25 minute read
GOT WED
got wed Beautiful love stories from across Devon
CHANTELLE AND GEORGE PHOTOGRAPHY: THOMAS FROST
Their planning may not have been plain sailing, but Chantelle and George took the opportunity to turn their twist of fate into a gorgeous autumnal celebration
A year after they first met at work, Chantelle and George cautiously began dating. “We tried to keep it a secret at work for a while, but were spotted by colleagues driving past us while we were on a date!” laughs Chantelle.
On a beautiful October’s day as the couple were walking in the valley of Great Wood, George asked Chantelle to give their dog, Naya, a treat. Much to her surprise, she discovered a ring box in the treat bag before glancing back toward George through teary eyes to accept his emotional proposal.
Originally, they picked an April wedding date to mark their 10-year anniversary, but were forced to reschedule their celebrations for October 2020 in line with Covid restrictions.
Deer Park Country House was the gorgeous venue for their autumnal affair; the rustic look beautifully carried in the navy and burgundy colour scheme and pheasant feather flourishes. Chantelle donned a stunning Maggie Sottero gown, while George rocked dapper country gent in his burgundy tweed suit complete with a handmade feather bow tie.
An outdoor ceremony was followed by a relaxed afternoon of canapés, drinks and photos in the venue’s pictuesque grounds. Guests whetted their appetites with an al fresco assortment of Devon ruby red beef with mini Yorkshire puddings, Brixham smoked haddock and crab bon bons, honey mustard glazed pork belly, goat’s cheese and beetroot samosa, and Caesar salad tartlet with quail egg and smoked chicken.
Then came the main dining event, which commenced with roast breast and crispy fried leg of pigeon followed by roast sirloin of beef and sticky date pudding, caramelised banana and Devon clotted cream.
“Unusually – but given this was in October and under the regulations at the time – we waved everyone goodbye at 6pm before drinking bubbly in our luxury tree house within the grounds and looking out at the sunset over rolling Devon hills,” reminisces Chantelle of her and George’s early but blissful end to their day.
Even though their first set of plans were dashed, Chantelle and George are full of fond memories from their intimate wedding day. “Walking with my bridesmaids and dad to get married before anyone could see us was my favourite moment,” says Chantelle, while for George it was “squinting into the sunlight to catch sight of my beautiful bride and our beloved dog bounding down the aisle with the ring, with only my nearest and dearest around me”, he smiles. “The intimacy was so special.”
Despite the stresses of having to reorganise their wedding, Chantelle still urges other couples to immerse themselves fully into the process. “Enjoy every second of the planning – the day is gone in a flash,” she says. “And do what’s right for you. Don’t stretch yourselves trying to please others.”
Following their own downsized event, she also extols the ‘less is more’ approach of micro weddings. “Consider a smaller wedding,” she suggests. “We had always planned for much larger numbers, but having such a small number forced on us by the pandemic turned out to be just as lovely, and without any of the pressure of having to ‘get round’ to everyone.”
Her final word of advice – “source locally” – is a sound endnote, especially for couples keen to support small businesses and create a bespoke and sustainable day.
Photography Venue Wedding planning Dress Suits Thomas Frost Photography thomasfrostphotography.com Deer Park Country House deerpark.co.uk FC Weddings larabellebridal.com/fcweddings Maggie Sottero maggiesottero.com Limehaus limehaus.com
Hair & make-up
Relaxation with Roxanne
instagram.com/relaxationwithroxanne Flowers Bloomin Lovely bloominlovely.net Tea towel invitations Wedding Tea Towels weddingteatowels.co.uk
Cyndi and Matt hosted a winter wedding full of style and flavour at one of Devon’s most magnificent manor houses
Cyndi first met Matt on a cruise ship she was working on. “We were due to sail from Rome but the weather was terrible so we couldn’t sail, which meant I had a night off for once and met Matt in one of the bars on board,” she reflects.
Matt chose his 30th birthday to pop the question – and Cyndi had been so preoccupied with planning the best lockdown party possible for him that she was stunned by the proposal. “I cooked all his favourite foods and just as we were going to start dessert, I noticed he wasn’t touching his. He then knelt down next to me and asked me to marry him,” she says. “At first I thought he was joking but then I looked at his face and he looked very emotional. It was so lovely and understated; I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.”
