Inside: The Wedding Edition’s Little White Book Launch Party

On Monday 26 January, as twilight settled over Knightsbridge and the lights of Hyde Park glimmered beyond the tall sash windows, The Wedding Edition unveiled its most ambitious venture to date: the launch of Little White Book, a curated luxury directory and B2B community for the modern wedding industry. The setting could not have been more fitting. The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park’s ballroom, all gilded mouldings, soaring ceilings and hushed grandeur, provided a suitably cinematic backdrop for an evening that felt both intimate and impeccably polished.

Guests were welcomed into the ballroom by a soft glow of candlelight, artfully styled tables and abundant florals by Moyses Stevens, whose arrangements brought a romantic, painterly softness to the room.

The ballroom itself was softly scented with Diptyque, creating an immediate sense of atmosphere from the moment guests arrived. Notes of Figuier, Geranium Rosa and Genévrier drifted through the space, layering the evening with something quietly transportive and unmistakably Parisian.

Champagne flowed freely, with glasses of Moët & Chandon served on arrival and throughout the evening, their golden bubbles catching the light as conversation ebbed and flowed. Elegant trays of canapés circulated with quiet precision. From the cold selection, guests enjoyed citrus-infused cherry tomatoes with burrata, olive oil caviar and basil on toast, alongside pear and goat’s cheese, vermouth-glazed, served on sesame crackers. Hot canapés followed, including crispy chicken with miso mayo and scallion, hirate buns filled with Peking duck, spring onion and hoisin, and indulgent bites of fillet of beef Wellington with tarragon emulsion. Mini Yorkshire puddings filled with roast beef and horseradish proved particularly popular, disappearing almost as quickly as they appeared.

Adding a theatrical flourish to the evening was a quietly brilliant performance by Incognito, whose trio of singers were cleverly disguised among the guests: one posing as the event host, another as technical support, the third stationed discreetly behind the bar. As the host began to address the room, a moment of apparent “technical difficulty” saw the lights cut and the illusion unravel, as the tech assistant stepped forward and broke into song. Her fellow performer joined, culminating in a stirring rendition from behind the bar and a glorious encore that brought the room to its feet. A highlight came with their performance of La Traviata, lending a touch of operatic drama to Little White Book’s debut that felt both unexpected and exquisitely fitting.

At the heart of the evening was the formal introduction of Little White Book by The Wedding Edition. Designed to respond to a new era of weddings defined by personalisation, immersive guest experiences and meaningful sustainability, the directory brings together only the most exceptional suppliers across the industry. Every name is editorially approved, from florists and stylists to photographers, venues and planners, each chosen for creativity, craftsmanship and credibility.

“The Little White Book is not just another directory,” said co-founder and editor Kendra Leaver-Rylah. “Every supplier must meet our editorial benchmarks. Couples deserve to know that when they choose a name from this list, they are choosing excellence.” Co-founder Isabella Foulger echoed the sentiment, noting that the platform exists to champion craftsmanship, cut through noise and foster meaningful connections across the industry.

More than a listing platform, Little White Book marks a strategic evolution for The Wedding Edition, shifting from curating inspiration for couples to building infrastructure for the industry itself. With weddings increasingly shaped by intimacy, immersive guest journeys, sustainability and distinctive visual identity, the platform offers a rigorously edited network designed to support both creative excellence and commercial growth. Membership extends far beyond visibility, with access to collaborative activations, editorial features, B2B networking and future live events positioned firmly at the centre of its proposition.

The Guest List

The evening welcomed a stylish cross section of figures from fashion, beauty, weddings, media and contemporary culture. Guests included Scarlett Lapidus, DJ and music curator; Mercedes Benson, content creator and DJ; Amber Le Bon, fashion model and DJ; Sabrina Percy, content creator and coaching psychologist; and Freddy Cousin Brown, content creator.

From the world of weddings and events came Sinclair Sellars and India Sellars of Maids to Measure; Charlotte Ricard-Quesada of La Fête; Matthew Oliver of Matthew Oliver Weddings; Georgia Noyce of Seven Stories; Cleo Alexiou of Cleo Alexiou Luxury Weddings and Events; Tally Gilbert of Pinky Studio live poetry; Roberta Facchini, wedding photographer; and Holly Clark, wedding photographer and more.

Jewellery designer Sophie Breitmeyer joined Emmy Scarterfield of Emmy London, bridal designer Phillipa Lepley, Laila and Olivia Maristani of Maristani London, Louisa Preskett Mobbs of Maison Margaux, Henrietta Martindale of The Styled Writing Company and Caroline Kent of Scribble & Daub.

Press and media were represented by Jade Beer, author and former Brides editor; Keiran Coyne of Condé Nast Britain; Harriet Hunt of Hunt Communications; and Felicity Bird, content creator and consultant.

The Wedding Edition team were out in force, including lifestyle director Serena Knight, beauty editor Yasmin Salmon, and contributing editor Cally Squires, alongside Francesca Newman-Young, content creator and contributing editor.

The hosts of the evening, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, were represented by Tom Bates, director of marketing and communications; Catherine Unwin, director of events; and Chris Thompson, director of society events, all of whom ensured the night unfolded with characteristic polish.

As guests departed into the cold January night, clutching chic goodie bags filled with treats from JS Health, Diptyque, Chantecaille and Biscuiteers, there was a palpable sense that something significant had begun. Little White Book is not merely a directory. It is a declaration of intent: a beautifully curated ecosystem designed to set the standard for a new era of weddings.