This Wedding in the English Countryside Was Inspired by the Quintessential Sunset

Perfect for Her

Laurie worked with designer Suzanne Neville to create a one-of-a-kind wedding dress that mixed two existing elements. "I chose one of her corset tops but removed the sleeves, and one of her skirts, and combined them together," says Laurie. "Anyone who knows me knows I love flowers. As soon as I saw Suzanne's 'Bronte' corset with the delicate embroidery of the small petals, I knew it was the one!"

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Wrapped Up

Boutique owner Ellie Sanderson designed an organza wrap embroidered with the same small flowers that appeared on the corset, which Laurie wore around her arms. "This was removable, but I decided to wear it all day because I love it—it was cathedral length," says Laurie. "I really wanted my dress to be the perfect mixture of British princess and bohemian goddess, and I felt both Suzanne and Ellie allowed me to create this vision. I felt incredible—I wish I could wear my dress every day!"

Sharp-Dressed Man

Lee wore a classic black dinner suit from Charles Tyrwhitt with a white shirt, white pocket square, and custom black silk tie from Mrs. Bow Tie. His silver cuff links and Tudor Black Bay watch were both wedding gifts from Laurie.

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Going to the Chapel

The couple chose Saint Mary's Church in Boxford, Suffolk, for their ceremony. "We wanted our wedding to be the perfect balance between effortless elegance, British brilliance, and relaxed fun, and for all our guests to leave knowing how grateful we were for their love, support, and memories so far on our journey together," says Laurie.

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Natural Inspiration

Floral designers from Studio Sorores decorated the door of the church with an oversized floral arch in a gradient of hues: Blue and white on the left brightened into burnt orange and pink on the right, mimicking the sky-at-sunset color palette. Wild grasses added texture and depth.

Blues and Blooms

Bridesmaids carried bouquets of roses, oxypetalum, scabiosa, phlox, trailing clematis, and jasmine in the same peach-and-pink hues that carried throughout the décor. "We kept the bouquets quite light and fresh but full of texture and shape," says the florist.

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Down the Aisle

Laurie's father escorted her to the church, where she and Lee saw each other for the first time that day. "My daddy gave me away and we walked arm in arm with beaming smiles," she says. "I think he even shed a tear or two!" Though she admits she felt a little nervous, she was excited, too: "I couldn't wait to see Lee and for him to also see my dress!" she says. For Lee, the moment was overwhelming. "When Laurie walked down the aisle, she was breathtaking," he says. "I am the luckiest man in the world."

A Precious Moment

The couple exchanged vows in a religious ceremony that included readings from Laurie's two older brothers, one of the couple's close friends, and Lee's grandmother. The ceremony also included an unpredictable—but precious—moment. "My mummy unfortunately passed away two years ago unexpectedly," says Laurie. "I believe that she is always with me. In particular, I know she shows me she is there through butterflies. When Lee and I were saying our vows in the church, a butterfly appeared and was flying in figures of eight above us. It was extraordinary and a sign from her that she was with us—truly magic."

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The New Mr. and Mrs.

Throughout the ceremony, an organist provided music for the bride's entrance, the hymns—including "Give Me Joy in My Heart," "Amazing Grace," and "Jerusalem"—and the couple's joyful exit. "I always remember he was playing 'God Only Knows' as we were signing the register, which is played in the film Love Actually, and all my bridesmaids began dancing," says Laurie. "It was brilliant!"

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Blue Mood

Laurie's bridesmaids wore matching silk dresses from Ghost in a shade called skylight blue. "I knew I always wanted the girls to be in skylight blue as this was our hero statement color at the wedding," she says. "The sky is always there for you no matter what, on gray days and on sunny days, just like my best friends are!" Lee's groomsmen wore black Charles Tyrwhitt suits with custom bow ties and cummerbunds in the same fabric as the bridesmaids' dresses, and added a bright accent: "Skylight blue socks," says Laurie, "because every chap should have bright socks to show off when they sit down!"

