Selfridges has acquired a licence to host wedding this summer to help lovebirds tie the knot. Almost 280,000 weddings occur every year in the UK, with more than 260,000 weddings postponed due to the pandemic. Added to the weddings planned for 2021 this means as many as 475,000 weddings could be planned for this. The newly-acquired licence allows Selfridges to host ceremonies for a limited time this year, with three packages available for couples looking for a ‘non-traditional ceremony in a venue like no other.

Selfridges has created a dedicated ‘Wedding Suite’ on the fourth floor of the grade-II listed building, where couples can choose from three packages beginning with the ‘Just-the-two-of-us’ with a maximum of four guests of the happy couple and including beauty and grooming appointments, a low-key exchanging of vows, a wedding breakfast hamper and a reception in the store’s in-house cinema with popcorn and Champagne. The ‘Earth Lovers’ package can involve up to 20 guests and includes an appointment to find vintage or rented wedding outfits and a locally-sourced three-course meal at the store’s Brasserie of Light restaurant. Couples who choose the ‘All-Out Extraordinary’ package can invite up to 20 guests for a ceremony officiated by comedian and drag queen Jonny Woo and a three-course meal in a private dining room followed by a set from a choice of in-house DJs. The happy couple and their guests will be able to make appointments with the store for everything from wedding day makeovers and styling appointments to custom-made floral arrangements and canape consultations.