box contains two creamy chocolate bars wrapped in compostable packaging, along with a 3D card puzzle toy featuring animals like endangered species, sea creatures, or dinosaurs - there's also a fun animal fact inside. At just £2.25 each on Amazon, these boxes are a budget-friendly addition to your wedding plans.

Your ultimate guide to wedding gift etiquette

It's that time of year again where our inboxes and mailboxes are full of beautifully designed wedding invitations, we're scouring the web for the perfect outfit and excitedly researching accommodation and travel. Being invited to a wedding is a gift and it is tradition to provide a gift to the happy couple. But, where to begin? Luckily we've sat down with Georgie Mitchell, Wedding Planner, Coordinator and Wedding Expert, at online fashion destination SilkFred, who has shared her ultimate guide to wedding gift giving from how much to spend to how to make your gift stand out on the present table.

Green I dos: How to plan a sustainable wedding

The carbon footprint of a wedding in the UK is equivalent to driving a car around the world twice – both create 14.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Ahead of wedding season, sustainability experts from BusinessWaste.co.uk teamed up with leading wedding planner Georgie Mitchel from Georgina Rose Events to share the best ways to make a wedding more sustainable, while also saving some money. Georgie says: "Having been involved in hundreds of weddings, it's hard to see the amount of waste that is produced from that one day. However, it's so good to hear that couples are looking at ways to be more green! Here are my tips for having a sustainable wedding day."

The Speech Surgery: too many thank yous? Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy explores this

The Speech Surgery: too many thank yous? Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy explores this here, ready now...I've written my bride speech but almost three quarters of it is 'thank yous'. Is that right? The thank yous are obviously very important but you also need to be wary of turning your speech into one long tedious list. For guests, thank yous are really only interesting if 1) they're personally getting thanked or 2) the thank yous are entertaining, from-the-heart and feel more than a cut and paste job...

Five ways to beat a wedding hangover

Weddings are notorious for booze with 50% of people admitting they wouldn't be happy to attend a wedding without alcohol. With an expectation for heavy drinking at most celebrations, lots of dancing and a late night, wedding guests often wake up feeling worse for wear. Those suffering the morning after a wedding can ease the pain with simple hacks, including drinking a pint of water before bed and sleeping on their left side. Nausea, thirst and aches can also be alleviated by having a lie-in, which helps to limit fatigue and irritation the next day.

UK vs US Brides: Wedding expert reveals 5 ways we differ

It's time to settle the score: do UK brides really do it better, or are our American cousins stealing the show? Let's dive into the wedding warzone and explore five spicy differences that set us apart! According to a survey conducted by the UK's largest wedding venue collection, the Gilchrist Collection, there are some key differences in the ways Brits plan their big day, compared to that of Americans. Samantha Gilchrist, the owner of the Gilchrist Collection, has had the pleasure of helping thousands of engaged couples with their wedding, across 12 venues, both in the UK and US.

Date night! Olivia Gibson reviews Harrods contemporary Chinese restaurant Chai Wu

Hidden away from the hustle and bustle of Brompton Road, Chai Wu is a serene and modern Chinese restaurant on Harrods' fifth floor. This renowned establishment has caught my attention for quite some time, and I was delighted when the team extended an invitation for me to experience their exquisite signature dishes. After exploring the shoe paradise and venturing into the futuristic technology department filled with the latest essentials, we developed quite a hunger—window shopping can be quite exhausting, you see! Upon arrival at Chai Wu, we were greeted by the attentive team and ushered to our designated table in the elegant and cosy ambience.

Here are 10 must-have items to include in a wedding bathroom basket

Luxury bathroom experts at Posh.co.uk have shared ten must-have items to provide to make sure guests are well taken care of. Wedding bathroom baskets can be a really nice touch for couples to show their guests they care by providing them with everything they need for a comfortable evening. Including items like safety pins, deodorant, body tape and antihistamines will mean that guests won't have to worry about a thing. Andy Ellis from Posh.co.uk said: "Wedding bathroom baskets can be a really lovely touch at a reception by providing guests with all of those small but important items that they may not necessarily be able to bring with them.

The Speech Surgery: timings!

Unsure of when to have the wedding speeches? Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy & author of The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches has the answer: In the US, speeches are just as common at the rehearsal dinner (the formal dinner prior to the wedding that the 'top table' are invited to) as the wedding day itself. At many British weddings, the speeches are scheduled before the wedding meal; the idea that everyone is officially welcomed to the wedding and the speakers are quickly able to relax (and tuck into the free wine!).