The couple fell for the charms of Rockbeare Manor before they’d even set foot in the venue. “We looked at so many online and it was our immediate favourite: we loved the décor, the setting and the feel,” recalls Cyndi. “When we met the team there, it just confirmed to us we had made the right decision. They were wonderful to work with, and our day would not have been what it was without them.”
With no specific vision in mind beyond an “elegant and classic” celebration, Cyndi and Matt styled the day accordingly with brass candleholders, calligraphy menus and place names edged in gold leaf, plus forest green velvet ribbon tied around sprigs of wild greenery for the tabletops. “To add to the feel of elegance we also gave our guests a dress code of black tie,” adds Cyndi.
Their brief of “British, seasonal and wild” was gorgeously fulfilled by the floristry, which featured lots of greenery dotted with deep red berry accents. And the sensory delights didn’t end there, with food being another top priority, as Cyndi explains.
“Once we knew our total numbers would be 15 we decided to go all-out and make it an unforgettable day.” A food and wine-pairing menu was the decadent result. “It was so unique and different for a wedding,” says Cyndi. “We really wanted to show our love to our family who were able to be there, and this felt like a lovely way to do that.”
Post-ceremony afternoon tea canapés were served ahead of a cocktail hour with a saxophonist. “It felt very modern and cool – like you were in a really upmarket cocktail bar,” comments Cyndi.
Then it was time for the feast. Amuse-bouches of spicy parsnip soup were followed by chicken and chorizo terrine and a fish course of pan-fried hake. Guests then tucked into Devon fillet of beef, lemon tart, and petit fours. The evening continued with afterdinner drinks and a grazing board of local meats and cheeses while everyone relaxed in the lounge.
“The favourite moment for both of us by far was saying our vows and getting married; that was our absolute priority. Even if we could only have been married just the two of us, we would have gone ahead because that’s what the day was all about for us,” says Cyndi in retrospect.
“Like any couple planning a micro wedding, we worried about keeping guests entertained and whether it would feel small. But our guests were never bored and it never felt like ‘just’ 15 people; it felt intimate and special and not once like it was lacking. So many people have asked if we would do it differently or postpone – it was the best day and we would not have changed it,” she says. “Planning a wedding during Covid really does help you prioritise what is important, and even though it was difficult at times we are so glad that we forged ahead.”
Photography Venue Alex Toze alextozeweddings.co.uk Rockbeare Manor rockbearemanor.co.uk
Dress Enzoani enzoani.com
Groom’s outfit Next next.co.uk
Hair Flowers Cake Favours
Brigitte Fisher brigittefisher.co.uk Flowers Floren Studio florenstudio.co.uk Dollybird Bakes dollybirdbakes.co.uk Gaya’s Cakes gayascakes.com Calligraphy Maria Manuscript instagram.com/ mariamanuscript
Replanning their wedding four times meant Elizabeth and Ian truly relished their wonderfully intimate winter celebration
“Ian proposed in New York on the boating lake in Central Park; it was so romantic just the two of us tucked into a little secluded spot on the edge of the lake among the trees,” reveals Elizabeth. “We then celebrated with champagne followed by a candlelit dinner cruise on the river.”
Pre-Covid, the pair had planned a grand country house wedding in August. “We knew in March that this was not going to be possible, so we postponed our original plans to February 2021,” explains Elizabeth.
As the pandemic went on, the couple deliberated whether to keep delaying or redrafting their plans entirely, and in September decided upon an intimate wedding at their local pub in November. “Everything was in place to go ahead with the 30 guests we were allowed at that time but as we approached the date the restrictions increased and we dropped down to just 15 (including us),” explains Elizabeth. “Then the Saturday before our wedding, Boris Johnson announced we were going back into lockdown on Thursday. Amazingly, our suppliers pulled out all the stops and in the space of 48 hours we had rearranged the wedding to Wednesday – the day before lockdown! The support from everyone was really quite overwhelming.”
