Hayden Linley Wilson and Michael William LePage met at a mutual friend’s wedding in San Antonio. The two dated for four years, before Mike proposed while they were packing her stuff to move to Massachusetts. “I thought he was joking, because I had JUST told him that the next piece of jewelry he buys better be a ring…then he got down on one knee, opened the box, and asked me to marry him,” Linley says. “It was perfect.”
When they first started dating, Mike took Linley to Newport for date nights, and she fell in love with the town. Since they wanted an outdoor summer wedding, the Rhode Island city was the perfect place to say “I do.” “When I think of Newport, I think of sailboats and stripes and all the nautical vibes,” Linley begins. “Although I love that look, I knew I wanted our wedding to look different—bright colors, fun, whimsical, and stylish.”
To help plan everything, the couple hired Ashlie Fastino of Infinite Events, and Wouldn’t It Be Lovely set the tone for the day with beautiful stationery.
For her July 1, 2021 wedding, the bride-to-be went to Warren Barron Bridal in Dallas, looking for something classic without being too trendy. As soon as she put on her Monique Lhuillier dress, she knew it was “the one.” Linley also found her A-line Viktor & Rolf party dress there and paired the looks with Prada kitten heels and One Rock Diamond custom earrings.
On the day-of, the bride got ready with hairstylist Renee Russo and Erica Martell, while Mike put on an off-white tuxedo jacket from Suitsupply, black pants, and Gucci loafers. “He looked like he was on the cover of GQ,” Linley remembers.
On the Regatta Place pier in Goat Island, Linley’s step-father married the two under an arch that the groom built and Wild Season Florals decorated. “Mike and I were both extremely nervous and emotional,” the bride says. “We wrote our own vows and both struggled to get through them without breaking down. Once we got through the vows, I think we were both ready to speed up the ceremony and start the reception!”
Right next to the ceremony space, the reception began underneath a tent. The newlyweds had their first dance to “Lifetime” by Justin Bieber, and after they cut the cake by Wingate’s Cake Design, everyone danced the night away with Flipside of Murray Hill Talent.
At the end of the evening, Mike drove the getaway car—his 1963 white Riviera—to a local bar, where guests continued the party. Next summer, Linley and Michael will go on their honeymoon to the Amalfi Coast.
