Rose & Joe’s Dance Floor Love Story at The Ministry, London
Written by MNT Ben
Images by Bates & Bates Photography
This love story began in a North London nightclub that now, may well be luxury flats.
Warehouse in Edmonton… IYKYK
A place built for noise, sweat, late nights and dancing. Which, as it turns out, was exactly the right foundation for Rose and Joe. Because from that moment on, much of their life together would be spent on the dance floor.
The Proposal
The couple got engaged in Ibiza in 2017, at the island’s highest point — Sa Talaia, following a terrifying drive up in a hire car that probably deserved more recognition than it received.
Having never talked about marriage before, it was the biggest surprise of Rose’s life.
She said yes instantly… of course!
And as if that wasn’t enough, Joe had arranged for their best friends to join them the following day to help prolong the celebration, in the Balearic sun. Five days of loved-up partying ensued — the perfect start for what went on to be an epic, 7 year engagement.
The Long Engagement
7 years sounds dramatic until you realise how sensible it actually is.
Rose began looking at wedding venues early on, including options in Ibiza (of course), having never pictured getting married anywhere else.
But then came the prices. Reality had entered the chat.
So they decided to do something refreshingly wise, and put their wedding plans on ice to enjoy being engaged until the time was right.
This is something we are massively on board with at MNT because the joy of the engagement is often over all too soon before reality sets in, and excitement is replaced with budgets and timelines.
The Ceremony
The ceremony was intentionally low-key, just enough structure to mark the moment without shifting the focus away from what the day was really about. Rose and Joe chose a simple, less formal setup that reflected their approach to the whole wedding: personal, relaxed and completely on their terms. No drawn-out traditions, no overproduction. Just the two of them, making it official before the celebrations properly began.
The Planning Journey
By the time Rose and Joe were ready for action, their planning took just seven months.
The spark came in December 2022, when Rose visited The Ministry for a work event.
That same day, the venue was hosting its members’ Christmas party. The bar area was dressed, buzzing, already warming into celebration.
Rose called Joe immediately.
“I’ve found our wedding venue!”
Which understandably came as something of a surprise, given they had barely discussed marriage since getting engaged.
After time, conversations and eventual agreement, they chose an early summer date.
The Vision
For Rose and Joe, the wedding was always going to be party-centric.
Neither wanted anything traditional.
No formal speeches.
No rigid structure.
Food and drink mattered enormously.
Rose had worked in hospitality and had attended enough weddings at purpose-built venues to know exactly what she didn’t want: the same tired menus served week after week, with no personality attached. A formal wedding breakfast didn’t fit the energy of the day.
At The Ministry, they were lucky enough to bring their ideas to life with almost no boundaries.
Traditions They Kept
They didn’t see each other the night before the wedding.
They didn’t see each other before the ceremony.
And that, more or less, was where tradition ended.
The Wedding Looks
Rose had two outfits.
And she believes, passionately, that if a second look is within budget, people should absolutely go for it.
For the daytime, she wore a vintage Valentino suit found through My Bridal Stylist at one of the Make New Traditions events.
Instant love.
No chance of leaving without it.
For the evening, she changed into a dress by Javier Osorio, stocked at Annie's Ibiza.
Joe wore a suit from Suit supply with accessories from Gucci.
Sharp, considered, effortless.
The Details
Guests were transported from Hackney Town Hall to The Ministry on London Routemasters.
Onboard snacks included pork scratchings, Scampi Fries, tinned cocktails and beers — an exceptionally strong opening move.
On arrival, guests entered a cocktail hour with a bespoke drinks menu: three cocktails designed specifically for Rose and Joe by the venue bar team.
There were no traditional speeches.
Instead, Rose stood up during cocktails to say a few words. Thank yous for the people they love, and an official signal that the party had begun.
The wedding breakfast was served family-style and designed for movement rather than formality.
Sit and eat.
Stand and eat.
Don’t eat and drink.
Do whatever you want.
Exactly the right energy.
There was also an extended late licence for those committed to the dancefloor, while a pop-up casino from Fun Casino London occupied the second bar space for anyone wanting a different kind of thrill.
The Planning Experience
Rose is unusually clear on this point.
There were no downs whatsoever.
Planning was a dream.
The team at The Ministry were fabulous, so much so that she genuinely missed speaking to them each week once the wedding was over.
If you’re not enjoying the planning process, she suggests asking why.
Because planning is part of the story too.
Advice for Other Couples Planning Their Wedding?
Nail your guestlist first. It can be the trickiest part, but knowing your numbers before viewing venues saves heartbreak later. The last thing you want is to fall in love with a venue and realise you can’t invite all the people you really want.
And finally, don’t let outside opinions steer the day. If necessary, keep plans private.
It’s your wedding.
Do what the two of you want, without influence from friends or family.
The Dream Team
Venue: The Ministry
Photography: Bates & Bates
Bridal: My Bridal Stylist and Annie’s Ibiza
Cake Maker: Kells Bakes
Rose and Joe’s wedding wasn’t about pleasing everybody. It was about pleasing the right people, and doing what felt natural to them.
A dance floor-first celebration built on love, good food, and excellent drinks! Proof that when you put yourselves at the heart of your wedding, you create something special… something that’s so much bigge than tradition.
Ready To Start Planning Your Big Day?
If Rose and Joe’s wedding celebration has inspired you to start thinking about your own, we can help you with that!
Why not buy tickets to one of our upcoming events where you can connect with the best wedding creatives who you'll genuinely love!
And in the meantime, you can explore the Book of Love Directory to find a curated list of the best, independent wedding suppliers in the UK and beyond.
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