I’m the first person to suggest that you try and think outside the (fancy hotel) box when it comes to choosing your wedding venue, but on visiting the sumptuous new Rosewood London, I had a change of heart — I was most definitely wowed.
On entering the Edwardian cobblestoned courtyard (formerly used for horse-drawn carriages) the tone was set, and the more I explored it the more I loved it… British heritage combined with contemporary twists, a hip aesthetic and lots of thoughtful touches. Rosewood London stands out from other luxury hotels in that there isn’t an air of stuffiness or passà© about it — it oozes a breezy, sophisticated vibe and their playful and idiosyncratic details really appealed to my creative side.
The hotel opened nine months ago following an £85million makeover and is already set to be central London’s most in-demand wedding venue for fashionable nuptials, indeed one of their beautiful Jewish weddings has already been featured on the pages of Smashing The Glass!
I’m prone to spoiling my lovely readers and now one of you lucky lot (together with the love of your life) is going to experience the amazing Rosewood London for yourself. Yes, I’m giving you the chance to win an indulgent romantic overnight stay at London’s hippest new luxury hotel!
THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED
HOW TO ENTER
For your chance to win, simply hop over and like the Smashing The Glass Facebook page, then come back here and leave a comment at the end of this blog post telling me what your dream wedding venue would be. It’s as easy as that, and anyone can enter whether you’re already married, engaged, or simply dreaming of the future!
While you’re waiting to hear if you’ve scooped the prize, see what Kelly Hunt, Rosewood London’s ‘Director of Romance’ (hello, best job title in the world?) told me about what the hotel can offer you in terms of a wedding venue. Have a read below, there’s so much to love and their extras pack a punch too!
A rosewood London wedding
Guests arrive at Rosewood London through an archway that opens into a grand Edwardian courtyard, in a little oasis of tranquillity unique among London luxury hotels. It’s the perfect start to a memorable wedding in a beautiful Grade-II- listed building, just steps away from Covent Garden. The hotel houses weddings for up to 450 guests and lovingly offers:
♥ A complimentary suite for the newly married couple on their wedding night.
♥ Kosher catering exclusively through Tony Page, although ‘Jewish-friendly’ non-kosher menus are a specialty for the in-house chefs too. Sushi, Indian and Asian-inspired dishes are a mà©tier with some chefs having previously worked at Nobu and the Cinnamon Club.
♥ A license until 1am, with the option for a late license (at an extra charge) to 3am.
♥ A wedding monogram designed by Paul Antonio, the uber-talented calligrapher who created the invitations for the Royal wedding and Kate Moss’s big day.
♥ A complimentary two-night honeymoon at a choice of Rosewood hotels, including a romantic dinner.
♥ £100 Amara gift card when you sign up to their bridal registry service.
♥ Use of Rosewood London’s Event Studio which is a visual and tactile showcase of their exclusive connections with London’s leading purveyors of floral decoration, couture designers, entertainers and toastmasters. It is the place for guests to personalise each distinctive event allowing for fun and creative brainstorming sessions.
♥ Fantastic photo opportunities from The Courtyard, to the Rose Bronze Gallery and grand marble staircase to name but a few.
♥ A menu tasting space with show kitchen and a super fun experience with their Chef’s. This space can also be hired for pre-wedding hen parties with masterclasses in such things as making puddings, sushi, canapà©s, aphrodisiac menus for after the honey moon!
For the full story about weddings at Rosewood London or to organise a private viewing with Kelly, Rosewood London’s Director of Romance, email Kelly.Hunt@rosewoodhotels.com or call 020 3747 8136.
NB. Images of the rooms are not necessarily indicative of the prize.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
– The prize is an overnight stay for two at Rosewood London, including breakfast.
– The winner is responsible for making their own way to and from Rosewood London.
– The overnight stay is subject to availability and certain black-out dates may apply.
– The prize is non-transferable and cannot be substituted with a cash alternative.
