An Essex Wedding - Nov/Dec 2019 (Issue 89)

REAL WEDDINGS 41 O ften the basis of long-term relationships, it was a shared sense of humour that attracted Hayley and John to each other. “We met online,” Hayley tells us. “On our first date we went for lunch and to the cinema. We were getting on so well that we didn’t want the date to end. I liked his kindness and silliness; he makes me laugh like no one else. He’s also a firefighter so maybe that added to the attraction!” John says that it was Hayley’s sense of fun and her beautiful smile that got his attention. Normally pretty good at spotting clues, John’s proposal came as a total shock to Hayley. “We were in Disneyworld Florida on a family holiday,” she says. “His brother, James, had the ring. He gave it back to John in a pair of folded up shorts that he’d borrowed from him – sneaky!” The pair went for a lovely dinner at Disney Springs before John got down on one knee. After all the excitement, it was time to get organising. The pair set the date for 2 nd May, 2019, and they chose the gorgeous Old Parish Rooms in Rayleigh. We chatted with Hayley to get the lowdown… SETTING THE SCENE The Old Parish Rooms is set in a converted school house, and it ticked all the boxes for Hayley and John. “It has a traditional look,” Hayley says. “It was the perfect size for the smaller wedding we wanted and had the shabby-chic feel we were looking for. It’s simple yet elegant.” The pair opted for a timeless blush pink colour scheme, which ran through their beautiful floral pieces. “My bouquet was ivory and blush roses and gypsophila all wrapped in hessian,” Hayley remembers. “The style was reflected in the bridesmaids’ bouquets, the buttonholes and my flowergirls’ baskets.” The pièce de résistance was a gorgeous floral arrangement running up the bannister in the venue. For the table centrepieces there were birdcage tea light holders, which the couple decorated with jewels and beads. Hayley is lucky enough to have a very talented auntie. “She has her own cake business,” Hayley explains. “We designed our cake with her from scratch with little details representing us both. There was a fire engine and firefighter made from icing and it was topped with the enchanted rose from Beauty and the Beast .” There were four yummy tiers of chocolate, vanilla and raspberry, lemon and carrot cake. It sat on a log slice made from icing with their initials engraved in it. The table plan was made from hessian and twine and was set on a vintage mirror frame. The place settings doubled up as favours – they were little hummingbirds sat in birdcages made up with sweets. The duo got crafty and The Old Parish Rooms had the perfect intimate feel for Hayley and John’s big day Images courtesy of Bloomwood Photography 