Let me first state, I am LOVING London Week here at Junebug, and I may or may not have been spending a little time looking for airplane tickets to book a trip. Each new batch of photos we’ve had this week has more gorgeous shots of London scenery, and I’m just dying to go see it all in person. Until then though, Maria (known as Mia) and Andrei’s downtown London wedding at the British Academy will tide me over well. I love Marianne Taylor’s beautiful images of the historic buildings, London streets, and Mia’s exquisite taste and design sense. Enjoy!

The Couple: Mia and Andrei

The Wedding: 5.5.12 – British Academy – London, UK

What three adjectives best describe your wedding? Elegant, Fun, Designer

What was your wedding color palette? Grey and yellow

What inspired your personal wedding style, and how did you incorporate your style and personalities into your big day? As a designer, it was important to me that even from the beginning, we expressed our personalities and our professions throughout. The invites featured our thumb prints, overlapping, which created a love heart. We also designed our own monogram which appeared on table runners, cocktails and even on the dessert. My husband works in wine so we thought it would be fun to have all the escort cards slotted into wine corks. We had the very best wines from Burgundy, Bordeaux and Champagne which are all the regions that my husband deals in. As two people who enjoy music, we chose a particular old school DJ with a live saxophonist and several drummers.

Did you incorporate any traditions or styles that are unique to the UK? Living in Englands capital, it was important for us to have a real London feel. We had a wonderful sit down three course meal, over looking Big Ben, the London Eye, and a few minutes walk from Buckingham Palace. The main meal was guinea fowl supreme wrapped in pancetta with spinach mousseline; olive oil mash and baby vegetables with game jus. It was absolutely mouthwatering. Andrei and I sat on our own table so that we could spend quality time together. We were told from our married friends that the day would go very quickly and that it was important to make time to be with your partner. Im glad we did.

We also had a British Postbox for all our cards, which was painted in white. And at the end of the night, after our reception, we organized a pub lock-in until 4.30am. A very British ending to a London wedding!

Tell us about your wedding location – how you chose it, what its history is. The British Academy in the Carlton House Terrace ticked all the boxes we were looking for. It was a beautiful historical building with huge windows, right in the center of London (right next to Trafalgar Square and The Mall), with a long balcony and manicured garden. The sweeping marble staircase alone was a winning point! Carlton House Terraces were built in 182732 by the architect, John Nash. Its most famous resident being William Ewart Gladstone (Prime Minister) from 185775.

Looking back, what are the moments, decisions or memories that you love the most about your wedding?

• Getting ready in the ballroom with the most beautifully painted ceiling. Just think Sistine chapel!
• Adapting the wording of the ceremony so that it was special to us.
• My best friend reading a love poem for us.
• Enjoying our dinner in the Mall room over looking the St. James Park and the Mall.
• Hiring a saxophonist to play along side the DJ.
• Handing out glow sticks and yellow fans for people to dance with in the evening.
• Having our photographs taken at Traflagar Square.

The Wedding Team:

Photographer: Marianne Taylor
Ceremony Venue: British Academy
Reception Venue: Carlton House Terrace
Invitation Designer: Design by Wilson
Catering: Food Show
Wine: Provenance Fine Wines
Florist: Enchanted Florist
Cake: Linda Fripp Designs
Wedding Dress: Pronovias
Bridal  Shoes: Benjamin Adams
Hair and Make-up: Joanna Smedley
DJ: Matt Maurice
Live Music: Roger Pasto Cortina, Tunday Akintan

Congratulations Mia and Andrei! Thanks for sharing your beautiful wedding!

To see more stunning weddings from international destinations, checkout our Real Wedding Library!