GATHER : A Green Chic Christmas Party

We haven’t posted much recently on our little journal area on the site, so with Christmas coming up, we thought we would pop on over and share a beauty we created! We absolutely LOVED this Christmas dinner we planned at {10-11} Carlton House Terrace {we are a recommended supplier at this lovely venue!} From the moment guests walked into the room, they were surrounded by a glamorous wintery setting. Birch wood branches, evergreen trees, delicious winter cocktails, furry throws on the lounge seating, the evening was a blast!

 

 

Planning a Christmas party in London this year? We would love to help you design a fabulous soiree!

Send us a note, let’s connect!

____________

Planned, Designed and Styled by London Event Planner : Rebecca K. Events

Photography Claire Graham Photography| Venue {10-11} Carlton House Terrace | Florist Bloomologie Flowers 

The Wedding Collection : Pale Press London

A few weeks ago the UK government issued a roadmap to lifting the lockdown. Included in this plan are dates that weddings can again start to be planned and celebrated. With such an intense and memorable year behind us, so many of us are looking ahead and hoping that we can gather agin soon! The group of us in the Wedding Collection know that is a crazy time to be planning your big day, but if you do decide to celebrate smaller this summer, we would love to help. Currently  the first date for weddings to be permitted is the 12th of April for 15 guests, 17th of May for 30 guests and as of the 21st of June no restrictions. All of these dates are subject to review by the government, but for now, we are starting to plan! I thought no better time then now to introduce you to another talented amazing lady that is a part of  Wedding Collection : London Micro Wedding Planning Ashley from Pale Press London

I created the Wedding Collection : London Micro Wedding Planning with a group of talented London wedding suppliers to make your micro wedding easier, not stressful, beautiful and fun! Todays post is all about Ashley’s gorgeous stationery design studio Pale Press London.  

Tell me a little bit about yourself  and your business?
Pale Press London is a stationery design studio – born out of a love of hand lettering and a curiosity of old age printing methods.

How long have you been professionally doing stationery and calligraphy?
Officially since 2016. Although, I feel as though I’ve been captivated by handwriting since I was a child.


How would people describe your signature style?
I try to incorporate elements of hand lettering with clean typography and quality design. I typically work with quite muted colours and I love to use handmade cotton paper when I can.

What is your favorite part of the wedding day?
The two parts that usually stand out for me are the vows and the party. Watching two people say their vows is such a special moment to witness. I could go to a wedding every weekend and never get bored. The party is always guaranteed to be great and everyone is there with a common goal – to celebrate and have fun!


{image  by M&J Photography and planned by  Knot & Pop }

Rebecca K Events - London Wedding Planner

{calligraphy on box by Pale Press London. Photo by Claire Graham Photography, Planning & Styling Rebecca K. Events}

Any advice to couples planning a wedding during these crazy times?
I really believe that wedding planners are such an invaluable part of your day. No more so than during Covid. Having someone to help manage some of the stress/replanning during this difficult time is such an important resource.

 

{calligraphy on plates by Pale Press London. Photo by Cecelina Photography, Planning & Styling Rebecca K. Events}

What is the most recent wedding trend you are loving/loathing?
I’m not sure there have been any trends this year? The most prominent ‘theme’ though would be micro weddings. Seeing couples create a different but equally as beautiful wedding day has been so heartwarming. I think elopements and smaller celebrations can be so romantic and intimate.

What have you been doing to keep yourself busy and your creative mind going during lockdown?
Fortunately, lockdown allowed me the time to sit down and design my semi-custom collections as well as rebuild my website. As with most people, there is always a long to do list and some things sit at the bottom. 2020 meant I could focus on the things that had slipped through the net and hopefully position me in a stronger place for when weddings and events return!

