All this couple wanted for Christmas was each other – and a super-sparkly December real wedding!
WHO: Anna and Paul
WHERE: Ealing Golf Club
WHEN: December 2009
PHOTOGRAPHER: Jayne Kavanagh and Lisa Payne
How they met
Anna and Paul were introduced by their boss on Paul’s first day at work. “I really fancied him but I was wearing a huge child’s hair clip to hold my fringe back,” laughs Anna. “I was cringing with embarrassment, but luckily he wasn’t put off!”
The bride’s outfit
Anna had always dreamed of wearing a dress similar to her Mum’s wedding gown, and found the perfect match at Pronovias. “It was made from guipure lace – the same lace that my Mum’s dress was made of – and I knew instantly that it was the one for me,” says Anna. In homage to her Maltese roots, Anna teamed her dress with a bespoke mantilla veil
“After torrential rain the day before, we woke up to a crisp, cold December morning – perfect!”
The groom’s outfit
Paul, his groomsmen and the two pageboys looked dashing in full morning dress with silver waistcoats and cravats from Impeccable in Hatch End.
The bridesmaids
“I love bright colours and couldn’t choose a single shade, so I took inspiration from our vibrant Christmas tree decorations and dressed each girl in a different jewel colour – fuchsia, purple, indigo, peacock and jade!” explains Anna. The silk fishtail dresses were made by Anna’s Mum
The ceremony
Anna and Paul chose a traditional Roman Catholic ceremony for their real wedding, with Christmas carols and Bible readings. “When we exchanged vows, the priest had to read my full name – Anna Henrietta Maria Alberta Rosina Micallef – which made the whole congregation laugh!” says Anna
The theme
The couple’s reception venue, Ealing Golf Club, glittered with white flowers, silver decorations and evergreen foliage, and guests were welcomed with mulled wine and warm mince pies. “We named each table after a well-known Christmas song, and had silver crackers and glass angel decorations as favours,”
The cake
Guests were spoilt for choice with both a tiered fruit cake and a tower of cupcakes. See our planning section for more wedding cake ideas.
The honeymoon
Paul took Anna’s breath away by whisking her off on a surprise honeymoon to Dubai. “He’d even secretly bought me a whole new holiday wardrobe, including some Jimmy Choos!”
