Alex and Ashley are bonafide rockstars through and through – even their engagement was Rock n Roll!
“We were travelling home from the first of eight weddings we were attending in 2017, and had spent the whole day joking about how awesome it would be to do a heavy metal wedding; what plans we’d make and touches we’d have to make the day inspired by us,” explained Ashley. “While we were doing a touch of dream shopping before the flight, Alex fell in love with with a jacket that fit him perfectly. I told him he had to get it and he responded ‘The only way I’m going to buy this is if you promise me I can wear it down the aisle in our Rock n Roll wedding!’ I told him that would be fine by me… a couple of tentative ‘OMG are we really going to do this?’ moments later and that was that, we were engaged!”
They picked their outfits out then and there and that sealed the deal. On the plane ride home, they composed the entire ceremony and music. Within a week they had a venue and their completed outfits. They decided to have the wedding in the same October, which gave them under five months to plan.
The inspiration for their day was music, of course. They based every decision around creating a high-end concert atmosphere. They both love dark/romantic themes which go hand-in-hand with Rock n Roll history, and were particularly inspired by 80s heavy metal.“We wanted to feel like rock royalty!” they explain.
Their ceremony started with their guests arriving at their theatre venue, receiving backstage pass lanyards and being ushered onto the balcony. As the lights went dark, a medley of the couples favourite songs played, from Number of The Beast by Iron Maiden, to the groom walking out to Mr Crowley by Ozzy Osborne, followed by the groomsmen to From Whom The Bell Tolls by Metallica.
The bridal party were accompanied by Foxy Lady by Jimi Hendrix, lastly I’ll Never Let You Go by Steel Heart accompanied Ashley on her bridal walk. Their ceremony was conducted by Alex’s uncle dressed as Ozzy Osbourne, with hand written vows that they’d based on lyrics, songs and bands. After sealing with a kiss, they rocked off stage to Detroit Rock City by Kiss and cheers from their guests.
After cocktail hour, their guests moved downstairs in the theatre for dinner, where they had to match their backstage pass cover to the vinyl on their table. Each one was decorated with a classic rock vinyl, black candelabras and skull decanters, red roses and petals.
They had custom guitar picks as party favours, a handmade spiked card box and an incredible metal themed cake, which they cut before giving away best costume prizes to their guests – Ashley’s 85 year old grandfather dressing as Ted Nugent requiring special mention.
There was absolutely nothing Alex and Ashley would change about their day, and loved it so much they’re already planning to renew their vows in ten years’ time! “We’re going to have a ‘reunion tour’ and have the same party and everything! We can’t wait to continue rocking through the years.”
