Sample No. 0041

A Classic Winter Jewish Wedding at Banking Hall, London

Bridal Fashion & Beauty Karen Cinnamon May 18, 2026

Claudia and Aaron paired black tie style with a personal ceremony, a transformable Gemy Maalouf gown and thoughtful touches for 175 guests.

A Classic Winter Jewish Wedding at Banking Hall, London

Claudia and Aaron, Banking Hall, London, UK

At Claudia and Aaron’s December wedding, a polished black-and-white look made room for the details that mattered most: a personal Jewish ceremony, family keepsakes and handwritten notes for all 175 guests. Banking Hall, a former Lloyds Building in the City of London, gave the day its grand setting, while the couple’s choices kept it close to their own story.

Claudia, a wellness coach and personal trainer, and Aaron, a consultant, had crossed paths around the same area and shared friends for years. They finally met in their early 20s after matching on JSwipe. For their wedding, they chose a London venue with character, space for their guests and a striking staircase, then built a classic black-tie celebration around it.

The couple stayed at The Ned before and after the wedding, a place tied to their shared date nights. Their photographs are by Pippa Mackenzie, with film by Lewis of Lightbulb Films. Below, Claudia shares the decisions and moments that shaped the day.

Claudia and Aaron, Banking Hall, London, UK

A venue and palette that suited the season

The couple knew they wanted a December wedding in London, but not in a hotel. Banking Hall offered the architectural character and capacity they were looking for; its history as the old Lloyds Building and its dramatic staircase made an immediate impression. The venue, rather than an elaborate theme, set the tone.

Claudia and Aaron kept the styling simple: black tie with a classic black-and-white palette. They wanted the room, the formality and the atmosphere to feel connected. Planner Susannah Raye worked with them from the beginning. Claudia describes her as calm, trustworthy and generous with advice, and says regular, sometimes lengthy, calls helped her feel supported throughout planning.

For florals, the brief was winter whites and greenery: white roses, touches of gypsophila, winter foliage, candles and plenty of light. Florist Mary Jane Vaughan worked with the planner and the couple to bring that restrained, candlelit look into the ceremony and reception. Vaughan also collaborated with The Happy Chuppah People on the chuppah.

Claudia and Aaron, Banking Hall, London, UK

Details with family ties

Aaron’s cousin Lucinda K, an interior designer and calligrapher, created the stationery as a gift. Her design included a distinctive logo made from the couple’s initials, which they carried through the day’s printed pieces and details. The matching look gave the celebration a personal thread without adding more decoration.

The most time-intensive detail was also one of the most intimate: Claudia and Aaron wrote individual notes for every guest and placed them at each setting as place cards. Writing 175 messages took months, Claudia says, but guests loved opening them. Wax seals bearing the couple’s logo linked the notes with their thank-you cards.

Personalised napkins from House of Evangeline featured the logo and wedding date. Some guests took theirs home, and the couple now use the napkins when they host. Aaron’s love of Guinness inspired another tailored touch: the couple arranged to have Guinness on tap, with their logo printed in the foam.

Claudia’s closest friends wore blue dresses as her “something blue.” The couple also chose to sit with friends at their top table, putting the people nearest to them within reach during the celebration.

Claudia and Aaron, Banking Hall, London, UK

A gown designed to change through the day

Claudia found Mirror Mirror London in Islington while looking into bridal boutiques. At her first appointment, stylist Andrea Elsby helped make a process Claudia had found confusing feel more focused. A slim Gemy Maalouf gown stood out for its shape, tone and unusual lace.

Claudia had imagined a dress that could shift in feeling without requiring a full outfit change. With Elsby’s styling, she added a tulle skirt by Pronovias for a softer, more romantic look. A custom lace sleeve and a tulle drape across the top were also made to detach. The result gave Claudia several ways to wear one gown over the course of the day.

Elsby, who helped create the dress, also did Claudia’s hair and dressed her on the wedding day. Claudia chose a simple set of accessories with sentimental value: pearl-hoop earrings her mother wore at her own wedding, her mother’s 1992 veil and pearl pins styled into her hair.

