A London Love Story: Alessandra & Tom’s Wedding at Home House
Some places stay with you and for Alessandra, Home House was one of them. Saved on Google Maps for three years before she was even engaged, our Georgian townhouse in the heart of Marylebone had already earned its place in her wedding plans.
Six years after meeting at university in Southampton, Alessandra and Tom returned to the city to celebrate their civil wedding, bringing together elegant interiors, thoughtful details and a celebration that felt entirely their own. From a quiet wedding morning to martinis, white florals and a party that brought their favourite people together, their day was a reminder that the most memorable weddings are the ones where every detail means something.
Choosing the Perfect Wedding Venue in London
Neither Alessandra nor Tom is originally from London, or even the UK. But having met in the capital six years earlier, choosing London for their ceremony felt like the natural conclusion to their story.
For Alessandra, the venue was already decided long before the engagement.
"I first spotted Home House in a wedding at Old Marylebone Town Hall, and from that moment my plan was set: the ceremony at OMTH, then the stay and the party at Home House."
She had kept the House pinned on Google Maps for three years. When the couple got engaged, there was little need to look elsewhere.
A Georgian townhouse in her favourite London neighbourhood offered exactly what she had in mind: elegance without excess, character without fuss, and that understated quality she describes as "if you know, you know".
The practical details helped, too with Home House just a short walk from Old Marylebone Town Hall, the couple could keep their ceremony and celebration close together, without compromising on the experience.
Why Home House?
For Alessandra and Tom, it was never just about finding a beautiful room.
The appeal was having everything they wanted in one place: drawing rooms made for wedding cocktails, characterful interiors, beautifully appointed bedrooms, a bar, a gym and quiet gardens. Even the Pilates reformers came as a welcome surprise.
It meant the day could unfold naturally, with space for both celebration and quieter moments. Guests could gather over drinks, move through the House and settle into the evening without the interruptions that can come with moving between multiple venues.
For couples looking for an intimate wedding venue in London, that sense of continuity can make all the difference. The setting becomes part of the celebration, rather than simply the backdrop. For Alessandra, the architecture had already inspired the vision. She didn't need to transform it into something else, instead she wanted to let it speak.
The Planning Journey: A Personal Touch
With no wedding planner on board, Alessandra and Tom managed the planning themselves. Both work in corporate roles that involve planning, and having control over the details was important to them.
It wasn't always stress-free, but seeing their plans come together exactly as imagined made the effort worthwhile.
"The Home House team delivered on every expectation, for us and for our guests," says Tom.
Their approach was refreshingly clear: know what matters to you, communicate it well and trust the people who know the venue best.
Alessandra's advice to future couples follows the same philosophy. Ask your suppliers for their honest recommendations, find out what they would do, what they would prioritise and which details are genuinely worth the investment. Sometimes, experience is the most useful thing you can bring into the planning process.
Vintage Elegance Meets a Modern Edge
Alessandra's vision was a quiet, intimate moment inside a grand house. Vintage elegance, but with a contemporary perspective.
Rather than competing with Home House's interiors, she allowed the architecture to lead. Warm marble, intricate ironwork and classical art already created the rich, atmospheric setting she wanted. Crisp white details and an editorial approach to styling brought a fresh contrast.
Florals were a particularly personal part of the process. Alessandra selected every flower and directed each arrangement herself, working with Aoyama Flower Market next door to bring her vision to life.
The palette was entirely white: timeless, unmistakably bridal and perfectly suited to a June wedding in London.
The result was a thoughtful balance between grandeur and intimacy. Nothing felt overworked, and nothing was there simply for the sake of it. As Alessandra puts it, her philosophy is simple: "Do fewer things but do them well."
Photography That Captures the Feeling
Photography was one of the couple's biggest priorities. Alessandra knew she wanted darker, moodier imagery that still radiated elegance and joy, alongside the timeless quality of film photography. Home House's domed ceilings, ornate interiors and distinctive halls provided the perfect setting for that visual direction.
