Hackney Town Hall Wedding V&A Museum of Childhood Wedding

It was a sunny September day for this Museum of Childhood wedding, that featured an ice luge wedding cake and a giant (4ft!) disco ball! Along with the most stunning dress, the most stunning statement florals, and a set of stunning venues. This wedding started at Hackney Town Hall and ended at the V&A Museum of Childhood… for a party until 3am!

It was to be a fairly relaxed but modern affair, encapsulating the couple’s exquisite taste and with small nods to the groom’s maternal heritage – orange florals were picked to symbolise India, and they hired a vintage ambassador’s car as their private transport.

Lizzie and Jamie’s ceremony was in the stunning North Atria of Hackney Town Hall, and finished with a wonderfully long and joyful confetti exit. The couple then took an ambassador’s car along the road to their reception at the V&A Museum of Childhood, and their guests followed in old London style routemaster buses.

Food was really important to the couple, and before they even contacted me for planning help, and before we even had the late licence approved by the Museum of Childhood and the council, they had their wedding breakfast earmarked! Salon Brixton was their favourite restaurant, and having enjoyed many an amazing dinner there together, they knew they wanted Mark and his team there to look after their catering on the day. We worked with Mark for months to get the package, price, and service just right. In the end, Mark came up with an amazing feasting menu, catered the drinks reception and the bar, ensured the timely set up of the dining area, and looked after the safe delivery and collection of all the tables, chairs, and dinnerware.

His team were on site at the Museum of Childhood from early in the morning, taking deliveries, cooking and preparing, and briefing their teams – ready for the complex and intricate schedule I had put together that followed for the rest of day, for all that a (working and open) Museum of Childhood wedding entails for 180 guests…! (A lot – and a lot of restrictions to work around.)

We had a marquee erected in the grounds of the museum to host Lizzie and Jamie’s drinks reception, while the museum closed and their wedding breakfast was set up inside. The couple and their guests enjoyed a selection of drinks and some amazing cocktails to the sound of a jazz duo outside in the marquee, including a Burnt Orange Negroni, a Ting a Ling, and a Ginger Collins. Meanwhile, we had a super quick one hour turnaround to set up their wedding breakfast from scratch inside once the museum closed – for 180 guests! But Mark has his team were prepared and ready, and we actually managed it in just under an hour…!

Following a warm welcome speech by Jamie’s mum in the marquee outside, Lizzie’s mum then followed to mark the start of dinner inside, once everyone was settled and the couple had been announced in. I absolutely loved this all-woman hosting, and loved that Lizzie’s mum gave a toast instead of her dad. I think having both mums give introductions and speeches really created such a wonderfully warm, relaxed, and welcoming atmosphere for the whole day.

Dinner commenced and they dined on a feast of varied sharing platters, mains of roast beef, and croque en bouche for afters – with an excellent wine pairing and few more cocktails thrown in for good measure. Every part, every dish, and every wine, of course handpicked by Lizzie and Jamie – and refined by Mark and his team at Salon Brixton.

A family tradition kicked off the party after dinner… an ice luge! The couple weren’t keen on wedding traditions as such, but an ice luge is mandatory at their family parties apparently, and they were happy to honour that! (Although I got the impression this was under a little bit of light-hearted pressure from friends and family members…!) They weren’t sure at first about how to include this in their wedding, but as they weren’t too fussed about having a wedding cake, we had an ice luge designed in the shape of a wedding cake instead – which went down a storm!

Their first dance was absolutely magical, set beneath the twinkling fairy light drapes and an enormous 4ft disco ball! They danced into the night to a live soul jazz band, and then had all their friends DJ until 3am!

I was back the next day at the Museum of Childhood to ensure Mark and his team had all the furniture collections under control, and to pick up any last bits and pieces for the couple before heading over to the MOB’s house to set up the Keralan Lunch party for the next day.

Planning and Coordination by Devine Bride.

“Booking Laura was the BEST decision we made for our wedding and she ensured we had the most wonderful weekend of our lives. As soon as we hired her, we knew we could trust her completely – she combines amazing organisational skills with a brilliant eye for detail. She also had loads of imaginative ideas for our wedding – including ways to save money! She is also just a lovely person to work with! If you’re wondering whether to book her, do it now – she will ensure you can relax, enjoy the day and will no doubt save you quite a bit of cash along the way”

Photos kindly from Through the Woods We Ran.

CONTACTS AND SUPPLIERS

Wedding Planner: @devinebride
Ceremony Venue: Hackney Town Hall
Reception Venue: V&A Museum of Childhood
Marquee: Tent Management
AV & Staging: Ash Productions
Photographer: Through the Woods We Ran
MUA and Hair: Catherine Bailey
Bride’s Dress: Hermione de Paula
Wedding Cars: Karma Kabs
Coaches: Brian’s Coaches
Caterer and Bar: Salon Brixton
Florist: Green and Envy
Band: Atlantic Soul Orchestra
Ice Luge: PSD Ice Art
Confetti: Shropshire Petals
Polaroid Cameras + Guest Book: Snap & Love
Stationery: Rose Paper Scissors