Elizabeth wore an elegant princess gown for their small church ceremony and, in keeping with the classic white and champagne gold palette of the day, carried a bouquet of white roses. “When we came out of the church we were treated to the amazing sound, followed by sight, of wild geese in formation flying overhead – quite the spectacle to behold,” recalls Elizabeth.
The wedding party walked to the pub where they were greeted in the courtyard with mulled wine, champagne and canapés, as saxophonist Wendy Allen performed a live jazz soundtrack. Speeches were followed by a five-course tasting menu featuring mussel pistachio broth with basil pesto, treacle-cured salmon, poached chicken risotto, fillet of beef, and sticky toffee pudding.
“We thought we would feel like we had ‘missed out’ on having the big wedding we originally planned, but actually feel that our wedding was so much more special for all the trials and tribulations and the unexpected intimate nature of it. We could properly spend time speaking with each guest, and everyone – especially us – just felt so grateful that we were there at all and had managed to pull it off at the last minute,” reflects Elizabeth.
A particular memory from the day stands out. “The pub was full of diners making the most of their last meal out for a while and, though our wedding party was secluded from the rest of the pub, each time Ian and I walked into the main pub or went out into the courtyard, we were greeted by cheers and applause from the other diners, which just added to the magical atmosphere of the evening!” she remembers.
“Having arranged – and then rearranged – our entire wedding, we cannot stress the importance of being organised and developing a good relationship with your suppliers,” says Elizabeth when asked to dispense her best planning advice. “Keep in touch with your suppliers regularly, especially in the ever-changing situation. This approach really paid off and everyone went the extra mile for us; we could not have asked for more!” she adds.
“We’d also say step back and think about what is really important to you,” she advises. “Marrying the person you love and being able to share it with those most important and close to you is what you will cherish. Planning a wedding during a pandemic is emotionally exhausting, so focus on what really matters – and trust us, if any of the other bits work out too, then it will feel like such a bonus!”
Photography Maxi Photography maxiphotography.com
Venue
St Peter’s Church
Agricultural Inn agriculturalinn.co.uk Dress Pronovias from Allison Jayne Bridalwear allisonjayne.com Bridesmaids’ dresses Ghost ghost.co.uk Groom’s outfit Ultimate Formal Hire ultimateformalhire.co.uk tie T.M. Lewin tmlewin.co.uk
Hair Make-up Flowers Transport Brigitte Fisher brigittefisher.co.uk The Make Up Artist Studio themakeupartiststudio.co.uk Emma Hewlett Floral Design emmahewlett.co.uk The Beauford Sisters from Roses Wedding Cars of Plymouth rosesweddingcarsofplymouth.com Edible Essence edibleessencecakeart.com
SUMMER DAZE
Jess and Jack’s colourful and character-filled wedding combined a scenic Devon setting with a feast for all the senses
Jess and Jack first laid eyes on each other while working together on the film ‘Paddington’. It was during a whistle-stop New Year’s Eve tour of Berlin when Jack was helping to paint Jess’ nails that he popped the question, and the couple began to set their wedding plans into motion.
The couple picked the picturesque locale of Fingals in Dittisham, where Jess grew up, for their ‘summer meadow’ celebrations. The venue – hidden in a rolling valley near the River Dart estuary comprising a jumbled mix of characterful buildings and outside spaces – provided the idyllic place for Jess and Jack to celebrate in unique style alongside their family and friends.
The style factor was in full force throughout. Jess donned a designer silk gown with a guipure lace top finished with a gorgeous floral crown and chapel-length veil, while Jack wore a sharp navy three-piece suit with a floral print tie.
Then there was the floristry. A series of stunning arrangements in the church created beautiful focal points for the congregation and continued at Fingals, where the striking fusion of foliage with neutral and blush-toned blooms ensured a seamless blending of the indoors and outdoors.
The mid-afternoon ceremony provided Jess with her most poignant part of the day, where she fondly recalls “listening to every single person singing their hearts out and also hearing our nephews’ specially composed song for us in the church”.
The transport – comprising two tractors and trailers – was another memorable feature. Guests squeezed onto the hay bales to travel to Fingals and, on arrival, enjoyed drinks in the sunshine. After the speeches, everyone settled into the magnificent clear-sided marquee, where suspended floral installations dotted with hanging glass baubles containing tea lights ensured a magical and natural-themed ambience.