You can find more of Ashley’s gorgeous work by heading over to her instagram profile here at @palepresslondon
Find out more about the Wedding Collection by clicking here.
xo Rebecca

I featured Sanni Hair & Makeup on the blog a few weeks ago. Check her out as part of the Wedding Collection HERE

The Wedding Collection : Sanni Sorma, Makeup & Hair

The rules and feelings regarding planning your wedding in the UK right now are confusing, I know. Confusing, but also a bit stressful. Weddings are a time of celebration and love and should be a time full of happiness! It is not a time that you want to feel stressed and anxious. Last nights update on moving London into Tier 3 has us all a bit sad for sure. I myself am going to take the next few weeks of time to enjoy the festive season as much as I can but also to look ahead of this time. I am going to look int early 2021 and with hope that we can plan micro celebrations for you!


I created the Wedding Collection : London Micro Wedding Planning with a group of talented London wedding suppliers to make your micro wedding easier, not stressful, beautiful and fun! Today I am sharing the lady that makes you feel your most BEAUTIFUL on your wedding day, the lovely Sanni Sorma. Sanni is beyond lovely as a person and will make you feel relaxed and leave you looking radiant to say I do! Read on to find out more about fabulous Sanni.

{photo by Perregeaux Photo }

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your business?
I love working as a makeup artist & hair stylist. I work mostly with destination weddings and elopments but I also work on advertising shoots, TV and editorial photoshoots. I am based out of London and during the wedding season also Paris. I work all around the UK, France, Italy and Europe wide.

Through my job I meet the most incredible people and visit gorgeous locations. I love connecting with new people I consider it an honour to be a small part of my clients wedding day.

I would describe my style of makeup as chic, modern and always – always – what suits my clients the best. We work together to find the perfect look for your shoot, wedding or event.

{Photo by Cecelina Photography}

How long have you been professionally doing wedding hair & makeup?
9 years now, can’t quite believe it!

How would people describe your signature style?
Luminous, glowing skin. I love daytime smokey eyes with lots of individual lashes and gorgeous full brows.

{photo by Linas Dambrauskas}

What is your favorite part of the wedding day?
When the brides dad walks into the room and sees his daughter for the first time. I get all misty eyed.

Julie Michaelsen Photography - Rebecca K Events

{Photos by Julie Michaelsen Photography }

Any advice to couples planning a wedding during these crazy times?
Be prepared to change everything and go with the flow. Concentrate on what’s important, marrying the person you love. Circumstances, venues, amount of guests…all this can change but it doesn’t mean that your wedding will be any less special – probably even more so considering this time will go down in history!

What is the most recent beauty trend you are loving?

I do love the trend of natural, full brows, brushed all the way up. It lifts the face, looks modern and less ‘done’ than perfectly manicured brows.

 

What have you been doing to keep yourself busy and your creative mind going during lockdown?

I’ve picked up design work again – I used to work as an Art Director. Design work I can do during lockdown and at home and it gives me a great creative outlet. As well as an income of course!

{Photo by Cecelina Photography
 

You can find more of Sanni’s gorgeous work by heading over to her instagram profile here at @Sannimakeupartist
Find out more about the Wedding Collection by clicking here.
xo Rebecca

Last week I featured Lucy Davenport Photography. Head over here to see a little bit more about the lovely photography.

The Wedding Collection : Lucy Davenport Photography

Lockdown #2 is over in the UK! We know things are not going to be back to “normal”  for quite some time now, but we hope that some of you are looking to celebrate in a small way before the year ends or at the beginning of 2021. A few months ago I formed “The Wedding Collection : London Micro Wedding Planning by Rebecca K. Events” with an amazing group of wedding suppliers. The collection is a group of professional and creative businesses that have come together to create a package {the collection!} to make your micro wedding easy to plan, beautifully executed and forever memorable. During these crazy times there are a lot of things to navigate, so why not make the day easier with our help!

Over the next few weeks I am going to be sharing a little bit more on each of the ladies in the collection. First up today is the lovely Lucy from Lucy Davenport Photography. She is one talented lady and one of the sweetest and kindest ladies I know. Any couple would be lucky to have her capture your big day!

Tell me a little bit about yourself  and your business?

I graduated in 2007 with a degree in photography and have been freelance ever since! I started off assisting for Mario Testino but then fell into weddings and haven’t looked back. I have a huge passion for weddings and incorporate my editorial flair. I attract clients who want creative, emotive images. I tell an authentic story and capture those fleeting moments forever!

