Join The Wedding Edition as we sit down with Jordan and James Cracknell, discovering the details of their Chelsea wedding celebration at St Luke’s Church.
The Story So Far
James and I first met in 2018 at Cambridge University, where I was doing my MBA and he was back in academia studying human evolution at Peterhouse College. It all happened quite quickly from there, and after 17 months of dating, James surprised me with a proposal during a trip to Cambridge. We’d just finished a lovely lunch and were strolling by Peterhouse when, all of a sudden, he dropped to one knee. The ring he chose is as simple and elegant as our journey together, sourced from my favourite jeweller, Catbird in New York. It features a .5-carat diamond as the main stone, with two tapered baguettes and two smaller diamonds on a platinum band.
The Venue
We chose St Luke’s Church in Chelsea for our wedding, and it just felt like the perfect place for us—its beautiful architecture and lovely atmosphere really resonated with us. The day before the wedding, we had a small get-together with close friends and family, which was a wonderful way to ease into the big day. After the ceremony, we all jumped on a red Routemaster bus to the Royal Automobile Club for the reception—very London style, and a lot of fun!
The Fashion
For the big day, I wore a white lace gown from Hermione de Paula, complemented by an intricate floral headpiece, keeping the look classic. My bouquet was a mix of white and pink roses, which tied everything together beautifully. James looked incredibly sharp in a grey three-piece suit with a rose pink tie, adding just the right amount of colour to the day. I was lucky to have my friend Hannah Eichler help me find the perfect dress and style everything for us.
The Jewellery
I decided to keep the jewellery quite understated, choosing pieces that complemented the dress without overshadowing it. Although I’m a big fan of Cartier, for the big day, I opted to wear blue glass triangle earrings, which were a gift from friends for my birthday ten years ago. They added a fun and quirky touch to my look.
The Bridal Party
I kept the bridal party small, with my maid of honour and James’ daughters, who were our flower girls. They were all dressed in outfits that matched the overall vibe of the day—elegant but not overdone. We found the girls’ dresses at Reiss, and my maid of honour’s dress was from Coast. The groomsmen’s morning suits were rented from Buckleigh of London, and they all looked fantastic. We held the reception at the Royal Automobile Club, which was a brilliant venue where everyone could relax and really enjoy themselves.
Transportation
For transport, we wanted to keep things classic and fun, so we hired two red Routemaster buses to take everyone from the church to the reception. The buses were a real hit, setting a light and festive tone for the rest of the evening. We made sure they were fully stocked with drinks, kept in ice coolers, and had music playing to keep the energy up.
The Tablescape
We opted for a simple yet elegant setup for the tables, using beautiful tableware and light pink napkins, along with white chair covers with light pink ties. We added personal touches like custom wedding favours to make it feel special without going overboard. For the favours, we ordered small boxes of macarons from Ladurée in vanilla and raspberry flavours to match the colour theme. The floral arrangements, a mix of freesia, hydrangeas, and roses, were designed so that guests could take them home at the end of the night.
Food & Drinks
We put a lot of thought into the menu, as it can be tricky making sure there’s something for everyone. In the end, we chose three mains: Roasted Sirloin of Hereford Beef, Roasted Halibut, and Potato Gnocchi. The meat and fish were equally popular, with only a few opting for the gnocchi. Our wedding planner, Ella Hartig, gave us invaluable advice throughout the process, especially when it came to the menu.
The Cake
Our main cake was from “Hall of Cakes”—a stunning four-tiered beauty that tasted just as good as it looked. It was decorated in white with light pink roses and had little heart toppers featuring the Union Jack and American flags. We chose vanilla and lemon as the flavours and also had a second, smaller chocolate sheet cake, which was covered in chocolate roses.
Entertainment
For entertainment, we hired a DJ named Matt Maurice, who did a fantastic job. Our first dance was to the Beach Boys’ ‘Then I Kissed Her,’ which was such a special moment.
Beauty Regime & Wellness
I was in great hands for hair and makeup with Lauren Irwin, who was an absolute delight. She did the hair and makeup for me, the girls, my mum, and my maid of honour. The night before the wedding, I made sure to have a calm swim at the pool and then went to bed early to be well-rested for the big day. I wanted to look and feel my best without straying too far from my natural look, which made it easy to transition from day to night without needing a big beauty overhaul.
Favourite Wedding Gifts
We were truly touched by the gifts we received—everyone was so kind and thoughtful, even those who couldn’t attend were incredibly generous. It’s hard to pick favourites, as we use everything with so much love, from our new china to the beautiful print of our church that I see every morning in our stairwell.
The Honeymoon
We decided to keep our honeymoon simple and stayed in the Cotswolds at Cowley Manor, where we just took it easy. We’d work out in the gym or pool, then wander around the stunning English countryside before enjoying a lovely dinner. It was the perfect, relaxing break we needed.
Advice
Start planning as early as possible to keep things stress-free.
The sooner you get started on the planning, the more relaxed you’ll feel as the big day approaches. Begin by jotting down the key things—like your budget and what really matters to you both, whether it’s the venue, the guest list, or the overall vibe. Starting early means you’ll have your pick of the best suppliers and venues, which can get booked up way in advance. Break things down into small, manageable tasks and give yourself mini-deadlines. That way, you’re not trying to do everything all at once, and you can actually enjoy the process without feeling overwhelmed.
Make sure the day reflects who you are as a couple—don’t feel pressured to follow trends.
It’s your wedding, so make sure it feels like you. It’s easy to get caught up in what’s trendy, but at the end of the day, you want a wedding that reflects your personalities and your relationship. Think about what makes you both tick—whether it’s a shared hobby, a favourite place, or even a particular style—and weave those elements into your day. It might be as simple as having your favourite songs play during the ceremony or choosing a quirky venue that means something special to you both. The key is to stay true to yourselves rather than feeling like you have to keep up with the latest Pinterest trends.
Most importantly, enjoy it! It goes by in a flash.
The day itself flies by, so make sure you take a moment to soak it all in. It’s easy to get bogged down in making sure everything’s running smoothly, but try to hand over the reins to someone else—whether it’s a wedding planner, a bridesmaid, or a trusted friend —so you can focus on enjoying the day. Steal a few moments just for the two of you to take it all in. Whether it’s sneaking away for a quick chat or sharing a private dance when no one’s watching, those little moments will help you stay in the moment and really appreciate the day you’ve planned so carefully.
With Thanks To:
Bride/Groom: @msjordancracknell @jamescracknell
Venue: St Luke’s Church, Chelsea / Royal Automobile Club @stlukesandchristchurchchelsea
Caterer: The Royal Automobile Club Kitchen @royalautomobileclub
Dress: Hermione de Paula @hermionedepaula
Bridesmaids: Reiss and Coast @reiss @coastfashion
Groom outfit: Buckleighs of London @buckleighlondon
Florist: Amanda Austin Flowers @amandaaustinflowers
Tableware: Royal Automobile Club @royalautomobileclub
Stationery: The Wren Press @thewrenpress_uk
Photographer: Marc Bates @marcbatesphotos
Videographer: The Camera Chaps @camerachapweddings
Wedding rings: Tiffany and Co. @tiffanyandco
Makeup: Lauren Irwin @laurenirwinmua
Hair: Lauren Irwin @laurenirwinmua
Gift list: The Wedding Present Co. @weddingpresentco
Stylist: Hannah Eichler @hannaheichler
Wedding Planner: Ella Hartig @ellahartigevents
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