Here, guests tucked into a delectable feast comprising white crab, lovage mayo and spring onion salad with crispy samphire, lemon oil and watercress, alongside sharing boards of roasted lamb belly stuffed with lamb mince, chorizo and lovage, roasted spring onions, rosemary oil and toasted pumpkins seeds, served with jugs of minted lamb bone jus.
The evening was spent dancing into the small hours to the soundtrack of a live band and local DJ, before the newly-weds retired to relax and reflect upon their emotional day.
“I spent a lot of the time crying – with joy and happiness of course!” says Jess, in the throes of looking back. “Family from all corners of the Earth made it to our wedding, which made it very special.”
As her number one planning priority, she says “get married within a year if you can, otherwise your life is consumed and all about the wedding!” before wisely adding “and make sure you always consult your other half!”
Photography
Photography Venue Catering Venue Dress Catering Groom’s outfit Dress Hair Groom’s outfit Flowers Hair Cake Flowers Stationery Stationery
Nova Wedding Photography
novaweddingphotography.co.uk Nova Wedding Photography Fingals fingals.co.uk novaweddingphotography.co.uk Pickle Shack pickleshack.co.uk Fingals fingals.co.ukLaure De Sagazan lauredesagazan.fr Pickle Shack pickleshack.co.ukWalker Slater walkerslater.com Laure De Sagazan lauredesagazan.frThe Pop Up Salon thepopupsalon.co.uk Walker Slater walkerslater.comMarta Matson Flowers martamatsonflowers.co.uk The Pop Up Salon Patchwork Bakerythepopupsalon.co.uk Marta Matson Flowers martamatsonflowers.co.ukinstagram.com/patchworkbakery De Winton Paper Company De Winton Paper Company dewintonpaperco.com dewintonpaperco.com
Kerrie and Dan’s vineyard wedding was full of intimate moments beneath sunny skies
A festive trip to New York in 2018 led to a rather special Christmas proposal for Kerrie and Dan, who met through mutual friends at the village pub in Ide a few years earlier. “I’d been quite nervous about getting the ring through security checks but it all went smoothly,” reflects Dan, who asked Kerrie to marry him in Central Park on Christmas Day.
Their plans led them to Brickhouse Vineyard, where the couple set about planning a special day filled with their loved ones, and a floral design of “botanical with eucalyptus, mixed with dried elements and blush pinks”.
“Due to Covid, we actually only saw the venue in person a week before,” explains Dan, of their leap of faith to book the venue without viewing it or even knowing if their wedding could go ahead. “Covid made things pretty touch and go, but luckily fate was on our side as weddings were permitted from five days before our date, so we felt very lucky.” Cramming in suit and dress fittings, alterations and hair trials in the few days before their wedding, the unflappable couple woke up on the morning of their wedding feeling “very relaxed”.
“Amazingly, it all came together,” says Dan. “We got so incredibly lucky; it was glorious. We can’t recommend Brickhouse Vineyard enough! It felt like we were in Italy; the sun was shining all day and we were amongst beautiful vineyards, yet just 20 minutes from Exeter.”
The afternoon ceremony provided Dan’s personal highlight of the day. “My favourite moment was looking back to see Kerrie walking down the aisle, she looked beautiful,” he says. The vows were followed by a confetti shower in the vineyard, then drinks, canapés and photographs to a soundtrack of hand-picked songs performed by a pianist.
Later, the guests feasted on starters of sun-dried tomato and mozzarella arancini, mains of slow-roasted shoulder of lamb with all the trimmings, and a trio of desserts including triple chocolate brownie, glazed lemon tart, and traditional Eton mess, which were served under a stretch tent strewn with twinkling fairy lights. Then it was time for the speeches, which had a surprise twist.
“During my speech, we announced that we were expecting a new addition to the family!” remembers Dan. “The reaction from both bridesmaids was priceless – they were both in tears and almost on the floor.”
Plus, in a poignant nod to Kerrie’s nan who couldn’t be there, the couple made sure she still played a part in the day by using glassware she had gifted them for toasting and serving tea and coffee in her antique cups and saucers.
