Let This Love-Filled London Wedding Inspire Your Chic City Nuptials
Inseparable after meeting in a London nightclub, it was an episode of Grand Designs that would inspire a truly unique proposal five years later for Charlotte Lucy Cijffers and Declan McGlynn. Having seen an incredible apartment inside the face of the St. Pancras clock tower on the show, Irish tech founder Declan contacted the owner to rent the exact same apartment and, in a room full of candles, asked for Charlotte's hand in marriage.
Whilst the wedding planning didn't quite run like clockwork, due to a few hiccups courtesy of Covid-19, the couple said 'I Do' on 9 September, 2024, at a beautiful service in front of 50 family and friends. It was a day of many parts: A civil ceremony at Stoke Newington Town Hall, followed by drinks at The Prince pub, and a stunning reception at Jones & Sons in Dalston that later segued into a 'pizza and prosecco party' once the sun went down.
As a chief media digital officer in Dubai, Charlotte is a self-confessed 'organisational freak,' and used her love of spreadsheets to plan the perfect 'chic and unfussy city wedding.' Personal details included tables named after their favourite nightclubs around the world, handmade truffles gifted to guests, and turning to Declan's best friend, a florist, to nail the 'wild English garden' brief with a hanging garden and tables filled with wildflowers. 'I wanted something that contrasted the industrial feel of the space – organic, unpretentious and full of greens and leaves!'expained Charlotte.
After a dinner of maple-glazed scallops, Welsh lamb and sticky toffee pudding, dancing was the on the cards. Beginning with Let's Stay Together by Al Green, Charlotte – in a floor-length dress by Australian designer Lola Varma – and Declan lead the wedding party through a medley of music long into the night, from Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson to DJ sets by family and friends, accompanied by an explosion of glitter cannons.
Despite being nervous about the vows, Charlotte says the wedding day went perfectly. 'It was low-key, chic, personal and totally 'us'.' Now back from a seven-month honeymoon backpacking around South America, her advice to brides is: 'Don't waste money or energy on traditions that don't mean anything to you or things you won't remember. We didn't have a veil, a cake, bridesmaids or a limo – and I've never once wished we had.'
Dress: Lola Varma @lola.varma Jewellery: Pearl Octopussy, @pearloctopuss.y Wedding ring: Webley Jewellers @webleylondon Venue and Caterer: Jones & Sons @jones.and.sons Florist: Jen Hall of Belladonna Florists @belladonna.florist Music: Chris Barker @youlovextopher Photographer Rebecca Rees @rebeccareesphotography Videographer Chris Turner @christurnerfilm Hair & Make-up: Rachael Johnson – Alchemy Hair and Make Up, @Alchemy_ hairandmakeup
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