 

How long have you been photographing weddings professionally?

I have now shot well over 200 weddings! 

 

How would people describe your signature style?

 Unobtrusive is a word a lot of my clients use to describe me after the wedding which is a huge compliment for me.
I aim to capture people off guard for those candid, natural shots that we all love! 

 

What is your favorite part of the wedding day?

It has to be the confetti shot! There is that ‘Just married’ buzz from the couple and it’s the transition
for me from formalities to party!

 

Any advice to couples planning a wedding during these crazy times?

Book Rebecca! Seriously. A wedding planner in my opinion has always been worthy but during this time you’re invaluable. I can see a huge contrast when speaking to my couples for 2020 weddings between those that have a planner and those that don’t. Its been so stressful for everyone, but those with planners do feel like they’ve had someone to lean on and guide them. Not to mention not having to plan a second (or third!) wedding due to postponements. 

What have you been doing to keep yourself busy and your creative mind going during lockdown?

 I’ve been jumping back on the social media wagon and renovating a house! 

You can find more of Lucy’s gorgeous work by heading over to her instagram profile here at @Lucy_davenport
Find out more about the Wedding Collection by clicking here.
xo Rebecca

Table Dress : Festive Table Styling by Rebecca K. Events

The 2020 festive season is going to see many people feasting it up at home with their closest loved ones. We have no doubt, after the stressful past few months, people are eager to celebrate and make it special at home. Whether forming a bubble of 20 or an intimate table of six, why not make it a little extra this year!

Let us help you dress up your table. Table Dress, lets make your holiday at home one to celebrate.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LOOKBOOK


Look 1 : Chic Winter White

Classic and elegant, this timeless look can be used for years to come.

Look 2 : Sugar Plum Fairy

Perfect for a beautiful Christmas brunch with the sun shining in to make the settings sparkle, this look will delight the young at heart.

Look 3 : Christmas Cheer 

This classic Christmas setting, will transport you to a scene straight out of White Christmas.


Look 4 : Merry & Bright 

It’s time for the “kids table” to get the VIP treatment!

Look 5 : Dreaming of a Green Christmas 

This stylish, simple and fresh setting is a modern look that even Martha Stewart would approve of.

Look 6 : Black & White 

Chic. Classy. Timeless. This setting is perfect for a refined Christmas or an intimate New Year’s Eve.

Bespoke 

Lets work together to create a memorable and beautiful table for your Christmas 2020! Do get in touch HERE! 

 

Orders are being created until Thursday, 10th of December. Let us create your dream Christmas table setting.

xoxo – Rebecca

 

The Wedding Collection : London Micro Wedding Planning

I am excited to introduce to you a new collaboration that I have created, The Wedding Collection : London Micro Wedding Planning. Partnering with a talented group of London wedding suppliers to create an unforgettable day for couples getting married during this unusual time, from October 2020 to March 2021.

 

As of the end of September, the UK Government has changed its rules on what is allowed when it comes to gathering for weddings and civil partnerships, in regards to Covid-19 rules. Only a month before had the government allowed groups of 30 to gather, and then it was down to 15 guests. My heart went out to the couples who had decided to make the decision to officially get married after rescheduling their larger event to a more intimate group of 30 guests, and now would have to cut that list down to 15 guests! After speaking with so many of my colleagues in the wedding industry we really felt that there was still a way to make this day special.

During these unprecedented times, we believe that couples should still be able to have a beautiful and memorable day that is planned and styled and polished, without causing them more stress then the past months have brought them. Together with a group of amazing London based suppliers I created the Wedding Collection, London micro wedding planning. An easy stop for couples to be able to get the styled and planned day they dreamt of without having to search the internet for hours and start from scratch on who to hire and how to create the setting they saw on Instagram. A combination of six suppliers coming together to give you a beautifully intimate day that will be remarkably memorable.

What is included in the Collection?

