In their own words, Niamh and Charles' wedding was: "chilled out fun, bohemian, chic local & sentimental to us, so we both enjoyed and were in the moment for every single bit of it." Sounds just about perfect to me. Taking a very laidback, carefree approach Niamh and Charles made the impossible possible and planned this lovely mid-week wedding in just five weeks. Yes, you did read that correctly: 5 weeks! This is anti-bridezilla wedding. Yes, it's a very stylish day, from regal ceremony to London pub reception, but it's all about innate style with these two, they're a pair of very cool people for whom getting married was a very important occasion, but shouldn't be taken too seriously. We are delighted to share their wedding with you courtesy of Babb Photo... Five weeks! I'm still processing this myself...
Niamh and Charles both work for SONY music and although Niamh liked had always liked Charles from afar she didn't think he had much interest, as she explained... "He always had the same routine: a pint after work on a Friday and then he cycled home. He occasionally organised unnecessary meetings with me and was hilarious but not at all flirtatious. Then one evening he loitered behind me at a leaving party and kept thrusting wine into my hand until everyone else had left. We kissed at the Natwest bank machine on High Street Kensington and went on a date on the Sunday. It was a secret at work for 6 months. He told me he loved me on our first holiday together, which was in Miami after 19 drinks and no food. " Well, they do say in vino veritas. It was completely true because just one year later they became a full family with the arrival of their little girl Etain.
Untraditional Charles (as we now know him) proposed on his own birthday by Hammersmith Bridge after lunch at the River Café. Niamh loved her ring so much, she used it as both her engagement and wedding ring. On the day she simply took it off and put it back on again to get married. This is why we love these two.
For the actual wedding Niamh and Charles were incredibly chilled, they had set a date and booked the ceremony but just five weeks before the wedding nothing had been done. A chance meeting one day in Islington solved everything. She met the ladies from Union & Co... "They do bespoke wedding designing and planning where you can pick from a menu of flexible options what you really need. I didn't need a wedding planner because it was all chilled out, relaxed and planned in an afternoon - but I needed a stylist for our reception venue, a photographer (thank you God, for Laura) and someone to co-ordinate things on the day which Union & Co did superbly. I can't recommend a day co-ordinator highly enough. It was a bargain and took the pressure off us & the bridesmaids and parents and friends who all wanted to help us." So that was that. All sorted in one.
As Charles is originally from Fulham, and his mum still lives down the road, they decided to have the ceremony in the historic surroundings of Fulham Palace. Joined by friends and family from all over the world: New Zealand, Australia, America, the Seychelles and Thailand, among other far-flung places, and of course their little girl, Etain, they made their vows to one another.
With such a mix of international guests, the ceremony wasn't your traditional English wedding. It had a really special vibe with everyone whooping, cheering and laughing throughout. Sounds perfect. A wedding should be fun!
After their I do's Niamh, Charles and their guests enjoyed champagne in the sunshine in the courtyard of the Fulham Palace, before heading to venue number two.
Even the kids are stylish and chic..!
Niamh's amazing Isabel Marant dress was bought online from Net-A-Porter, delivered to her office, tried on at work and that was it.
Outside the Fulham Palace, Union & Co had a mini-fleet of red buses ready and waiting. So much easier and comfortable than the tube on a hot summer's day.
For the reception things got a whole lot more casual. Niamh, Charles and their friends and family headed to their local pub where they had their very first date, The PV. Niamh and Charles know the staff, love the food and the manager Patsy is Irish (very appealing to Niamh's Irish heritage).
The P.V. is an old Victorian gin house. To fit all their international guests, Niamh and Charles filled the pub with long tables lending to a sociable, relaxed vibe.
The flowers were sourced in the New Covent Garden Flower market and put together by done by Niamh, her mum and her brother's girlfriend Uma using quicksand rose, wax flower and autumn eucalyptus. Simple but chic.
For Niamh the most important things for the wedding were the the personal things, the things she will remember forever... "It was the big things that mattered. Doing the flowers with Mom the day before. Seeing Charlie in his lovely green tie. The noise of everyone talking and laughing and how much our Mothers and my Stepfather enjoyed themselves."
An utterly simple and stylish day Niamh and Charles have some useful hints and tips to help you plan and avoid stress. "Be true to yourselves. Do everything you want to do and listen to nobody. Except this, don't allow kids after 3pm! Don't invite evening guests it changes something just when you want everything to stay as it was all day. Don't worry about small things. When's the last time you went to a wedding and thought oh I wish there were more of those things? Don't doubt your choice of venue and keep reminding yourselves why you made those choices. Do invest instead in someone you know and feel comfortable with to come to your house and do your make or hair with your closest friends or bridesmaid/mom etc. This was so much fun! Use a day co-ordinator. It's much cheaper than you might think and they are professionals."
A huge congratulations to you both on such a beautiful, individual day - we wish you both all the best! And a big thank you also to Laura at Babb Photo, thanks so much for sharing your beautiful work with us! www.babbphoto.com
The Wedding Details:
- Ceremony: Fulham Palace
- Reception: The Princess Victoria, High Road house
- Wedding dress: Isabel Marant at Net-a-Porter
- Groom's suit: Richard James
- Bridesmaid dresses: Phase Eight, X, I love Gorgeous & Adrianna Pappell
- Shoes: Jimmy Choo
- Flowers: Wild at Heart
- Accessories: Victoria Market, Seychelles, Tiffany, Anthrolpologie
- Nails: Bliss
- Stylist & Day-off wedding co-ordinator: Union & Co.
- Decor: Paperchase, White Company
- Stationery: Etsy, Kate Spade, Paperless Post
- Cake: Cake Maison
- Cars: The Routemaster Bus Co.
- Make up: The Wedding Hair Company
- Hair: Nick bland of Harringtons
