1 real bride's sun-soaked chelsea ceremony
We chatted to Real Bride Kathryn Gooding about her sun-soaked Chelsea ceremony blending LA-inspired details with intimate touches. Read below to discover everything from planning tips to the G & O veil that featured on the day!
1. Tell us about YOU; who are you, where do you live and what do you do?
My name is Kathryn, I’m originally from London and my parents now live in Suffolk. My husband Ed & I now live between Los Angeles and London.
Ed is originally from Devon, and we have spent much of our almost 4 years together travelling between families and continents. In fact, we moved to LA after just over 1 year together. It feels wild to look back on but it felt totally natural at the time.
I’m a marketer, ex-creative agency and now freelance. I like to say I grow start-ups. Ed is co-founder of a non-alcoholic drinks business called Pentire.
2. When and where did you get married?
We got married in Chelsea Town Hall in August 2024 with 30 of our closest friends and family. After the ceremony we celebrated at The Phene.
We always knew we wanted to have a smaller, separate ceremony with close friends & family, which we knew would be great, but totally underestimated. It was so special. We’re also hosting a bigger wedding (which we’re affectionately calling our party wedding!) at my parents home in Suffolk, in September 2025. We’re deep in planning for that at the moment.
3. Tell us about your recent wedding event? Did you have a ‘theme’, what was the vibe, how did you choose the aesthetic?
Being based between LA and London, we wanted to bring a touch of La La Land to Chelsea. My favourite colour happens to be yellow, and combined with the vision of Emma Stone in her famous yellow lamppost dress, naturally that infiltrated the day! We’re also both summer lovers and have escaped winter for the past 3 years so it needed to be in summer in order to be on brand for us.
Everything flowed from there really. We definitely prefer things feeling chilled, which also feels very LA and that was really the vibe of the whole day. We wanted our guests to relax and enjoy the day, so we did as much as we could to facilitate that.
Chelsea Town Hall made sense for us as I was born in Wimbledon, and Ed has lived in Clapham for the past decade so we both have an attachment to the area. It’s also a perfect in-between spot for both of our families.
4. What did you wear? Give us all the details?
There’s so much to say! 😂
I was so chuffed to find my dress. I knew I wanted something a little untraditional, especially as we are having another wedding next year where I can wear something long & white. It gave me permission to be creative. I was looking out for either a suit, jumpsuit, maybe something short, maybe something yellow, maybe something patterned, but really just very open-minded. Which is great but also overwhelming.
The dress I chose was from Aje, a short yellow number with a big corsage at the top. It was short but not too short, the perfect shade of yellow, and a great shape for me. Simple yet statement. I ordered it to our flat in LA while Ed was away, wore it for a day working at my laptop & it just felt perfect! It was the first dress I tried on.
I’m also in love with my shoes - Jimmy Choos - because when else can one justify a pair?! I’d booked a personal shopping appointment at Selfridges with a lady called Camilla. I sent her so many Pinterest references I have no idea how she nailed it. But she did.
The look was completed with my Gigi & Olive Daisy Veil. We always knew that daisies were our flower. Yellow, simple, and we both love them. I had no idea you could buy a veil with daisies, until I randomly googled it, just to check. And voila. It was the most perfect addition to the outfit and wouldn’t have been the same without it.
I also wore a very special necklace - my something borrowed and something blue - crafted from a stone my late grandma originally had in a ring. Serena Ansell created the most beautiful pendant from it, for which I am so grateful. Last but not least, our rings were made by the same designer that made my engagement ring - Jessica Dickson . Recommended by one of Ed’s ushers, she also nailed it. While Ed’s wedding ring was very simple, mine was made specifically to fit together with my engagement ring, a yellow diamond of course.
Ed’s suit was also epic - Batch London - another small brand we both love.
5. What was the highlight of the day?
Such a hard question. We loved so many parts of the day. Here’s a top 3:
1. Getting ready with my bridesmaids. They are all legends. We got ready in a tiny hotel room and it just felt like old days. 90s tunes, snacks spread all over the bed and the bluest of blue skies shining through the window. Ed loved his pre-wedding lunch with his ushers too.
2. Walking down the steps of Chelsea Town Hall. Ed & I had a few moments together just before we came out - the first moments we’d had privately together since being married. We were united holding hands walking down the steps, surrounded by our favourite people. It was the best feeling ever.
