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The worlds of business and entertainment came together in spectacular fashion at the weekend in one of the most extravagant wedding parties London has ever seen.
Richard Caring - he runs a clothing empire supplying retail chains and owns many of the capital's leading clubs and restaurants, including Annabel's, The Ivy, Scott's, Le Caprice, Harry's Bar and Wentworth - and his wife Jackie threw the celebration for the marriage of their son Ben to Elle Perfect, both 30.
The theme for the no-expense-spared evening at the Caring family home in Hampstead was Swan Lake. The ornamental lake in the grounds was covered with a floating temporary ballroom that housed tables for 400 guests plus the full Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and, flown in specially from Russia, the entire Bolshoi Ballet. Under glittering chandeliers and frescos from Swan Lake the dancers performed scenes from Act II of the classic ballet.
Among guests from fashion, the arts and showbusiness were Kate Moss, Elizabeth Hurley, David Walliams, Claudia Winkleman, Tracey Emin, Kevin Spacey, Kirsty Young and Sir Michael Parkinson. Business figures included Sir Philip Green, Michael Spencer, Sol Kerzner and Sir David Tang. In all, I counted eight billionaires in the room.
No detail was left untouched as Caring's dining establishments were referenced in the dinner menu delivered by an army of waiters and waitresses dressed in white tie and tutus. The starter of Annabel's Royal Beluga caviar was served on individual frozen ice plates, each holding an ice sculpture of a swan. Then there was Scott's halibut and seashore vegetables, Harry's Bar white chocolate sphere with passion fruit cream and mint marshmallow, and Caprice chocolate truffles.
Ben, who works for the Soho House clubs that also belong to his father, and advertising designer Elle, actually married in June. On Saturday, Rabbi Julia Neuberger blessed the wedding and there were speeches from Mr Caring, the bride and groom, and the bride's father Christopher Perfect.
Ben and Elle said that when they first announced they wanted to marry, his father spoke of holding a party on the lake but they didn't think it possible. Mr Caring couldn't resist quipping about everyone present "walking on water".
There were also references, naturally, to Ben being "a Caring husband" and Elle, "a Perfect bride".