“We had the most perfect day and there isn’t anything we would change. We shared a concern that, due to Covid guest limitations, there may be lulls in the day, but there really weren’t,” says Dan, who points out an unexpected highlight of the guest restrictions.
“We liked that everyone who attended had a role to play, such as bridesmaids, flower girls, witnesses and groomsmen,” he says. “The day was so perfectly intimate and personal, and we didn’t have to spread ourselves thin saying hello to people we’d not seen in ages. We could really be there in the moment.”
Meanwhile, his advice for those planning similar weddings is sweet and simple. “Enjoy the day,” he says. “We were told how quick it would go, and it really does… Blink and you miss it.”
Photography Venue Catering Dress Groom’s outfit Hair Flowers Entertainment Cake Stationery Pip Andersen Photography pipandersenphotography.com Brickhouse Vineyard brickhousevineyard.co.uk Milkshed Catering milkshedcatering.com Jesus Peiro from Lovely lovelybridal.co.uk Marc Darcy from Zebel Bespoke zebel.co.uk Sarah Spiller from EV Hair evhair.co.uk Interiors and Flowers by Design interiorsandflowers.com Joe Pike joepikemusic.com Claire Makes Cakes clairemakescakes.co.uk Chris Bolton Freelance Designer chrisbolton.design
Niamh and Conor pulled out all the stops for their ’80s-themed wedding packed with neon brights, pop tunes and a showstopping pizza cake!
Niamh and Conor first clapped eyes on each other in their Irish hometown when they met via a mutual friend. Almost a decade later, the couple were holidaying in Rhodes when Conor dropped to one knee in an empty cobbled street. “Idyllic!” swoons Niamh of the romantic, sun-spilled moment.
Huntstile Organic Farm was the second venue they visited, and it was love at first sight. “We knew straight away we wanted it,” says Niamh. “All the staff were friendly, experienced, accommodating, genuine people, and the food is home-made and organic. And they handmade our pizza wedding cake!”
Their eclectic weekend of celebrations was styled on a particularly fond decade for what Niamh and Conor dubbed their ‘1980s Wedfest’. “Each table featured a different ’80s movie and we had an amazing ’80s band in the evening,” Niamh explains.
They meticulously planned, styled and executed every detail while individually sourcing the decor. “Our wedding favours were donations to the mental health charity Mind, with sunflower seeds for our guests to take home. I made the bunting and Order of the Day pallet and we purchased ’80s movie-themed props for the tables,” says Niamh, who also selected a huge neon love sign as their stylistic centrepiece.
Describing their extended weekend as “relaxed, boho, nontraditional and retro”, the pre-celebrations began with a trip to the beach with their photographer before their hilltop stone circle ceremony, which saw guests being transported on a tractor trailer.
Having legally tied the knot in London two days prior (and received tattoos for wedding rings), the stone circle ceremony was presided over by Niamh’s brother and Conor’s best friend and was followed by a lip-smacking feast made by the farm.
A relaxed hog roast banquet buffet was rounded off with “amazing desserts that we still talk about!” of berry crumble and sticky toffee pudding, while the evening’s offerings comprised fish and chips with Wexford rissoles along with Niamh and Conor’s “dream come true” – a fantastic pizza wedding cake made in Huntstile’s own pizza oven!
Live band Popgun provided the perfect soundtrack as guests partied the night away and chilled out around the bonfire. “My best moment was dancing to ’80s power ballads surrounded by friends and family from far and wide,” reveals Niamh.
Looking back at her wedding weekend spectacular, she has just one piece of advice for others in the midst of planning their own ‘wedfest’. “When the day comes, it will fly by so try to savour every minute!” she proclaims.
Photography Venue Dress Groom’s outfit
Flowers Stationery Freckle Photography frecklephotography.co.uk Huntstile Organic Farm huntstileorganicfarm.co.uk BHLDN bhldn.com suit Twisted Tailor from ASOS asos.com shoes Vans vans.co.uk Pretty Wild itsallprettywild.com Wedfest wedfest.co Project Pretty notonthehighstreet.com/projectpretty Neon Signs Shop custom-neon-sign.co.uk Popgun freakmusic.co.uk
