The Story
Solly and I were introduced by a mutual friend. Despite being away at the time, we spoke on the phone every day for about two weeks. Our first date may have been casual and simple, but it turned out to be lovely, it felt as though we had known each other for the longest time. After only 6 months of dating, Solly proposed to me on my birthday, and we got engaged. The day was beautiful; we enjoyed a nice breakfast and visited one of my favourite museums in London, Tate Britain. After walking around the museum, we found ourselves in a secluded room, where Solly proposed. It was a sweet and perfect moment that I will always cherish.
Venue
In the beginning, finding the right venue for our wedding was a bit difficult because most of the places we looked at did not meet our requirements. However, when we saw the wedding brochure for The Langham Hotel, we fell in love with it immediately. The Langham is a stunning and sophisticated hotel located in central London, and it is easily accessible from anywhere in the city. Upon entering the Langham, the famous Langham scent welcomes you, which I was so obsessed with that I ended up purchasing a few diffusers after the wedding. The staff at The Langham were very nice and professional, and it just felt like it was meant to be. I knew immediately that I wanted to get married at The Langham. The events team and hotel staff were exceptional, from our first conversation till the moment we checked out, two days after the wedding. They went above and beyond for us, which we truly appreciated.
Fashion
My dress was from Galia Lahav, which I ordered from Browns Bride in London. I know it’s not the norm but I ordered my dress before we found the venue! I did it because once I tried on the dress, I knew it was the one and didn’t see the point in waiting. My shoes were from Jimmy Choo. I wanted to have fun at the wedding and I was determined to dance the whole night so after dinner, I changed into white Axel Arigato trainers. Solly wore a bespoke suit from an amazing Nigerian designer called Atafo. He looked dapper. The process was a lot easier for him because we live in Lagos so he only had to drive to his fittings whereas I had to fly to London for mine!
Jewellery
Solly’s wedding band was from Cartier, while mine was from the same jeweler who made my engagement ring. Solly also gifted me the earrings I wore on the big day, which were from a jeweler in Hatton Garden.
Bridal Party
The bridal party outfits were made by Nigerian designers in Lagos.
Tablescape
We opted for a romantic theme for our wedding, featuring an abundance of candles and cherry blossom trees. The wedding ceremony was held in The Langham’s Ballroom, where we had placed candles along the aisle and cherry blossom trees on plinths. The Ballroom was transformed for dinner. We adorned the tables with candles and flowers, and presented personalized candle gifts, chocolate favors, and gift bags for each guest. The gift bags included an assortment of items such as room fragrance, lip balm, body butter, handmade soap, and diffusers.
Food & Drink
The event featured a cocktail reception with champagne and canapés, followed by a three-course dinner served with wine and soft drinks. We had signature cocktails and an open bar. We also served mini burgers as a late night snack.
Entertainment
On our special day, entertainment played a significant role, and we wanted only the best. We spent a lot of time selecting the right people, and our efforts paid off. The soft music played by Okiem and the Infinity Duo during the procession and guest arrivals set the perfect tone. Their performance during dinner was nothing short of amazing, and our friends still talk about it. We were fortunate to have DJ Baj and MC, Mr Ifektive, who made the dinner a lot of fun with a fantastic karaoke game. The memories of that day will stay with us forever.
Beauty Regime & Wellness
I got a facial at No Filter Clinic a week before my event to give my skin a nice glow. Additionally, I had hair and makeup trials, which I highly recommend. These trials helped us to finalise the look on the day of the event and saved us from wasting any time.
Favourite wedding gifts
Yes, we had a gift registry on www.weddingshop.com. Favourite gifts include the contribution to our honeymoon fund, a fancy coffee machine and the most beautiful dinnerware set.
Honeymoon
We went to Santorini a few days after the wedding for a week. Solly booked the most amazing hotel. It was a small, secluded hotel which was exactly what we needed. The food in the hotel was impeccable and the views were breathtaking.
Advice
- Make sure to find a wedding planner who understands your vision. We were extremely happy with Charlotte’s services. She was amazing and made our lives so much easier.
- Determine what factors are the most important to you and your partner and focus on them. Planning a wedding can be overwhelming, but if you prioritize what matters most to you and tackle those tasks early on, you’ll be less stressed later on.
- It’s important to start planning early and book the most important vendors as soon as possible. We had most of the major vendors booked by September/October, and our wedding was in April.
With thanks
Wedding Planner: @lafeteofficial
Venue: @langham_london
Florals: @farimaperry
Photographer: @antoniakaterinaphotography
Videographer: @rlfilmsco
Cake: @annalewiscakedesign
Wedding Dress: @galialahav
Shoes: @jimmychoo
Makeup: @joyadenuga
Hair: @deborahlola
Tuxedo: @maiatafo
Live Music: @eightraymusic @okiemofficial
DJ: @dj_baj
MC: @mr_ifektive
Napkins: @just_4_linen
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