So you’ve found ‘The One’, he’s popped the question and you’re on the way to happily ever after. Well, this would be true if we were still living in the 1950s. Your chap would have courted you, you’d have picked a classic lace gown, then said “I do” - simple. These days, the wedding checklist goes a lot further than something old, new, borrowed and blue, with tradition well and truly being trumped by the offbeat and unconventional.
Many modern brides and grooms are rewriting the wedding rulebook completely. Churches are now swapped for castles, first dances are replaced with flash mobs and the whimsical and magical are becoming familiar guests at the top table. With Disney and Harry Potter’s perennial appeal, does this mark the end of old-fashioned nuptials, or mark a new age where the first chapter of forever is firmly based on fiction and having fun? Three brides weigh in on the debate.
Barefoot Tinderella
Laura Tapping, 27, Reading
I matched with Jonathan on Tinder and on our first date we made plans to visit Disney World together, which would be my 17th trip. The moment we met, I knew he was ‘The One’. Six months later we were in Florida and Jonathan asked me to marry him with a ring inside a Winnie the Pooh box. I never had to decide on a Disney themed wedding - it was always going to happen, and Jon wasn’t expecting anything less from me. Disney is in my blood. I collect Disney villains and have all the DVDs.
We didn’t get married in Florida because Jon’s family are from New Zealand, so we decided on a halfway point in Hawaii. I’d been desperate to visit Aulani, Disney’s Hawaiian resort, so it was perfect. I was the designated travel agent for our 26 guests and organised a day trip to Pearl Harbour. Our families thought the wedding was a dream and we Skyped friends at home because they wanted to be part of the magic too. Everyone had serious Hawaii blues afterwards and I felt lost without my ring binder of ideas and spreadsheets. I’m already planning our vow renewal!
We transported Cinderella carriages and castle ornaments on the 18 hour flight and luckily only had one breakage! We had glass slipper decorations, and Mickey Mouse was part of my bouquet. I even lost my shoes between the photoshoot and reception, like a real life Cinderella! The story fit so well with our theme. As part of our honeymoon we stopped off in Disneyland, California. Our goal is to visit all of the Disney theme parks across the world.
“I do” solemnly swear that I am up to no good
Cassie-Leigh Byrom, 31, Manchester
My husband and I decided we weren’t going to have a “beige wedding”. I knew I wanted to do something a little different, and when my husband suggested a Harry Potter theme, I was sold. I’d always loved the books and films and they’d played a big part in our relationship. On our second date, Lewis bought me a Harry Potter Lego man, and I knew he was the man for me. We visited Warner Bros. Studio in London and our first holiday together was to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios. Lewis even proposed in Diagon Alley.
It made sense to have a Harry Potter wedding because of the happy memories associated with it. Guests who’d never seen Harry Potter were in awe, and staff at the hotel were arguing over who would work at the wedding. It was our time rather than money we had to sacrifice as we didn’t have a wedding planner and made most of the decorations ourselves - from the wands, potions, tea lights, the Honeydukes sweet jars, and Daily Prophet newspapers to the Philosopher’s Stone.
Some of our favourite decorations were the Azkaban posters with mine and Lewis’ faces on them. We also made sure that the Harry Potter theme tune was playing when the guests walked into the reception. It really was a labour of love. We’d put our blood, sweat and tears into it. We wanted to make sure the wedding was quirky and cool, and didn’t look like an eight year old’s birthday party. I’ve been told by so many people that I should become a wedding planner! We’ll never regret having a themed wedding because it wasn't a wacky idea pulled out of thin air - it was something that meant a lot to us. We will always be proud to have celebrated the wedding of our dreams rather than someone else’s.
Sporting a traditional love affair
Emily Chapman, 21, Carmarthenshire
My fiancée and I met at a Christian sports camp. We’d both been going for years before Jack added me on Facebook. When I left camp that year my parents teased me asking if he was my boyfriend when we hugged goodbye. We’ve been in a long-distance relationship ever since. But, each year we’ve become emotionally and geographically closer. We’re now only an hour from each other rather than seven!
Last year we were on holiday in Turkey. Sitting on the balcony watching the sunset, Jack asked me to be his wife. It was wonderful. We’ve planned a white wedding, with little twists to make it more ‘us’. We’re hoping to have sport themed favours and photos.
For me, it’s important that the traditional elements remain because they’re symbolic. Personally, I think marriage is a triangle with God at the top. Themed weddings can sometimes take away from the significance of the vows. We wanted our wedding to be traditional and elegant, rather than silly. A wedding is personal though, so if someone wants Mickey Mouse or Elsa at their big day, they should go for it. I can’t wait to be married by law and God.
