Alex Head, is the Director of Social Pantry and George Hampson, Head of Business Development at Social Pantry. They met through their lovely mutual friends, Katie and Rob. The couple got engaged a few years ago, all very relaxed – they were having a fish and chips take away at home! They tied the knot in a chic colourful wedding in Chelsea, London.
The best part of our day was….
There is a fun photo of George quite literally whisking me off my feet. I’m so glad our photographer, Bex Clarke, insisted on this picture as it captures the heady heights of elation and love I felt in that moment.
I also love that all our flowers – designed by Pompom factory – are made of paper. It means I can keep mine, and my daughter’s, Roxy, mini bouquet forever!
We chose to get married at…
The ceremony took place at Chelsea Old Town Hall, London. We then held the wedding lunch at Social Pantry Café, and the evening reception at 100 Barrington Road.
Combining these three unique venues took us on a journey across South London that maps onto the journey I’ve taken with Social Pantry.
I knew I found ‘The One’ when…
I saw a dress online and contacted the designer, Kate Edmonson. We immediately got to work creating a similar but entirely bespoke dress from scratch.
I was still pregnant with my son Eddy at the time, so I wanted something that was flattering post-partum yet fun, stylish and commanded attention. I went for a mini-length dress with exuberant puffed sleeves and a deep neck-line. All credit to Kate who made skillful adjustments right up until the week before.
I also wanted something that I could re-wear and I’m already thinking about dyeing the dress for an extravagant party outfit in the future!
The most enjoyable moments of planning were…
I loved choosing our linen lunch napkins from Initially London – embroidered with all our guests’ names so they could take them home. As a foodie lover, I also enjoyed choosing the menu and evening cocktails which were all zero-waste.
Having spent over a decade planning other people’s weddings, it was surreal – in a wonderful sense! – being on the other side of the table and experiencing the creative brilliance and attention-to-detail my team provide all our clients with.
The hardest part of planning was…
As a result of my work, I know the industry and the options available inside-out – which can make decision-making impossible! Kristy, our brilliant Head of Events from Social Pantry was there to guide and refine my choices, but it felt strange to surrender that control having built my entire career on planning other people’s big days!
The best accounts to follow on Instagram for big-day inspo are…
Ummm @social_pantry ?! Joking aside, I really did find myself scrolling through our Instagram feed to remind myself of all the amazing weddings we’ve been part of. My team is fab at tagging all of the suppliers we work with on socials, so you can find the best venues to florists, tableware hire and more!
I’d also recommend looking for inspiration from a range of places rather than focusing on curated wedding content. These tend to make you think your wedding ‘should’ look a certain way.
I enjoy following dessert and cake makers such as @theproof._ , @bakesby.olivia, @lechouxlondon and @alicekatiestudio; florists such as @pompomfactory, @sage.factory, @croco_studio and @bloominghaus; and fashion brands such as @reformation , @rixo, @sezane and @bymalina – all of which have provided inspiration to shape my own style and taste!
Wedding menu highlights..
My team made irresistible and ultra-stylish canapes including Truffle Cheese Choux Buns and Squash & Crispy Sage Arancini which everyone DEVOURED before a beautiful sit-down lunch at Social Pantry Cafe.
The late-night offering of upscale comfort food included Pulled Mushroom Bao Buns with Fermented Plum Sauce and Fried Chicken with Seasonal Slaw and Black Garlic Mayo. Along with the spectacular dessert station by Social Pantry in collaboration with The Proof and edible-gold macarons by Giselle Richardson!
For our honeymoon we chose..
We spent three days kiddie-free in Paris, eating our way around our favourite places, enjoying long lunches with red wine, jumping on scooters and seeing the sites.
My top three tips for any couple would be…
Think “value-led” rather than “trend-led”. Being sustainably-minded is not only great for the planet, but can often save money and provide a meaningful framework for thinking about what really matters in the moment.
Pay attention to your no and low-alcohol drinks– it’s an easy way to make your day more inclusive and enjoyable for all.
Having a professional photographer/videographer ensures you’ll have high-quality images to last a lifetime, and also takes the pressure off guests to capture every moment.
List of suppliers:
Venue:
Kensington and Chelsea Venues @kcvenues
Social Pantry Cafe @socialpantrycafe
Caterer:
Dress: Kate Edmondson Bridal @edmonsonbridalcouture
Bridesmaids: Hire Street @hirestreetuk
Groom outfit: McCann Bespoke London @mccannbespokelondon made George’s suit. It had his initials and our wedding date stitched on the very fun patterned lining which was a special touch which they did!
Flower girls & page boys: Second Hand
Florist: Pom Pom Factory @pompomfactory
Tableware: Initially London @intiallylondon
Stationery: Papier @papierweddings @papier
Wedding website: Social Pantry
Photographer: Bex Clarke Photography @bexclarkephotography
Videographer: Each And Every Moment @eachandeverymoment
Wedding rings: Asquiths Of London
Makeup: @hollyspencermakeup
Hair: LDN Blonde Specialist @oliviakaelihair
Gift list: The wedding present company @theweddingpresentco – we created an art fund that guests could contribute to and when we were in Paris we went to an auction and brought a couple of amazing pictures.
Bridesmaid gifts: I didn’t officially have bridesmaids but had some wonderful friends with me in a hotel the night before and gave them a fun, turquoise, cord wash bag with their initials embroidered on in hot pink from Initially London @initiallylondon .
Stylist: Social Pantry @social_pantry
Related Article: Inside: Alexandra Dudley’s Summer Wedding