29 minute read
GOT WED
got wed Beautiful love stories from across Devon
HARRIET AND SHASH PHOTOGRAPHY: THE UNBRIDLED
Taking the ocean as their muse, Harriet and Shash’s gorgeously pared-back day was full of delights as they celebrated with good food, good company and stirring sea views
“Shash and I met at medical school and were really good friends before we both finally admitted we liked each other just a little bit more! A few house parties, a little bit of courage and many amazing years later, here we are,” says Harriet, reflecting on their love story.
How the couple became engaged is another tale of fortuitous timing and circumstance. “A beautiful blustery Devon day, picnic and champagne in the sand dunes on Saunton Beach, not another soul in sight: the most perfect proposal ever,” is Harriet’s swoonworthy snapshot of the event.
Chalet Saunton was the sentimental venue of choice for their “voice of the sea” celebrations, a “minimalist coastal chic” inspired day that took its cue from the sprawling seascapes of their beautiful beachside location.
Every element of the décor and design fell in line with the natural and coastal look, from the wild bouquets of gypsophila clouds to the minimalist tablescapes adorned with single stem vases, tapered candles in individual votives, clear glassware and sand-coloured linens.
Having readied themselves for the day ahead, Harriet and Shash stole a secret glance of each other before their ceremony, which made for one of the highlights of the wedding.
“Shash and I had never heard of this but due to uncertainty on restrictions and mask wearing, we decided to plan for a first look outside our church,” reveals Harriet. “We were so glad we did this and would recommend it to any couple. Our florist made a stunning asymmetrical floral arch in the gorgeous church grounds where it took place. It was truly such a special, intimate and emotional moment between Shash and I. We were so happy to see each other and it immediately put us both at ease before the ceremony.”
The couple were wed at the picturesque church in Pilton, which included a tearinducing rendition of ‘You Raise Me Up’ by one of their close friends, after which they headed off for photos at Saunton Sands.
Returning to Chalet Saunton, a mouth-watering mix of canapés did the rounds ahead of a spectacular tasting menu that featured the likes of oysters, mackerel ceviche, cauliflower pakora, scallops, pink aged Dexter beef and rhubarb and rose water marshmallows. “Everything was locally sourced and all veg was grown in our own ‘Harriet & Shash’ veg patch by Sam at Eat Nice Be Nice,” adds Harriet.
The only downside to the day was that Shash’s best man couldn’t attend from Canada due to Covid travel restrictions, but even that hurdle was successfully overcome. “It was arranged that he would do his speech via Zoom,” says Harriet. “However – much to Shash’s hilarious surprise – his best man had arranged for a life-size cardboard cutout of himself to be there at the reception in his absence!”
The key to achieving such a successful wedding is, in Harriet’s opinion, a joyfilled and flexible approach. “Embrace and enjoy the planning process, and no matter what obstacles the current world throws at you, don’t let them get in your way,” she enthuses.
“Remember, no matter what happens, you will undoubtedly have the best day of your lives,” she reminds couples of the importance of keeping a positive mindset – and enlisting as much help as possible. “For us, none of this would have been possible without our amazing wedding planner Rebecca.”
Photography The Unbridled theunbridled.co.uk Venue Chalet Saunton chaletsaunton.com Planning Rebecca Marie Weddings rebeccamarieweddings.co.uk Dresses Rime Arodaky from The Mews Bridal themewsbridal.com Nikeen Asar from The Fall thefallbride.com Jewellery Alighieri alighieri.co.uk Shoes Bottega Veneta bottegaveneta.com Hair Hollie Rose Clarke hollierose.co.uk Make-up Amy Rose Makeup amyrosemakeup.com Flowers Floren Studio florenstudio.co.uk Catering Eat Nice Be Nice eatnicebenice.com Cake Likelulu Cupcakes instagram.com/likelulucupcakes Stationery Gray Starling Designs graystarling.com Entertainment Jeremy Johnson jeremyjohnson.co.uk Six15 six15events.com Transport Honey Bugs Cornwall honeybugscornwall.co.uk
Steph and Morgan’s wildly beautiful wedding took them from a Devon woodland to the Scottish Highlands
“We met online when we were both living in Scotland,” says Steph of her and Morgan’s first encounter. “Our first date was a walk on Broughty Ferry Beach with a stop at the pub.”
