Newlyweds Annabel and Karl took inspiration from their love of retro fairgrounds to create a fabulous vintage wedding full of fun, laughter and love…
The proposal
Karl proposed to Annabel while they were celebrating their ninth year together in Verona, Italy. “He led me onto the Romeo and Juliet balcony and got down on one knee with a big, sparkly ring in his hand,” smiles Annabel. “We had always talked about getting married so I knew it would happen one say – I just had no idea when!”
The bride’s outfit
Working for designer Stewart Parvin, Annabel was lucky enough to leave it until two weeks before their big day to create her dress. “After watching the dress being made every day at work I couldn’t wait to wear it! It was a pleasure to wear such a masterpiece, and it’s priceless to me,” says Annabel.
The dress had a sweetheart bodice with polkadot tulle overlay and scalloped edging with the finishing touch of a duchess satin bow belt. To finish off the bridal look, Annabel wore peep toe kitten heels made from the same tulle fabric she opted for on the dress, and her Grandma’s vintage daisy-shaped blue opal earrings. This crafty bride also made her own two-tier ivory veil.
The groom’s outfit
The groomsmen all wore three piece suits in grey and black with a small dogtooth print from Next. Their crisp white shirts and brown leather shoes both came from Zara. “Karl’s cravat was made from ivory duchess satin to match my wedding dress. I was smiling from ear to ear when I saw him” says Annabel. “I didn’t feel nervous at all!”
The bridesmaids
Annabel’s two maids of honour – sister Emily and best friend Louise – and three bridesmaids all wore ’50s-inspired dresses. “After lots of research I bought the dresses from an online boutique where i could choose which fabric and colour I wanted,” Annabel says. “I found the perfect shade of mint green, which is my favourite colour!”
The ceremony
Beautiful Hardwicke Church was the picturesque setting for Annabel and Karl’s ceremony. “The vicar is a family friend so we had spent a lot of time discussing details with him. It was lovely having him conduct the service,” explains Annabel.
The reception
Sticking to the vintage fairground theme, the couple had lots of fun entertainment to keep their guests occupied. “We hired a gangsta-themed photobooth, white bouncy castle and carousel, which looked great lit up at night,” smiles Annabel. Their first dance was to a version of Ed Sheeran’s This re-written by the couple’s friend. “He recorded it beforehand for us to dance to and it was such a personal present for us to treasure forever,” says Annabel.
The honeymoon
The couple spent five nights in a luxurious five star spa in Kos, Greece.
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