Adam hails from the United States, and Ashley is all the way from England. As you can imagine, this made choosing an “I do” location a difficult task. They spent a good chunk of their wedding planning journey deciding on the continent fit for their big day. After checking out a variety of venues between New York and London, they stumbled upon Battersea Arts Center. They had around 100 American pals fly over for their White Battersea Arts Center destination wedding. Their goal? To give it a London vibe without going too formal. They aimed to show off the building’s grand history with the lightness of their own personalities, and they totally pulled it off!
Their wedding was a timeless classic from start to finish. The ceremony dazzled with white florals and a chuppah, while the reception showcased an all-white tablescape seamlessly fitting the venue’s historic charm. Sticking to the elegant theme, both grooms sported matching white tuxedo jackets. But here’s the fun part—amid all the sophistication, they infused their big day with their own unique style. Flags, feather boas, and sunglasses made their way into the decor, adding a personal touch to the elegant affair.
If you’re looking for a way to add a dash of personality to your classic celebration, look no further than this England destination wedding. It’s the perfect source of inspiration for you. Keep scrolling to soak in all the gorgeous details expertly captured by Sam Sparks.
The Couple:
Adam and Ashley
The Wedding:
Battersea Arts Centre, London, United Kingdom
How They Added Their Flair to Their White Battersea Arts Center Destination Wedding
Weddings can be so serious and “by the book, ” which is not how we wanted our day. Meeting our planner was fate. Together, we created a design aesthetic that didn’t try to overshadow the venue’s beauty. We opted for classic, “simpler” flowers and a black-and-white color scheme to bring out the natural tones of the weathered walls of the Grand Hall. However, we also added some silly elements to contrast that “simplicity.” For example, there were two gorgeous marble statues in the Octagonal Hall where our guests entered, and we affixed the American Flag and Union Jack to each one to make it look like they were waving the flags. As the night progressed, we also added feather boas and sunglasses to the statues. We could go on and on, but our whole vibe wanted to feel classy but light.
From Virtual Dates to Real-Life Magic: The Significance of Our First Dance”
We recap the day constantly and have a different answer to this question every time. But for today, let’s say our first dance. We met during the pandemic and FaceTime dates to cheer each other up; we would virtually dance to Frank Sinatra’s “Nice and Easy.” Three years later, dancing to that same song in a fully choreographed dance (to Adam’s chagrin) in front of all our family and friends was beyond full circle. After that, the dance floor was packed and didn’t stop for the rest of the evening.
Tossing “Shoulds” and Embracing “Coulds” On Their Big Day
Make it personal! Who cares “what’s done” or “what’s expected.” It’s your day, so don’t go off of what you think you should do. Money can buy many things, but it can’t buy fun. And it was that belief that drove our planning process.
How They Pulled Off a Million-Dollar Look on a Budget
Our guests left our wedding saying it was the most fun wedding they’ve ever been to and that we genuinely thought of “everything.” Can’t beat that review! We also had a lot of friends, or friends of friends who saw our pictures, say that our wedding looked like it cost $1 million. It most certainly did not! Our budget was tight for both the size of the wedding (and our ambitions), so we’re proud of how much we creatively squeezed out of it.
Beyond Boring Ceremonies: How They Infused Personality into Every Moment
We had already been officially married in a very small ceremony in the States, and even though this one had many more attendants, we wanted it to feel just as personal and intimate. Ceremonies can be so dull and sterile, so we worked hard to design a ceremony where everyone felt like they played a part. Adam’s dad officiated and had each row of guests stand up so we could take in and connect to everyone who made the effort to be there. Since we’re two men, we couldn’t decide who would walk down the aisle last. So instead, we opted for our planner to send Ralphy, our dog, down last for a solo moment. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house after that! We had a group singalong to “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” to get everybody feeling the love. Adam’s eight and 10-year-old cousins read a poem of advice “from” our pup Ralphy. Ashley’s theater teacher read “Something Wonderful” lyrics from The King and I while her daughter accompanied her on the cello. Ashley surprised Adam with a Love Actually (his favorite movie) style flash song where, gradually, more and more of our friends stood up and sang. We both laughed and cried our eyes out the whole ceremony. It was perfect.
The Wedding Team:
Photography – Sam Sparks
Event Planning – Events By Josephine
Ceremony + Reception Venue – Battersea Arts Centre
Floral Design – Sarah Vo Loves
Catering – Frozen Honey Events
Bar – Broken Shaker
Live Music – LDN Entertainment
Videography – Ben Tamir
Invitation Design – Maple & Rae
Groom’s Apparel – Todd Snyder
Rentals – The Happy Cuppah People
Hats off to Ashley and Adam for pulling off their timeless black and white Battersea Arts Center destination wedding! Big thanks to Sam Sparks for skillfully capturing every moment and detail that turned their celebration into a memorable affair.
Your wedding venue choice has the power to shape the overall atmosphere of your big day, as proven by this wedding. So, if you’re searching for the ideal venue, check out our thoughtfully curated options. Once you’ve found the spot, spice things up by adding your own creative touch by drawing inspiration from these unique ideas.
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