We knew we wanted something small and intimate in London with just 28 guests, so getting the right venue was really important. We wanted something that felt industrial but minimal in style so we could put our own stamp on it.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
Hannah: I work at a creative comms agency in London and have a love for fashion, making my own clothes and am unashamedly obsessed with Harry Potter.
Alex: I’m a humanitarian advisor and work for the UK government, with an unwavering commitment to Fantasy Football and a love of cold water swimming – and trying to convince Hannah to hike mountains in our spare time! We live in South London.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
Hannah: We met on Bumble and I was drawn in by the fact Alex had posted pictures with his dog. Our first date was to see an exhibition at the Natural History Museum (although we never made it), and I thought he was charming, handsome and quick-witted – although not entirely in control of the situation, with the logistics of the date verging on disaster!
Alex: I thought Hannah was stunning and very cool with a great sense of style. She struck me as someone who was cultured and I appreciated she went with the flow despite the date descending into complete chaos.
When did you first realise that this was someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with?
A: We both knew very early on, from just a couple of dates in. But, it wasn’t until we had a Christmas getaway to Vienna a couple of months into our relationship that really confirmed it – and I’m sure wrapping up warm for the Christmas markets with Glühwien had something to do with it.
Was there a proposal? Tell us a little about it…
H: It’s our dream to one day move to Copenhagen and it’s a city we go back to every single year. Alex proposed at Ørstedparken lake one late summer evening before we had dinner booked at our favourite restaurant, Høst. Alex was worrying about the weather all day and I couldn’t understand why the walk was so important for us to do – which in hindsight, should have been a big giveaway! Alex proposed with a stand-in proposal ring he’d found, as he knew that I wasn’t sure what I’d wanted and that I’d wanted to choose my own.
Tell us about the vision you had for the mood or style of your wedding…
H: We knew we wanted something small and intimate in London with just 28 guests, so getting the right venue was really important. We wanted something that felt industrial but minimal in style so we could put our own stamp on it. We came across Hackney Coffee Company on Instagram – a hidden gem in East London with exposed brick walls, high ceilings, crittall doors and a hanging flower installation – and it was the only venue we viewed. We also got married in October – and in our view there’s nothing better than a crisp autumnal day in the city – so wanted to reflect this by having a colour palette that embraced the season in our florals.
What was one element you were happy to splurge on?
A: For us, it was really important that our guests were well fed and watered throughout the day – and booze was a big part of this! We popped champaign outside of the church, served espresso martinis after the wedding breakfast and had a menu of cocktails for the evening which included margaritas and gin brambles. It was important our guests could relax and enjoy themselves – although they may not have thanked us for the headaches the next day
Did anything happen on your wedding day that you laugh about in hindsight (even if it was stressful at the time)?
H: There were a number of funny things that happened on the day that we weren’t expecting – including Alex popping a champagne cork outside the church which pinged off our bus driver’s head, the name plate on the front of the bus spelling our new surname incorrectly, and my brother completely missing his cue to play music for a joke during my speech – but these things only adding to the things we laugh about when we reminisce on our day. The bit we laugh about most, however, is seeing everyone in their wedding finery partying at 3am in a club basement in Hackney, after an impromptu charge to find somewhere we could dance after the venue closed. It felt great to feel that it was a party no one wanted to end.
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story?
I inherited a love of fashion from my mum, who taught me to sew and is the reason I’m glued to my sewing machine most weekends, so choosing a gown that reflected my personal taste and style was important to me. I knew what I wanted from the off – but the list was very specific; bias-cut, silk satin, 1930s style, an antique colour, long sleeves – and unsurprisingly, I was struggling to find a dress that met my criteria amid a sea of traditional white gowns.
I nearly gave up my search and considered having something made from scratch, until I came across The OWN Studio – a contemporary bridal studio with pared-back dresses handmade in its London atelier. There was one dress, Style 023, more beautiful than I ever could have dreamt. Rosie and Jess were incredible from start to finish in tweaking it to make it my perfect dress.
For the evening, I knew I wanted to have a change of outfit so I could let loose and dance the night away. I designed a jumpsuit, completed with a detachable silk chiffon cape, which my mum sewed to perfection.
Ceremony location: St.Etheldreda’s Church | Reception location: The Hackney | Photographer: Taylor Hughes Photography | Flora: Mc Queens Flowers | Catering + Beverages: Banquet Food Design | Stationery: Papier | Registry: Prezola | Brides Attire: The Own Studio | Grooms Attire: Suit Supply | Ring/s: Vintage Edwardian engagement ring | Brides Shoes: Aquazzura | Groom’s shoes: Dr Martens | Makeup: Izabela Pagano | Hair: Myla and Davis | MOH dress: Self Portrait | Best Man Suit: Suit Supply