Then photographer Scarlett Cook appeared on Alessandra's TikTok feed.
She reached out immediately, and the connection was instant. Scarlett understood when to offer direction and when to step back, allowing moments to unfold naturally without making the couple feel as though they were constantly being photographed.
Her support extended well beyond the camera. When Alessandra's corset gave way on the morning of the wedding, Scarlett even helped sew her dress.
It's the kind of detail that says everything about the people who become part of a wedding day. The photographs were extraordinary, but so was the experience behind them.
The Food, the Drinks and the Details That Matter
For Tom, the drinks were a major priority. For Alessandra, it was important that the menu worked for everyone, from her 78-year-old grandmothers to their youngest guest, aged 18. Sharing platters offered a relaxed, inclusive approach, allowing guests to enjoy the meal together while accommodating different preferences.
The drinks, meanwhile, made a lasting impression. Alessandra is a devoted dirty martini enthusiast, and finding one she truly loved was a highlight in itself.
Just as importantly, the team listened closely to the couple's requests, helping the experience feel personal rather than prescribed. The snacks proved another unexpected success, winning over guests throughout the celebration.
It's often these smaller details that guests remember. The drink that was exactly right, the dish everyone talked about, the feeling that someone had paid attention.
A Wedding Morning to Remember
Ask Alessandra about her favourite moment and it wasn't the ceremony, the flowers or even the party.
It was the morning.
The couple had deliberately protected some time for themselves before the day gathered pace. They woke in a beautiful room overlooking the main street, with blue skies over London, ordered room service and simply talked.
Then came a trip to the gym. Tom lifted weights and enjoyed the sauna, while Alessandra took a bridal Pilates class with The Pilates Class. With endorphins flowing, she raided the Penhaligon's collection in the bathroom before her sister arrived to do her make-up and help her get ready.
It's an unexpectedly lovely picture of a wedding morning: a little indulgence, a little movement and, most importantly, time together before everyone else arrived. For a day that can so easily become a whirlwind, those quiet hours became the memory Alessandra treasured most.
Staying the Night Makes All the Difference
Having accommodation at Home House wasn't simply a convenient extra. For Tom, it was the main reason the day flowed so smoothly.
Old Marylebone Town Hall was just a short walk away and the reception only moments from their bedroom, there was no need to rush between locations or worry about the journey home.
For Alessandra, the comfort of the room was an equally welcome surprise, particularly the quality of the bedding and pillows. After a day filled with emotion and celebration, being able to retreat upstairs and enjoy a proper night's sleep made the experience feel complete.
Their guests noticed, too. Several were disappointed they hadn't known about the accommodation sooner, so they could have stayed themselves. For couples considering a luxury wedding venue in London, having beautifully designed bedrooms on site offers something more than convenience. It gives the celebration room to breathe, extending the experience beyond the ceremony and reception into the following morning.
Alessandra admits, the one thing she might change is booking a later flight home, simply to enjoy the facilities for longer!
Advice for Future Couples
Looking back, Alessandra wouldn't change the way they approached their wedding. Her advice is to focus on a handful of details and get them right, rather than filling the day with things that don't mean much to you.
She also encourages couples to make the most of their suppliers' experience, ask questions and trust their instincts.
If there's one thing she'd recommend without hesitation, it's spending time at the venue before the wedding itself. Arrive early, settle into the drawing rooms, take in the interiors and allow yourself to enjoy the House before the celebrations begin because the day goes by quickly, those quieter moments are worth protecting.
A Celebration That Felt Entirely Their Own
When asked to sum up the wedding, guests used the Romanian word deosebită — meaning something exceptional, distinctive and truly memorable.
It's a fitting description of a celebration that brought together thoughtful design, personal touches and a setting with a character all of its own.
For Alessandra and Tom, Home House was never simply somewhere to host a party. It was a place they had imagined being part of their story years before they were engaged, and a setting that allowed their wedding to unfold exactly as they had hoped.
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