READING TIME: 5 min 3 sec
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/11/2026
Some weddings feel like events. Others feel like gatherings — the kind where every detail reflects the couple, every moment feels natural, and every guest leaves with a story to tell.
For Anné Ladegast-Chiu, founder of HILDE, this distinction is at the heart of everything she creates. Based in London and planning weddings across the UK and Europe, Anné approaches wedding planning with a blend of thoughtful design, emotional awareness, and a deep appreciation for meaningful gatherings.
Her work isn’t about replicating trends — it’s about crafting celebrations that feel authentic, relaxed, and beautifully considered.
Anné Ladegast-Chiu’s journey into the world of weddings began long before she officially became a planner.
“I’m Anné Ladegast-Chiu, a German native who left Berlin for London many years ago, all in the name of love.”
Before founding HILDE in 2017, she spent more than a decade working in media and production, where she developed a sharp eye for storytelling, aesthetics, and the importance of thoughtful organisation.
“After more than a decade working in media and production, I founded HILDE in 2017 as an expression of my passion for genuine connection, distinctive design, and all things beautifully organised.”
That combination of creativity and structure would later become the signature of her planning style.
Interestingly, the first wedding Anné ever planned was her own — and it became the defining moment that shaped her career.
“The first wedding I ever planned was my own – and it was the experience that made me realise this was exactly what I wanted to do.”
Instead of following traditional expectations, she and her husband created a celebration that felt entirely personal.
“My husband and I eloped to San Francisco during a five-week road trip through some of the most breathtaking landscapes and national parks in the US.”
After returning home, they celebrated with a small gathering of their closest people.
“When we returned home, we celebrated with just 40 of our closest people. Our simple, deeply personal gathering centred around wonderful food, generous drinks, and great music.”
That experience sparked a realization.
“It was during that time that I recognised a gap for celebrations that felt more personal, design-led, and less traditionally ‘wedding-y.’”
The name HILDE carries a deeply personal story.
“HILDE was inspired by my love of bringing people together. The name itself is a tribute to my Oma Hilde, whose legendary garden gatherings first showed me the joy of gatherings with loved ones.”
Those early memories of hospitality, warmth, and shared moments continue to influence the way Anné approaches every celebration she plans today.
For Anné, the most important principle behind every wedding is simple — it must feel real.
I believe a wedding should feel genuine and reflect the couple, not trends or templates.
Rather than creating events that look impressive only on social media, she focuses on experiences that resonate emotionally.
“I adore celebrations that centre on love, wonderful company, and moments people will remember for years.”
Her signature style blends thoughtful design with a relaxed sense of elegance.
“My effortlessly chic approach to design and styling brings these values to life visually.”
Many of her weddings also celebrate multicultural backgrounds, which she particularly enjoys.
“Many of my weddings blend my clients’ diverse cultural backgrounds — something that’s very close to my heart.”
Through HILDE, Anné offers full wedding planning services across the UK and Europe, often for multi-day celebrations that require detailed coordination and creative direction.
She also provides Design & Styling as a standalone service.
“I offer Full Planning services for weddings across the UK and Europe, most of which are multi-day celebrations. I also provide Design & Styling as a standalone service.”
Every project is created from scratch.
“Every service I offer is bespoke, tailored entirely around my clients’ vision and needs.”
This personalized approach ensures that each wedding feels distinctive and meaningful.
What Anné enjoys most about her work is the collaborative journey she shares with couples.
“The process of building something special together with my clients is what I truly thrive on.”
For her, understanding the couple is just as important as designing the event itself.
“I love taking the time to really get to know a couple – their story, their vision, and the little details that make them who they are.”
These conversations often become the foundation for the entire celebration.
“Collaborating closely on ideas is my happy place, and I adore those moments when decisions spark excitement and everything just clicks into place.”
Wedding budgets can feel overwhelming, but Anné believes that clarity and structure make all the difference.
As wedding planners, we just know realistic market pricing – what works and what doesn’t.
She helps couples define the three essential pillars of planning.
“That’s why we always say these three things are inseparable before any planning begins: a budget you’re comfortable spending, your ideal guest list, and your expectations.”
From there, she builds a realistic financial framework.
“From there, I draw up a realistic budget breakdown, which we refine until everyone is happy.”
This structured approach ensures that every decision supports the overall vision.
One of the biggest modern challenges in wedding planning comes from unrealistic expectations shaped by social media.
For Anné, the real focus should always remain on storytelling rather than trends.
She describes the tension simply: “Social media vs reality & trends vs actual storytelling.”
Her approach is to guide couples toward choices that feel meaningful rather than performative.
For couples currently planning their wedding, Anné encourages thoughtful preparation and strong relationships with vendors.
“Stay true to yourselves, allow plenty of time so nothing feels rushed, and curate the best supplier list you can afford.”
Instead of contacting dozens of vendors, she suggests focusing on the ones who truly resonate.
“Research until you’ve found your ‘people’ – suppliers who speak your language, share your values both visually and emotionally.”
Practical organisation also helps simplify the process.
“I always recommend setting up a dedicated wedding email from the very start – it makes everything so much easier to manage.”
Looking back on her journey, Anné recognizes that success rarely happens overnight.
“Knowing what I know now, I’d tell myself that the path always reveals itself, that perseverance is everything, that the hard times are necessary, and that genuine growth takes time.”
This philosophy continues to guide the way she builds both her business and her relationships with clients.
When asked about dream wedding venues, Anné laughs — the list is long.
Oh gosh, where to start ... too many to name.
Still, several destinations continue to inspire her imagination.
“A few on my bucket list are in the UK, Italy, France and Portugal.”
Each offers a unique blend of history, atmosphere, and architectural beauty — perfect backdrops for the kind of celebrations she loves to design.
At the heart of HILDE is a belief that weddings should never feel staged or formulaic.
Instead, they should feel alive — full of personality, emotion, and thoughtful details that reflect the couple’s story.
Through her calm presence, refined aesthetic, and deeply personal approach, Anné Ladegast-Chiu continues to design weddings that feel less like productions and more like unforgettable gatherings of the people who matter most.
