Emma Hoareau’s Elegant East London Wedding

Swathed in the quiet grandeur of East London architecture, photographer and beauty writer Emma Hoareau and partner Oliver’s wedding unfolded as an ode to reimagined minimalism and the opulence of restraint. 

The day began at Hackney Town Hall, its Art Deco geometry framing an intimate ceremony perforated by simplicity, a single vase of white hydrangeas, Emma’s signature bloom, set against polished wood and soft light. The space needed little else; its beauty lay in form and proportion.

The reception took place at Old Sessions House in Clerkenwell, an 18th-century masterpiece, where hydrangeas climbed the staircase in asymmetric formation, leading guests to long tables set beneath high, sunlit ceilings. 

Collaborating with florist Hattie Fox, Emma envisioned florals that felt deliberate yet unforced, white dahlias and textural greens arranged with architectural precision. Every detail reflected her creative signature: refined, sensual, and rooted in balance.

Our Story

Names / Emma Hoareau and Oliver McIntyre

Location / London, England

Wedding Date / 14th September 2025

Guest Numbers / 120

Budget / £80,000

How We Met

We met on a Sunday afternoon in a pub in London through a mutual friend. We got on so well that we went for another drink, just us, afterward, and a week later had our first date.

Our Engagement Story

Ollie had planned a romantic meal for our fifth anniversary dinner, and afterward, as the sun was setting, we took a stroll home through our favorite London park, one where we had many lovely memories and that held a special place in our hearts. Ollie led us toward our favorite group of trees, and beneath the branches, he got down on one knee.

What we love most about each other…

Ollie loves Emma for her unwavering ability to create. Emma loves Ollie for his sunny-side-up view of life.

“We wanted it to feel grand and elevated but still real and ‘us.’ We aimed for a natural atmosphere, and our choice of venue helped immensely, as it’s such a wonderful space even before being dressed.”

The Setting

Wedding Location

We chose our local town hall, Hackney, as the setting for our ceremony, not only because it’s nearby and we walk past it every weekend, but also because it’s so beautiful inside with its Art Deco interior. Our reception venue was Old Sessions House in Clerkenwell, which we chose for its beautiful 18th-century architecture, high ceilings, columns, and large open spaces. It felt like we were outside even though we were indoors, something we didn’t want to risk with English weather.

Aesthetic

We wanted it to feel grand and elevated but still real and “us.” We aimed for a natural atmosphere, and our choice of venue helped immensely, as it’s such a wonderful space even before being dressed. It didn’t feel overthought or overplanned to our guests, just a beautiful space to celebrate our wedding and enjoy the day.

Preparation

Emma got ready at The Nomad, London, with her bridesmaids and mother. We had breakfast while having our hair and makeup done, and Emma gave her bridesmaids jewelry as gifts before hailing a black cab to take them to the ceremony. Ollie got ready at home with his groomsmen and nephew; they had breakfast and took film photos of each other before heading to the town hall.

Photography

We wanted the photography to capture the feeling, not just the visuals, so we worked with the incredible Sundari Ferris, who shoots on film. There’s something immediately nostalgic about film, and as two people who grew up in the ’90s with memories of flipping through photo albums, we wanted to do the same so our children can look through an album full of film shots too.
We also had digital photography captured for more official portraits by the lovely Claire Menary, who Emma has worked with previously in the beauty industry. In addition to capturing beautiful weddings, Claire creates incredible interior shots, and of course, we wanted the venue captured perfectly as well.

Videography

We wanted our video to feel like an old VHS, personal and intimate, so we worked with Sundari, who provides camcorder videos.

Style Notes

Ceremony Décor

We were legally married in Hackney Town Hall, a beautiful old Art Deco building, so we simply had our florist place a vase of hydrangeas, Emma’s favorite flower, on the desk at the front of the room. The space didn’t need much, as it’s already incredible, and since several weddings often take place the same day, you can’t overdo the decor.

Reception Décor

Old Sessions House is such an incredible space that we didn’t want to overdress it or hide the beauty of the architecture. The one thing we did add was hydrangeas asymmetrically crawling up the main stairs to draw the eye upward.
We also had Jo Malone tapered candles, which have a subtle grapefruit scent, to add to the table décor and welcome guests into the dining hall with a fresh, inviting aroma.

