The engagement of Brittany James and James Hayes brought light in dark times, the bride explains.
The high-school sweethearts, both aged 26, have been together almost a decade, and Brittany says James wanted to lock it down. “James wanted to propose very early on in our relationship, but I kept holding him off, saying we were too young and we both needed to finish university before we got married,” says Brittany.
In 2014, her mum was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. At the same time, James was paying off an engagement ring for his beau. “On the day I finished placement for my university degree, James proposed after a dinner in Sydney, right in front of our favourite place, the Harbour Bridge,” she smiles. “The engagement brought happiness to a dark time in our lives with my mum’s illness.”
By the time they were married on November 19, 2016 with 124 guests, the mother-of-the bride was doing well. A ceremony at Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church in Horsley Park was followed by a reception at Le Montage in Lilyfield. The reception room was decorated white and ivory, with nine-arm glass candelabras, mirrors and tea lights, and floral arrangements of white roses. “Our bridal table had cascading flowers along the entire length,” smiles the bride.
Photos courtesy of Society Photography.
“It’s the old cliché but this dress was the first dress I tried on,” says the bride of her dramatic Pronovias gown from Fashions by Farina.
Pastel lavender bridesmaid dresses added a splash of romance to the couples classic wedding theme.
The bride and groom were thankful for the “very personal touch” their priest, who was David’s high school priest, put on their ceremony.
The groom and groomsmen wore classic black tie for the elegant Sydney nuptials.
Brittany found it hard to choose a hairstyle and changed her mind several times! “I ended up choosing classic, elegant waves with a simple clip on the side,” she says.
Crisp white and ivory created a stunning reception setting.
Video by Emotiva Photo & Video.