We wanted to cover what we thought were the most important basic components to a lovely wedding day. Rebecca K. Events will coordinate and style all of the details for you, Lucy Davenport will be there to capture gorgeous photos, Ali with Bloomologie Flowers will create luxuriously wild arrangements for your ceremony and reception, Ashley with Pale Press London will design modern calligraphy pieces of stationery to have on the day, Sanni Sorma will meet you at home or at your venue to make you feel and look beautiful on the day and Gaya’s Cakes will create a delicious and gorgeous cake to enjoy after you say “We do!”. We can assist with finding a venue or you may have already booked a location to celebrate, either way, there are many other bits we can add on, but these are the basics.

What are the other details of the Collection?

The collection can be created as a bespoke  proposal to you, however the pricing of the collection has been put together based on a London micro wedding held within the M25 for 15 guests. Do enquire and Rebecca K. Events can send more details about the day and sample photos of what style of items are included.

Currently we are offering the collection from October to 2020 to March 2021. With the ever changing government guidelines and the unknown times of living in this pandemic, we may extend it, however we are hoping that as of next March 2021, we will be able to celebrate again in larger groups.

The collection does not include venue hire or catering, however we are happy to assist in securing both of these items for you. If you want to host a reception with a styled table for your guests and are thinking to add on a little more, just let Rebecca know and she would love to create something special with you.

We require a 50% deposit to hold the date. If the government changes its guidelines and it must be rescheduled, we are happy to transfer the deposit to a new date with no additional fees, subject to availability. 

 

How do I book the Collection? 

Lets chat! We would love to hear from you! Get in touch with Rebecca at hello@rebeccakevents.com 

Looking forward to hearing from you and putting together something micro but magical on your big day!

xoxo Rebecca

Engagement Photos in London

Happy New Year everyone! 2020! A decade behind us and a new exciting decade ahead of us, woo hoo! I hope that everyone had an amazing holiday season and celebrated a lot! For some of you, you may have had a little extra something to celebrate over the holidays, an engagement? Did you know that 40% of proposals take place between Christmas and Valentine’s Day, it makes this season a little extra to celebrate for sure. If you were one of the ones that may have been admiring a new bit of sparkle by the Christmas tree, then a huge congratulations to you!!!

Julie Michaelsen Photography - London Engagement Photos - Rebecca K Events - London Wedding Planner

{Julie Michaelsen Photography}

When couples ask me what to do first when being engaged, my first piece of advice is always to enjoy it! Take this first few weeks to enjoy being engaged, share the news with family and friends, buy some fun wedding magazines and browse ideas and think of the excitement ahead. Take this time to celebrate the big occasion in the future but do not start to stress about details and dress appointments and venue site visits, everything goes by quickly and it should be a fun occasion. One thing I highly recommend to couples during their engagement is to book an engagement photo shoot with their wedding photographer. First off, it is a great trial with you as a couple and the photographer that is going to be with you along every minute of your wedding day. Your engagement shoot is a great time to get comfortable in front of the camera with the photographer. I always recommend to book your hair and makeup trial that day as well so you can test out this before your big day and have a reason to get all dressed up. The second thing is that engagement photos are a great reason to have photos together not in your big white dress and tuxedo. Visit where you first met and have a bottle of wine, walk around your neighbourhood and get photos taken at your local coffee shop, have your photographer capture memorable photos that you will cherish forever as you as a couple and not necessarily on your wedding day, they are such a lovely thing to have.

{Cecelina Photography}

Living in London and planning weddings in London has me a little biased on why getting engagement photos in London is a good idea. I mean for sure, a weekend trip to Paris in front of the Eiffel Tower is not a bad idea either, however, I think if London is a special place to you, then capture the moment here! There are SO many amazing spots to have your photos taken in London! Below I asked some talented and wonderful London wedding photographers for their ideas as well. Enjoy!

{Cecelina Photography}

{Cecelina Photography}

Where is your favorite location to shoot a couples engagement shoot in London?

