A cherry blossom wedding theme in Viva Bride

These delightful newlyweds combined all their favourite things, including one of our glittering designs, for a fabulously fun big day on the edge of the Peak District.

Hayley and Jonathan holding hands after their wedding ceremony with guests throwing confetti over them both.

Hayley and Jonathan were friends for around eight years before Hayley finally convinced him to go on a date.

“Our first official date took place in a little Italian restaurant,” says Hayley.

“I knew he was the one for me when he tried to melt some butter by balancing it on a knife over the romantic candle on the table. It dropped straight in, creating a plume of black smoke at the back of the restaurant! Surprisingly, they did actually let us back in for a second date!”

Hayley's lace wed2b wedding dress hanging up on the morning of her wedding

A birthday proposal

The couple had been together for nine years and lived together for six when Jonathan proposed. “The original proposal (unbeknown to me) was meant to be during a trip to Japan in cherry blossom season,” says Hayley. “However, the pandemic meant our romantic holiday was cancelled two weeks before we were due to fly."

"Jonathan then kept the ring hidden under the bed for another year, in the hope that we would still get out there.”

A close up photo of Hayley having her keyhole back fastened on the morning of her wedding day and her bridesmaids helping her add a garter to her thigh

Hayley on the morning of her wedding having her make up applied by a make up artist.

“He finally gave up on that plan and decided on a romantic birthday walk around one of our favourite local spots. However, he didn’t count on the amount of visitors we would get as we tried to leave the house. People kept turning up with birthday cake (which I kept wanting to dish out and couldn't understand why he was in such a hurry to go for this walk)."

Hayley's unique wedding shoes with a pink dinosaur.

Hayley's bridesmaids helping to fasten her lace wedding dress on the morning of her wedding.

"After almost caving several times and secretly scaring off our visitors with menacing looks, we went on our walk. He proposed and I said thank you and almost dropped the ring in the lake!"

"I'm not sure at that point why he didn't change his mind!"

Close up photo of Hayley in her v-neckline wedding dress with a bridesmaids helping to fasten her dress.

Close up photo og Hayley holding her colourful wedding bouquet with a disney element added in,

Shopping for the dress

“I'd heard about wed2b and liked how relaxed it sounded,” says Hayley. “I went to the Derby store with my mum and sister for our first browse, but had no intention of buying my dress that day. We were greeted by a lovely assistant who spent lots of time getting to know what sort of dress I wanted. She offered lots of advice and we didn't feel rushed at all. We ended up buying the dress, veil and accessories that day.”

Hayley posing into her lace wedding dress outside the wedding venue and a close up photo of Hayley holding her wedding bouquet.

Hayley posing outside her wedding venue sitting on steps.

Discovering Viva Bride…

“My dress turned out to be nothing like what I initially thought I wanted, but our assistant knew exactly what looked right. I’m so pleased with the finished result."

"I'm in love with my dress and have had so many lovely compliments about it." "

I recommend wed2b to anyone I know who is planning a wedding!"

Johnathan and his best man standing outside before the big day begins

Hayley chose Maison, a modern princess ballgown with a fabulous keyhole back. “I originally said I wouldn't have a princess dress but I fell in love as soon as I put Maison on. I knew it was the right one. We added a belt, a glittering hair clip and a cathedral-length veil. If I could get away with it, I'd wear it all the time!”

Creative photo of Hayley and Johnathan's wedding venue

A grand venue

The couple married at Shottle Hall, a beautiful country estate on the edge of the Peak District in Derbyshire. “My husband is a videographer and had filmed weddings here before,” says Hayley. “So, we knew it always ran smoothly and the staff were excellent. We also loved the character of the hall and its eight rooms meant we could have breakfast with our wedding party the following day."

"The wedding was on the 18th April, which is also my mum and dad's wedding anniversary."

Hayley and her dad walkign hand in hand down the aisle and the happy couple holding hands at the end of the aisle repeating their wedding vows.

