Rachel + James by Danielle Veitch

The vision for our wedding was all about creating something timeless, elegant, and personal.

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

Hi! We’re Rachel and James — we live in Notting Hill and have been together for eight years (which feels both like five minutes and forever). Rachel’s a PA who keeps everything running smoothly, and James is a property developer who’s never far from a building site or a tape measure.

We spend most weekends walking all over London, discovering new coffee spots, people-watching, and catching up with friends and family. We’re also in the middle of doing up our first home – a little bit of paint, a lot of laughter, and probably more DIY mishaps than we’d like to admit.

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

We met in Bournemouth at James’ 21st birthday — a night that was meant to be all about him, but ended up being a game-changer for both of us. We were introduced through Rachel’s closest family friend (who also happens to be James’ best friend and now our best man!. For James, it was love at first sight. Rachel remembers thinking James was the kindest, most beautiful person in and out she’d ever met — and all these years later, she still feels exactly the same. Eight years later, here we are – still laughing, still inseparable, and still very grateful to our best man- we definitely owe him a drink, or several!

Tell us about the vision you had for the mood and style of your wedding. (theme, key styling elements, florals, colour palettes etc.).

The vision for our wedding was all about creating something timeless, elegant, and personal. Rachel used to be a wedding planner, so she brought together years of inspiration from past weddings she’s worked on, with help from her incredibly creative sister, who influenced a lot of the styling ideas. The venue, kindly offered to us by James’ boss, was beautiful, and we really wanted to do it justice while still keeping things relaxed and true to us.

We asked guests to wear formal attire, but with the reminder to “be you,” so everyone felt comfortable while still fitting the mood. Flowers were a huge part of the look, and Rachel’s best friend Harriette, of Studio Viola, created something truly stunning. Think lots of natural textures, soft tones, and beautiful structure. Everything — from the colour palette to the styling details — was guided by our key words: timeless and classic, and fun.

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).

One of the biggest wins for us, styling-wise, was the florals — they completely transformed the space. Harriette from Studio Viola brought our vision to life so perfectly, with arrangements that felt natural but elevated, full of movement, texture, and elegance. They created such an impact without feeling overdone.

The venue itself had so much character, so we focused on enhancing it rather than competing with it. Because it was such a generous offer from James’ boss, we wanted to do it justice and keep everything feeling refined and classic. We didn’t overload it — instead, we used simple, high-impact elements: clean table settings, soft lighting, and beautiful linens that gave everything a timeless feel.

The bar was a big focus for us, and putting it right by the dancefloor meant people never left it. Rachel was also obsessed with having the table linen perfectly boxed and touching the floor — a small detail that made a surprisingly big difference. The marquee tied it all together, blending indoor and outdoor spaces and creating the atmosphere we wanted.

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

Rachel really loved being back in her wedding planner role — it was nostalgic and fun to dive into that world again, but what made the process truly special was involving family. Having everyone’s input and support made planning feel like a shared adventure rather than a stressful task.

Our top tip for couples starting out? Don’t get carried away by the small stuff. Focus on the essentials that really make the day memorable — music, food, and dancing. Sometimes, less is more, and doing those key elements really well will mean more than trying to do everything perfectly. It’s better to have a few things done brilliantly than loads of details. Keep it simple, keep it personal, and enjoy the journey.

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

Everyone we worked with was absolutely amazing — we put a lot of research into finding the best of the best, and it really paid off! Our band, Mash Up Kings, were incredible. They carried the whole day, kept the energy high, and had everyone on the dancefloor all night. They were so good that we’re actually going to four weddings this year, and they’re performing at three of them — that says it all!

The food and service from Pickle Shack were outstanding. They were so attentive and kind, stepping up to keep everything running smoothly since we didn’t have a dedicated coordinator — basically, they did it all. Studio Viola created the most beautiful florals, transforming the space perfectly. Meg, Rachel’s sister, designed the branding, which tied the whole theme together seamlessly. And Danielle, our photographer, captured everything effortlessly and beautifully — we felt so lucky to be her subjects for the day!

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

My outfit has a little fairytale of its own! I first tried the dress in a boutique and loved it—then magically found the exact same one (never worn!) in Manchester, two sizes too big. Mum and I jumped in the car and met the most incredible seamstress, Sarah. She altered it to perfection—we closed the original slit, lowered the back to make it unique, and condensed the buttons, which I loved. Mum came with me to every fitting—it was such a special time for us. The veil, from Porvonias, added the magic touch with its lace and blusher—so dreamy! James looked so handsome in a navy, double-breasted suit by Jack at Joseph Darcy, who took so much care crafting it. It fit like a glove and felt timeless. He even had our nickname engraved inside! He loves it so much he’s wearing it to every wedding from now on—and honestly, I don’t blame him!

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

Our rings are really personal to us. I always wanted something like my mum’s engagement ring—simple, classic, and full of meaning. James ended up finding one at an auction house that was even better than I imagined. It felt really special, like it was meant to be. For our wedding bands, we went to Burlington Arcade and chose matching gold rings—just a clean, timeless design. James’s is slightly bigger, mine a bit smaller.

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?).

For us, music was everything—we wanted a party atmosphere from start to finish, and Mash Up Kings delivered more than we could’ve imagined. Food, drink, and service were just as important, and Pickle Shack made us feel totally looked after—it was worth every penny. The flowers meant so much too—my bouquet was made by my cousin, and our amazing friends Harriette and Hannah from Studio Viola created the most stunning florals that really brought the day to life. Photography was another big one—we wanted everything captured in a natural, classic style, and Danielle absolutely nailed it- we are so grateful. We felt so lucky to have such incredible suppliers who totally got us and made the day feel so special.

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

It’s hard to pick just one moment—we felt so loved all day and like the luckiest newlyweds in the world. The ceremony was incredibly emotional and meant so much to us. But one moment we’ll never forget was our entrance into the marquee—everyone was up on tables and chairs swinging napkins to September by Earth, Wind & Fire (we got married on the 21st, so it felt meant to be!). Halfway through dinner, Bamboleo by the Gipsy Kings came on and the whole place just erupted—it was wild in the best way. James’s speech was amazing, as was my dad’s, but it was my sister’s words about me that really set me off. I said just a few words to James—it was emotional, but so special to let him know how lucky I feel to be his wife.