I think any iconic London spots are perfect for an engagement shoot such as Big Ben (once the scaffolding is off!), Tower bridge, St. Pauls Cathedral, The Albert bridge is really pretty pastel colours…but all the parks are so lovely too! My favourites are Regents Park & Kensington Gardens, it’s actually really lovely to have a mixture of greenery and urban so when I shoot engagements I try to find a place where we can incorporate both. – Julie Michaelsen 

This is the hardest question to answer! There are so many amazing places in London for engagement photos. When I’m doing engagement shoots I like to find out about the kind of things my couples love. If you want iconic London, you can’t go wrong with the Southbank and awalk along the river. Along here you get views of London Eye, St Pauls, Millennium Bridge, Tate Modern and all the way down to Tower Bridge. A hidden gem not far from the river is St. Dunstans in The East.
If you’re more of a nature couple then Kew Gardens or Regents Park are beautiful. Another favourite is The Hill Garden & Pergola near Hampstead Heath.
My last fave place is Greenwich, with the market, the park and the historic element this is a lovely part of the city.- Fiona Kelly

Anywhere that connects to their story. A place they had their first date or something to symbolise how they like to spend time together. For example, I had a couple who loved old English pubs, so we did a tour of them! I also photograph several surprise proposals and then we always aim to capture that particular London feeling. I also love historical buildings and London is not short of them! – Cecelina Photography
 

London has so many amazing backdrops to offer. I always speak to my clients first and foremost to see if they have a particular place that is meaningful to them. If they are wanting an iconic London engagement then I’d head down to the river with the London Eye, Big Ben & St Pauls. If they’re wanting to avoid the hussle then I always recommend either Hyde Park or Richmond Park (rude not to have coffee at Petersham Nurseries afterwards!). – Lucy Davenport Photography

Do you recommend a certain time of day to take photos in the city?

Timing is key, especially for the busier spots. I generally recommend early morning for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the light is gorgeous! Soft and flattering with hopefully a lovely sunrise to create even more of a backdrop to wow. Early morning also means there are less people around so you’ll get those landmarks without too many selfie sticks! – Lucy Davenport Photography

I prefer early morning or later in the day for the light. Avoiding midday is preferable from a photography point of view. London is a busy city so the earlier the better for keeping away from the crowds. I have done a number of engagement shoots that start not long after sunrise! It can be a killer getting up, but can be amazing for photos.- Fiona Kelly

The best light is just before sunset or at sunrise (and then it will be empty of people!). This of course varies depending on time of year and what locations we choose. I always make s custom plan with my couples as I know which direction the sun sets so which time of day their particular location will be bathed in the prettiest light. – Cecelina Photography
 

Julie Michaelsen Photography - London Engagement Photos - Rebecca K Events - London Wedding Planner

{Julie Michaelsen Photography}

{Lucy Davenport Photography}

Any tips regarding planning a London engagement photoshoot?

Communication is a massive top tip for planning a London engagement shoot – or any for that matter! Always communicate what is important to you and this goes for your wedding day too.Why are you having an engagement shoot? Some of my couples want practice in front of the camera. Others want to use the engagement images as part of their save the date stationery….is your stationery portrait or landscape? Although I shoot both orientations it is helpful to know what you’ll be needing. I have had a couple use the images as part of their table number decoration too, so for them it was important that I shot in a certain way. – Lucy Davenport Photography

 
I would recommend making sure you book a photographer you trust and whose work you love, let them do their thing and take their advice even if you feel a bit silly during the shoot! The results will be worth it! I would highly recommend you allocate enough time to make sure it isn’t a rushed affair! From a practical perspective I encourage my Brides-to-be to arrive at the engagement shoot after having had a hair & make-up trial (if possible!) as it means that you’ll be able to see how it looks on camera which may be helpful in making some decisions for the big day. A Bride recently decided on an ‘up do’ after a loose blow dry felt unmanageable and went everywhere during our engagement shoot! Even if its not a trial I always tell my brides to invest in hair and make up for the engagement shoot (or at least a blow dry!) its ALWAYS worth the effort and investment! 
 

London is a massive place so to make the most of the time you have you want to plan where to go beforehand. You might not be able to get everything in within a couple of hours, so it may be a case of adding more time to the shoot or being picky about the places you go to. The best thing is to work with your photographer as they can advise on timings. I often work up a few route options for my couples and they choose the one they want based on the places they would like to include.- Fiona Kelly

Dress up and feel fabulous! It’s common to be nervous but it’s not your job to look great – it’s my job as your photographer to create and atmosphere of relaxed fun and make yo move in a way that looks and feels natural. The more you play and enjoy, the more natural your photos will looks, so just go for it! – Cecelina Photography

Any tips of certain things to wear?