Her shoes were the Ixia 80 Ivory Satin Pumps by Jimmy Choo, a 30th-birthday gift to herself. Claudia wore them all night and liked the heel’s unusual shape and comfort. She was considering dyeing them black so she could keep wearing them. Makeup artist Jennifer Oliver completed the look; Claudia appreciated both the makeup’s staying power and Oliver’s reassuring presence.

Four cousins, aged 7 to 14, served as bridesmaids. Their ivory mesh dresses and white trainers with satin laces came from Next, a practical pairing for a range of ages and a formal winter celebration.

Claudia and Aaron, Banking Hall, London, UK

A ceremony made personal

Aaron had asked for a simple chuppah, and the couple kept that request central. Mary Jane Vaughan and The Happy Chuppah People created a clean design with matching flowers and candles. Claudia says it mattered that the structure stayed open enough for guests to see the ceremony clearly.

Rabbi Yanky Abrams, who knew Aaron and his family, led the ceremony. A close friend read an English translation of the ketubah, a moment the couple hadn’t encountered before. The reading helped make the document accessible to the people gathered with them.

Music brought another personal note. Imri of XS Showband sang “Im Eshkachech Yerushalayim.” The couple also shared the traditional glass-breaking moment. Claudia remembers being so absorbed in the ceremony that she and Aaron spent much of it talking to each other.

They wanted their ketubah to feel like a work of art, inspired by the one Claudia’s parents had framed in their home. They found Happy Project Shop on Etsy. Emma sent several drafts so the couple could check spellings with the rabbi before settling on the final piece.

Claudia and Aaron, Banking Hall, London, UK

Music, food and a surprise performance

XS Showband handled the music and production. Claudia says meetings with Fran and her team went smoothly, and guests continued to talk about the band afterward. The set moved between a Coldplay first dance, Raye’s “Where Is My Husband,” “Freed from Desire” for the couple’s entrance and “Signed, Sealed, Delivered.”

The evening’s standout performance came from Claudia’s grandfather. The band asked whether any family members had a talent to share, and the couple told them he could sing. His surprise rendition of “New York, New York” brought the room to its feet and became one of the day’s defining moments.

Eat Me catered the wedding. Claudia remembers the food, presentation and plate choices fondly, and singles out John from the team for his work on the night. Since cake wasn’t a priority for the couple, they served brownies on the dance floor and handed out Pic n Mix bags later on, reflecting Claudia’s fondness for sweets and treats.

Claudia and Aaron, Banking Hall, London, UK

Preserving the day and making space to enjoy it

Photographer Pippa Mackenzie’s work appealed to Claudia, as did her approach on their first calls. Mackenzie also creates the “Life by Pippa Mackenzie” wedding album with each couple, a bespoke book designed to preserve the day as a keepsake. Susannah Raye recommended Lewis at Lightbulb Films for video. Hannah of The Bride Diaries captured behind-the-scenes footage; Claudia says Hannah moved around freely to record different angles without getting in the way.

For their registry, the couple visited The Wedding Shop’s townhouse in Chelsea. Claudia describes the morning as a date together that helped them find inspiration for their list.

After the wedding, they spent a few days in Seville just before Christmas. They wanted time to rest, look back at photos and videos from friends and enjoy the memories together; both were tired after the celebration. Their planned honeymoon is in South Korea and Japan, destinations they had both long wanted to visit.

Claudia’s advice to couples is to stay connected on the day. She and Aaron spent about 90 percent of the time together after the ceremony, something they both valued. She also credits trust in their suppliers and planner with helping her set aside her usual perfectionist instincts and enjoy the celebration.

One moment she especially recommends is seeing the reception room before guests arrive. Claudia and Aaron had a private room reveal, then danced with the band and took in the space together. The song that played as they entered became one of their favourites. It’s a small window of time, but their experience suggests it can give couples a chance to pause together before the celebration gathers pace.