Russell Scott-Lawson, owner of Hawkes, the gentlemen’s outfitters in Morgan Arcade has dressed many a groom and groomsmen over the years. He was delighted to work with Luke Rowe (Welsh racing cyclist with Team Sky) for his forthcoming marriage to Cath Ingram. We chatted to the couple to find out why Luke chose Hawkes.
H AWKES When was the date of your wedding? We got married on the 12th of November, 2016. Where did you get married? We chose the stunning Cardiff City hall. The ceremony took place in the marble hall and the wedding breakfast and evening party took place in the assembly room. How did Luke propose Cath? We often walk our dog Oscar up around the rolling countryside around Caerphilly and Machen. One summer afternoon, we decided to go for a walk up there, this time just the two of us. When we got to the top of the mountain, Luke took me completely by surprise and got down on one knee and popped the question. He had also snuck a bottle of my favourite champers and a blanket in his rucksack, so we were able to sit down and enjoy the moment.
Why did you choose Hawkes for your wedding attire Luke? Cath’s dad had been going to Hawkes for years; pretty much since it first opened. So, when I needed a nice suit a few years ago, he suggested I go there. Since then it’s always Hawkes I go to if I want something that’s a little special. So, when it came to choosing the suits for my wedding, I didn’t hesitate to go to Hawkes.
Luckily, Russell worked his magic and got us a couple of pairs delivered by the next day for me to choose from.
What did Hawkes supply you with? We had all the suits and ties from Hawkes; for me, my best man (my brother Matt), Cath’s dad (Andy) and my other six groomsmen. We also bought all the groomsmen cufflinks from there which were little Vespas - Cath and I have a Vespa where we live in France, so it seemed a nice personal touch. We also had mine and my best man’s shoes from there. Days before the wedding, I decided I should ‘break in’ my shoes and I realised they were nowhere to be found.
The wedding had to be postponed. Can you tell us the story behind the delay? Originally we were due to get married on 21st November 2015. Unfortunately, at the beginning of September, Cath’s dad collapsed and was taken to hospital, where we later found out he had an abscess on his brain. He was in hospital for eight to ten weeks and, as we knew that there would be no way Cath’s dad would be able to make the wedding, we decided to postpone it.
10
Do you shop at Hawkes for casual and formal wear? Yes I do. I don’t have much need for many suits and shirts but for some nice casual wear - it’s great. The shoes are my favourite though. You always know you’ll get something a bit quirky and different.