Jenny and Steven’s wedding at The Hackney was a study in understated elegance. With their closest friends and family gathered together, the couple created something rare: a day that felt both refined and deeply relaxed, where every detail served the atmosphere rather than competing for attention.
Beginning with a ceremony at Marylebone Town Hall and continuing with a five-course dinner in East London, this was a celebration built around intimacy, exceptional food, and the kind of warmth that only comes when a room is filled with people who truly know each other.
The ceremony
Jenny and Steven exchanged vows at Marylebone Town Hall, one of London’s most elegant registry offices. The setting suited them perfectly: classic without being fussy, with just enough grandeur to mark the moment. Surrounded by their nearest, the ceremony carried a quiet confidence. No elaborate production, just two people making promises in a room full of those who mattered most.
Arrival at The Hackney
The entire wedding party travelled together by bus from Marylebone to Hackney, arriving as one. There’s something particularly joyful about that shared journey: the ceremony just finished, everyone together, the celebration already underway before the doors even opened.
Guests stepped into The Hackney to find Mojitos and Pimm’s waiting at the bar, the first of several cocktails that would punctuate the afternoon. An oak-aged Malbec and crisp Italian Gavi were poured throughout, while trays of canapés began to circulate.
Canapés and welcome drinks
The in-house kitchen set the tone early. Mini beef wellingtons arrived with their buttery, golden pastry still warm. Wild mushroom arancini came with truffle mayo on the side. Coffee-cured salmon blinis offered something lighter, the gentle smoke of the cure balancing the richness around it.
Guests gathered in clusters, catching up over drinks, the hum of conversation building naturally as the afternoon settled into its rhythm.
The wedding breakfast
A five-course dinner is a commitment, and the kitchen delivered beautifully. The meal opened with a seasonal soup before moving to ham hock terrine with piccalilli and crisped sourdough, its savoury depth balanced by sharp, pickled notes. Vegan guests were served roast beetroot with poached pear, pistachio, and a glossy beetroot drizzle.
Porchetta followed, the crackling shatteringly crisp against braised fennel and a silky spiced carrot purée. For those not eating meat, gnocchi al pomodoro: pillowy, simple, satisfying. The main course brought slow-braised brisket with pomme mousseline and an unexpected nori crumb that added umami depth, while the plant-based option, a wild mushroom pithivier, earned its place at the table entirely on merit.
Dessert was a strawberry mille-feuille, all shattering layers and bright berry coulis, though by this point guests had already spotted the dessert table: salted caramel brownie bites, Biscoff tiramisu, mini Sicilian lemon curd tartlets, strawberry cheesecake, and chocolate tartelettes arranged alongside the couple’s vegan red velvet wedding cake, made by family.
Style notes
The couple chose a classic white palette from The Hackney’s in-house floral team: white roses and lush green foliage arranged in bud vases along the tables, with three medium centrepieces anchoring the space. Behind the head table, a baby’s breath and pampas installation created a soft, textural backdrop, complemented by a neon sign the couple brought themselves.
Tables were dressed with ivory runners and navy napkins tied at each place setting. Gold cutlery caught the candlelight from white tapered candles in gold holders, while rattan charger plates added warmth beneath rustic service plates. On the head table, framed sketches of parents sat either side of a small Mr and Mrs sign, each flanked by a candle: a quiet, personal touch that spoke to family without needing explanation.
The evening
The venue took on a different character after dark. The DJ set up and the atmosphere shifted, the formal structure of dinner giving way to something looser. Additional evening guests arrived to join the party, the dancefloor filled, and out on the terrace, beer pong kept the competitive spirits entertained.
Hungry dancers found platters of small bites and salads waiting, the kind of fuel that keeps a party going without interrupting the momentum. The newlyweds kicked off the party with their first dance, and from there, the evening belonged to the dancefloor.