– Competition entries must be received by Sunday 31 August 2014 at 11.59pm. The winner will be picked at random and will be contacted by email within a week of this closing date. The name of the lucky winner may also be published on the Smashing the Glass Facebook page.
– The winner must claim their prize within 1 year of being notified.
– Smashing The Glass’ decision and any decision taken by the promoter (Rosewood London) is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
– Smashing The Glass may retain the email address of all entrants for future communication use only. It will not be shared with any third party.
– No purchase necessary.
My dream wedding venue would be the Victoria & Albert museum. I went to a friend’s wedding there and I have never seen anything so spectacular in all my life!
My dream wedding venue will be a nice hotel on the French Riviera. Located on the top of a hill, facing the blue sea (as blue as my partner’s eyes), a large terrace but not for too many people (I prefer small wedding, for more privacy, so not more than 50 people) All the guests will have to stay until the sunset, when we will start to light the candles.
For me it’s the best romantic place to get married
We had our dream venue with One Marylebone but we could definitely spend at night at Rosewood London to plan an anniversary party (surely that is something to be planning)?
We were fortunate enough to tie the knot at The Rosewood London just this May. We wouldn’t have changed a thing and are of course dying to return! Maybe for our one year anniversary…
I would love to be remarried at Sea by the captain of an ocean liner. My partner is a keen sailor so I might be able to persuade him.
My dream wedding venue is the Rosewood London as I’m actually getting married there in 5weeks time!! My dreams are about to come true!
Ohhhhh – there are so many dream wedding venues to choose from. Mine would be Villa Balbianello in Lake Como – it’s magical there x
Sutton House, London
(if I’d win this prize, it would be a dream – my fiancee and I would like nothing better than to fly our respective best friends over to our wedding, then have them use our London flat whilst we’re on honeymoon…the only obstacle being to all this is that we don’t want house guests on our wedding night. And The Rosewood, of all places…!!)
My dream wedding venue would actually be either the Rosewood Hotel or Corinthia hotel. Both exude elegance and style. It would be fabulous to treat our guests to fine cuisine in luxury surroundings.
On the pier at Southwold
We got married in our dream venue of the Lake District, which holds a special place in my heart for several reasons. Would love a contrast and a stay at The Rosewood for our 2nd anniversary though, it looks stunning!
bare feet in the sand on a white beach with my closest friends and family and of course h2b!
My dream wedding would be in a castle over looking the sea somewhere beautiful views, white sand and clear seas. Warm wether and sunset across the sea. Perfect xx
Buckingham Palace would be cool.
My girlfriend is Lithuanian and we’d love to get married at Trakai Island in Lithuania, With its beautiful lakes and spectacular castle, it is the dream wedding venue for us.
Our dream wedding venue is the Lambeth Palace and Garden
My dream wedding venue would be on the beach in the Maldives.
My dream venue would be outside Sydney Opera House
wow, after seeing these amazing photos it would have to be The Rosewood, elegant, classy and beautiful, what more could anybody ask. I have already forwarded the link to two friends who are planning their weddings.
My dream wedding venue would be The St Pancras hotel – I love how beautiful it is, and the grand staircase would make a great backdrop for photos!
Beach wedding somewhere hot!
My dream venue outside the UK would be Vanuatu but my UK dream venue would be a castle in the Scottish Isles.
I would love to get married at the Glass Chapel in Jersey, its just beautiful and Jersey is such a lovely place
My dream wedding venue would be my back garden in my home the place I love the most with all the people I love there. Big Marquee and lots of drinks
I’d get married in the fabulously shabby chic Bull Hotel in Bridport
Las Vegas
Dream venue would be on the banks of the thames in London in one of the spectacular 5 star hotels……………x
On a beach in St Lucia.
WOW, READING THE ARTICLE IT WOULD HAVE TO BE THE ROSEWOOD
IT SOUNDS AND LOOKS AMAZING
Well if we’re talking complete dream then it would probably be Bovey Castle in Dartmoor National Park. A true fairy-tale venue. With exclusive use of course so that the party can go on into the night! ;D
Mine would be in a field with our wellies and jeans on with pretty flower garlands and music from yesteryear 🙂 x
The Orangery at Kensington Palace would be my ideal venue.
a big fancy house of G-d 🙂
A candle lit cave!
