Vintage Rose

Delicate pearls and pretty pastel shades took centre stage at Laura and Matt's enchanting wedding. Photos by Gary and Sue Photography

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Early days…

Laura and Matt met when they were training to be lawyers at Cardiff University in September, 2004, and they started dating shortly after.

The proposal…

"Matt had planned to propose on the beach, with romantic moonlight and waves crashing against the sand," laughs Laura. "But because it was so cold, and it had started to rain, he ended up proposing back in our hotel room instead."

The venues…

"We decided to book Miskin Manor straight away," says Laura, "and by August, 2008 we had set a date for the following year. We fell in love with the place as soon as we visited; both the hotel and gardens are just beautiful."

The attendants…

Laura had three bridesmaids, her close friends Louise, Kat and Debika, who she met at university. The girls wore stunning full-length halterneck gowns in patina green from Jim Hjelm Occasions at Suzanne James Bridal in Cardiff.
Matt's best man was his oldest friend Nicholas. He also had four ushers in the wedding party - Laura's brothers Matthew and Michael, his own brother Adam, and his friend Alun.

The dress…

Laura wore a stunning vintage-inspired gown from Sassi Holford called Daisy, at High Society Bridal in Cowbridge. Its stunning lace detailing created an elegant look, and Laura wore a matching lace shrug to give the gown an extra classic touch.
She personalised her look with this pretty dusky pink sash pinned together with a vintage brooch.
The groomsmen wore grey suits from Allison Jayne Bridal and Formal Wear. Matt and his best man Nicholas had dusky pink cravats and hankies, while the ushers had soft antique green accessories to tie in with the colour scheme.
"Matt finished his look with an ivory waistcoat and a rose and pearl buttonhole, which complemented the outfit perfectly," says Laura.

The flowers…

The couple opted for a number of different roses for the bouquets and table decorations, including avalanche roses, in pale and dusky pinks with cream. Laura's bouquet was tied with a piece of lace taken from the hem of her gown, with a few pearls scattered on for extra sparkle. "Sian at Bloomin' Stylish also surprised us on the day by finding some beautiful peonies to add to the arrangements on the registrar's table and the top table, because I had mentioned how much I loved them. The colours fitted in with the vintage look perfectly."

The decorative touches…

"The Little White Wedding Company really helped us achieve the vintage look we wanted," says Laura. "We wanted something simple but beautiful so we covered the chairs with ivory sashes and dusky pink roses. We also put a decorative vintage birdcage on one of the tables for our guests to put cards in as they entered."
The couple was particularly pleased with the wonderful wedding stationery, which was handmade by Laura's sister-in-law Joanne. Her company, Bows by Jo, created pretty invites, table plans and 'guide to the guest' books, with dusky pink bows on them to match the theme.
"We decided to have a 'guide to the guests' book for each table, for those who might not know each other," says Laura. "Each person had a few lines introducing them to the rest of the table. Everybody commented on what a great icebreaker it was."

Top tips…

Enjoy the pre-wedding build-up. Make the most of every minute of your planning and get family and friends involved too. It's bound to create just as many memories as the day itself!

The honeymoon…

After their big day Laura and Matt had a truly exotic honeymoon in Bangkok, Bali and Singapore, where they spent 16 nights visiting temples, going on an elephant safari, surfing the Indian Ocean and having romantic meals on the beach at sunset.

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