Hi All,
I firstly want to thank you for your amazing support over the past few days. I'm working on returning to a normal blogging schedule my Monday, but in the meantime, I had to share this fabulously fun 1960's Mod Wedding with you all, submitted by Dorset, Hampshire, Devon and London Documentary style Wedding Photographer Andy Rapkins…
Leon & Nicki tied the knot on 25 September 2010 at The Node in Codicote, Hitchin, Hertfordshire.
Nicki wore two dresses on her big day, the first was a unique,hooded 1960's style belted dress…
"We decided to have a subtle vein of the 1960’s running through the day, as this is our lifestyle choice – without the wedding turning into a theme party and all of our friends rushing out to hire fancy dress costumes!
My full dress was made by a family friend, Shirley Storey. Shirley very patiently put together my design based on an image that I remember from a Sunday afternoon watching the Clothes Show back when I was a teen. I remember seeing this 1960’s hooded dress on what can only be described as a 60’s royal wedding. I searched high and low for this footage without any joy. With Shirley’s eye for detail and skill, she made the dress that I had always wanted…"
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2011, Andrew Rapkins Photography
The couple chose The Node in Codicote, Hitchin, Hertfordshire as their wedding venue…
"We viewed the venue on two occasions: once at a party the exact weekend one year before the wedding date. We then committed to the venue after a wedding fayre early in 2010 once we had seen the venues full potential both night and day. Such a lovely place to start our marriage."
"Officially I had two pairs of shoes for the day; both came from the Next bridal range. For the daytime a slightly subtle slingback with an average size heels, and for the evening, killer heels with a vintage look (not that I lasted the night in them)."
"My evening dress was an internet purchase made for me from across the pond. It was a copy of Audrey Hepburn’s gown in Funny Face, and for such a bargain price, the quality and finish was amazing. No regrets!"
"My Hair was styled by an old friend and colleague of Leon's, Nicola Fulton. Nicky is the leading hair up stylist in our area and was truly wonderful to have there on the day.
My makeup I eventually decided to do myself. I had a couple of trials but felt like a dolly and didn’t feel natural. I found lots of help on YouTube, searching under wedding make up and different styles. It took a few nice product purchases and some serious research. It went down very well and I felt very comfortable within myself."
"My Pearl choker necklace was passed to me from my Grandmother on my fathers side who sadly passed away the year before. It required some work to the clasp as a lot of the pastes were missing. My Jeweller Keith Gordon (who also made the rings) fixed it up and gifted it back to me without charge. Such a nice gesture from a lovely couple.
My Pearl earrings were a gift from my husband to be on the morning of our wedding. He had purchased them secretly whilst on holiday In Gran Canaria the month prior to the wedding. Both pieces were very simple and very beautiful. Less is more!"
The Groom and the best mans Mod-suits came from 'Adam Of London', Portobello Green, which Nicki describes as offering "exceptional style, quality and service. Mod through and through".
The Groom and Best Man’s winkle picker shoes came from Topman, the cravates + hankies came from an eBay trader….
"The Transport started out with the Route Master vintage London Bus for the Groom, Best Man, family and friends to catch down to the venue. It was later joined by our local scooter clubs (North Herts scooter collective and The Welwyn Stags) who made an outstanding show and accompanied the bus with approximately 25 vintage scooters.This was an exceptional part of the day that just made it for everyone that attended on the bus or waiting in anticipation at the venue.
What an arrival for my wonderful Groom…"
"I walked down the aisle accompanied by my father Brian Edwards to a version of Unchained Melody by the Fleetwoods. Very haunting but a classic track…"
"We initially met in the February of 2002 at a Mod all-nighter in London called Crossfire 1. This is an event held by a collective called The New Untouchables. We were introduced and got talking. Unfortunately that was it for our first meeting as I was seeing someone at that point.
In the May of 2002 – Whit Bank Holiday weekend to be precise – we randomly bumped into each other at another Mod Function in Mayfair and this time I was single! The fact that he was there on a blind date was insignificant in the whole matter.
Leon eventually proposed in July 2007 in Little East Street, Brighton; the famous alley way from The Who's Mod film Quadrophenia."
"The colour that we tied into the day was a really nice pale blue, from table decorations to cravats, flowers, bridesmaid dresses. The flowers ended up a slightly more purple shade of blue on the day, but looked beautiful all the same. You can’t argue with nature at the end of the day…"
"The evenings entertainment was care of our friend Stuart of the Welwyn Stags scooter club. He was the main DJ with back up from the Best Man Ab Jarrold, who most definitely had his work cut out on that day.
The evening was also completed by a fantastic set by premier Mod band 'The Mynd Set'. And as you can see from the photographs, yes that was my new husband playing in the band! Big thanks to Parsley, Bob, Ken and Leon at that time…"
"Our first dance was never in question: we chose "At Last" by Etta James. She was a massive favourite of Leon's when we first met. It could never have been anything else, so apt…"
Words of Wedded Wisdom…
"Be savvy and arrange as much as possible yourselves! Use the internet, it’s an amazing tool for finding anything that your heart desires.
If you are lucky enough to have plenty of help and volunteers on the day of the wedding you can save a fortune. Parents and god parents sat blowing balloons up and making rice confetti bundles – we couldn’t have done it without them all. At the same time, staying busy kept us both in focus and helped us stay calm about the huge event in front of us."
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Brides Day Dress – Designed and made by a friend
Brides evening dress – Produced overseas
Brides shoes – Next bridal range
Grooms Suit – Adam Of London + Winklepicker shoes by Topshop
Hair Stylist – Nicola Fulton
Makeup – Brides own
Venue – The Node in Codicote, Hitchin, Hertfordshire
Photographer – Andy Rapkins
Flowers – Local Florist
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Isn't this wedding lovely? So true to the couple, fun and stylish too 🙂 Thank you so much Nicki and Leon for sharing your wonderful 1960's Mod inspired wedding day with us 🙂
Huge thanks too, to Dorset, Hampshire, Devon and London Documentary style Wedding Photographer Andy Rapkins…
"Our wedding photography is one of my most cherished purchases of the whole event. It was something that held the utmost importance for us. Coming from a arty background, my standards and own visions were ridicously high and my head was full of worry that I wouldn’t find what I was looking for.
We attended a friends wedding early in July and found our beloved Andy Rapkins of Andy Rapkins Photography. Andy fully understood our vision for our day and worked very hard to get to know us and worked with us to create this epic memory of our special day."
What a fine testament indeed! 🙂
View other 1960s inspired weddings on the Love My Dress Wedding Blog here.
Have a good Saturday all…
Much love,
Annabel xXx
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Annabel View all Annabel's articles
Founder of Love My Dress. Passionate Podcaster and Editor. Annabel lives in rural North Yorkshire with her husband and business partner Philip, their two daughters and menagerie of furry hounds. She loves photography, meditation, walking, being outdoors and star gazing. She is fierce when it comes to championing talent within the wedding industry and when she's not working on Love My Dress, she supports her husband Philip in the running of the family's sustainable flower farm and floral design business, Moonwind Flowers. In 2013, she became a published author.