At a NASA space center. We’d have a ceremony and watch a rocket launch to seal the deal with our guests. Then off to Hawaii for honeymoon as it’s a great place to stargaze and home to one of the largest telescopes in the world.
On a tropical beach somewhere.
The Rosewood Hotel is a magical setting for a wedding. It combines luxury and heritage with so many special little extras. I think the courtyard would be fantastic for wedding photos.
A magical wedding with my special fella –
Please Rosewood, grant my wishes…signed Cinderella x
I’d like to be married beside the Friendship Bell in San Pedro. The bell was a location from the movie Usual Suspects and just after it was released, I went to the States on holiday and visited it with my then boyfriend. He’s long gone, but the memory of the beauty of the bell and what it represents has stayed with me in a good way :0) xo
A secluded beach in the maldives would be my dream wedding location.
My dream wedding venue would be out in the open in Lapland!
My dream wedding venue would have to be on a beach in the Maldives surrounded by sunshine and our closest friends and family. However, as long as my princess turns up on the day we could get married anywhere. The perfect venue is wherever you choose to make it. Wether it be on a beach, house of worship or registery office. Aslong as the day is perfect for you, the venue doesn’t play that huge of a part
I would love to renew my vows out in the big wide ocean under the sun
On a tropical beach
I was thinking somewhere outdoors in Hawaii, but now I might want to make it the Rosewood London!
My dream wedding venue would be Rosewood London, of course! It looks fabulous and, let’s face it, London is the best city in the world.
Has to be a romantic beach wedding on St Lucia just as the sun is going down, with lots of candles
Somewhere abroad, quite and secluded
Rosewood London for our golden Wedding
This venue looks perfect for a flawless romantic wedding
I would love to have a traditional wedding ceremony followed by a reception at a nice hotel with lots of outside space for children to run around in. A nice summer’s day would be good too.
St paul’s cathedral – we can dream haha
My dream wedding venue is still being imagined… Currently my fantasy takes me to a beach – white, wooden, folding chairs, barefoot in the sand. But mostly – my dream wedding venue would be chosen by my husband. My ultimate dream is for someone to know me so well that they know what my hopes, dreams and ideas of perfection are – even better than me…
A forest grove
Our dream wedding venue would have to be Norwich Cathedral – when we married 20 years ago, we were virtually pennyless and had the frugal-est of ceremonies. It would be great to do it in style
dream venue would be aboard the space station
On a luxury super yacht destined for the Maldives !!
My dream wedding venue would be on the shore of an Italian Lake, Perhaps on the in the garden of a great palace or villa.
Oh PLEASE let me win. It is such a gorgeous place. My dream wedding venue? Hmm. Given who I am dating it would have to involve cars. And given who I am it would have to involve sumptuous gardens and Italy. And I’ve always wanted a Jewish wedding, because of all that brilliant dancing on chairs you guys do… So that’s quite tricky. I do have my eye on Villa Le Barone, which is a beautiful hotel in Italy with views across Chiantishire. A short walk away there is a little chapel called San Leolino. Alternatively, I’d like to turn the top of the Gherkin into a magical forest with talking trees and trapezes!
Westminster Abbey – might as well dream big!
My dream wedding venue would be on the Bora Bora Islands, sadly they are a little over our price range for us and our family 🙁
I was lucky enough to have my dream wedding. It was at Hocking Hills National Park. Perfect day to marry a perfect man 🙂
A pretty and laid-back wedding in the countryside surrounded by green fields.
My dream wedding venue would be St Michaels Mount in Cornwall. Stunning views, and a fantastic great hall for the reception.
