You can get married at famous London department store Selfridges

Fabled London department store Selfridges can now host weddings, it has been revealed.

The central London store will not only be a place to buy the dress, the ring and register the wedding list, but can now act as a venue for the ceremony too.

Thanks to the granting of a temporary licence that will last only until the end of summer, the Grade II listed building will now be able to host what it describes as "micro weddings" of up to 20 guests, with a "non-traditional ceremony in an iconic location".

The popular department store said it wanted to offer new ways to “celebrate the special experiences everyone has been missing.”

Rebecca Warburton, Selfridges' director of events and customer experiences, explained: "For those looking for a truly unique way to get married this summer, we're excited to launch weddings at Selfridges. Bringing together some of our amazing experiences, we can't wait to create custom packages in celebration of people's love for each other."

Selfridges has three wedding packages on offer. For the sustainability conscious, the Earth-Lovers wedding will offer either the hire of the wedding clothes, or expert advice on how to buy the perfect vintage gown. The Just-The-Two-Of-Us package offers fashion advice from in-house stylists, and the ability to have hair and make-up done in-store before the ceremony.

For those looking for something bigger, however, the All-Out Extraordinary wedding offers a three-course meal at the Art Deco restaurant on premises, Brasserie of Light, plus options for a four-hour DJ set and even the use of a private cinema. With a capacity to cater for weddings ranging from six to 20 guests, Selfridges promises that each wedding will be custom designed.

Founded in 1909, like many other department stores, Selfridges has been deeply affected by the pandemic and the endless round of lockdowns seen in the UK. The central shopping zone of Oxford Street in London was left deserted as tourism stopped almost overnight, and shoppers and office workers were ordered to stay at home.

Now, with the lifting of restrictions, shops are looking for new ways to tempt the crowds to return. While the new venture into weddings is certainly an inventive way to draw customers back, it is not the only plan for Oxford Street.

Another effort is the artificial 25-metre-high Marble Arch Hill, which will be constructed at the end of Oxford Street. Essentially a large mound next to the Marble Arch monument, it will be planted with grass and wildflowers, and will allow visitors to lounge in the summer sun, should it ever appear over the British capital.

An initiative of Westminster City Council, it is hoped the temporary structure will draw in visitors over the summer.