Proposing to the members of your bridal party is one of the important moments for your wedding plans. For those who love a celebration, what better way to extend an invitation to your cherished friends than by hosting a surprise get-together for your bridesmaid proposal. For me, it’s the perfect way to bring together and celebrate the women who have supported me throughout the years.
The Venue
Located in the heart of Chelsea, this enchanting boutique hotel has earned its place as a beloved gem in the neighbourhood. This Victorian-era townhouse – proudly affiliated with the Small Luxury Hotels of the World – beckons travellers into a world of timeless sophistication. Its design is eclectic and moody, with walls lined with oil paintings heightened with metallics and glossy woods.
There are a number of locations to host an intimate event including their lavish suites, the gorgeous Mirror room, the Library or – my personal favourite – the Curio Room. Holding up to 26 guests, it boasts natural daylight, timeless décor, panelled leafy-green walls and its own private entrance.
Food and Drink
There’s nothing more quintessentially British nor wonderfully feminine as an Afternoon Tea and 11 Cadogan Gardens are renowned for theirs – it’s as much of a feast for the eyes as it is a joy to eat. It’s designed to pay tribute to the hotel’s exclusive location – each item is designed to summon flavours of Cadogan Garden. It’s also served on exquisite nature-inspired William Edward tableware.
Champagne and Afternoon Tea are the perfect pairing, so I chose Louis Roederer Collection 244 to accompany it. This blend is from their 2019 harvest, a particularly dry, hot year which created an open and rich bouquet which is also fabulously fresh. My alcohol-free friends didn’t miss out either, they enjoyed award-winning alcohol free sparkling, Lyre’s Classico Grande. It has a beautiful balance of crisp acidity and apple, peach, and pear flavours.
Scenting the room
After my Wedding Scenting Experience with Jo Loves, I learned the important link between memory and our sense of smell. I chose a seasonal scent, Christmas Trees, evoking that deliciously uplifting fragrance of real pine trees as well as relaxing notes of lavender, amber and incense. It’s a joyfully light fragrance that reminds me of cool, crisp winter mornings and the spirit of celebration. A scattering of candles adorned the table to add a warm, soft glow to the room for the bridesmaids proposal.
A Seasonal Tablescape
More than just a display of decor, a thoughtfully curated tablescape reflects personality, style, and attention to detail. The arrangement of tableware, linens, florals, and decorative elements creates a harmonious ambiance, setting the tone for the gathering and making it a memorable and immersive experience.
I wanted something that was seasonal and complemented both the room and Afternoon Tea. Escape To The Cutting Garden is the fabulous floral designer who created a lovely centrepiece and addition for the mantle. It was gloriously wintery and enhanced the gorgeous Jo Loves scenting. After a call discussing my vision, Hattie quickly drafted a proposal with a range of options within budget.
Proposal Gifts
I curated some special bridesmaid proposals including a personalised crystal Tinkalink bracelet. I have a few of these already, and I adore them! You can choose stones with different healing properties and I added a bespoke sentimental – or simply silly – word dedicated to each bridesmaid. In addition, I included the incredible MZ Skin’s Hydra-Life Gold Face Mask and Retinol Skin Booster to help give them the ultimate glowing complexion. The final touch was a Jo Loves Christmas Trees candle so they could relight it and reinvoke the memory of the afternoon. Closer to the time, I may be giving them an extra treat-or-two – you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled!
The most important part is, of course, the personalised card to each of my besties. I’ve been working with the incredibly talented illustrator, Hatty Pedder, for our wedding invitations and stationary. I adapted our Save The Date invite and used this as both the place names and a card for each of my bridesmaids. These elegant, custom-designed invitations include subtle details such as the wedding venue’s distinguished features.
The Best Moment
Getting married in your thirties has its struggles and with big life changes, seeing the people you love isn’t as easy as it was in your twenties. Finding a date to surprise them was no easy feat! The whole afternoon was emotional and really touching – especially the moment when I asked my longest friend to be my Maid of Honour. It was something we dreamed about long before Pete even existed – a good twenty years, in fact! Quality time is so important to me and it was so special to get these incredible women for together celebrating and to ignite all the plans for the hen and wedding. I was delighted to host it at such an iconic Chelsea venue – I’ll treasure the memories forever!
Bride: @fran_newmanyoung
Venue: @11cadogangardens
Florist: @escape_to_the_cutting_garden
Illustrator: @hatty_pedder
Champagne: @louis_roederer
Non Alcoholic Sparkling: @lyresspiritco
Candles: @jolovesofficial
Bracelets: @tinkalink
Skincare: @MZSkinOfficial
Related Article: Our Editors’ Favourite Bridesmaids Dresses
