Top London venues: Meet One Events

One Events, the team behind One Marylebone and One Belgravia, reveal the inside story of wedding organisation at two of the capital’s most distinctive party venues

It’s easy to forget how radical the idea of a ‘blank canvas’ venue seemed back in the Noughties when One Marylebone first opened its doors. London suddenly had a stunning building in a peerless W1 location that you could dress as creatively as you pleased for your private party. It was an instant hit, not just among the fashion and crowd but couples seeking star-quality from their wedding venue. Some ten years on, One Events work with brides and grooms from across the globe, helping them design the party of a lifetime.

“The great thing about our venues is that they can be transformed into pretty much anything you want them to be”

One Marylebone was joined by One Belgravia in 2016. Located right next door to One Events’ HQ in Grosvenor Place, this former embassy building offers a series of grand rooms with high ceilings and fabulous fireplaces, all linked by a glorious marble staircase.

Overseeing some of London’s most distinctive event spaces is, as Molly Hodges and Abi Moulds of the Private Events team will freely admit, a job as varied as each and every wedding they help bring about. A lot of couples come to them via word of mouth or because they’ve attended a wedding or event here and seen the potential for their own celebration.

These are venues that offer both dry hire and – the recommended option – project management. Molly says: “We offer project management for a flat fee, and have found that it’s a way to make the whole experience as stress-free as possible for couples, also offering them the reassurance of our expertise and knowhow. In common with all venues, we know what works in our spaces and our goal is to ensure that suppliers can deliver the right results. That is why we have a list of tried and trusted names we’ve seen in action and can recommend for their professionalism”.

“Project management offers the reassurance of our expertise and knowhow”

Project management means that the team work with a couple’s ideas, source and organise quotes and help with the cost management side of planning, also advising on the routes that best suit the couple’s vision and budget. It also includes onsite management and coordination on the wedding day itself. Sometimes the team also work with wedding planners appointed by couples. Molly says: “London is a global wedding destination and if there are extra logistics – for instance additional parties or guests flying in for the wedding – then having someone who is dedicated to the overall organisation while we manage the venue specifics is a practical solution”.

The team have noticed distinct shifts in wedding trends, be it the vogue for creative ‘tablescaping’ or the move towards ever more dramatic scene setting and entertainment. Both venues can host a crowd and have a variety of spaces to move couples effortlessly from ceremony to reception to after party. It helps that both venues have late licences and, in the case of One Marylebone, there’s a cool garden space that can be incorporated into the celebration by arrangement.

While the style of parties might change, couples always have the same desire for a perfect wedding day, and that’s something that the team at One Events keep front of mind. Molly says: “This is such an important day and every couple have a unique vision. We have so much experience and understanding of the journey from first plan to wedding day, so our focus is on supporting them and ensuring their party lives up to the dream. And the great thing about our venues is that they can be transformed into pretty much anything you want them to be. That’s why they are such exciting wedding spaces.”

For more about One Events London wedding and party venues and services, visit one-events.co.uk