Dream wedding would be the Botanical Gardens in Sydney Australia on Christmas Day 🙂
My dream wedding venue would be on the pitch at Anfield in Liverpool. All of our guests would sit on the kop and we would walk out to a gospel choir singing you’ll never walk alone. Perfect!
Waddessdon Manor it is beautiful for an intimate wedding
My dream wedding would be back home in Texas in our little neighborhood with all my family
My dream wedding venue would be at Ramp City Skatepark.
Would love a gorgeous country manor house!
My dream wedding was 45 years ago in the neighbourhood where my wife grew up.
Rosewood London!
My dream wedding would be on a tropical beach, looking out to beautiful clear, blue sea!
Mine would be the Italianate, quirky and magical village of Portmeirion in North Wales.
I was actually lucky enough to get married their!
Definitely The Rosewood, London. You certainly wowed me! It just oozes luxury and romance. The Kosher food is just fine, as I’m Jewish. I would love a sneaky preview of a one night stay!
MIne would be Charlie and the Chocolate Factory themed and held at Cadbury World
My wedding will be filled with meaningful gifts for my guests, stories, experiences and laughs. It will be in a mountain area, near a castle 🙂 I’ll have a special guest and I’ll have the man of my life right there – bliss!
brighton pier
Dream wedding venue — Sivananda Yoga retreat — Paradise island, Bahamas
FOr me it would have to be The Plaza, NY
I live near the new forest. Myself and my partner spend most evenings walking the dog in different parts. So my ideal weeding venue would be at our favourite spot in the new forest with candles for the aisle. Pure perfection xxx
The beautiful Maldives
My fiancà© and I are lucky enough to be getting married in our dream wedding venue this November! We are tying the knot in an underground cavern by a subterranean lake, surrounded by 35 of our closest friends and family (and over 550 candles!)
Id retake my vows at Rosewood
and I would love to do it in front of my children who missed my wedding the first time round 🙂
Ullswater in the Lake District
My Dream wedding venue is the Bahamas, Andros island, In this country it would be Leez Priory on a sunny day.
Amberley Castle in West Sussex. Or in Ibiza by the sea. Just as long as my friends and family were there I’d be pretty happy anywhere to be honest.
I have two dream weddings, one is to get married on the beautiful sands of Port Douglas in Australia, just me and my man (whoever that may be!) and then to return to a city venue where we can celebrate with friends and family. The Rosewood is ideally located for this, a beautiful venue with such charisma and charm and right now houses my two favourite things, budgies and a gin bar!!
My dream venue will be Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire
My dream wedding is not about the venue but the ability to invite everyone that I love to the whole event.
Glamis Castle in Scotland
my dream venue is the rocky mountains 🙂
This was out dream wedding!! We got married at the Rosewood (but then it was the Rennaisance Chancery Court). Would love to go back!!!!
Dream wedding venue: Lords Cricket Ground, London.
I would say the Florida Keys as they are gorgeous although some of the London Hotels look amazing!
the Rosewood would be my dream venue. It looks so amazing!
My dream wedding venue would be my own back garden, decorated with loads of fairy lights and a lacy gazebo.
Got to be the Ice Hotel, my bucket list destination
On a beautiful beach in the Maldives!
I loved my wedding venue but really, I have always dreamt about getting married in Las Vegas. I’m not picky, it can be a drive thru Elvis type or a fancy Vegas hotel – but I’d love to just turn up, pay some money, and have it all be done for me, no muss no fuss.
But I suppose that’s just in hindsight, having already had all the fun of planning a wedding…
Manchester town hall
My dream wedding would be on a beach in Sardinia
Our dream wedding venue was where we had it, Ardington House, Oxfordshire
Karen what an absolutely superb giveaway at such a luxurious venue.
My fiancà© and I will be celebrating our eight year anniversary soon and this would be an utterly perfect way to celebrate.
I think it’s certainly a great opportunity to put my Nikon to the rest and photograph and Instagram about this beautiful place if we were to win.
Stunning location with romancing ambiance dotted around in every corner.
Beautiful. I just had to enter.
