“We met and fell in love in New York City”, says Jessie Hyman, co-founder of Pruzan Running, when I asked how she and her now-husband, Miguel McKelvey, an entrepreneur, met. “Our first conversation was about Miguel’s hometown of Eugene, home of the celebrated track team at the University of Oregon. I’ve always been a running nerd. We fell in love over walking every inch of Manhattan, visiting family in Oregon and Chicago, and eating our weight in pizza whilst admiring the skyline.
In 2020, we made the move to London—right at the start of the pandemic. At first, it was daunting. We didn’t have friends or family here, and the city felt unfamiliar. But over time, we built an incredible community and made London our home. The proposal happened on a trip to Crete. Miguel had planned it as a surprise, only revealing the destination at the airport. I had a feeling a proposal might be coming. I was positive once we made a plan to head to the beach on Saturday and he couldn’t contain his excitement—he was dancing and playing music whilst I got ready.
We had only been on the beach for a couple of minutes when he got down on one knee. It was such a beautiful moment; the joy, the backdrop of the beach and the intimacy of it all. We celebrated with dinner and returned to our Airbnb to an unexpected (and hilarious) fireworks display set off by the manager just a few meters away. It was completely over the top and absolutely unforgettable.”
“We hosted our welcome dinner at Spring in Somerset House which, with its historic grandeur and prime spot along the Thames, offered a setting that was both striking and quintessentially London. It was the perfect welcome for our guests who were mostly coming from overseas. The food at Spring is exceptional and the chocolate cake is, without exaggeration, the best I’ve ever had.”
“For dinner, we invited close friends and family to a dining room filled with cosmos, kicking off the first of our weekend’s speeches—10 in total! Later, the rest of our guests joined us for a cocktail hour buzzing with energy and laughter. Miguel’s toast, encouraging everyone to meet and engage with someone new, set such a warm, connected tone. I didn’t know rehearsal dinners could be so fun!”
Encourage guests to introduce themselves to people they don’t know. It’s amazing how far a simple suggestion can go in changing the vibe of an entire weekend.
“I wore a Simone Rocha set with Louboutin lace pumps for our town hall ceremony (which I swapped for flats after a few hours!). I found the outfit by chance after a wedding dress fitting when I popped into Simone Rocha across the street on a whim. The floral set’s sculptural top and delicate details felt so effortlessly beautiful, and I knew it was perfect for our Friday evening.”
SANDY LIANG
Thong Mule 60
LIÉ Studio
The Marie Earrings
Simone Rocha
White Bow Dress
Simone Rocha
Rose Midi Skirt
maison rabih kayrouz
A-Line Skirt
“One of my dear friends created our guest-signing book and brought along an instant camera, which quickly became the kids’ favourite wedding accessory. On Friday evening, they took charge, snapping portraits of all our guests and assigning them pages in the book. It was so sweet to see them welcoming everyone and adding their own charm to the evening. Now we have a book filled with heartfelt letters and love notes from our closest people, paired with candid, joyful photos from the day— a very special keepsake.”
“Getting ready was a sweet moment with my sisters, my mum and close friends who were part of the wedding. My sister Jill gave me a vintage dress and robe in my favourite colour for getting ready. I also wore it during our minimoon—I love that so many pieces from the wedding continue to live on in my everyday life. Even the earrings I wore with my wedding dress were my go-to pair, and every time I wear them, I’m reminded of that special day.
I worked with Zilvie from Kristina Gasperas MUA for my hair and makeup throughout the weekend. I’d already done a little at-home styling session with my dress and veil (which I highly recommend doing!), so I knew I wanted my hair up for the ceremony. Zilvie brought the vision to life. I have thin, wavy hair, and she worked with it so beautifully, creating an ethereal bridal look that felt elegant yet natural. She also left me a curling iron for touch-ups later in the evening when I switched to my second look and let my hair down—so thoughtful.”
“For makeup, we kept it soft and authentic, blending some of my usual products with hers. I felt beautiful; my own version of bridal and most importantly, like myself—not wearing more makeup than I’m used to.”
“My husband is 6’8”, which means finding clothing that fits can be a real challenge—most brands just don’t cater to someone that tall. When we started thinking about what he would wear for the wedding, we knew we wanted something more special than a standard suit, something that would match the celebration’s vibe.
Whilst on a trip back to NYC, we booked an appointment at the Bode store. It was a bit of a leap since none of the samples were his size to try on, but he loved the unique approach to menswear. Bode does something so rare—taking traditional tailoring and adding unexpected, artistic touches that feel modern and cool. The lace details on the suit caught his eye right away. The Bode team was amazing to work with and they created something that allowed him to feel fresh and wedding-inspired.
I hadn’t seen the final suit until our first look, and it was such a fun moment. He looked amazing—the suit felt so right for the occasion, and I love that we ended up co-ordinated in a way. It was modern, personal and special.”