I have a Pinterest board I send to my couples with tips on what to wear. I would always recommend to choose clothes you feel fantastic in, that matches the mood we’re going for. To me, there’s no such thing as over dressed! Neutral, muted colours suits my style of photography the best, but we’d also be looking at complementing the time of year and the locations. Also bring an extra pair of comfortable shoes and a warm jacket in case of chilly weather. – Cecelina Photography

Planning your outfits ahead of time is a great idea, my main tip is to try and pick a colour theme which you both stick too but not to the extent that it becomes matchy matchy! Avoid contrasting patterns, and make sure you are comfortable! 
I tell my brides to be to bring a pair of flat shoes if she is wearing high heels for the shoot, so that when we walk to different locations, their feet dont ache!  – Julie Michaelsen 
 

Layers are your best friend during a London engagement shoot…and shoes you can walk in! There is normally a lot of walking during a shoot so wear the comfy footwear and bring another pair to change in to for the photos, if you want. I always advise to dress in a way you feel good but also comfy. Try to avoid too much solid black or white and highly patterned clothes. Layers are great in case you get too warm or too cool and they add a bit of interest to your outfits. – Fiona Kelly

What do I wear is one of the main questions I am asked. I have a Pinterest board which I share with couples which has some great ideas on. Try to avoid clashing colours, and red for example as this is such a strong colour it will attract the viewers eye in every photograph rather than seeing the image as a whole when wearing a softer colour. Avoid stripes! Try to compliment rather than match. I generally say avoid branding as this can look dated in a few years time! I always tell my couples to send me photos of their outfits if they would like my input. Also don’t be afraid to bring a change of outfit! Make sure you communicate that with your photographer though so they can build this into the timeline of your shoot and ensure you have somewhere suitable to change. – Lucy Davenport Photography

 

Thank you SO much ladies for all of the amazing advice! I do love a London engagement session, London elopement or London wedding! The photo opportunities are endless! Looking forward to seeing your amazing photos that will be wonderful memories for years to come!

 

xoxo Rebecca

Rebecca K. Events is a wedding and events company that focuses on planning and designing meaningful and stylish experiences, while allowing our clients to enjoy the excitement ahead and the event themselves. We are based in London and plan events worldwide!

Behind The Scenes RKE : End of Summer Picnic Party

With the official end of the summer last week, it made me start to reminisce about the sunny long days and all of the busy and exciting events that we got up to at Rebecca K. Events these past few months. It truly was a busy summer with weddings, birthdays and bat mitzvahs planned and executed in and around London. We helped some amazing clients celebrate unforgettable occasions and couldn’t be happier with how they turned out! Working in a business that is all about celebrating and is so very full on and non stop, we decided to take a little time out and celebrate personally and enjoy the summer time. Often I find myself wanting to plan a big extravaganza with lots of decor and details, because that is what I do, right! Well, myself, the lovely Jennifer with Jennifer’s Paper and the oh so talented Lucy Davenport decided to get together one afternoon to catch up and have a small summer picnic party that was more then just something thrown together, but also not a lavish affair. Let me tell you, celebrating every day no matter how big or small are truly memories that we will never forget. I am so glad that we decided to embrace the season, pour a G&T, gather our kids together and just enjoy celebrating!

No matter how busy work gets, take a little time to break out the picnic blanket and gather your friends, your little ones, your family and celebrate the fun in getting together! Cocktails in a bottle, biscuits in a basket, ice cream and adorable little cups, make it fun. Find a reason to party, why not, the work on your desk will always be waiting!

xoxo – Rebecca

{photos by Lucy Davenport Photography | Planning Rebecca K Events | Paper Products Jennifer’s Paper

 

Rebecca K. Events is a wedding and events company that focuses on planning and designing meaningful and stylish experiences, while allowing our clients to enjoy the excitement ahead and the event themselves. We are based in London and plan events worldwide.