The big day

“The girls all got ready together at my house,” says Hayley. “It was such a chilled morning, enjoying a glass of wine while we had our hair and makeup done. We had photos in the garden and then the car came to take my Dad and I to the hall. The bridesmaids followed behind in my sister's car. We had such lovely weather and, quite by chance, Shottle has a large cherry tree in the grounds, so we got our cherry blossom in the end!”

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“My Dad walked me down the aisle to ‘A Thousand Years’ by Christina Perri and the whole room was full of smiles. The ceremony was very relaxed and there were lots of little giggles. A close mutual friend of ours read 'He Never Leaves The Seat Up' by Pam Ayres. After we were married, we left the room to ‘You're My Best Friend’ by Queen. It was my favourite moment. The moment we both just looked at each other and said, ‘Yes, we did it!'. We were so happy.”

Hayley and Johnathan kissing infront of their wedding car

Hayley and Johnathan posing infront of the wedding car and the happy couple seated outside their venue.

Let’s celebrate!

After the ceremony, the couple mingled as guests enjoyed some drinks. "It was lovely to see people chatting and getting to know each other,” says Hayley. “My husband and some of his friends also do parkour, so they were having a handstand competition."

Comical photo shot of Johnathan and his groomsmen performing a handstand on the wedding day.

Johnathan being carried at his wedding by his groomsmen

"We had speeches before dinner, so that people could relax and enjoy their meal. Our first dance song was ‘We Have All The Time In The World’ by Louis Armstrong, as Jonathan is a big James Bond fan and it’s a beautiful song."

Back photo of Hayley and Johnathan climbing the steps to their wedding venue

Hayley and Johnathan being captured outside their wedding venue , enjoying their moments together as a happy couple

A cherry blossom wedding theme

“We started with a general cherry blossom wedding theme, as that was the original proposal idea."

"My new mother-in-law made our centrepieces,” says Hayley.

“We also added some Easter treats, as it was Easter Monday, and scattered origami cranes on the tables to link to Japan.”

Hayley and Johnathan's wedding reception with the table settings complete.

Close up image of Hayley and Johnathan;s table setting and their naked wedding cake.

Movies, dinosaurs and... carrots

“We’re also big movie fans, so my husband made our table signs in the style of postcards of different movie locations. I love dinosaurs, so my shoes and my sister's were hand painted with dinosaur designs."

"My dad had a dinosaur shirt and Converse trainers and my mum wore dinosaur jewellery."

Hayley and Johnathan's three wedding cakes for their wedding theme.

"Jonathan loves Kevin the carrot from the Aldi adverts, so he had Kevin cufflinks. Our very talented cousin also hand-make our cake toppers, which were a fox groom and dinosaur bride."

Close up photo of Hayley with her wedding hair accessory and her bridal bouquet.

Close up photo of Hayley and JOhnathan's table setting with teacups.

The couple served a traditional three-course dinner with roast turkey. "We also had a lovely lady make three classic ‘tea room’ style cakes; Victoria sponge, lemon drizzle and chocolate orange," says Hayley. "They were delicious. Then our good friend, Andy, was the DJ for the evening and we had the best time!”

Hayley and JOhnathan's table setting for their wedding reception.

Hayley posing with some of her female wedding guests

The best bits…

“There are so many highlights, it's hard to choose the best bits,” says Hayley. “My favourite moment was coming back down the aisle to Queen and just being so happy that we had finally done it. My husband says seeing me walk down the aisle was his most memorable moment. I think, after Covid, it was just lovely to have everyone together and see them all enjoying themselves.”

Hayley and Johnathan posing with their parents at their wedding.

A group shot of Hayley and Johnathan with all their wedding guests.

And for other Viva brides…

"Don't get wrapped up in the little stuff and remember what's important about your wedding day.”

Fun photo of Johnathan hanging from a tree while Hayley is smiling.

If you’ve enjoyed Hayley and Jonathan’s picturesque cherry blossom wedding theme as much as we have, then please share your big day pictures too. We honestly can’t get enough of your fabulous weddings and love seeing you in your gorgeous dresses! Just click here to share your story and photos with us and we’ll be in touch.

Stay fabulous!
The Viva Bride team