Many modern brides and grooms are rewriting the wedding rulebook completely. Churches are now swapped for castles, first dances are replaced with flash mobs and the whimsical and magical are becoming familiar guests at the top table. With Disney and Harry Potter’s perennial appeal, does this mark the end of old-fashioned nuptials, or mark a new age where the first chapter of forever is firmly based on fiction and having fun? Three brides weigh in on the debate.
Barefoot Tinderella
Laura Tapping, 27, Reading
I matched with Jonathan on Tinder and on our first date we made plans to visit Disney World together, which would be my 17th trip. The moment we met, I knew he was ‘The One’. Six months later we were in Florida and Jonathan asked me to marry him with a ring inside a Winnie the Pooh box. I never had to decide on a Disney themed wedding - it was always going to happen, and Jon wasn’t expecting anything less from me. Disney is in my blood. I collect Disney villains and have all the DVDs.
We didn’t get married in Florida because Jon’s family are from New Zealand, so we decided on a halfway point in Hawaii. I’d been desperate to visit Aulani, Disney’s Hawaiian resort, so it was perfect. I was the designated travel agent for our 26 guests and organised a day trip to Pearl Harbour. Our families thought the wedding was a dream and we Skyped friends at home because they wanted to be part of the magic too. Everyone had serious Hawaii blues afterwards and I felt lost without my ring binder of ideas and spreadsheets. I’m already planning our vow renewal!
We transported Cinderella carriages and castle ornaments on the 18 hour flight and luckily only had one breakage! We had glass slipper decorations, and Mickey Mouse was part of my bouquet. I even lost my shoes between the photoshoot and reception, like a real life Cinderella! The story fit so well with our theme. As part of our honeymoon we stopped off in Disneyland, California. Our goal is to visit all of the Disney theme parks across the world.
“I do” solemnly swear that I am up to no good
Cassie-Leigh Byrom, 31, Manchester
My husband and I decided we weren’t going to have a “beige wedding”. I knew I wanted to do something a little different, and when my husband suggested a Harry Potter theme, I was sold. I’d always loved the books and films and they’d played a big part in our relationship. On our second date, Lewis bought me a Harry Potter Lego man, and I knew he was the man for me. We visited Warner Bros. Studio in London and our first holiday together was to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios. Lewis even proposed in Diagon Alley.
It made sense to have a Harry Potter wedding because of the happy memories associated with it. Guests who’d never seen Harry Potter were in awe, and staff at the hotel were arguing over who would work at the wedding. It was our time rather than money we had to sacrifice as we didn’t have a wedding planner and made most of the decorations ourselves - from the wands, potions, tea lights, the Honeydukes sweet jars, and Daily Prophet newspapers to the Philosopher’s Stone.
Some of our favourite decorations were the Azkaban posters with mine and Lewis’ faces on them. We also made sure that the Harry Potter theme tune was playing when the guests walked into the reception. It really was a labour of love. We’d put our blood, sweat and tears into it. We wanted to make sure the wedding was quirky and cool, and didn’t look like an eight year old’s birthday party. I’ve been told by so many people that I should become a wedding planner! We’ll never regret having a themed wedding because it wasn't a wacky idea pulled out of thin air - it was something that meant a lot to us. We will always be proud to have celebrated the wedding of our dreams rather than someone else’s.
Sporting a traditional love affair
Emily Chapman, 21, Carmarthenshire
My fiancée and I met at a Christian sports camp. We’d both been going for years before Jack added me on Facebook. When I left camp that year my parents teased me asking if he was my boyfriend when we hugged goodbye. We’ve been in a long-distance relationship ever since. But, each year we’ve become emotionally and geographically closer. We’re now only an hour from each other rather than seven!
Last year we were on holiday in Turkey. Sitting on the balcony watching the sunset, Jack asked me to be his wife. It was wonderful. We’ve planned a white wedding, with little twists to make it more ‘us’. We’re hoping to have sport themed favours and photos.
For me, it’s important that the traditional elements remain because they’re symbolic. Personally, I think marriage is a triangle with God at the top. Themed weddings can sometimes take away from the significance of the vows. We wanted our wedding to be traditional and elegant, rather than silly. A wedding is personal though, so if someone wants Mickey Mouse or Elsa at their big day, they should go for it. I can’t wait to be married by law and God.