Having made Steph’s engagement ring himself, Morgan proposed while they were walking across one of his favourite childhood haunts of South Beach in Studland. “It was dusk, there was nobody else around and we were surrounded by oystercatchers,” reminisces Steph of the magical moment.
The couple enjoyed a woodland ceremony and celebrations with family and friends at the 16th-century rustic estate of Middle Coombe Farm in Tiverton before being legally wed in the Scottish wilds amongst the Cairngorm mountains of Beinn Bhreac.
Eschewing a specific colour scheme in favour of using their own “lives and loves” as inspiration, Steph and Morgan also drew upon their idyllic country surrounds in order to style their day.
“We kept things as simple as possible, using the beauty of the venue to guide us,” explains Steph. “Everything was natural and we used foraged materials as decorations too.”
Keen to minimalise waste and design a sustainable day, e-invites were sent to guests while Morgan made place settings using foraged dead wood and a burning tool, and handwrote the table plans.
Then there were the wedding outfits, which were personalised by Steph’s mum who altered the dress by adding a blue underlay beneath the champagne lace top, and handmade Morgan’s waistcoat. “We were barefoot throughout,” adds Steph of their minimalist dress code, which featured just one accessory: Steph’s beautiful silk flower crown.
The floristry was another key element that helped create the look while also ensuring a bespoke and eco-friendly factor. “I picked most of the flowers and grasses and dried them myself during the year before the wedding,” says Steph. “We then added some fresh flowers from the meadow in Middle Coombe, and there were also some dried flowers from my late nana’s garden.”
When asked to reveal her favourite moment from the day, Steph announces: “Walking down the grassy aisle to Morgan playing the ukulele,” whereupon she met her groom for a celebrant-led ceremony in the woodland, followed by the speeches and toasts.
“We then chilled out in the meadow with drinks and games before the hog roast,” says Steph. “At dusk we all gathered around the fire with marshmallows to toast, while guests played instruments.”
In keeping with the carefree vibe of the day, Steph’s advice follows the same relaxed tone. “Keep it chilled and remember it is your day, so make sure you ‘do you’,” she says.
Photography Freckle Photography frecklephotography.co.uk Venue Middle Coombe Farm coombefarmwoods.co.uk Celebrant Sarah Chapman celebrationceremoniessouthwest.com Hair Devon Wedding Hair devonweddinghair.co.uk Flower crown Facaldo Flowers facaldoflowers.etsy.com Cake SJ’s House of Cakes facebook.com/SJsHouseOfCakes
Kate and Mike’s wedding had all the hallmarks of an English country garden wedding – stunning surrounds, fabulous flowers and G&Ts in the sun
Kate and Mike met while working as physiotherapists at Derriford Hospital. “Our good friend discreetly set us up after a work party,” smiles Kate. Shortly afterwards, she moved to the French Alps for a ski season while Mike decamped to Kenya to train as part of his running career. “We both left with the intention of keeping things casual while we were away but, after a few months of speaking every day, we soon realised it was more than that. On our return to the UK it wasn’t long until we were pretty loved up!” she confesses.
Armed with a beautiful blue sapphire, Mike dropped to one knee in the drizzle on a windy winter’s morning while the couple were walking at one of their favourite spots at Jenny Cliff.
“Sandwell Manor was the first venue we visited and we loved it straight away,” says Kate. “We just wanted it to feel like the best garden party ever with all our friends and family, and that is exactly what it provided.”
They hired the DIY venue for a week, setting everything up from scratch based on their ‘English country garden’ theme. “It was a mammoth task, but it was so lovely to really make it our own,” explains Kate, who picked a lead tone of dusty blue that was carried in an array of details such as the bridal bouquet, bridesmaid dresses, and their self-renovated ‘wedding bike’.
In fact, the upcycling of the bike and other props inspired Kate to set up a new venture. “Realising the potential for waste from weddings inspired me to promote wedding recycling of high-quality items, so I have been collecting and upcycling items for hire through The Reloved Wedding Company.”