Laura x
My dream wedding would be toronto italy. It holds the most dearest memories for me and there is nothing more beautiful.
We just got engaged, my dream venue would be a conservatory, anywhere! Now I just have to find it…
It has to be. St Paul’s Cathedral.
On a beach in Jamaica
I am not one for fuss, so my dream wedding would be on a completely deserted island in the Indian Ocean, with just my family and closest friends in attendance.
Would love to renew my vows where we honeymooned in the Caribbean & take my children to enjoy the occasion.
I would love to get married on a beach in the Maldives at sunset. We would have our three children there to be bridesmaids and page boy and get married with our close family and friends watching.
Basàlica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Famàlia
Dream wedding venue would have to be somewhere with a beautiful outside close to the sea. Perhaps a beautiful hotel over looking the surf and sand, with lovely gardens for the family and friends to relax in…
my dream venue would be Battersea Park!
My dream wedding would consist of loads and loads of flowers, laughter and luxury! A large garden to take wedding photos in and spend time with my guests and a light meal! faye x
Drive through in Vegas by Elvis! Cheesy but cheerful and quick…I don’t like a fuss!
It would have to be at The Mansion Leeds
The venue doesn’t matter, the dress doesn’t matter, the food doesn’t matter to me, I don’t need a fancy photographer or bows on the back of chairs, I don’t need flowers flown in overnight or a giant ice sculpture……to me, that’s all trimming, oh, sure, it’s pretty, and nice….but it’s still trimming.
To find someone who truly believes in “until death do us part”. The smile, the happiness, the manners, the kindness and attentiveness….the true deep, deep love….that’s my perfect wedding, one day that lasts my whole lifetime,
My dream venue would be a riad in Marrakech.
My dream venue would be the art deco spire of the Chrysler Building in NYC – although from there, I wouldn’t be able to see the art deco spire of the Chrysler Building!!
Hi! I’m following Smashing The Glass Facebook page,:)
My dream venue is to get married on a secluded beach on an island in Hawaii … very quite though, no tourists or spectators! Celebrations afterwards would be in beach huts with tiki torches and Hawaiian entertainment 🙂
My dream venue would be the Lake Palace Hotel, a gorgeous hotel surrounded by a lake in rural India. It requires guest to arrive by boat, yet are treated to 5* luxury upon arrival. A peaceful tranquility.
My dream destination would be a white sandy beach in the middle of nowhere with palm trees and deep blue skies x
I would love to get married in a small quaint English village in Cornwall with all my family and friends, and my 2 rescue greyhounds in attendance!
The Rosewood, obviously! x
What an amazing hotel, and venue for dream weddings!
I’m getting married in May at my dream wedding venure – the Mandarin Oriental in Las Vegas, in a private room overlooking the Strip. I can’t wait!
My dream wedding would be incredibly personal; an evening with those that matter most.
Dimly lit lighting and blue hydrangeas. Delicately scented candles filling the space; and many disposable cameras for guests to capture the fun memories of the night.
Relaxed and dreamy; celebrating the blissfulness of life.
The courtyard at Buckingham Palace… in my dreams 🙂
My dream wedding would take place on the sand bars of Musha Cay, Bahamas. I would have Zaha Hadid design a floating pavilion for the ceremony.
My dream wedding would be somewhere very remote, maybe an island right off the coast on the beach on a really sunny day.
Dunns River Falls in Jamaica!!! Would be so much fun!
My friends got married at Positano in Italy. I was absolutely in love with the place. Would love to have my wedding there.
What a wonderful prize.
Well I think I’ll add the Rosewood to my list of dream wedding venues to photograph at. It looks utterly beautiful.
From a personal perspective, I’d like to get married on a hillside in Santorini, over looking the ocean and against a backdrop of whitewashed houses with blue shutters.
To be honest it really doesn’t matter where you get married as long as there is lots of love in the air!
I love dinosaurs, their history is fab
I’d love a wedding venue that really is not drab
So the Natural History Museum would be great place to wed
But if that’s not possible the Rosewood is just as fab instead!
