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Vintage dress leads theme for 1950s Ironbridge wedding
16 Sep 2015
by Rhea Alton

Choosing the right wedding dress is undoubtedly the single most difficult decision any bride-to-be will face.

With that in mind most will spend hours trawling through bridal magazines, making notes on the latest celebrity weddings and visiting dozens of designer boutiques in search for the perfect dress.

And newly-wed Noosha Doley was no exception accept her wedding dress inspiration didn’t come from any of this year’s A-list brides which have included Jennifer Aniston, Geri Halliwell and Cameron Diaz.

No, in fact her vintage style lace bodice and ivory and gold A-line skirt was inspired by her late gran’s original 1950s wedding dress.

Noosha, who tied the knot with her childhood sweetheart Marc at the Best Western Valley Hotel in Ironbridge on July 24, said: “I’ve got photos of gran’s wedding dress and I’ve always loved it.

“It was very similar to Kate Middleton’s dress accept I guess gran’s would have been the original.

“It had so much style and was the real inspiration behind my dress. Sadly gran is no longer with us but I wanted her to be a part our day so much that I carried one of her old wedding photos with me the entire day.”

And it was Noosha’s 1950s style dress which “accidentally” led the couple’s vintage wedding theme with candles and six pence favours, a Victorian post box, old fashioned sweet table and vintage DIY photobooth.

The occasion was rounded off with guests enjoying The Valley Hotel’s popular afternoon tea package.

Noosha said: “It was by accident really that we ended up with a 1950s vintage style wedding but it all started with the dress.

“From there everything just seemed to fit, from the afternoon tea with sandwiches and cakes to the music, sweet table and Victorian-style favours.

“It really was our perfect day and exceeded every expectation.”

Noosha and Marc, who first met at primary school and then began dating when they turned 16, were one of the first couples to hold their wedding breakfast in the newly revamped award winning Chez Maw restaurant at The Valley.

“It was the perfect setting,” said Noosha.

“Even the new country house decor of the restaurant matched our wedding colours and theme. It was fantastic.

“And whilst it was too wet for us to marry outside in the grounds the setting of the hotel in the heart of Ironbridge was just lovely.

“All the staff were wonderful and nothing was too much trouble.”

Lisa Snape, sales and marketing manager for the family-owned hotel, said: “Year after year our afternoon vintage tea package proves a real hit with couples.

“It’s one of those timeless themes but works especially well over the summer months when it’s warm and couples don’t necessarily want to be sitting for hours eating a hot three course meal.

“For Noosha and Marc the sandwiches and cakes worked a treat with some of their younger guests. There was something for everyone and the newly revamped restaurant provides the perfect country house setting for any wedding, no matter how big or small.”

Vintage wedding dress

Vintage wedding dress