 

Venue Visits : Kimpton Fitzroy London

Rebecca K Events - London Wedding Planner - Kimpton Fitzroy

London. Oh this city that we live and work in and love! We share a lot of amazing places in London over on our instagram account that we love, but we thought it might be a good idea to start sharing them with you in a little more detail over here on the blog. I feel that sometimes people forget about London as an actual destination spot for weddings and events. Clients will often start looking at English Countryside Manors   or even locations throughout Europe or farther and forget about the amazing city that they live in, grew up in or maybe even got engaged in! Now do not get me wrong, we LOVE these other areas, but being that we are located here in London, we do have a little bit of a special place in our heart for London venues and know that there are so many gems.

First up is the “new kid”on the block, the amazing Kimpton Fitzroy London. I visited this gorgeous property last week and honestly, well I can not stop thinking about so many reasons why I love it. Continue reading for so many images and some of my top favourites of why to host an event here!

Kimpton Fitzroy London - Rebecca K Events

Location: Russell Square, London. Located in Central London a few minutes walk from Russell Square underground station makes it simple for guests to find and explore the city. Located in the Bloomsbury area of London there are many museums and restaurants surrounding the hotel area. A perfect central London spot!

Maximum Guest Capacity: You can fit a maximum of 200 guests in the ballroom which is pretty lovely!

Prices: Per person rates start at £120

The Kimpton Fitzroy London  dates back to 1898. After closing the hotel and finishing an £85 million renovation, the hotel opened as a Kimpton property in 2018. There are SO many amazing options to eat and drink in throughout the hotel and lets not forget the photo opportunity, it is full of amazing design oh and did I mention, the ballroom also has windows with natural daylight, that’s a HUGE deal!

Reasons We Love It Here:

This mosaic astrology floor at the bottom of the main staircase is epic. What a gorgeous place to have photos taken!

There are four amazing options onsite for drinks and dining that are all fabulous. You and your guests can dance the night away in the ballroom and then reserve an area at the awesome bar Fitz’s for a toast to the evening!

The restaurant Neptune is such a stylish space for a modern wedding couple. Something a bit different but if you are looking for something interesting, a buy out of the space can be AMAZING in this setting!

The Ballroom is grand but also its gorgeous and white. Why does that get us excited? Well, it allows so many different themes and designs to fit well in the space. High ceilings and natural light on one wall, the ballroom rocks.

Palm Court. Ok, lets have every meeting in this space forever. How about a rehearsal dinner under the trees, or a post wedding brunch, sigh, you are inside, but you feel as if you are in a lovely garden!

With so many different options in venues, we love that the reception spaces in this property are in a hotel! Your guests can dance the night away and wander upstairs to their beautiful newly renovated room without having to arrange transportation home.

Rebecca K Events - London Wedding Planner

The Kimpton Fitzroy is a modern and grand place to host your party! We love it and would love to work with you there! Let us know if you want to sit down and talk about plans, we would love to meet you. Contact here! xoxo – Rebecca

Did you enjoy this post? Pin it on your Pinterest board to remember the details!

{Photo from  Exterior Hotel: Travel Daily Media , Ballroom Set Up: David Michael Bradford , Photos from Rebecca K. Events Instagram , Neptune Photo from Business Traveller }

 

US weddings vs. UK weddings

Being an American wedding planner living and working in London, I was obvisouly super excited around the Royal Wedding festivities this past month in the UK! I myself got married in London and when I moved here, there were certainly a few customs here that I was not familiar with back in the States. Weddings happening during breakfast, the groom facing the alter, where are all of the cocktails before dinner? A few weeks back, I was asked by Forbes magazine on some of my thoughts on differences between US weddings vs. UK weddings. You can read the entire article HERE. Below are a few of my thoughts on a few of them. I wonder what Meghan thought about this, did she see the differences. Well, I mean, hers was a royal affair, so arriving to Windsor Castle was a different event all by itself!

Are you an American bride getting married in the UK, I would LOVE to hear your thoughts if you have found some traditions different. Are you a UK bride that likes some of the American traditions? Get in touch, let me know!