I love Burgh Island so the hotel there would be stunning.
My dream wedding venue would be on the stage at a London Theatre followed by a night at The Rosewood of course ! I cant think of anything more perfect !
It’s got to be castle
as It’s a delight
Imagining you were there
Taking part in the fight
So many things you can see
Artefacts from the past
A vulture that might fly be
Adding to the sights
Babington House, Somerset, uk pure luxury in the countryside
Stonehenge at dawn
Would have to be on beach anywhere warm and tropical.
My dream wedding venue may not be the ‘norm’ but I think it would look magical. I’d love to get married in a derelict building, preferably an older building with some character and large windows. If there were vines growing in the place, the better. I would decorate with normal gorgeous chairs for my guests and I would want 100’s of church candles of different shapes and sizes dotted around the building. I would also add fairy lights around the bottom of the building and mix in some wild flowers. It would be simple but stunning, it’s different and I think would be perfect for me..
A vineyard in Provence would be an amazing location for a wedding
Lyme Park – Mr Darcey’s house in the BBC adaptation of pride and prejudice – its beautiful!
my perfect venue is Middleton Lodge where I got married
I got married in las Vegas, which was amazing, so that was, and still is my dream venue.
My dream wedding venue would be saying vows at Marylebone Register office and then having our reception at Abbey Road Studios.
Glastonbury Stone Circle at sunset
On the beach somewhere sunny 🙂
My dream wedding venue would be on a full masted tall ship, out at sea, in the full glare of nature
At the top of the Gherkin, or on the shores of a French lake.
On the top of a mountain with far fetching views and words that my loved one and I would choose.
St Mark’s Basilica in Venice
I’d get married on a beach somewhere.
Positano, Amalfi coast, Italy.
Arrival by boat, ceremony & reception on beach & dinner in cliff side restaurant.
At sea by the captain
Jodrell Bank Observatory
My dream wedding venue would be a historic hotel who could offer exclusive use and provide exquisite dining for all my guests, a celebration to remember for years to come.
I’m married but my son and his partner are very newly engaged and I’m looking forward to hearing all their plans come to fruition.
My dream wedding venue would be in Barbados on the beach…….. ahhhhhh I can dream!!! 🙂
Thank you, this prize would be so amazing and special…. now I’m dreaming of winning this lovely prize! xx
as my husband loves motor racing and i love stately home i guess it would have to be goodwood house!!” grounds and house are to die for and everything from planes to cars, horse racing to balloon flights … imagine being whisked away in a hot air balloon drinking champagne before going on your honeymoon!!!!!
on a beach in the maldives, not sure if I am ever going to make it there but fingers crossed.
My dream location would be a beautiful tropical beach with white sand. Thank you
Gretna green for me quiet and uncomplicated x
My dream wedding venue would be Chateau Marmont on Sunset Boulevard. It is like entering into another world of fairytale when entering into the Courtyard. Truly is a beautiful venue with a real sense of atmosphere and character. Still to be able to hire this venue, you would have to be pretty elite to do so! Still one can dream!
Oh wow, The Rosewood looks amazing! My dream venue would be the Ascension Vineyard in the North Island, New Zealand. It’s a gorgeous town called Matakana and the vineyard is just beautilful. The laidback culture and the glorious sunshine would help create the perfect day.
Downtown Abbey house, would be beautiful.
I would love to go back to Antigua, where we spent our honeymoon, and renow our marriage vows at English Harbour.
I would love a beach themes wedding, but not your bog standard go abroad, I would love a rustic british beach wedding. With a marquee on the sand, and fish and chips and freshly made donuts for the guests!
Even though i live in london now, for me it would have to be my favorite park in the small town I grew up in , right next to my childhoond home . I have so many happy memories from there.
i’d love a south of france chateau!
I would love to get married in Mustique
on a beautiful beach in Mauritius
My dream wedding venue would be in Venice and we’d go off on a gondola – one can dream!