“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.
