This London couple got married in an iconic London landmark

The engagement ring was a collaborative effort between us, although I’ll happily give Al the credit. We’d explored lots of different options, including other gemstones, shapes and cuts, but in the end settled on a diamond solitaire design on a platinum band with a hidden halo. My favourite part is the engraving on the inside which reads, ‘Em and Al’. Alex has the same inscription inside his wedding band and it was also embroidered on my veil.

We were very lucky to be able to get married at St Paul’s Cathedral. In the crypt, there is a chapel called the OBE Chapel where those who have been honoured by the Monarch can get married. The privilege also extends to the children of those who have been honoured. My father was awarded his CBE in 2016 for services to business and his work with the Institute of Directors. Since then, it had always been a dream to get married there.

Over the 18 months of wedding planning, we got to know the Chapel and became close with the Reverend, for whom we were their first wedding. It meant that the service was incredibly personal and emotional for all of us, for which we feel very lucky.

I spent the morning of our wedding getting ready at mine and Alex’s flat with my mum, and my two bridesmaids. I had gone wedding dress shopping with my mum, wanting her to be the only person to see the dress before the big day as a nice surprise for everyone else and for something special the two of us could share.

For years, I had walked past Angelical Bridal in Islington and I was so excited to finally go in. I chose a simple, strapless ivory column gown with a voluminous overskirt that could be taken off for the reception.

I didn’t see my dress again until a year later when I went for my first fitting. My body was completely different. I decided to add a Bardot neckline. I worried that it would be too much work, but with more pins than I could count, the tailors at Exclusive Alterations in Islington were able to transform it. The end result was a dress that felt completely unique to me, paired with my veil which was embroidered with the famous Nottingham lace as a nod to where we went to university.

Our vision for the wedding was to make every detail as personal as possible. Our wedding reception was held at the IoD’s headquarters, a stunning Georgian building in the heart of London at 116 Pall Mall, with all our guests boarding a classic Routemaster bus to transport us there.

Each guest’s place card was a picture of a memory we’d shared together and a note expressing how much they meant to us. We opted for London-themed decorations for the venue, such as the tube map table plan, alongside tributes to our origins, such as the Fondant Fancy wedding cake from the renowned Yorkshire Tearoom, Betty’s.

At the end of the night, after everyone had left, Alex and I walked the 20-minute journey to our hotel through central London. I held his hand in mine and clutched my Manolo Blahnik wedding shoes in the other, the train of my dress trailing along the street behind us. It was such a magical experience, our first moments of calm together after the best day, interrupted only by the sound of people honking their horns and shouting their congratulations from the passing traffic.

Alexandria Dale is Digital Fashion Writer at Cosmopolitan & . Covering everything from the worth knowing about to the latest fashion news, there’s nothing she loves more than finding a high street dupe of a must-have designer item. As well as discovering new brands, she’s passionate about and establishing the trends that are actually worth investing in. Having worked in fashion journalism for six years, she has experience at both digital and print publications including Glamour and Ok!