real wedding – Laidback, Retro-inspired DIY wedding in East London

1 October 2018

Do ya ever look at a wedding and just get a deep-seated yearning to be as effortlessly cool as the couple? Course you do, because we only feature stellar weddings. But in all seriousness, Cat and Jim’s wedding day is going to give you all of the emotions: their day was an über-cool, super relaxed celebration that celebrated the very best of East London.

Cat, one half of the Safekeeping Society (see their gorgeous boxes below) and Jim had an intimate ceremony at Clissold House followed by a lunch with close family and friends at the Rose & Crown pub in Stoke Newington. “The day was really vintage and DIY,” says photographer queen Joanna Brown. “It was totally representative of the couple and their neighbourhood and the laid back East London vibe where everyone mucked in.” Bud vases filled with rich toned stems were dotted about, alongside quirky hand-lettered place names. (The word ‘quirky’ often sounds super twee but I do mean quirky in the true sense of the word – a little offbeat, but very wonderful.) They also had hand-written markers in their pies, which I think is prettttty phenomenal.

In between the lunch and party, Joanna accompanied Cat and Jim back to their flat. Officially, they were there to sort out transporting the food to their evening venue, Ruby’s in Dalston – but they also did some beautiful portraits in the gorgeous light in their flat. The added bonus was that they got their cats in their too! It was super relaxed, low key, and totally beaut – all our favourite things.

“Everyone mucked in at Ruby’s – the bride and groom were surrounded by their family and friends making up the plates of sharing food putting out bowls of hummus and salads.” Joanna explains. “It was a real coming together and everyone loved being involved. The atmosphere was muck in and have fun together and it was amazing to watch a couple create the day that they wanted with no formality involved at all! Just perfect. And as for the tunes and cocktails in Ruby’s…well…”