Four years after meeting on Made in Chelsea, Maeva D’Ascanio and James Taylor could think of no better place to continue their love story than the UK capital.
"We did say to each other that in a way it was actually a good thing to pick that registry office as we did meet in Chelsea," she told HELLO!, who exclusively covered their wedding.
The couple got engaged by the Trevi Fountain in Rome in April 2022 and one year after welcoming their 11-month-old son Beau, they gathered just 20 guests at Chelsea Old Town Hall for an intimate ceremony, including Maeva's parents who flew over from her native France. "To have them there was so special," she said.
They plan to host a second wedding in December, which is set to be a bigger affair with more of their friends and family. In the meantime, join us as we look through the couple's wedding album, from Maeva's two incredible bridal outfits to baby Beau's cute appearance.
The happy couple posed for photos outside their London wedding venue, which had been decorated with a red floral arch over the doorway.
Bracing against the cool weather, Maeva slipped a fluffy shawl over her shoulders, obscuring her gorgeous gold co-ord underneath. Meanwhile, James looked smart in a grey suit from Diverso alongside a white shirt and a blue tie.
The beautiful bride removed the jacket to reveal her strapless rose gold top by Jesus Peiro, which she wore alongside a high-waisted, A-line skirt by Stephanie Allin.
Her brunette hair had been styled in curls that fell to her waist with the front section secured back and topped with a birdcage headband veil in rose gold by P.S. Bridal. A simple pearl necklace and a delicate beauty blend that highlighted her natural beauty finished off her first outfit of the day.
In a departure from tradition, the couple walked down the aisle together with their son Beau in their arms, before he took turns on his parents' lap during the ceremony, which Maeva described as "intense and beautiful."
She joked of her son: "He was noisy and very funny. He is our little prince and it was more than important for us to have him with us. He was basically marrying his parents!"
Coordinating with his famous father, the little boy looked adorable in a blue sailor outfit from Little Bevan.
Maeva and James then joined their guests for a festive wedding breakfast at Claridge's, a five-star London hotel that the bride had long dreamed of hosting her wedding.
"As a French woman, I always wanted to organise a dinner at Claridge's. To me, it is the epitome of British elegance. Especially during the Christmas period, there is something very special about the hotel – it’s warm and cosy and just beautiful for a lovely dinner with your close ones after saying yes at the registry office," said Maeva.
She had changed into her second wedding dress from Jesus Peiro, featuring a square neckline, an empire waist, dramatic bubble sleeves and an embellished cape. James had also switched up his look, swapping his white trousers for a brown three-piece suit and a burgundy tie.
Maeva twisted her hair into an elegant updo for the evening, finishing off the look with a cream bouquet of flowers from McQueen’s Flowers.
The bride looked in awe as she caught sight of the table decorations for the first time.
White floral displays were interspersed with ivory candles thanks to event planner Audrey Ametis Weddings.
Their guests left with favours from Jo Malone, as well as mini bottles of Ruinart champagne.
Maeva and James finished their meal by cutting their cake, which was decorated with blue striped icing and topped with a white flower, courtesy of GC Couture. Guests could get their sugar fix with a choice of wedding cake, cupcakes or biscuits from Little Fancies.
"The legal part was beautiful and feels very real," James explained to HELLO!. “But we wanted to keep it small and to make the difference between that one and the big date next month when we are inviting some of our Made in Chelsea friends."
We can't wait to see what the stylish couple and their cute son wear to their second wedding!
Photography: Roberta Facchini
Event Planner: Audrey Ametis Weddings
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To see more details of Maeva and James’s wedding, pick up this week's issue of HELLO!. Subscribe to HELLO! to get the magazine delivered free to your door every week or purchase the digital edition online via our Apple or Google apps.
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