Flowers

This was something Emma looked after, and again, it was very much a “less is more” approach. We chose our spaces carefully and intentionally because we didn’t want any empty areas that would require filling with flowers just to make them beautiful. Not only did we want to be mindful of our floral budget, but we also wanted the space to feel authentic, not like a fantasy land.

We worked with Hattie Fox, who used to have a store just up the road from our home in Hackney and who we have worked with before for bouquets. Emma completely trusts Hattie’s vision, which we think is key with all vendors, but especially florists, as things can change so last minute depending on what flowers are available on the day.

Emma sent a mood board of simple bouquets and tablescapes. With our sharing plates, we didn’t want to overwhelm the tables with flowers and leave no room for the food, so we kept things simple but added varying heights so the eye could travel across the room.

For the bouquets, everything was centered around white dahlias, with added variety in size and texture from Japanese anemone, English phlox, and white nigella. The bridesmaids carried smaller versions of the same bouquet.

Stationery

It was important that our invitations matched the tone of the day, so we developed a custom design. The design and color scheme were replicated across our seating plan and menus. Emma’s aunt reminded us of an old tradition in which guests sign a card representing each year of marriage, up to ten years, so we had guests complete those on the tables. We also created classic bespoke matchboxes to accompany the cigarette tray.

Favors

Emma grew up in France, and the French wedding tradition of giving five sugar-coated dragées, almonds, stood out as something she wanted to share with loved ones. She sourced them from Paris in the colors of the tablescape, white and blue, and included a note explaining:
“Wishes for the Couple: A traditional French wedding favor, five almonds signify the five wishes for the couple, health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and longevity.”

Cake

Emma’s mother made a traditional three-tier fruit cake, which was iced by the amazing Dee from Dee’s Basement in London with apricot jam, marzipan, and fondant. It was served with cocktails after dinner.

Food & Beverages

We had a sit-down wedding breakfast with shared plates of pasta, followed by pavlova covered in crème anglaise and seasonal berries. We wanted a shared dining style because we love that moment of sitting down and connecting with guests but still wanted it to feel intimate. Emma’s favorite food is pasta, so we chose a meat option, Beef Shin and San Marzano Tomato Orecchiette, and a vegetarian option, Ricotta and Truffle Tortellini with English peas and pecorino.
Later in the evening, a cheese table with a selection of cheeses, fruits, bread, and chutney was set up for guests to snack on once dancing began.

“The most important thing is how you feel on the day and doing what’s meaningful to you. We spent the most time deciding how we wanted to feel, which made planning ourselves much easier.”

Fashion & Beauty Notes

Bride’s Dress & Shoes

Emma wore the Vivienne Westwood Cocotte dress, which features a beautiful corset and signature draping. Her friend aptly described it as “melted onto you.” It perfectly suited Emma’s hourglass shape. Her Racket custom veil was made long for added drama, and its lace trimming mirrored the lace details on her Neous Irina Slingback shoes.

Bridesmaids’ Dresses & Shoes

The bridesmaids wore soft blue or sage green dresses in two different styles. One of Emma’s friends was nine months pregnant, so the wrap-around style from By Malina Bridal was perfect. Emma had initially loved the brand after finding her niece’s flower girl dress there months earlier. After accidentally settling on a blue and green theme, reflected in the invitations, napkins, and bouquets, she chose the dresses from Malina. She didn’t want the bridesmaids to look too “matching,” so selecting different styles in the same colors from one brand was the perfect solution.

Flower Girls & Page Boys

The flower girl wore a By Malina bridal dress with embroidered flowers, and the three page boys, their nephews, wore suits from Monsoon.

Wedding Rings

Ollie’s ring was made by friends at CC Steding in London, a classic cast silver band, simple and timeless. Emma created a custom ring with Rachel Boston in Shoreditch to complement her curved engagement ring without duplicating the shape. Together they designed a crossover ring that naturally mirrored the dip of her engagement ring and fit beautifully. Diamonds were added at the last moment.

Jewelry & Accessories

Emma wore Rachel Boston Echo earrings, a modern interpretation of the classic diamond drop. They felt timeless with a contemporary edge, aligning perfectly with her look.

