There’s not much we love more than a good signature cocktail. Except for, say, FOUR signature cocktails, like today’s couple had at their gorgeous Jewish wedding.
Lauren, a beauty journalist, and Phil, a business development manager in financial services, went all out and came up with a Manchester Margarita (the groom is from Manchester), a Quinn & Tonic bar (Quinn is the couple’s last name), a Lauren’s Lychee Martini, and a Phil’s Passion Fruit Mojito. Um, we’ll take one of each!
But it’s not just the drinks we’re mad for at this wedding; the aesthetics were pretty fab as well. Lauren and Phil ran with the walled garden venue theme and crafted the coolest flower wall (they did it themselves) and decked their gorgeous pink(!) chuppah out in flowers and eucalyptus leaves. Photographer Grace Pham captured all the details SO perfectly.
Also we LOVE that these two met in the security line of Luton airport (like something out of a movie, right?!) and so chose a venue in Luton, near to where they first met.
Let’s hand over to Lauren, who looked ever so dreamy in her sparkling beaded gown from Pronovias…
How we met
Lauren, the bride: We met on a Jewish university trip to Israel. Specifically, we met in the security line in Luton airport. Phil cut his knee when he was going through security and I rushed up to him with a plaster (I always carry an emergency bag – haha). It went from there, and our incredible holiday romance turned into a long-distance relationship – we travelled between Manchester, where Phil lived, and London every weekend for a year and a half. Following this, he finally moved to London!
A Walled Garden
We had our dream wedding at the conservatory at the Luton Hoo Walled Garden. I came across the venue after having afternoon tea at a hotel down the road one day, and knew even before we were engaged that I wanted us to get married there. Plus, our love story started in the security line of Luton airport, so it felt quite special to be near where we first met.
A Wedding in Neutrals
Our wedding was traditional but totally Pinterest-inspired. Our childhood photos represented each table number, and the color scheme was very chic and simple – white flowers and lots of eucalyptus leaves. I’m not very into color (our house is all white and beige), so this was very me! I planned the whole wedding, and I guess Phil was my assistant (sorry Phil, haha) and a friend also acted as a wedding day coordinator, following the schedule I had put together, so everything ran smoothly.
Watercolor Floral Invitations
All wedding stationery was designed beautifully by my friend Hannah, who is a designer. It was filled with watercolor florals and eucalyptus leaves.
Hair + Makeup
My goal was to look like a glamorous version of myself on the big day, with good coverage and pretty, nude shades of makeup so that Phil would still recognise me in! My makeup savior was the incredible Sarah Field and my hairdresser at my salon in Maida Vale did my hair and hair extentions.
A Pronovias dress
My dress was from Pronovias, but my alterations lady made the train shorter and added lots of sparkle and beading.
Rose Gold Shoes
Mine were rose gold platform heels from ASOS!
The handsome groom
Phil’s suit was from Next, his tie was from T.M.Lewin, and he wore Paco Rabanne 1 Million (the scent he was wearing when I first met him).
Bridesmaids in Rose
My beautiful bridesmaids wore ASOS dresses. The color matched the best men and user bow ties.
A Blush Chuppah
Again, Pinterest was my muse. I saw the most incredible image of a pink chuppah cloth, so decided to go with a light blush pink instead of white for our chuppah. I wanted it to look simple, chic, and elegant – and it really did!
Smashing the Glass
My favourite part of the ceremony was the badeken and seeing the tears running down Phil’s face when he first saw me. And when he smashed the glass, we gave each other the biggest hug (and kiss, obviously!).
Our best friends all said a sheva brachia which was really special.
Our music choice
Processional:
Phil + others walking down aisle – Meheira (Shlomie Gertner)
Lauren walking down aisle – Boi vashalom – Yaakov Shwekey version
Lauren circling Phil – Eshet Hail (Yaakov Shwekey)
End of ceremony – Im Eshkocheich (Yaakov Shwekey)
First dance:
A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
Band music:
Israeli dancing songs
Pop songs
DJ music:
A mixture of Spanish music and party songs
White Flowers
We chose white roses, white peonies, and eucalyptus leaves. It was all made possible by our amazing florist, Sarah Maylin.
Our fabulous Photographer
Our photographer was Grace Pham, she was an old work colleague who has set up her own wedding photography business and captured our special day so perfectly. We also had a second photographer who was Grace’s assistant.
Candle Favors
We wrote each name and table number on candles, with personalised Lauren & Phil wedding stickers, that people took to their table to find their seat. We used these candles as wedding favours.
A Live Band
The band were Neshama and were brilliant.
Signature cocktails
We named all the cocktails after us! There was a Manchester Margarita (Phil is from Manchester), a Quinn & Tonic bar, a Lauren’s Lychee Martini, and a Phil’s Passion Fruit Mojito. And our table numbers all had childhood photos on, representing each age. We made our own flowerwall props, which included a frame with faux flowers and a chalk board, and we got an L and P in rose gold balloons.
Advice to couples currently planning their wedding
Try to take in every second of the day. It goes in a split second and is an absolute blur! I’d definitely recommend getting more than one photographer so they can capture your special day from all angles. And give your best friends and bridal party a schedule so they can double check everything is going to plan!
Lauren & Phil’s little white book
Photography – Grace Pham
Videography – Videoman Productions
Venue – Luton Hoo Walled Garden
Bride’s dress – Pronovias
Bride’s shoes and bridesmaids – ASOS
Groom’s attire – Next, T.M.Lewin and Paco Rabanne
Makeup – Sarah Field
Flowers – Sarah Maylin
Band – Neshama
Catering – Jasmine Catering
