Who: Holly & Will | When: September 2020 | Where: Chelsea Town Hall

 

>> Tell us more about your wedding planning:

This wasn’t the original plan. Like so many couples, we had our big two part wedding all planned for May 2020; a small legal ceremony with just family, followed by a big celebration a few days later with all our friends. When the lockdown was announced in March, no one could have predicted what the future held so. Like so many others, we didn’t know whether to hold out, cancel or postpone the wedding.  Initially, with optimism in our hearts, we postponed both parts of the wedding to September 2020. But as the months rolled on, it became clear that we weren’t going to be able to get hundreds of people into a room anytime soon.

We decided to cancel the big event and stick with the plans for the legal wedding. We kept everything crossed that we’d be able to go ahead when the time came and salvage at least some of our 2020 plans. It was actually a huge relief once a decision was made and all the pressure was taken away. A micro wedding wasn’t what we ever thought we’d have, but in hindsight I’m so glad we did.

 

>> How did you choose your venues:

Both sets of our parents got married at Chelsea and Kensington Registry Office, a month apart from each other back in 1979. So there was a sentimental aspect to the decision, meaning we never really discussed other options. We originally planned to go to a local restaurant for a meal following the ceremony. But because we were no longer able to have Kalm Kitchen cater at the big celebration and we were desperate to still have their incredible food, we decided to hold the reception at Holly’s father’s home. It worked perfectly for the guest numbers. We had drinks and canapés on the roof terrace and set up a banquet style dining table in the living room for the meal. The kitchen was turned into a dance floor later in the evening.

 

 

>> How did you choose the menu:

We wanted an Italian theme running through the meal, as our very initial plans after getting engaged was to hold the wedding in Italy (Thank god we didn’t!). We also felt that, because it was a small event, a sharing meal would work best. It encourages interaction and connects people, and Italian food lends itself perfectly to the sharing concept. Kalm Kitchen took our ideas and created a completely bespoke vegetarian menu for us. It was perfect! We felt so comfortable in the hands of the team so really let them run with it.

 

>> What was on the menu:

 

>> What was your favourite part of the meal:

We had a bespoke Kalm Kitchen sharing pavlova for dessert, which doubled up as our wedding cake. It was just incredible.

 

>> What did you have to drink:

We kept it simple with a bespoke Kalm Kitchen drinks package. For the canapé reception we had Prosecco with optional Aperol or Creme de Cassis upgrades, and some bottles of Corona (very fitting). We had red and white wine for the meal and the Kalm Kitchen team made delicious Espresso Martinis and Margaritas for an after dinner “Cocktail Hour”

>> How did you choose the styling:

We followed Kalm Kitchen’s advice with the table styling. Being a living room, the table surroundings were quite ‘busy’, so we kept the table decor simple and neutral, with potted Italian herbs rather than flowers for decoration. The styling worked perfectly in the surroundings and was complemented by fairy lights galore.

 

>> Are you going to have a bigger celebration:

For sure, at some point. We can’t wait to eat Kalm Kitchen’s food again.

 

>> Would you recommend a micro wedding to other couples:

Absolutely. We are so glad we went ahead with the wedding and had the opportunity to get together with our closest loved ones at a time when we’ve seen so little of them this past year. A small wedding means you get to spend quality time with all our guests on the most important day of your life and that is pretty invaluable at the moment. There was no stress and the pressure has been taken off now, so when we do have the big wedding, we’ll be so much more relaxed and be able to fully enjoy the day.

Credits: Sarah Legge photographed the ceremony for us and we can’t recommend her enough. She made us feel so at ease and captured so many beautiful photos. (https://www.sarahleggephotography.co.uk)

Kalm Kitchen is thrilled to be approved as a supplier at the beautiful Chelsea Physic Garden. This historic garden wedding venue is London’s oldest botanic garden, occupying four acres of land on the edge of the Thames.

 

Where:

Tucked away beside the River Thames and nestled behind walls, the garden has a special, secret feel due to its location. In fact, it’s situated on one of Chelsea’s smartest streets, a buzzing part of London that still maintains a village feel.

What:

With a rich past of providing medicinal plants for apothecaries, today Chelsea Physic Garden is a living collection of around 5,000 different edible medicinal and herbal plants. It is also an exceptional venue for all kinds of events. Light, airy and spacious, The Gallery room is an elegant indoor space available to hire throughout the year. With high ceilings, and an outlook to the iconic gardens, The Gallery can accommodate all types of events, including weddings for up to 90 guests.

Meanwhile, the Garden itself is a beautiful botanical setting with a large marquee as an optional hire. A Wedding Ceremony Room is available for up to 70 guests and blessings in the gardens are welcome. The entire Garden is available to hire exclusively, or more intimate areas can also be booked separately. For instance, the Lower Lawn – tucked away in the South West corner – is a secluded grassy area ideal for small, day-time gatherings of up to 100 guests.

Available for exclusive private hire on Saturdays and on weekday evenings, this outstanding and adaptable venue offers any number of décor and theme possibilities. Exclusive hire means guests are most welcome to explore the pathways and peripheries, loaded with idyllic photograph backdrop opportunities amidst its collection of rare and historically significant plants.

We love:

This magical venue is an idyllic space to hold your wedding. The historic charm of the gardens is quite unique and provides a spectacular yet understated setting for a botanical-themed celebration. Even better, when you hire The Chelsea Physic Garden for an event, your money goes to support the work of caring for the collections of plants and The Garden for future generations.

For more information on hosting your wedding at Chelsea Physic Garden visit their website www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk. Email the team on enquiries@chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk  or call on 020 7352 5646.

Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 4HS

We’ve brought events to life in some of the country’s most celebrated spaces and venues. But there’s no doubt, it’s always fun to bring our Kalm Kitchen concepts to the Capital. One of our more recent discoveries is the refurbished Garden Museum in London. Here’s just a little on why we love it so much…

Where

Situated on the banks of the River Thames, the Garden Museum sits in the imposing shadows of Lambeth Palace and opposite the Houses of Parliament. It makes an astonishing setting for a chic, city wedding.

What

Entirely refurbished in 2017, from what was once a church, the space is now a shrine to all things garden-related. But not only that, its pop-up exhibition spaces provide the ideal backdrop for weddings, events and  all kinds of special occasions.

We love

Light floods down into the Dan Pearson-designed courtyard garden, which is surrounded by wooden pillars and planted with a mix of maidenhair ferns and black mondo grasses. The cafe, bar and museum are all covered in greenery, so it feels like a total haven away from the bustling city that surrounds it.

For more information on The Garden Museum, visit their website here. You can read more about Belinda and Dominic’s wedding hosted at The Garden Museum here.