For couples worldwide, London is the perfect place to tie the knot. Full of culture and history,
it caters for those who want a big white wedding, as well as those who crave a more intimate
celebration. It’s also home to excellent venues and restaurants, so no matter what your
budget is, you’re sure to be able to organise the wedding of your dreams.
However, there are some considerations specific to London that you need to discuss during
your planning. It’s a big city, so especially if you’re not local, make sure to do your research
in order to have a low-stress, happy day.
Here are some of the top things to think about once you’ve popped the question or that
beautiful engagement ring is on your finger, and you’re busy dreaming up your perfect
London wedding.
Think about transport
One of the most important considerations when planning a wedding is transport. How are
you going to get to your venue? How will your guests get there? How will you all travel to the reception? Whilst individual cars are probably a big no-go in more central areas of London unless you and your guests want to spend your wedding day sat in traffic, there are plenty of other more quirky options.
As long as your wedding isn’t in rush hour, taking the Tube can be a classic London way for everyone to get to your venue. Whilst this might be a little tricky if the bride has a princess-style wedding dress, for minimalist wedding parties, getting the Tube can be a fun way to travel, and you’re likely to get cheers and well-wishes on the way, which will get the party started. If you’re not keen on taking your wedding dress on an escalator, consider taking a taxi. Just remember to give your guests the details of the nearest Tube stops. Why not include a Tube map in your wedding invitations, as a fun way to get them in the London mood?
Consider the crowds
London is a tourist destination, so it’s nearly always busy, but there are some key dates to
avoid if you want to dodge the crowds that arrive for major London events. Doing this means that you can miss road closures and changes to public transport timetables which might have otherwise disrupted your carefully planned day.
No matter what time you’re travelling, do make sure that you leave plenty of time to get to the wedding venue. London traffic and transport can be unpredictable, and whilst running into the church looks romantic in films, it’s unlikely to create a calm atmosphere that will allow you to enjoy your day.
Make sure you have a good photographer
London is full of stunning iconic landmarks, so it’s truly worth investing in the service of a good wedding photographer. Again, it’s worth planning around the potential crowds at your chosen locations. It’s unlikely that you’ll get completely people-free photos, but the time that you choose can dramatically affect your final shots. If you want posed photos, you might need to organise a separate couples’ shoot on top of hiring the photographer to take candid shots of your guests on the day.
Getting up early to get these close-up shots is worth the pain of an early start. However, whilst it means that you get ahead of the masses, it’s unlikely that you’ll want to do this on your actual wedding day, so make sure to discuss a date with your photographer beforehand.