The biggest surprise for me about planning English weddings?

The Evening Guests – I was really surprised at how common it was to have additional guests invited to the evening reception that were not invited to the ceremony OR the dinner. At first I thought this was only at if you were trying to stay on a strict budget but became surprised that a mix of couples have evening guests and will make that portion cash bar. I have come to learn that a lot of couple want to keep the ceremony and their main reception a bit more intimate with friends and family they have known for years and then in the evening, create more of a party feel with possibly newer friends from work or that they have met more recently, which is where the evening guests join.

 The Wedding “Package”-  I find this more common here in the UK. I would describe my planning as very not package. I customise everything for my clients from the invites, the drinks, the furniture guests sit on, the waitstaffs uniforms, etc. so often I do not believe a package from caterer or venue will work.  I found it quite common in the states that brides were looking to customise EVERYTHING. Name and personalise the drinks on arrival, create specialty table linen for the dinner, create a menu that included bespoke items from places they travelled together etc. This being said, the past six years I have been here in London, I do think that this is changing a lot  in the UK and I have seen UK brides changing a lot. Maybe this is influenced by the blogs and magazines, but people are getting more and more unique and less of just what their sister did.

No Speaking for the Ladies – The ladies often do not speak. When in the States it is quite common for both the maid of honour AND the best man to give a speech, here in the UK it is common for only the fathers and the best man to give a speech, sorry ladies. Often the speech is a bit more of a roast I have found then a sentimental speech, but it is always different really. I was so happy to hear that Meghan Markle have a short speech at their wedding. It was their day, if you want to, thank your guests for being part of the day and say a few words!

Who Is Paying – It is very common for the Bride to pay for the bridal parties dresses unlike in the US, if that happens it is QUITE nice but not usually common.

Abby Jiu Photo - Rebecca K Events - London Wedding Planner

Drinks – My experience I have found is that in the States it is common to have cocktail hour before dinner and actual cocktails are served. It is very popular and has become common over the years to serve a couple of themed drinks along with with wine and bubbly during the reception. In the UK I have found that usually it is only bubbly offered for the first hour, no wine or beer, just bubbly and non alcoholic. While it is changing I still see this to be the most common. This also goes with the post dinner reception/dancing, the bar is often wine and beer and sometimes a cash bar. In the US it is quite common for a couple to offer mixed drinks.

Where You Can Get Married – In the US you can really have your wedding anywhere! You see a pretty field and want to have your wedding ceremony there, great. In the UK I was surprised on how strict the laws are about what area you can get married in and that it must be licensed. However, there are ways around this. A lot of couples will have a smaller ceremony at the registrars office and then say their vows in front of guests on their wedding day with a celebrant, this is a great way to say I Do with your nearest and dearest around.

UK Traditions I Love!

Hats – I LOVE that it is common in the UK for women to wear fascinators or hats to a wedding! The guests at the royal wedding embraced it in style and it was fabulous!

The Length of the Wedding – I think UK weddings tend to last longer and celebrate longer. It is common in the UK to have a ceremony at Noon or 1:00pm and party until 200am when in the US ceremonies sometimes do not start until 3pm or 4pm and the party will end at midnight.

Confetti – LOVE that showering the newlyweds with confetti as they exit their ceremony is common in the UK. There are HUNDREDS of stores that specialise in selling only wedding confetti, crazy. However, I love this tradition!
Abby Jiu - Rebecca K Events

 

Garden Weddings – I do love when couples mention they are having their reception in their parents garden. As an American you picture a small cute garden, intimate and nice. It usually ends up being in a LARGE marquee in their parents huge back yard of their gorgeous English manor home. We love this!

The term “Wedding Breakfast”
Wedding Breakfast. Wow, so many clients were requesting to have their reception during breakfast. A brunch reception, I thought that was the coolest idea to be so common. No. That was a new one for me. The term wedding breakfast can be used even if the meal is in the evening. The term actually comes from the meaning that the couple would be fasting before the wedding ceremony and the meal after was the first meal together and the first meal of their day, the Wedding Breakfast.

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