Paris + Hugo by Scarlett Cook

We wanted something relaxed and intimate, yet still timeless.

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…

We both work in advertising, I’m on the marketing side in financial services, and Hugo works on the agency side as a graphic designer. Working in similar industries has meant we have an understanding and appreciation for what the other does.

We’re both Kiwis, but for the past few years, London has become our home away from home. We love to travel, which was the biggest draw in spending time on this side of the world. Paris has become one of our favourite go-to escapes whenever we need a break from London, and it’s a city we know we’ll miss when we move back to New Zealand.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

We met nearly six years ago in a charming but rather damp flat in Grey Lynn. Hugo was already living there, though I hadn’t met him before moving in. I was busy unpacking my bags when Hugo came home, slightly worse for wear from a festival. Dressed in high-waisted jeans and a tie-dye t-shirt, he greeted me with a big smile and shook my hand. My first impression was of his kind, warm energy, and superficially, he seemed to be over six feet tall.

Hugo says, “That despite nursing a headache, I could immediately sense that Paris was special. She was beautiful and had a natural easiness about her”.

Over the next few weeks, Hugo would not so coincidentally hang around the kitchen when I’d get home from work to make my dinner. We would chat each night effortlessly, and from there, we started dating. Luckily, it worked out for the sake of the rest of the flat.

After a few more years in Auckland, we made the move to London together. Through the challenges of building a life on the other side of the world, we quickly discovered we could go the distance.

What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).

We never imagined ourselves having a big, formal wedding. Instead, we wanted something relaxed and intimate, yet still timeless. The Old Marylebone Town Hall quickly became our first choice. Its iconic architecture, grand columns, sweeping staircases, and marble interiors were exactly what we’d envisioned. And with a few of The Beatles’ weddings held there, we felt we were in good company.

One of the best things about the Town Hall is that the venue styling and florals are all taken care of. We chose the Pimlico Room, filled with natural light and framed by muted sage walls, panelled woodwork, and a parquet floor that added a classic elegance.

For my bouquet and Hugo’s boutonnière, we chose calla lilies – simple, understated, and perfectly in keeping with the feel of our day.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

We didn’t have a planner or coordinator, so we organised every detail of the day ourselves. Most things were a mix of DIY and sourcing local suppliers. Hugo, being a designer, definitely came in handy when it came to creating our invitations, menus, and table cards. We really enjoyed the creative process and loved watching our vision come to life. We were also incredibly grateful to have wonderful friends who helped set up our reception tables on the day.

Our advice to other couples is to do what feels most authentic to you and not to worry about pleasing everyone else. Getting married is exciting, but it can also be stressful when you’re trying to make sure all your guests are enjoying themselves. Look after yourselves in the lead-up. Get plenty of sleep, take your vitamins, and, if you can, take some time off work the week before to decompress.

On the day itself, the best thing you can do is switch off your phone and surrender control of whatever you can’t control. Our wedding day happened to coincide with a TFL tube strike, which meant some of our guests were running through the streets of Marylebone with minutes to spare before the ceremony, but we were blissfully unaware.

Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?

Photography was really important to both of us. Once the day is over, the photos become the memories you look back on for years to come. We knew we wanted images that felt editorial and candid. The kind of photos we could look at when we’re 80 and think, we used to be cool. I came across Scarlett on socials and immediately knew her style was exactly what we were after. Her portfolio was beautiful, and she had plenty of experience shooting micro and elopement-style weddings like ours.

On the day, Scarlett was an absolute pleasure to work with. She brought such a calm, reassuring energy that instantly put us at ease. It’s so lovely looking back at the photos now to see how much fun we were having. We truly couldn’t recommend her enough, thank you, Scarlett!
 I will also admit that in a moment of weakness during a week of rain ahead of our ceremony, I paid a witch on Etsy £12 to cast a spell for good weather. It stopped raining and we had perfect sunshine, so I’m choosing not to ask too many questions.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?

I love it when you have a vision of an outfit and are able to execute it exactly as you pictured it. I wanted something that suited the vibe of a chic city town hall venue, but also something I felt confident and myself in. I chose the Molly dress from Halfpenny London, paired with a bow belt and a blusher veil. The oversized bow was my favourite detail; it felt playful and added just the right amount of drama.

The gloves were a fun touch from Untamed Petals, giving the look a vintage feel. There aren’t many occasions in life where you get the chance to wear tulle gloves, so I had to seize it. For my something borrowed, I wore my mum’s pearls. A special and sentimental finishing touch to complete the look.

Hugo’s suit was comprised of a black Italian wool blazer and trousers with subtle espresso brown chalk stripes from the British heritage menswear brand SIRPLUS. He paired this with a double-cuff cream dress shirt from English shirt makers Turnbull & Asser, dressed down with brown Russel & Bromley loafers and kept casual without a tie.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

My engagement ring was made in New Zealand by The Diamond Shop. I’d always known I wanted an oval diamond on a platinum band, and we were able to incorporate platinum from one of my mum’s rings into the band, which made it even more meaningful.

Our wedding bands were made in the UK. Mine is a half-eternity platinum diamond band from After Diamonds. It is simple, timeless, and the perfect complement to my engagement ring.

Hugo wanted something a little different from a traditional, plain gold band. He was looking for a design that felt more organic in shape and had a bit more character. He came across Brighton-based jeweller Jeremy Hoyle and chose a carved yellow gold band that suits him perfectly.

What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).

Food was definitely an important part of the day for us. After the ceremony, we wanted a relaxed dinner somewhere within walking distance of the Town Hall. We both love Italian food, and it felt like an easy crowd pleaser. We chose The Italian Greyhound in Marylebone for our reception dinner and went with an Italian-style sharing menu- think chilli arancini, tiger prawns, artichoke risotto, and homemade sorbet. The food was perfect, and the restaurant’s beautifully simple styling made it feel elevated while still being warm and welcoming.

Originally, we debated cutting costs by skipping a wedding cake, but we’re so glad we didn’t. We ended up choosing a lemon and raspberry vintage-style heart-shaped cake with decorative piping and “just married” iced in cursive. We ordered a larger cake from Em Cakes and made personalised doggy bags so everyone could take a slice home to enjoy for breakfast the next morning.

Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?

One of our favourite moments of the day was the hour we spent walking through Marylebone before the ceremony while taking photos. It was a busy Monday afternoon, with the streets full of people and traffic. Strangers and school kids stopped to compliment us, and drivers honked and shouted their congratulations. In a big city like London, which can sometimes feel indifferent to your existence, it was lovely to experience such kindness from complete strangers. 

Another special moment was just before we entered our ceremony. We’d decided to walk down the aisle together, and as we waited outside, we could hear our family and friends chatting and laughing while listening to the cellist. Most of our guests had travelled all the way from New Zealand to be there, and knowing they had come so far to support us made that moment feel even more meaningful. We walked down the aisle to Moon River played on the cello, which perfectly set the tone for our ceremony.

What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share?

For us, married life feels much the same as it always has, but being married marks the beginning of a new chapter together as our own little family. One of our favourite rituals is spending slow Sundays together watching movies while Hugo cooks.