Punk Rock & Pink: A Las Vegas-Inspired Wedding

August 27, 2024 Helen Dudney

Written by Helen-Louise Dudney

Photography by HAYBENO

If you didn’t know that what I’m about to tell you was real and that it actually happened, you’d swear it was a movie script!

But this is a real love story and an epic celebration. Trust me, this wasn’t just another wedding. From jaw-dropping decor and extraordinary details, this wedding was cool AF. A blockbuster event, complete with all the romance, and unforgettable memories you’d expect from a Hollywood hit! If you’re looking to break the mould and bring a splash of Vegas-style extravagance to your big day, this is where you’ll get your inspiration! Get ready for a wedding that’s not just unforgettable—it’s legendary.

From Friends To Forever!

So, let me fill you in from the beginning on the gorgeous love story of Dave and Fay, which feels like it’s been plucked straight from a fairytale. It all began in the Christmas of 2020, at a bar in Liverpool, when the world was briefly getting back to normal before lockdowns returned. Dave says that he fell in love with Fay from the moment he saw her and knew he had to find a way for them to be together.

What followed was a genuine and effortless friendship that blossomed into something more. Dave and Fay started off going to parties together, which soon turned into trips to the shops and cups of tea in Dave’s kitchen. They were clearly into each other, but kept their feelings under wraps - sticking to their “just friends” routine.

But then, fate had its own plans. One evening, as Barry, Dave’s cheeky cat, made his presence known with a scratch, the universe seemed to give them a nudge. It was in that moment, right after Barry’s unexpected intervention, that Dave and Fay shared their first kiss. It was a turning point, and from that moment forward they were together.

As they had been friends before, Dave wanted to make their first date truly special, so he transformed his living room into a wonderland. Blankets, fairy lights, candles…he even made a wooden table from pallets especially for the occasion. To top it off, he bought Fay’s favourite drink, and food from her favourite restaurant and then picked her up from her front door with a bouquet of a dozen red roses. Fay said he “was a true gentleman.”

The Proposal

Dave had meticulously planned a Michelin-starred dinner followed by a picturesque proposal at Albert Dock. Sounds perfect, right? But fate had other plans! Four months before, Fay had unknowingly booked a date night at Liverpool’s brand new Albert Schloss for the very same day.

Not wanting Fay to catch onto his surprise Dave had to scrap his proposal plan and embrace Fay’s date night plans. So on a chilly Tuesday evening in December, and here’s where the story gets both amusing and touching, with Fay 27 weeks pregnant, Dave found himself at Albert Schloss, desperately trying to devise a new proposal plan on the spot.

Fay thought Dave wasn’t bothered about being on the date as he was visibly distracted and glued to his phone. Little did she know, he was frantically searching for a new proposal spot that would be open and accessible for her. But he pulled it off and came up with an elaborate ruse about never having been on a big wheel, and convinced Fay to head to the Christmas market for a ride.

The suspense built for Dave, as after paying for their tickets the attendant jokingly announced that it was closed! Fay said Dave looked like he was going to faint before the attendant revealed it was just a joke!

Finally, on the big wheel, overlooking the glittering lights of Liverpool, Dave seized the moment and proposed, having already sought permission from her family, including her father who was undergoing chemotherapy. It was a poignant and joyous moment that not only celebrated their love but as Fay said “it really put the love back in the room with the whole family and brought light to a very dark moment.”

Front cover of their own wedding newspaper 🤩

Incredible Wedding Inspiration

When your theme is punk rock and pink, and the inspiration comes straight from the electrifying brilliance of Las Vegas AND God's Own Junkyard, you know it’s going to be EPIC! 🤘 Imagine a wedding where rebellious glam meets bold hues, and every detail is as audacious as it is fabulous. This wasn’t just a wedding; it was a full-throttle, celebration that turned the punk rock spirit into something utterly spectacular.

There's arriving in style and then there's arriving in this 🔥

The Planning

It took 11 months for Fay and Dave to plan their big day, during which time they attended The Un-Wedding Show Liverpool in May 2024, where they found and booked not one, but THREE incredible Un-Wedding suppliers. We get SO excited when we see any of our suppliers on a wedding lineup, but when there are THREE booked at one wedding we know the couple has shit hot taste, and this wedding is a shining example of just how awesome your day can be!

Now THIS is arriving in style!

The Outfits

Fay said that she first tried on her wedding dress when she was 4 months post partum and “FELL IN LOVE!”

The dress. The jewellery and wedding shoes matching your flowers - all of it! YES PLEASE 😍

Fay's stunning bridal bouquet from Artas Flowers who Fay & Dave met and booked at The Un-Wedding Show Liverpool.

Dave travelled to London menswear fashion house Aristocracy, to ensure his individuality shone through in his incredible suit.

From his wedding suit, to the buttonhole and the tie pin - every detail of Dave's outfit has been thought through 👌

Statement Details

Dave and Fay went all out with some seriously cool and quirky decor!

A carpenter custom-made an MDF board, topped off with a neon skull light, complete with hearts coming out of its eyes, which was decked out with personalised sunglasses for each guest, doubling as a table seating plan with cute tags.

Over at the top table, Trashy Decor’s unique and awesome 10ft pink heart brought some serious Las Vegas vibes to the whole setup. And disco balls? They were everywhere, thanks to Trashy Decor’s unique touch.

The perfect wedding ceremony setup, full of disco balls and flowers.

Personalised sunglasses that doubled up as the seating plan!

THE Las Vegas heart from Trashy Decor.

The table numbers? Oh, just wooden hands from IKEA, tattooed with fake tats. They even had a fake tattoo station for everyone to get in on the fun and by the end of the night, people were rocking neck and face tattoos as they danced the night away, to not one but THREE bands. This was a celebration that oozed personality and fun, with every detail thought out to create an unforgettable vibe.

Tattoo stations for wedding guests, that doubled up as table numbers.

Making Their Own Traditions

In EVERY way Fay and Dave knew exactly how to make traditions their own. Sure, Fay’s dad walked her down the aisle and they had a first dance, but they put their own unique spin on everything. And cutting the cake? They skipped it altogether.

This wedding was the perfect blend of tradition and personal style, it was all about making these moments feel like them and who they are as a couple - full of personality, warmth, and fun, which made their day uniquely theirs!

Delicious discovery. Fay & Dave found their incredible wedding cake supplier Sweet Palette at The Un-Wedding Show Liverpool.

Favourite Part Of The Day

“Marrying the love of my life and our 18 month old bringing our rings down the aisle.”

Advice

Ahhh I LOVE this advice from Fay:

“Make an Itinerary! Imagine your perfect day then write a huge list of what you need to do and tick it off, it helped put everything into perspective.

Do NOT listen to anyone's opinion of your day, show your personalities through your day, don't just do something because your friend had it or it's traditional of a wedding. Music was the most important part of our day cause I'm a singer, and food as my Dave is a private chef so as long as that was sorted we were pretty chill on the rest.

Finally CHILL THE F out - it's not life or death, your memories will last a lifetime, you get to marry the love of your life and isn't that all that matters after all?”