“I wanted a dress that felt modern yet unforgettable—a balance of boldness and timelessness. I was drawn to dramatic silhouettes, something extraordinary and special for such an important day. I’ve always loved the drama of Renaissance gowns, and a voluminous skirt felt super daring and reminiscent of dresses from movies, fashion and TV wardrobes I’d fallen in love with over the years.
When I started looking, I focused more on how I wanted to feel rather than chasing a specific trend or image. I visited three designers before landing at Maison Rabih Kayrouz, where I tried on what would become my dress. The two-piece design—an elegant custom top paired with a tiered, playful skirt—immediately felt right. It was dramatic yet effortless, and the team were so accommodating, helping me customise the neckline so the dress was completely unique to me.”
“Both of us are American, so we knew most of our guests would be flying in, and we wanted to give them a glimpse of what our dream weekend in the UK would look like. For us, that means spending time in the beautiful parks and countryside. At first, we looked into venues like Hampstead Heath and Regent’s Park. On my short list of must-haves was a ceremony in nature. Our incredible wedding planner, Tania Denehy (truly a dream to work with) —suggested West Wycombe Park, and as soon as we saw it, even on a dreary November day, we knew it was the one.”
“The main house is breathtaking—a Roman-style villa filled with art, curiosities and Baroque glamour, all set in the English countryside. The estate’s sprawling fields, dotted with follies and sculptures, felt like the perfect balance of grandeur and charm. We chose a small island on the lake for our ceremony—it was so intimate and magical.
When my dad walked me down the aisle, we walked at a pretty fast pace so we suddenly looked at each other about three-quarters of the way through and laughed and paused. It had taken us about 20 seconds to walk the aisle whereas we should’ve drawn it out. But we were excited! I love the photo of us cracking up as we realise that we kind of messed it up.”
“I love colour, playfulness and unique, architectural details. All-white or traditional bridal decor is not authentically me or my partner. We wanted the weekend to feel like an escape into a lush park, paired with the chic elegance of London. It was important that every detail felt elevated yet personal, honouring the natural beauty of the venue whilst reflecting our personalities. For me, the flowers were key to setting that tone.”
Go with what’s in bloom if you can—flowers at their peak will paint the perfect backdrop.
“My friend Chelsea, who had been a florist earlier in her career, introduced me to Jrasic, a sister team whose style felt perfectly aligned—playful, colourful, architectural and completely unique. They grow their own flowers in Dorset and have a beautiful, unique touch to all their arrangements. For the ceremony, I was completely floored by what they created. I remember rounding the corner with my dad down the aisle and being wowed by the beauty of the flowers. We hadn’t done a test run, so seeing the dramatic tall grasses and blooming cosmos framing the natural beauty of the island was breathtaking. It felt like an extension of the natural scenery.
My favourite part—cheesy alert—was the vows. From writing them and thinking about what I wanted to convey to Miguel to sharing them with him in front of our closest friends and family and hearing back his own loving thoughts, sentiments and vows was quite breathtaking. I was worried I would feel nervous about the upcoming public speaking, but I felt so calm, relaxed, peaceful and excited.”
“It was really important to me to have a Jewish ceremony—with an emphasis on the “ish.” My husband isn’t Jewish, so I wanted the ceremony to honour my culture and traditions whilst also making space for his family history and experiences.”
Customise your ceremony—having it feel personal made all the difference.
“My sister Jackie and his brother Kyle officiated under the chuppah, which made it feel even more intimate and special. Jackie also stepped in as our stand-in Rabbi, leading the Ketubah signing and guiding the ceremony. We worked on the script together, flipping some traditions to make it our own. Instead of the bride circling the groom seven times, Miguel circled me—a gesture to invite him into the customs of the day.”
“During cocktail hour, we paired relaxed lounge furniture with a circular bar to echo the shape of the field we were in. Jrasic styled a late summer display of heirloom tomatoes, figs, and grapes; giving the spread a bountiful, picnic-like feel. Goose and Berry served canapés in moss-filled boxes, adding a whimsical, earthy touch. It felt like an intimate summer picnic with a special, elevated twist.”
“Throughout the ceremony, we included prayers and readings from our mothers and chose meaningful songs like “Higher Love” by James Vincent McMorrow and “Bless the Telephone” by Labi Siffre to play as guests arrived and during the aisle walk. I highly recommend giving “Bless the Telephone” a listen—it’s a sweet love song.”
“For the cocktail hour, we used a circular field enclosed by tall trees, with a chapel at the top of a mound. We entered as all of our guests threw petals and kicked off the celebration. We had some of our speeches in front of the chapel, and two of our closest friends, Joel and Reilley, were emcees, directing the whole event. They helped set the mood with their hilarious introductions and witty banter.”
Carve out 10 minutes to have alone time with your partner during the reception. It will be memorable and you’ll love the recap moment.
