Unconventional wedding venues have become one of the most exciting directions in modern celebrations, and Danielle and Joe’s London wedding captured that spirit beautifully. Their celebration inside Classic Prop Hire was vintage, cinematic, playful, and deeply personal all at once. Antique rugs, glowing chandeliers, and unexpected details created an atmosphere that felt more like stepping onto a film set than attending a traditional wedding. Photographer Jessica Gwyneth documented the day with warmth and texture, capturing the character of the space and the joyful, slightly irreverent energy that defined a truly one-of-a-kind celebration.
Location: London, United Kingdom
Style: Vintage, Electric, Playful
Time of planning: 1 year
Number of guests: 170-200
Setting: Warehouse
Season: Summer
Danielle and Joe share a story that began nearly a decade ago thanks to two mutual friends. Those friends had met on Tinder, which is why the couple jokingly calls their relationship a “Tinder adjacent” love story. What began as a simple introduction slowly turned into a relationship shaped by travel, creativity, and curiosity about the world.
Joe works as a diplomat and Danielle is a producer. Their careers have taken them across several cities. They have lived in Melbourne, spent time in Paris, and built an important chapter of their life in London. Today they split their time between Los Angeles and San Francisco, though London still holds many memories for them.
Travel, music, and film culture influence how they see the world. These interests naturally shaped their wedding. Instead of planning something overly polished or traditional, they wanted a celebration that felt personal, playful, and layered with character.
Concept & Location
Classic Prop Hire is not a typical wedding venue. It is a working warehouse where production designers and film studios source furniture, lighting, and decorative pieces for film sets. Antique sofas, rugs, lamps, chandeliers, and artworks fill the enormous space.
Danielle already knew the location through family connections and had attended events there before. Once the couple received permission to host their wedding in the warehouse, the vision became clear.
They wanted the space to feel like stepping onto a film set. Nostalgic textures, unusual objects, and unexpected details created a layered environment where guests could discover something interesting in every corner.
“Much like the warehouse, we weren’t interested in everything “matching.” We wanted it to feel eclectic — like things gathered over time from different chapters of our lives.”
Sara Wan, who runs Classic Prop Hire, worked together with production designer James Hendy to help select pieces from the vast inventory inside the warehouse. Persian rugs created warmth across the industrial floor. Antique furniture formed relaxed lounge areas. Chandeliers added soft light above the dinner tables. The result felt theatrical and intimate at the same time.
Bridal Fashion & Morning
The morning of the wedding began with one of the most joyful scenes of the day. Danielle and her bridesmaids climbed onto a vintage red London bus that carried them through the city toward the ceremony. Girls laughed, filmed each other, and toasted to the day ahead. It felt less like a formal bridal procession and more like the start of an unforgettable adventure.
Danielle approached her bridal look the same way the couple approached the entire wedding: intuitively, with a love for vintage pieces and unexpected finds.
“I knew I didn’t want an off-the-rack, overpriced dress that I’d be trying to flog a month later,” shared the bride. About seven months before the wedding she was scrolling eBay when a vintage Vivienne Westwood dress caught her eye. She loved it immediately. After checking the listing she realized the dress was located at Gift of the Garb in Silverlake, just fifteen minutes from her home. “I called, begged them to take it off the rack, dragged my equally hungover friend out of bed, and drove straight there. I bought it on the spot.”
The draped Westwood gown felt sculptural and timeless against the industrial backdrop of the warehouse.
For the evening Danielle changed into another vintage discovery: a Versace gown she found at an estate sale in Los Angeles. She paired it with fluffy cowboy boots, a playful nod to the eclectic setting and her Texan roots.
Joe chose a classic look with personality. He wore a suit from SuitSupply with tailoring by Sugar Ferrini and finished the look with a bolo tie passed down through Danielle’s family.
Ceremony
One of the most memorable elements of the wedding was the ceremony space. Sara Wan and James Hendy created a small chapel inside the warehouse specifically for the occasion. Danielle was not allowed to see the finished space beforehand, which made the moment even more special when she walked in.
The chapel referenced the playful spirit of Las Vegas wedding chapels while still feeling romantic. Red drapery framed the altar, and a heart-shaped floral installation created the backdrop for the couple’s vows.
Joe’s father officiated the ceremony, bringing warmth and personal meaning to the moment. Danielle and Joe also included a Celtic handfastening ritual as part of the ceremony.
"We kept it pretty brief and made sure that everyone had a glass of champagne to tide them over!”
Cocktail Hour
After the ceremony guests explored the warehouse during cocktail hour. The space encouraged movement and curiosity. Different lounge corners appeared between rows of props and antique furniture.
A vintage jukebox stood beside the seating chart. Transparent balloons floated above the display. Guests moved through the warehouse discovering objects that normally live behind the scenes of film productions.
"Although we were inside, we wanted to drive our classic Triumph GT6 away from the ceremony; so we parked it up, tied some cans to the back and drove it from one side of the warehouse to the other."
"I always remember when Dani first got in touch and mentioned the venue I used to work in film and TV, so I knew of the space and how incredible a location it would be for a wedding. I always love when a couple has an edge and something unique and authentic to say with their vision, and Dani's vision for the day was that and so much more. It was such an honour and so much fun to capture."
Decor & Reception
Dinner took place in the main hall of the warehouse. Sara Wan and James Hendy transformed the space with layers of vintage furniture, rugs, and lighting. Long tables were dressed with elegant linens and pale pink napkins. Floral arrangements by Polly & Petal added delicate color with roses and soft seasonal blooms. Overhead chandeliers created a warm glow across the room.
Danielle and Joe entered the reception to Beast of Burden by the Rolling Stones. The choice set a relaxed and joyful tone for the evening.
Dinner included three courses prepared by Eat Events. Speeches from close family members and friends followed, creating many emotional and funny moments. During dinner, the playlist shifted toward French music from the 1960s, which added another nostalgic layer to the atmosphere.
Later in the evening espresso martinis were served at the tables before everyone moved toward the dance floor.
The party continued with a Beatles tribute band called The Vox Beatles before DJ Sanjiv Ahluwalia took over the dance floor. Guests danced late into the night and enjoyed a dramatic croquembouche cake created by Punk Cake.
Advice from the couple:
• We’ve attended so many weddings, big and small, expensive and modest, and ultimately what we’ve found is that what makes a wedding truly special rarely has anything to do with the budget. It really comes down to prioritising your guests’ comfort and happiness, and creating a day that you know you’re going to absolutely love. When the couple is clearly having the best day it’s impossible not to have an amazing time too.
PHOTOGRAPHER Jessica Gwyneth | VENUE Classic Prop Hire | FLORALS Polly & Petal | CATERING Eat Events| CAKE Punk Cake | MAKEUP Sogol Razi | HAIR Abi Ignacio | ENTERTAINMENT The Vox Beatles | DJ Sanjiv Ahluwalia | CEREMONY DRESS Gift of the Garb | EVENING DRESS Jennie Walker Archive | SUIT SuitSupply | TAILORING Sugar Ferrini | LIGHTING HIRE TDC Cordless Lighting
