The snow is here! To celebrate we have an extra special post about the winter wedding of Kent artist, Hayley Restall.
Winter weddings have that little extra sparkle that you just can’t get at any other time of year, and so when Hayley and husband-to-be Ant started to think about inspiration for their big day they didn’t hesitate in choosing a date in December. “I love red” says Hayley “so having this colour in Winter, especially just before Christmas, felt like the perfect choice”.
Stationery for the wedding was designed by Hayley’s bridesmaid, Veneta Hooper, using Hayley’s own brilliant illustrations which added a really personal touch to the wedding.
When choosing her outfit Hayley says “I wanted to look like a film star, but it was important that I still looked like me. I didn’t want to look as if I was dressed up as someone else, so I stuck with the 50s look I’ve always liked but I was a posher, more polished version of me”.
Hayley got her dress from Fur Coat No Knickers and after seeing it once she says “I just knew it was the one!” A girl after our own hearts, Hayley splashed out on some silver sparkly stunners from Christian Louboutin. She also wore her diamond and ruby vintage engagement ring, pearl earrings and her nan’s pearls which she tied around her wrist. She completed the look with a little bag (from eBay) and a big red flower in her hair (also from Fur Coat No Knickers).
Hayley would also advise other winter brides not to worry about being too cold when it comes to choosing their outfit, “I had my photos taken in my dress, outside on a freezing afternoon. I couldn’t feel the cold at all. The post-wedding bliss is all you need to keep you warm! Although I did have a stunning cape that my mum and sister made which I wore to get to the ceremony – it completed the look perfectly”.
Ant and Hayley had a civil ceremony at the The Trafalgar Tavern in Greenwich, London. Hayley says “From the start we really wanted to get married in a pub but couldn’t find one big enough as we had around 120 guests. Eventually we found the Trafalgar which has a gorgeous big room upstairs and was in a perfect location on the River Thames, which meant we got our pub wedding – but with lots of added glamour!”.
The little bridesmaids wore red dresses from Monsoon, with the adult Bridesmaids wearing red 50’s style dresses from Vivien of Holloway
To decorate the venue, alongside a beautiful big Christmas tree, Ant and Hayley collected hundreds of different candlesticks from charity shops. They lit up the ceremony and were then grouped on the tables during dinner to add a really cosy and romantic light in the room.
Guests drank Champagne and sherry and ate the Londoner’s favourite, Pie and Mash. This was followed by trifle and traditional wedding cake made locally.
After the sit-down meal there was singing alongside the piano, played by Hayley’s bridesmaid, with christmas carol song sheets for everyone. All the guests got really into it and sang along loudly. Then the party got into full swing with the band, The Cortinas. “It was brilliant” says Hayley.
For their photography Hayley and Ant chose the fantastic award-winning photographer, Emma Case. Hayley and Ant (himself a keen photographer) told us that Emma’s style was just what they were looking for – a documentary of the day with a really alternative feel.
Thanks to Hayley and Ant for sharing their day with us and giving other winter wedding couples lots of ideas and inspiration.
For more information about Hayley’s artistic talents take a look at her website.
Image credits: Emma Case Photography
The Wedding Dolls 