When Emerson Statham first offered to buy Hayden Waugh a drink at a dive bar in Washington D.C., she declined. “I’m incredibly picky,” she laughs. “But later, I was like, ‘Okay, fine, you can buy me a shot!’” Next thing Hayden knew, she was on the dance floor with him, even though, as she says, “My dancing skills are best kept under wraps.”
After four years together, Emerson surprised Hayden with a proposal at Villa Cimbrone in Ravello, Italy. “Years ago, after seeing a wedding planned there by Lauryn Prattes, I casually told him, ‘This is where I want to get married,’ totally joking because we had just started dating,” Hayden recalls. He obviously remembered. While at the hotel for lunch, the manager offered to give them a tour of the gardens. Emerson asked Hayden to look at a tower, which she found suspicious, and when she turned around, he was down on one knee.
The pair didn’t waste anytime booking Villa Cimbrone, planner Lauryn Prattes, and photographer Oliver Fly for their summer wedding. The weekend began with a welcome party at Villa Fraulo. “I wanted lots of blue and yellow flowers, ceramic Sicilian Moor’s heads, and lots of lemons as décor,” Hayden explains. “My aunt did a great job with Malafronte bringing this to life, and it was a great starter to the weekend!’
The bride-to-be complemented the colorful scene in an Oscar de la Renta dress with Rene Caovilla shoes. “For a special touch, I wore a necklace made from a ring my dad had once given my grandma,” she explains.
The next day, guests enjoyed a boat outing, followed by a relaxed rehearsal dinner in the outdoor garden of a restaurant in the town square. To this, Hayden wore Over The Moon’s exclusive Alexandra Pijut Celia mini dress, which she first spied on our Instagram. “I accessorized with a gorgeous Oscar de la Renta purse and green Larroude heels, adding just the right pop of color to match the evening’s casual but fun vibe,” she shares.
The wedding day’s aesthetic was elegant and regal with emphasis on white florals. “We loved keeping this part of the day traditional, especially since our after-party was a total contrast: colorful, vibrant, and full of personality!” Hayden shares. "I was set on having as many flowers as possible.”
On September 2, 2024, the bride walked down the aisle in an Oscar de la Renta dress. She wore her grandmother’s ring, bracelet, and earrings for her something(s) blue. And Emerson waited for her at the altar in Suitsupply. “I convinced him to wear a chic diamond pendant that had belonged to my great-grandmother,” Hayden states.
Emerson’s brother officiated the intimate ceremony and read out letters the couple had written. “I had no hesitations and wasn’t nervous at all,” Hayden shares. “ just so excited that we were going to get to spend our lives together.”
The newlyweds joined guests on the infinity terrace for cocktails. The bars were intricately decorated designed by My Lady Dye and topped with lemons and blooms for a breath of color.
The delicious alfresco Italian dinner was served in the garden. As the couple cut their cake, sparklers lit the space and Kygo’s “Higher Love” remix sounded out. A saxophonist then led the group to the crypt for the fête.
“The reception vibes in the crypt were absolutely immaculate!” Hayden exclaims. “The crypt itself is such a unique location—I’d only ever seen it used for dinners, not for receptions, so it felt like we were creating something totally fresh and different.”
Bougainvillea, a lemon DJ booth, a gelato cart, and espresso martinis featuring the couple’s dog kept the energy high. “My favorite part of the reception was definitely singing ‘Dancing Queen’ with all of my best friends,” Hayden remembers. “Changing into my sparkly pink Oscar de la Renta dress to match the crypt theme was so much fun, too—it added to the excitement and fit the vibe perfectly!”
To comply with the noise ordinance, a silent disco started at midnight and lasted until 2 a.m. “It was an absolute blast,” the bride beams. The newlyweds got some much needed R&R at Hotel Il Pelicano after an unforgettable weekend.
