The perfect wedding, London style

Our Holborn Apartment space set the scene, with bites and bowls from the Rondo kitchen, cocktails by Casamigos and Johnnie Walker, chilled Two Tribes beers, and wine from Henny’s. DJ sets from Maurice Alexander and Dom Chung kept the energy high, with live performances by Trudy and the Romance and surprise guests Mystery Jets. The cherry on top? A dreamy cake and floral setup courtesy of Möu Möu. 

We found a moment in the madness to speak with Percival founder Chris Gove to get his tips on celebrating in style and why London weddings are the way forward…

Share some wedding speech wisdom Keep it short, keep it sweet, and for the love of all that’s holy, keep it sober until after you’ve delivered it. I once watched a best man down three whiskeys for “Dutch courage” and proceed to tell a story about the groom’s university flatulence habits. The bride’s grandmother was not amused. Golden rule: if you wouldn’t tell it to your nan, don’t tell it to 150 wedding guests.

Give us your go-to Percival wedding looks For a Summer wedding, you can’t go wrong with our linen suits. The key is looking like you made an effort without looking like you’re cosplaying as a Victorian banker. And please, for the love of British menswear, no novelty socks. The bride’s spent months planning this day; she doesn’t need to see cartoon tacos peeking out from your trouser hems.

Give us your best wedding story Picture this: outdoor ceremony in the Cotswolds, lovely summer day, groom wearing one of our beautiful linen suits. Halfway through the vows, a rogue sheep wanders into shot and decides the altar flowers look particularly tasty. The vicar’s trying to continue the ceremony while gently shooing away this four-legged wedding crasher. The groom, bless him, just starts giggling – proper schoolboy giggles – which sets off the bride, then the whole congregation. Best man eventually had to do a rugby tackle on the sheep. The photos are absolutely magnificent.

Tell us about you ideal wedding London, every time. There’s something brilliantly bonkers about celebrating love in a city that’s constantly trying to kill you with buses and overpriced pints. Small and intimate – maybe 50 people max. You want everyone there because they genuinely care about you, not because your mum’s second cousin twice removed might be offended if they’re not invited.

Band over DJ, always. There’s something properly romantic about live music, even if the drummer’s slightly off-beat. Summer wedding, because British weather is unpredictable enough without voluntarily choosing the season where it’s guaranteed to be miserable.

What makes a great wedding venue? Character over Instagram-ability. I’d rather celebrate in a slightly wonky pub or boutique hotel with brilliant food and staff. The venue should feel like you – not like you’re playing dress-up in someone else’s fantasy. The Hox apartment spaces tick a lot of boxes for us – with details and decor as stylish as our suits!

What’s your dream Honeymoon? Maybe Italy – good food, better wine, and the Italians understand that looking effortlessly stylish is an art form. Plus, if you’re going to spend a fortune on a honeymoon, you might as well go somewhere that makes your Instagram followers properly jealous.