Home Sweet Home

After posing for a few quick portraits, Lee and Laurie joined their guests at the outdoor Champagne reception, where peaked tents, live acoustic music, and an open bar "reminded us of how we have spent so many of our summer evenings together!" says Laurie. "Lee and I love the countryside and my family home is surrounded by open, golden fields, the setting sunshine, and fresh air, so it created the perfect setting for us to say 'I do.'"

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Sentimental Jewels

A post-ceremony portrait shows off the custom engagement ring Lee designed with jeweler Kinvara Law. The piece features a tanzanite stone belonging to Laurie's late mother. Laurie's other accessories included a bespoke Rene Walrus hairpiece made of mother-of-pearl flowers, and Lee's wedding gift to his bride: a Le Vian diamond necklace and earrings.

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Welcome to the Family

At the entrance to the festivities, Lee and Laurie displayed a simple, elegant sign decorated with an understated garland of leaves.

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Sunset and Sky

Inside the tent, light blue tablecloths created a sky-inspired base for the reception decor, while floral "clouds" of pampas grass in shades of orange and blush hung overhead.

Centerpiece

Studio Sorores arranged flowers for the tables in three different types of vessels, alternating the size and height of the bunches of peach, pink, orange, and ivory blooms. Silver flatware, pattered glassware, and white plates were a neutral complement to the florals; sprigs of lavender sat on each plate.

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Rhyme Time

As an alternative to traditional place cards, Laurie and Lee worked with Word It. Rhyme to write a custom poem—printed on a bookmark—for each guest. "[This] went down a treat!" says the couple. "We also loved how they brought to life our love for reading as a couple." The only people who didn't get poems were the couple themselves—or at least, that's what Lee thought. "Laurie wrote a poem for me called Happily Ever Haywards—it told the story of how we met and fell in love, and she shared this at the wedding," he says.

Ready to Dance

After dinner, the couple and their guests moved into a third tent for dancing—and Laurie traded her gown for a sequined ASOS frock "so that I could party under the stars!" she says. The couple opened the dance floor with Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You." "We chose this song as we used to always sing it to each other, especially in the car on long journeys for some reason," says the couple. "We also wanted a song that we could dance romantically to but have an upbeat moment that everyone could join."

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So Happy Together

After setting off confetti cannons during their first dance, the couple kept the party moving with music from Briggs Street Players and DJ Zulu. But their guests didn't wait until after dinner to start the celebration: When Michael Buble's "Everything," one of the couple's favorite songs, played during dinner, "All our guests began clapping, singing, and swinging their napkins in the air to the beat of the song and lyrics," says Laurie. "The marquee tent was filled with joy, song, and happiness. It was a moment Lee and I will never forget—I remember thinking, 'This is euphoria!'"

Sources

Photography, Emilie White
Ceremony Venue, St. Mary's Church
Event Coordination, Kerry Poulter
Event Design, Laurie Hayward
Catering, Crown Catering Cambridge
Flowers, Studio Sorores
Videography, Rupert Ward-Lewis
Officiant, Jane Lloyd
Stationery, Vine in the Wild
Cake, Nikki's Bountiful Bakery
Music, Adam Harris; Briggs Street Players; DJ Zulu
Rentals, Ester & Erik (candles); Jones (glassware); Joseph Benjamin Marquees; Northfields (linens)
Bride's Gown, Suzanne Neville; Ellie Sanderson (ceremony); ASOS (reception)
Bride's accessories, Rene Walrus (hairpiece); Ellie Sanderson (veil); Le Vian (jewelry); Jimmy Choo (shoes); Rüya London (clutch)
Hair, Victoria Ralph
Makeup, Kelly Dawn, Christine Anderson
Bridesmaids' Dresses, Ghost
Groom's Suit and Groomsmen's Attire, Charles Tyrwhitt
Groom's Accessories, Mrs. Bow Tie; Tudor (watch)
Lighting, Joseph Benjamin Marquees
Transportation, BCD Wedding Cars; Beautiful Day Wedding Cars
Favors, Word It. Rhyme
Guest Book, Be Golden
Rings, Kinvara Law