The floristry was another focal point, with Kate’s fresh flower bouquet created to match her preserved flower crown, while a floral gazebo and hanging wisteria added more eyecatching blooms to the scene.
Marrying on the lawn under the gazebo, the couple then held a drinks reception at their DIY gin bar, and the wedding breakfast in the newly built pavilion. “Sixteen of us were able to stay for the weekend and make the most of the beautiful grounds which, after the year we have had, was the best way to celebrate with our families,” says Kate of their wonderfully intimate day.
“It was the first sunny weekend in weeks so many of our guests spent the afternoon playing croquet on the lawn and sipping G&Ts in the sun,” she reminisces. “I’m actually really glad we only had 30 people because we really felt we had time to chat to everyone and actually relax too!”
A feast of sharing platters continued the relaxed family feel, presenting guests with rounds of local, organic and seasonal food decorated with edible flowers, from pork rillette and slowcooked Middle Eastern lamb to rhubarb and custard cheesecake.
“My favourite moment of the day was during the wedding breakfast – just stopping for a moment and taking it all in,” says Kate. “Feeling so grateful to be surrounded by all of the people we love, next to my new husband, eating amazing food and thinking: ‘I can’t believe this is my wedding!’”
After sundown, a fairy-lit outdoor dance floor kept the party in full swing with a pre-selected playlist. The next day the newly-weds hosted another al fresco garden party for an additional 30 friends who couldn’t make it to the wedding due to Covid restrictions.
“My top tip would be don’t ever lose sight of why you’re doing this,” says Kate. “It’s so easy to get lost in the stress of the money, family politics and endless to-do lists, but as my husband frequently said to me: ‘As long as you’re there with me, nothing else matters.’ There will always be distractions, trials and tribulations that will pose a challenge, but just remember – love really does conquer all.”
Photography Margo R Photography margorphotography.com Venue Sandwell Manor sandwellmanor.com Dress Wed2B wed2b.com Flower crown Folky Dokey folkydokey.co.uk Bridesmaids’ dresses Patchii’s Designs facebook.com/people/Patchiis-Designs/100055420518521 Groom’s outfit Marc Darcy marcdarcy.co.uk Hair Lily of the Valley Hair Design lilyofthevalleyhairdesign.co.uk Make-up The Pop Up Salon thepopupsalon.co.uk Flowers Sarah Glanville sarahglanvillefloraldesign.co.uk Gazebo Unique Designs by Tina uniquedesignsbytina.com Catering The Kitchen Table thekitchentable.org.uk Props The Reloved Wedding Company instagram.com/therelovedweddingcompany Entertainment Charlie Louise facebook.com/iamcharlielouise
Dipty and Ryan’s wedding was full of flavour, culture and thoughtful details that brought all their loved ones together
Dipty agreed to a date with Ryan on the second occasion their paths collided at a Torquay bar. Having initially turned down his offer for drinks when they first met, Ryan’s persistence paid off. “And the rest is history!” laughs Dipty.
Having won her and the whole family over, it was following a family barbecue at their home in Torquay when Ryan dropped to one knee as the sun set over Torre Abbey Sands.
“Two quirky personalities teamed with our passion for the sea – there was no better place than Torre Abbey,” explains Dipty of their instant venue choice. “The beauty of our venue being so local to us is that we can see the Spanish Barn from our bedroom window – something very special to us.”
Their ‘east meets west’ wedding took place in several parts, firstly with a Hindu wedding ceremony in the 16th century Spanish Barn followed by an intimate civil ceremony in the grounds surrounding the Palm House.
“It was important for us to reflect both cultures throughout the day,” says Dipty. “For the Hindu ceremony, there was a heavy presence of ‘English country garden’ throughout the barn.” Handmade crates and chimney pots were filled with Devon grown flowers, while the mandap was covered in blooms including clematis, peonies, magnolia tuberose, eryngium and astilbe.
