Wedding belles in Belgravia
Belgravia Wedding Quarter has something to suit even the most demanding of brides
There are two types of bride in the world: those who like nothing better than planning every last detail of their big day, from the colour of the bouquets to the thickness of the tablecloths; and those who live in dread of yet another afternoon spent poring over guest lists and traipsing round stationery shops.
Whichever kind of bride you are, there’s no need to make wedding planning a chore. It’s natural to suffer from pre-wedding jitters, so keep your nerves in check by taking the opportunity to relax in comfortable surroundings. Belgravia is full of shops that will surprise and delight the budding bride.
Kate Middleton must have had a few butterflies in her stomach when she was preparing for her royal nuptials, so it’s no wonder that she picked the luxurious Goring Hotel as the perfect spot for her last night as a single woman.
If you, like the Duchess of Cambridge, want your big day to be extra special, a stroll around the Belgravia Wedding Quarter could provide the inspiration you’re looking for. Start with a sumptuous breakfast at the five-star Halkin Hotel before embarking on a tour of an area that is home to some of the most exclusive names in the bridal business. Visit Elizabeth Street’s Grosvenor Stationery Company, which offers elegant engravings tailored to your requirements, to design a wedding invitation so beautiful that your guests won’t be able to turn it down. Then pop into Peggy Porschen Cakes on Ebury Street, where you can create a bespoke wedding cake that will taste just as good as it looks. Whether you’re after a traditional tiered cake or a more modern creation, you’re bound to succumb to the temptations on offer.
Try not to sample too many of Peggy’s wares, though, because the most important part of your tour awaits: the search for your dream dress. The creators of some of the world’s most exquisite bridal collections, including British designer Jenny Packham and Irish designer Louise Kennedy, have stores in Belgravia, in Elizabeth Street and West Halkin Street respectively. Their knowledgeable staff will advise you on the shape and style that best suits your figure, and will even help you find matching lingerie and accessories.
When it comes to choosing your jewellery, look no further than Carolina Bucci’s flagship store in Motcomb Street. Her unique creations, which feature gold and silk threads woven on a centuries-old Florentine textile loom, regularly grace the pages of fashion magazines. Then put the finishing touches to your outfit by selecting an exotic scent from Lowndes Street fragrance house Amouage, which counts royalty among its customers.
Still haven’t decided on a venue for your celebrations? With two fine-dining restaurants, a stylish bar and an eight-room spa, the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is the epitome of English elegance. Best of all, if you book your wedding in the hotel’s historic ballroom, you’ll receive exclusive discounts on a range of local bridal services, thanks to a new luxury wedding collaboration involving some of London’s finest brands. Among them are florist Neill Strain, whose seasonally inspired floral designs will bring life and colour to your wedding venue, and hairdresser Errol Douglas, whose salon can cater for any hair type and style.
With everything planned for your special day, you’ll be free to concentrate on the important things – such as making sure the best man doesn’t forget the ring …
Celebrity wedding planner Bruce Russell is running a competition, featured in the March/April issue of Brides magazine, that offers four lucky brides the chance to win an exclusive Belgravia Bridal Tour. To enter, simply send your name, contact details and wedding date to belgraviabridaltour@condenast.co.uk by 7 April 2012.
Click here for more information about the Belgravia Wedding Quarter.
Amouage, 4 Lowndes Street, London SW1X 9EX
020 3031 9874
www.amouage.com
Bruce Russell Chiasson
07912 676 717
www.bybrucerussell.com
Carolina Bucci, 4 Motcomb Street, London SW1X 8JU
020 7838 9977
www.carolinabucci.com
Errol Douglas, 18 Motcomb Street, London SW1X 8LB
020 7235 0110
www.erroldouglas.com
Goring Hotel, 15 Beeston Place, London SW1W 0JW
020 7396 9000
www.thegoring.com
Grosvenor Stationery Company, 47 Elizabeth Street, London SW1W 9PP
020 7730 4515
www.grosvenorstationerycompany.com
Halkin Hotel, Halkin Street, London SW1X 7DJ
020 7333 1000
www.halkin.como.bz
Jenny Packham, 75 Elizabeth Street, London SW1W 9PJ
020 7730 4883
jennypackham.com
Louise Kennedy, 9A West Halkin Street, London SW1X 8JL
020 7235 0911
www.louisekennedy.com
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, 66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LA
020 7201 3773
www.mandarinoriental.com/london
Neill Strain, 59 Ebury Street, London SW1W 0NZ
020 7881 0818
www.neillstrain.com
Peggy Porschen Cakes, 116 Ebury Street, London SW1W 9QQ
020 7730 1316
www.peggyporschen.com
Click here for The Directory of all shops, restaurants and amenities in Mayfair and Belgravia.