Vintage Chic

Old-fashioned details and a French-inspired colour scheme made Lucy and Stuart's wedding a glamorous occasion. Photography by Look Photographic

Click on any of the images below to view a larger version

Early days…

Lucy and Stuart met 10 years ago in Australia, while they were both travelling. "We used to bump into each other in Sydney and we always got on well," says Lucy. "Stuart was great to be around and always made me laugh."

The proposal…

Stuart proposed in January 2007 when the couple were on holiday in Cape Town, South Africa. "We had already discussed getting married, but it was still a surprise when he proposed," says Lucy. "On our second to last night, Stuart asked me to marry him while we were standing on our balcony overlooking the ocean, with the sun setting. Just afterwards people began to gather beneath the balcony, which we thought was a bit strange. It turned out that everybody had come out to watch a comet that only comes out every 30 years. It sounds corny, but it added to the moment."

The venues…

The ceremony was held at the couple's local church, St Mary's in Hitchin, and the reception was held in a private marquee in Lucy's parents' garden. "We wanted a personal and intimate wedding," explains Lucy, "so we were not interested in holding the reception at a hotel or stately home. We wanted full control over the venue and the décor, so holding it at my parents' home was the perfect solution."

The dress…

Lucy wore an ivory San Patrick dress with a sweetheart neckline, fitted bodice and a layered tulle skirt. "I had seen a picture of this style before I started shopping, and I knew that this was what I wanted. I was looking for more of an Oscar-style gown than a traditional wedding dress," says Lucy. She completed the look with a full-length veil and classic diamond earrings.

Lucy's bridesmaids each wore a black satin fishtail dress with a pearl necklace and a pink rose corsage wristband.

Stuart wore a traditional black morning suit with a bold black and cream striped tie, and the best man and ushers wore matching suits with plain cream ties.

The decorative touches…

Lucy owns stationery company Unique Chic so she designed and produced the stationery herself. The coordinating invitations, order of service cards, table names, place names and menus featured a bird and flower pattern to fit in with their garden reception. The tables were named after towns and cities in the south of France and the place names were attached to the back of the guests' chairs with a pink rose.

The favours were rose soaps from Provence for the women, which Lucy customised with black ribbon and a thank you message. The men received miniature bottles of red wine with personalised labels, which Lucy designed and had printed.

For centrepieces, the couple bought silver pots from Covent Garden flower market, which their florist filled with beautiful rose arrangements.

The best bits…

"The ceremony went really well," says Lucy. "As we were saying our vows, the sun came out and shone through the church windows, which was lovely.

"A really nice memory for us was when he went up to the high altar for the blessing, and the gospel choir sang Happy Days while we were looking down at the congregation. Everyone was smiling," she says.

When everybody arrived at the reception there was a jazz band playing whilst the guests were served Champagne and canapés. The guests then enjoyed a hot buffet lunch followed by a selection of desserts, including profiteroles, fruit-filled chocolate cups and cheesecake.

In the evening they had a Frank Sinatra tribute singer, who performed for a couple of hours before handing the entertainment over to the DJ.

"We knew having the reception at my parents' house was a risk, because if something went wrong it would be solely down to us to sort it out," says Lucy. "But we were so lucky, and we couldn't have asked for a better day. This was largely to do with the professionals we hired for the day; we relied on them heavily and they didn't disappoint us.

"The evening was such a laugh and I didn't stop dancing for hours. There were a few very drunk people who had to leave early, but at least they enjoyed themselves!" she says.

"My favourite moment of the day was seeing Lucy walk down the aisle," says Stuart. "I also loved the gospel singers, and the time Lucy and I spent in the car together after the service."

Top tips…

1. Don't be afraid to break with tradition. If there's something you don't want, don't have it just because you feel you should. We chose not to have a cake, and it didn't make our day any less special.
2. Book a toastmaster; they really add to that sense of occasion.
3. Provide a few different types of entertainment if you can. It's a long day for the guests, so the key is to keep them interested.
4. Make sure that your wedding reflects your personalities.
5. Relax and enjoy the day. The bride and groom dictate the mood, so if you're both enjoying yourselves, the guests will too.

Useful Contacts: