Inside: Lauren Stevenson’s Chic Chelsea Ceremony Before the Island I Dos

From meeting on a charity cycle challenge in Ibiza to a love that bloomed between a broken bike chain and nights at Pacha, step inside Lauren Stevenson and Tom Winslade’s intimate London celebration at Chelsea Town Hall – a weekend of effortless elegance where heartfelt vows, timeless style, and joyful moments set the tone for their five-day Ibiza wedding.

The Story So Far

We met in May 2018 on the Last Night a DJ Saved My Life charity cycle challenge in Ibiza, which involved three days of cycling around the island. By day three, we realised how much we had in common as we both lived in Clapham and worked in Shoreditch. It took one broken bike chain, a villa party and a night at Ushuaïa and Pacha to seal our cycle romance with a kiss.

A psychic had told me three years earlier that I would meet the man of my dreams on a bike surrounded by olive trees, so you could say Ibiza’s magic brought us together or perhaps it was written in the stars.

Our first date was at Coya, where by chance Tom’s friends were all in the bar, so I was thrown straight into his world and, thankfully, passed the test.

Fast forward to New Year’s Eve 2024 in Padstow, Cornwall. We were with friends and our daughter when Tom suggested a walk to Mother Ivey’s Bay, known for its dolphin sightings. A storm hit that morning, so I suspected something was up. When the skies cleared, we made it down to the beach, and after a few nervous laps of the sand, Tom got down on one knee. Our friends were waiting with champagne at The Pig Hotel, and we spent the night celebrating our engagement. It was unforgettable.

Venue

We always knew we would return to Ibiza to get married. It’s an island that means so much to us both. For our civil ceremony, we chose Chelsea Town Hall, where we had registered our daughter’s birth. I’ve always loved watching couples emerge from those famous steps, so it felt very special to follow in their footsteps.

We set the date for 13 September, a month before our Ibiza wedding, with a late afternoon ceremony followed by dinner at The Cadogan Arms, an old favourite from our early date nights. The London celebration was intentionally small, with just family, our best man and maid of honour, ahead of the five-day Ibiza wedding with 100 guests.

Fashion

I initially bought a white corset dress by New Arrivals from MyTheresa but then met Pippa, the incredible founder of Bon Bride, at an International Women’s Day dinner at The Ned. We instantly connected and she offered to create something special for me.

Although I already had a dress, it felt meant to be. After trying six designs, we settled on an ivory satin corset top with a matching column skirt. It felt elegant, feminine and modern yet timeless. Pippa’s South West London studio is a dream for brides looking for contemporary silhouettes, and we even found a perfect Bon Bride dress for my maid of honour, Lisa.

It only took one fitting for Pippa to perfect the cut. I paired the dress with pointed silver slingback heels by Dolce & Gabbana, vintage pearl earrings, my Celine sunglasses and a playful Perspex MRS clutch. My something blue was saved for our Ibiza wedding.

Bridal Party

My maid of honour, Lisa Haynes, wore a v-neck ruched Bon Bride mini dress and our three-year-old daughter wore a white bespoke dress by Lawrence & Winslade. Tom wore a brown double-breasted suit designed by Lawrence & Winslade, the Mayfair tailors founded by his brother, paired with brown suede shoes by Myrqvist.

Transportation

We stayed at The Chelsea Townhouse the night before and were upgraded to a beautiful suite overlooking the gardens. After a champagne lunch, I got ready with my mum, maid of honour and daughter. The rain poured all morning but, as if by magic, the skies cleared as we left in a London taxi that swept us down the King’s Road under soft September light.

Tablescape

We dressed the table at The Cadogan Arms with mini disco balls as a fun nod to our upcoming Ibiza wedding.

Flowers

I carried a simple hand-tied bouquet of white avalanche roses and my daughter had a matching posy. Tom wore a single rose and eucalyptus buttonhole, all created by Clapham Flowers.

Food & Drinks

We chose a sharing menu of our favourites, including fried chicken with buffalo sauce, goat’s cheese tarts and steak with peppercorn sauce, followed by a wedding cake designed by Mital at Clapham Cakes. Guests enjoyed champagne on arrival, a mix of our favourite wines and cocktails and espresso martinis to finish, a little hint of the Ibiza celebrations to come.

Entertainment

I walked into Can’t Help Falling in Love by Kina Grannis, which we also played at our daughter’s birth, and we exited to That’s How Strong My Love Is by Otis Redding.

Beauty Regime & Wellness

In the lead-up, I had weekly lymphatic drainage with Eleyna at Ela Sculpt in Knightsbridge, facials at Skinwork every six weeks and regular Pilates at The Loft Studio alongside Barry’s sessions in Victoria.

On the morning of the wedding, Jonathan Long at Lockonego styled my hair into soft brushed waves, while Sasha from @artofbeaut_y did my make-up using Code8, MERIT and KULFI. We went for a simple dewy look with a soft smoky eye and pink lips.