3. Making our joint speech. Ed & I knew we wanted everyone to relax (at least for this wedding!) so we did the only speech together. It was a light-hearted thank you to everyone there, that we loved most - it felt great to us, but maybe ask them if it was actually any good!
6. What was the most expensive part of your wedding and was it worth it?
I genuinely had to check our budget spreadsheet for this! The most expensive part was The Phene - dinner and drinks throughout the afternoon & evening. It was absolutely worth it.
We were so impressed by the food. We’d pre-ordered and worked with them to optimise the menu. We were also quite specific with drinks, given it’s Ed’s specialism, and they fulfilled every part.
7. What was your best budget purchase?
Disposable cameras. Without a doubt. Ed & I decided to start taking disposable cameras with us when we first moved to LA and they’ve been a part of our lives ever since. We had to have them at the wedding. We bought 4 and gave 2 to bridesmaids, 2 to ushers. I think it’s important to have responsibility assigned to anything like that so the photos actually get taken. Ed & I have also learnt how to use them so we gave our recipients lessons! We were so surprised that lots of them came out so well. We had low expectations (we didn’t want to pressure anyone, also important) but they were amazing. Going to Snappy Snaps 2 days later we had the most incredible surprise!
We also had an epic professional photographer - Sammy Taylor - who we’d highly recommend. She made everything feel effortless and we adore the photos. But she was focused on the ceremony & us as a couple for 2 hours total, so having disposable cameras was a great way to capture our guests and the time after the ceremony together too. We’re so happy to have both.
I’d also emphasize that we’d been in touch with the team at The Phene for a while and they were always quick to respond and super flexible - from our last minute decor plans, to our cake (made by my mum). The fact they’re walking distance from Chelsea Town Hall was perfect too. We’d highly recommend The Phene.
8. What are your 3 top tips to other brides/couples starting to plan their wedding?
1. Do a high level budget before you start. It will definitely evolve from that first go, but put all the line items down on paper before you start. Hidden costs aren’t a thing if you account for them upfront. I’ve never really understood the narrative around this.
2. Consciously choose if & how to follow tradition. There will always be traditions and trends, but your wedding is about you as a couple. It can be easy to follow tradition automatically, without even being aware. Sometimes I catch myself doing it. We’ve tried to really think about everything & make decisions consciously. But of course if you love a particular trend, go for it!
3. Do it together. I am definitely the lead organiser between Ed & I, but everything we’ve decided we’ve done together. He might have an opinion, he might not. But we’d never make a decision (apart from outfits!) without chatting. It’s so fun to create something together and it means it reflects you as a united couple. There’s a reason you’re together after all!
9. Did you/will you have a bridal party?
Yes, I had 7 bridesmaids, and Ed had 8 ushers. Perhaps seen as a lot, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. We both believe it’s important to be inclusive and that weddings should never be a cause for friendship stress. I love all of my bridesmaids (it feels weird to call them ‘mine’, they are their own wonderful women) and I can’t WAIT to do it all again with them next year. I can’t believe how lucky I am to be part of a gang like that. I know Ed feels the same about his ushers.
10. What is the next thing on your Bridal to do list?
Coincidentally, as I write this I’m taking a break from working out the timeline of what we need to do over the next 8 months, we’re in countdown! We’ve booked the big things - marquee, caterers, band, photography, videography etc. So it’s the details, of which there are a lot.
Next things on the list are music for the reception & later in the night; sending out official invitations (we’ve done save the dates) and marquee decor. I’ll be completely honest, everyone says weddings are stressful but we love doing it, and as long as it’s mapped out I can’t see it being hard… ask us again in 6 months time!
Follow Bride Kathryn on Instagram (@kathryngooding) and Groom Ed (@edgrieggran) to find out more about her wedding journey! If you're a real bride or groom getting married and have had a bridal event you'd like us to feature please email usat info@gigiandolive.com - we'd love to hear from you!
Photographer - @sammytaylor.weddingphotography
Dress - @_aje_
Shoes - @jimmychoo
Flowers (bouquet & button hole) - @lavendergreenflowers
Pendant (something borrowed & blue) - @serena.ansell
Wedding & engagement rings - @jessicadicksondesigns
Ed's suit - @batch.ldn
Venue - @marrymeinchelsea
Reception & Dinner - @ thephenesw3
Drinks - @pentiredrinks (plus The Phene bar)
Cake - my mum, Janet