Hair & Makeup

Ollie, lucky to have minimal hair maintenance, visited Time Barbers in Shoreditch a week before for a trim and beard shape.
Emma worked with Hershesons hairstylist Ryan, having a trial a month before. With shoulder-length hair she had grown out for the big day, Ryan created a low bun that looked effortless yet lasted all day. Emma wanted her hair to look natural, not overly perfect, and reflective of her usual wavy style.
For makeup, she worked with editorial makeup artist Keeley Wilson, who understood Emma’s desire to look like herself, just more elevated and long-wearing. Keeley suggested adding a few outer lashes, something Emma never usually wears, which gave a beautifully finished look. Keeley also did all the bridesmaids’ makeup.

Groom’s Attire

Ollie was excited to have an outfit change on the day. He began in a cream Havana tuxedo for the reception and, after dinner, changed into a classic black Paul Smith suit with custom gold buttons. All the groomsmen wore classic black-tie tuxedos to complement the look.

The Details

Transport

We departed our wedding ceremony and arrived at our reception in a white vintage Bentley, while our guests traveled on vintage London buses, one cream and one red.

Honeymoon

We headed to the Intercontinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort, which was incredible. It truly feels like another world there. We stayed in an overwater villa, and it was amazing to wake up and fall asleep to the sound of the ocean. We could also watch the vast range of fish swimming below us. It was the perfect place to unwind and reset after the wedding.

We had initially considered Canada or Japan, but we realized we would have an entirely new trip to plan right after the wedding. We ultimately decided on the classic choice of the Maldives, giving us the space and time to truly relax and reset.

Gift Registry

We used The Wedding Shop for our registry, as they have an incredible selection and allow for custom additions. We focused on homeware and travel items, kitchen pieces, beautiful bookends, and hotel vouchers for future trips.

Wedding Songs

Emma walked down the aisle to “Simply Beautiful” by Al Green, and our first dance was “Thinking of You” by Sister Sledge, performed by our live band. We nailed our first dance and, right on cue, invited guests to join us on the dance floor, where the party truly began.

Entertainment

We had both a band and a DJ. The band, Rhythm Mystique, was incredible and able to play any song we requested. Ollie insisted on a brass section, and they didn’t disappoint. The DJ, who was also part of the band, ensured a seamless transition between sets and mixed in some of our favorite tracks.

Our Advice

A memorable moment…

Ollie was so happy with how the first dance went. We had practiced quite a bit and gave it real energy on the night. Hearing our guests cheer when lifting Emma into the air was incredible. Ollie was also proud of how his speech went, and Emma loved giving hers just before opening the dance floor.

One thing I wish I knew before I started my wedding plans…

Double-check everything and be specific about every detail. And if you’re planning it yourselves, book an on-the-day coordinator, it makes all the difference in allowing you to be present.

If I could give other couples one piece of advice…

The most important thing is how you feel on the day and doing what’s meaningful to you. We spent the most time deciding how we wanted to feel, which made planning ourselves much easier. We weren’t doing it for others, it was about inviting our closest friends and family into our world for the day. The energy mattered most, napkin colors and fonts didn’t. We got clear on the vibe first, and everything flowed from there.

Sources of inspiration…

Pinterest was, of course, a godsend. Once you start wedding planning, your algorithm quickly becomes filled with inspiration, so we created a shared saved album on Instagram and both added ideas we liked to review together. For us, the setting was the most important aspect, so we visited a variety of venues in London to see which felt right. Ironically, Old Sessions House was the first we saw, and nothing else quite compared.

Our Contacts

Wedding Venue / Old Sessions House

Digital Photography / Claire Menary

Film Photography & Videography / Sundari Ferris

Bride’s Dress / Vivienne Westwood and Racket London

Bride’s Shoes / Neous

Bridesmaids Dresses / By Malina Bridal

Grooms Formal Wear / Suit Supply and Paul Smith

Wedding Rings / Rachel Boston and CC Steding

Jewlery & Accessories / Rachel Boston

Hair / Hershesons

Makeup / Keeley Wilson

Nails / Georgia Rae using L’occitane and Biosculpture

Florist / Hattie Fox

Catering / Lettice Events

Gift Registry / The Wedding Shop

Honeymoon Destination / Intercontinental Maldives