This Couple Had Their Dream ’70s-Themed Micro-Wedding at a Pub in East London
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vogue’s goal in our coverage is to celebrate responsible wedding planning, showcase a love story, and shed light on the questions that engaged couples are asking themselves now.
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Music publicist Iris Herscovici and Joe Falconer, the guitarist for indie band Circa Waves, met the old-school way—in a bar late one night. He was DJ’ing her then-flatmate’s work Christmas party when he played “Celebrity Skin” by Hole. “I was like, ‘That’s my jam,’ ” Iris remembers. “Within a month, I told him that I loved him and accidentally called him by my ex’s name—luckily, he stuck around. A year later, we were going steady, and he was squatting in my room. We’ve been inseparable ever since—developing our own little lingo, traveling the world, and making a home together with our Cavapoochon, Peggy.”
Their engagement was a low-key, but nonetheless special, event. They had planned to go on a picnic on a Tuesday afternoon to bask in the sun in Hampstead Heath. “I remember going up the hill to an overview of London and noting how romantic our spot was,” Iris says. “While playing fetch with Peggy, I looked back and the ring of my dreams was in front of me. It was an immediate yes! We then popped the Champagne and later that night went straight to the pub!”
The couple’s wedding was scheduled for August 30, 2020, and they were lucky enough to be able to keep their original date amid the pandemic. “We, however, had to downsize the party from 250 guests to 30 people, and our ceremony from 30 to 6,” Iris notes. Their original party venue was a night club in East London—a location they chose because it was open until 4 a.m., and they wanted DJs and bands playing all night long. Their theme was a ’70s disco—“Music is so important in both of our lives, and we love dancing!” Iris says. “We also love gold, which was a big part of our color palette.”
Much like so many other couples right now, Iris and Joe had to pivot their plans because of the pandemic. “As soon as we realized that my friends and family in Canada weren’t going to be able to travel for a while, we decided we would downscale the event and go ahead with the original date. We knew we were dedicated to each other and with the turmoil of the year, we wanted to be sure we could still get married,” Iris says. “My parents were happy to travel and quarantine before the ceremony, which ensured we were willing to go ahead.”
