Hello Jesso

With all the wedding talk currently going on amongst my friends, it has made me think of my own wedding day nearly two years ago. As a result and because I loved my wedding day so much, I am going to share it with you - so sit back relax and take in all the photos.

I was lucky enough to get married at the Haymarket Hotel in August 2008. It had literally just been given its licence to perform civil wedding ceremonies, that when we went to the Town Hall it was not even listed as a venue!

After looking at a few venues, including: the Andaz Hotel in Liverpool Street, One Whitehall Place, and the Century Club on Shaftesbury Avenue, we finally went for Haymarket Hotel.




All our family and friends live in London, so it made sense to hold the wedding here - less time travelling, more time celebrating! The venues we looked at varied from contemporary spaces to very traditional, neither of which Mr B and I felt suited us and our style. That's where the Haymarket Hotel  came in.

Tim and Kit Kemp the brains and interior decorators behind the Haymarket and the other Firmdale Hotels had managed to mix both a sense of the traditional with a contemporary feel, and thus creating a modern classic.

The Haymarket hotel was like no other hotel I had ever been in or had stayed at. The colours, the clashing prints, the welcoming staff all just worked in harmony.  If you don't believe me, here are some pics...

THE LOBBY





Bright yellow and Tony Cragg sculpture

THE LIBRARY & CONSERVATORY







Where the guests waited before the ceremony, and had drinks after whilst they waited for dinner


THE SHOOTING GALLERY






Where we had the ceremony







The room was then rearranged for dinner

THE SWIMMING POOL






Down to the swimming pool / bar for drinks and dancing

THE ACCOMMODATION





We stayed in one of the Junior Suites, and  I was lucky enough to stay there the night before the wedding so was able to make the most of staying in such a lovely hotel. If I could live there I would!

I think we were the first couple to have our wedding at the hotel - and for their first go, the Haymarket made it perfect for us.



The event co-ordinator who helped us organise our wedding no longer works for Firmdale, but I have since hosted a friend's Hen Party at the Charlotte Street Hotel (where we had a private dinner and film screening) and the service is still impeccable.

If you are thinking of having your wedding at a Firmdale property, I would thoroughly recommend it. From the look of the venue, to the help you receive, and not to mention the food (the tasting we had to decide on the menu was too die for!) - you will be more than satisfied. It's also not for just grand occasions, they have smaller private rooms that you can hire out for any event.


Overall Rating: 5  / 5


My aim is to eventually stay at each Firmdale property, and maybe when I go to New York later in the year I'll stay at the Crosby Street Hotel. Hmmm, that would be amazing!


Suppliers we used for the big day:

- Floating Candles by - Neil Birks

- Bouquet - Alexandra Lyons

- Wedding Cake & Cupcakes - Buttercup Cakeshop

- Wedding Photographer - Graham Lacdao