Written by Helen-Louise Dudney

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What happens when two childhood friends, fall head over heels?

You get James and Holly’s unforgettable wedding celebration - a Studio 54-inspired extravaganza with disco balls, neons, and a touch of leopard print.

How It All Began

James and Holly met at school. Back then, despite being ‘just friends’, their connection was special and eventually led to them dating one another.

Fast-forward several years, while doing one of their favourite activities, night skiing in Bulgaria, sneaky James pretended to have a cramp in his leg to in order to maneuver himself into the classic proposal position - down on one knee - where he proceeded to pop the question beneath a canopy of stars.

This orange porche… what more is there to say!

Wedding Planning but Make it Fun

James and Holly were engaged for nearly 18 months but didn’t dive into full planning mode until six months before the big day.

When it came to the overall vibe, James and Holly went all out to make it theirs. James was happy for Holly to take the lead due to her background in Design, they both knew that she could bring their vision to life with bags of personality.

Inspired by Studio 54’s iconic disco era and Holly’s love for all things pink, their styling was bold, creative, and unapologetically fun.

Every detail has been considered and thought about.

A Venue Full of History

The couple chose a venue close to their hearts - literally. It was the same place where Holly’s parents got married 33 years earlier, on the exact same date. This beautiful coincidence made the day even more meaningful.

The couple embraced this serendipity, hosting an intimate, family-focused ceremony and lunch to honour this legacy before throwing open the doors to their wider crew for an evening of pure celebration.

Vowed & Amazed props popping in this fairytale setting.

Traditions, But Make Them Personal

James and Holly struck the perfect balance between old and new traditions, making their day their own. While they held on to a few classics - staying apart the night before, having the bride’s Dad walk her down the aisle, cake cutting, speeches, and a first dance - they ditched others that didn’t feel right for them - he bouquet toss was scrapped, and when it came to colour, there wasn’t a hint of white in sight cos why have white when you can have pink?!

Blooms definitely too beautiful to damage by throwing!

Show Stopping Outfits

Ok let’s talk outfits - because this couple showed up in style. James stepped out in a pink linen suit paired with floral loafers, embracing the bold theme to perfection. He even wore a floral tie that Holly’s Dad had worn on his own wedding day just to make things extra special.

The coolest groom. From the OG tie to the groom’s pink suit, right down to those incredible loafers!

Holly’s look was a masterpiece of sentiment and style with not one, but two custom-designed dresses, that she designed herself! The first, a pale pink silk number with a bow and heart-shaped cut-out, with H&J embroidered onto an oversized bow the back - pure romance.

From the embroidered initials in the bow to the bow itself…. oh and the heart shaped back 🤩

For the evening, Holly wowed in another pink dress. For this one, Holly designed her own print in a toile de jouy style featuring personal details like their dogs, their wedding cake, the date, confetti, and their venue.

Her pink veil - was borrowed from her Mum, and you guessed it, it’s the same veil her Mum wore on her wedding day. So spesh!

So many gorgeous details in this fabric.

Highs and Lows

Let’s be honest, planning a DIY wedding is never a walk in the park - it’s more of a rollercoaster with a few extra loops thrown in for good measure!

The Ups?

The excitement… the love… and the incredible support from their friends and family.

Everyone showed up for them and poured their hearts into making the day as special as the couple had dreamed.

But the Downs?

… There were a fair few.

As Holly had such a clear vision for the day, she took on a lot—probably too much, as she now realises. From obsessing over tiny details… (that, in hindsight, weren’t as vital as they seemed)… to the sheer stress of pulling off a wedding from scratch, it was mean feat.

The venue they chose for sentimental reasons, wasn’t a ready-made wedding space. That meant doing everything themselves, from cleaning and gardening to making sure each element of the day came together seamlessly.

Then there was the curveball no one could have seen coming: a last-minute coordinator drama. Their original on-the-day coordinator left the company just weeks before the wedding, leaving James and Holly scrambling to pick up the pieces. Fortunately, a new coordinator stepped in with only 3 weeks to spare before the big day… talk about cutting it fine!

Despite the chaos, James and Holly powered through with determination, and plenty of help from their amazing crew.

This cake from Cake Forest is EVERYTHING!

All in the Details

This wedding was nothing short of spectacular, and James and Holly picked the right suppliers, several of whom they found at The Un-Wedding Show, to fill their day with personality!

Guests had the chance to leave voice messages on the incredible ‘Big Mouth’ audio guestbook from I Just Called To Say… (who needs a dusty guestbook when you can capture sweet and hilarious moments in real-time?). From heartwarming messages to late-night giggles, it is the perfect keepsake for the couple to relive the fun for years to come.

And when it came to making their venue truly pop, Streamadelica absolutely nailed it with their vibrant streamers. These aren’t your average decorations - oh no! It wasn’t just about filling the space - it was about enhancing the overall vibe and making everything feel just right. It was the perfect backdrop for their disco-inspired celebration.

WHAT a duo - Streamadelica and Vowed and Amazed

But what’s a Studio 54-inspired celebration without props that demand attention?

Vowed & Amazed took things to the next level with their jaw-dropping collection of oversized props. A giant, glowing LOVE sign, bold statement pieces, and decor that made the venue look like a disco lover’s dream come true - these additions brought all the fun and drama to the day.

The ultimate wedding prop from Vowed & Amazed

Favourite Part of the Day

Holly said “The whole day was my favourite. But James' speech was INCREDIBLE. A fantastic mix of emotion & humour, there wasn't a dry eye in the room.”

James said, “It’s hard to choose a favourite part - it was all my favourite part!” But if he had to choose, Holly’s surprise dress change stole the show.

And the best bit?

Their photographer secretly captured the exact moment James saw her in the second dress, and none of them had any idea until they saw the photos later. Priceless.

Advice from the Couple

James and Holly’s top tip for other couples? “Remember why you are doing the wedding! It is about you two, do it exactly how you want it done, it isn’t for anyone else.”

And if their wedding is anything to go by, staying true to your style and personality is the secret to creating a day that’s as memorable as it is meaningful.