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Weddings

V.small wedding - reception in a London restaurant. Anyone done this?

38 replies

artylady14 · 05/06/2014 21:02

Hi everyone. I am thinking of having a very small wedding in London (20 or fewer of us in total) and having the reception in a restaurant in London afterwards. I am thinking of a place with a private dining room otherwise, of course, that would be weird being in the middle of a restaurant with other diners in a wedding dress? Right? My only worry is with such a small group in a dining room, would we lack the 'fun' factor - no music or dancing. Has anyone had a similar wedding? Thanks for any feedback!

OP posts:

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Heels99 · 11/07/2014 11:44

Kensington roof gardens have the lovely gardens as well as the restaurant

artylady14 · 03/07/2014 10:37

Thanks all for your replies. Feel excited about this now. :)

OP posts:

hjc87 · 03/07/2014 09:51

Sounds like an amazing idea, think it would really focus the day on the people rather than worrying if about the flowers, favours, decor, etc etc! You could always have background music on in the restaurant, I'm sure they wouldn't mind putting your own CD on or something?

flingingmelon · 23/06/2014 19:55

We did this too, islington town hall, our fave restaurant and then drinks and falling over at a nearby pub. The restaurant had never done a wedding before and they put loads of effort into it. It was pretty easy to organise and the day was laid back and lovely. Good luck with your plans OP

Thumbwitch · 23/06/2014 19:50

I went to one like this some years ago - the bride wore a vintage lace dress from around the 1920s, so not that obviously wedding-y. We went to a lovely small restaurant, took up most of the tables there (about 20 of us iirc) and there was no dancing but lots of laughter and chat. There was probably background music but it didn't make much of an impact on me as I can't remember!

bumpiesonamission · 23/06/2014 19:49

We had 9 people including us. dinner at our fave restaurant afterwards. The best way. I felt so happy and the photos show it!

AntsMarching · 23/06/2014 19:47

We did this. 14 people (including us) to the registry office in Wandsworth then off to Bluebird for the meal. We had a private room that sat in a mezzanine level and looked down on the restaurant. It was lovely.

lucy101 · 23/06/2014 19:40

We were going to do this but ended up having a bigger do but I did look at venues, lots of the lovely places in the city are closed at the weekend but will open for weddings.

BikeRunSki · 23/06/2014 19:35

My parents' was at the Savoy Grill too.

BikeRunSki · 23/06/2014 19:34

My parents did this nearly 50 years ago. Apparently it was rather raucous.

mupperoon · 23/06/2014 19:25

It sounds like a lovely wedding idea. I went to a wedding anniversary lunch a few years ago at the kitchen table in the Savoy Grill (a private dining room in the actual kitchen), about 8 people, and it was one of the most memorable, fun days ever, with not a hint of music/dancing! Excellent food, wine, conversation - what more could one want?

Your guests are in for a treat!

MrsPixieMoo · 23/06/2014 19:09

Didn't do this but my good friend did. It was brilliant and we all got to chat to the bride and groom, unlike other weddings where they may as well be in a Popemobile.

aylesburyduck · 23/06/2014 17:10

My sister's wedding wss similar -28 guests in the upstairs of a pub.

No DJ, but an iPod play list. No three course dinner, but fish and chips (posh fish and chips mind you) and wedding cake for pudding. Plenty of dancing and celebrating. It was perfect, and I imagine nowhere near as stressful as arranging a big do.

I loved every second and bias aside it was the best wedding I've been to.

CleanAllThebastardThings · 09/06/2014 09:12

We are planning a small late morning ceremony at the reg office followed by afternoon tea reception at an old fashioned tearoom. Then in the evening, new DH and I are going to a lovely hotel just the two of us for dinner and staying overnight in the honeymoon suite. I can't wait!

Mnippy · 06/06/2014 20:55

Should add - if you want fun factor, get a good playlist and make sure your friendship group is well prepared to dance! We had all sorts, aunties, uncles, parents, etc dancing in the middle of a tiny room in low light to loud music. Looking back we looked crazy, but everyone was so hyper that it was great.

WilsonFrickett · 06/06/2014 16:33

I've been to one, Kings Road registry office, then onto a London bus (a hired one!) with mini bottles of champagne, bus took the senic route to a v. Swish hotel and we had a lovely dinner. It was a great wedding.

BristolRover · 06/06/2014 16:29

(I had my first date with DP at Odette's)

BristolRover · 06/06/2014 16:29

yes, have been to ones like this and they've been great. Lovely private rooms though normally in club type places - Home House / Mortons, also Kensington Place.

Lottapianos · 06/06/2014 16:27

All these weddings sound absolutely lovely. If DP and I ever do take the plunge, I would like this sort of day - ceremony, photos (without much faffing), then an afternoon/evening of plenty of food and booze.

SquallyShowers, DP and I ate at Odette's for our anniversary a couple of years ago - it was fab. Excellent choice for a wedding meal. Your whole day sounds like it was great!

Mnippy · 06/06/2014 16:19

We did this - hired a room in the zetter for 40 guests. Ended up paying about £50 pp for food, but that was a lovely six course taster menu. Afterwards they moved the tables and let us play music until 1am on an iPod so we danced away.

ShineSmile · 06/06/2014 09:47

Sounds lovely! You could get like a private area for a restaurant, and have the area to yourself. I can think of two Indian resturaunts in London that would probably be able to accommodate that, so I'm sure there must be others. All the best

Spottybra · 06/06/2014 09:40

My sister did this, not in London though, and we did very similar with 30 guests. Both were beautiful.

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LilyBobtail · 06/06/2014 09:32

My friends did this and it was such a lovely wedding. They got married in the hotel then they went and had photos done in some nearby gardens and guests had champagne and milled about. After that we all went to private dining room for the meal with about 20 people. No dancing, no disco - it was perfect. Just good friends and family celebrating their marriage.

Congratulations and have a lovely wedding .

HillyBillyBoBo · 06/06/2014 09:24

We did this last year. Ceremony at Chelsea Registry Office, then lunch for twelve at Murano in Mayfair. It was wonderful in every sense and enjoyed by all.

SquallyShowers · 06/06/2014 09:21

I did change into comfy clothes before the flight, though!

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