“Tania took care of all the logistics, from the marquee to the details for dinner, dancing and the after-party. My partner, who loves planning events, threw himself into the process—designing the flow of the day, the cocktail hour, the seating charts and even the marquee layout. He had an eye for creating a thoughtful, seamless experience. Together, we brought the day (and night) to life.”
“When it came to my accessories, I wanted to keep things understated yet meaningful. My vintage lace veil, sourced from Jane Bourvis in London, added a touch of delicate tradition—it was from 1920s Ireland and felt impossibly beautiful. My shoes (Sandy Liang white, peep-toe sandals) are my tip for all brides! They were so comfortable; I could’ve worn them for 24 hours straight. My jewellery was minimal but personal—Lie Studio hoops with a navy crystal ball that complemented the neckline beautifully, and I wear them all the time.
“For our wedding bands, we went to Grays Antique Market. I wanted a not-so-traditional wedding ring, so I went for a beautiful gold Art-Deco-style band with an Aquamarine stone. His is a chunky ring in the same gold.”
“The marquee for dinner and dancing was pared back to let the in-season dahlias shine and give plenty of space for dancing. We overlooked the lake and the West Wycombe house. We titled the tables important streets to us like where we’ve lived together or grew up. The mirrored dance floor reflected everyone’s colourful outfits as we danced beneath a disco ball and peach light.”
“Our vision for the reception was to celebrate! From the start, our emcees set a fun and celebratory tone that carried through the evening. Their energy was contagious, and we were so lucky to have speeches from our closest friends and family that felt deeply personal and full of love. Hearing their perspectives—our parents, siblings, best friends—on our lives, love and support for each other added a layer of depth and meaning that we hoped for, but obviously couldn’t control. One of my favourite moments was during my best friend’s speech when she talked about how we place our hands over our hearts to show love. Seeing our guests doing the same in photos is such a sweet reminder of the night.
“Having all your favourite people—your closest friends and family—together for an entire weekend is a beautiful, unforgettable feeling. We truly cherished seeing guests of all ages connect and bond with one another. A reminder to all couples to take a moment to soak it all in—it’s such a unique life experience.”
Have two emcees! Pair together a friend from each side. It was so fun and united the party.
“We wanted the evening to feel like a true celebration, and the band nailed it. They played for two hours straight with no breaks, keeping everyone dancing nonstop. We set up cosy lounge furniture outside the tent so people could take a breather by the lake before heading back to the dancefloor. The drinks by the Cock & Tail team were incredible—seriously, the best espresso martinis I’ve ever had—and their bartenders were so lovely. I highly recommend them.
“We kicked off the dancing with the horah right after our first dance, and it was both hilarious and chaotic. My husband was nervous about being lifted in his chair, and with good reason—the whole party was focused on hoisting him up. For me, my almost 70-year-old dad and my best friend Henna took the lead on lifting my chair. It was hilarious, scary, as it should be and filled with such joy. I loved that the entire party embraced this fun party tradition even if I thought I was going to fall overboard off the chair at any moment.”
“Later, we revealed a hidden after-party in the tent by dropping a curtain to unveil another dance floor. It had a sexy velvet lounge vibe, complete with an ice sculpture of our dog, Bento. Our friends Alice and Kraggy designed custom tattoos of inside jokes and references to Miguel and me that everyone proceeded to apply all over their bodies. At one point, we used my rose boa as a limbo pole. Our wedding planner, Tania, nailed the hidden after-party idea.”
You want to be able to dance, jump, enjoy and hug your loved ones during the reception. Make sure your dancing look is comfortable and easy to move in.
“The night ended with a party bus ride back to London, where the celebration continued for two more hours—singing, dancing and laughing with our closest friends as we rolled back into the city.”
“For my second look, I collaborated with Paula Nandal—an insanely creative designer. It all started when I visited her studio and tried on one of her dresses backwards to showcase a dramatic deep-V neckline. From there, we began draping fabric to create the new silhouette. I wanted something playful and glamorous, with a drop-waist silhouette I had fallen for during my dress fittings.
“The dress is called The Jessie and is now available for order. Paula also introduced me to her iconic rose boa design, the star accessory of the night. It was bold and theatrical, adding a layer of fun and party. I had picked out a beautiful pair of suede kitten heels, but let’s be honest—I was barefoot within 30 minutes of dancing, and extremely happy about it!”
“We capped off the weekend with a Sunday pub roast near Hampstead Heath and a swim in the ponds so our guests could experience more English traditions.”
Photographer: Joanna Brown
Hair and Makeup: Zivile
Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Spring
Wedding Venue: West Wycombe Estate
Rehearsal Dinner Flowers: JamJar Flowers
Wedding Flowers: Jrasic
Wedding Planner: Tania Deheny
Catering: Goose and Berry
Stationery: Laidler and Laidler
Cocktails: Cock & Tail Drinks
Furniture Rental: Options Greathire
Videographer: Jonny Noakes
Band: The Kitts
Production: Starlight Design