“Breaking tradition of a sit-down Gujarati meal in the afternoon, we wanted to pay homage to Devon and opted for a High Chai. This consisted of traditional vegetarian Gujarati tapas-type dishes of chilli cassava, tikki channa and spiced vegetable croquets,” says Dipty of the garden celebrations that also featured an acoustic guitarist, thirst quenchers of Pimm’s and Cobra beer, and cocktails. “Of course, our High Chai had to end with scones, oodles of clotted cream and raspberry jam!”
The feast continued with charcoal lamb kebabs and yogurt chicken skewers served in sizzling platters and mini tandoor ovens alongside vegetable cutlets, Amritsari fish pakora, lamb kharai and paneer jalfrezi. “Selfishly, the sweet was my childhood favourite, which was pistachio kulfi and gulab jaman!” adds Dipty.
The scene was a feast for all the senses, while recalling the presence of a very special and sorely missed person, since Ryan’s father sadly passed away shortly before the wedding, prompting the couple to honour him in their own heartfelt way.
“Dennis was always partial to a white wine spritzer,” says Dipty. “So we filled miniature bottles with his favourite drink and attached a photo of Ryan and Dennis to each of them. They were placed to the right of Ryan and myself, and each guest – just like Dennis should have been.”
After an emotional round of speeches, guests returned to the Spanish Barn for the evening to see it transformed into a fresh celebratory space awash with blue and grey accented with gold. The floral elements were rearranged to create a whole new setup, including their bar – a vintage Citroen truck – which was surrounded by the flower-filled chimney pots.
“Then… a rave!” announces Dipty of what came next. “Following our first dance to Michael Jackson’s ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’, our DJ was instructed to mash up Bollywood anthems with old-school Ministry of Sound classics!” The evening ended with vodka jelly shots and glow sticks, leaving Dipty and Ryan to look back at their day – and the journey that brought them there.
“Having to wait an extra 11 months, battling a pandemic, dealing with the death of a loved one and rearranging our wedding date twice makes you realise that fussing on the small things is completely irrelevant. Ultimately, your wedding day is a union of two souls,” says Dipty.
“Check in with each other during the whole planning process,” she adds by word of advice. “Every single detail of the day can consume you; don’t forget about why you both have chosen to get married.”
Photography Memories & Milestones memoriesmilestones.co.uk Venue Torre Abbey torre-abbey.org.uk Planning Michelle Sampson of Babbacombe Bay Cafe Bride’s outfits Vivaah, Asopalav asopalav.com Headpiece Jane Elizabeth Bridal janelizabeth.co.uk Groom’s outfits Rajoo, Ralph Lauren ralphlauren.co.uk Hair Lords & Ladies lordsandladies.mytreatwell.co.uk Make-up Polished polishedsouthwestltd.co.uk Flowers Twigs & Blooms twigsandblooms.co.uk Stationery Eastential eastential.com Props The Bold & Beautiful Wedding Company boldbeautifulweddings.com Glassware Keeping it Vintage keepingitvintage.co.uk Cake Amy Roberts Videography Josh Iskander Photography joshiskanderphotography.com Transport The Windsor Carriage Company thewindsorcarriagecompany.com Entertainment Ricky Romain indian-music.org Emma Pick Musician facebook.com/EmmaPickMusician Bespoke Disco bespokedisco.com
Sarah and Kat’s wedding was bursting with colour, personality and love
It was an instant connection for Sarah and Kat when their paths first crossed during a night out in Soho. “We talked for hours about our travels around the world, laughed a lot and went through quite a lot of gin!” laughs Sarah. “Two years later at the top of Mount Batur in Bali at sunrise, Kat asked me to marry her, and of course I said yes. What she didn’t know is that I had also bought a ring for her and planned a surprise proposal for when we got back, with all our friends and family in Brighton!”
Ash Barton Estate was the venue of choice for their “camp and colourful” celebrations, which featured a lovingly collaborative effort from family and friends. Kat’s hair stylist dad worked his professional magic, while the couple’s friend Jack created their dried bouquets.
Sarah and Kat broke with tradition with the help of their photographer Laura to have a ‘first look’ at each other in their dresses before travelling to Ash Barton together. “We wanted to have a quiet moment together before actually tying the knot,” reflects Kat.
“Another favourite moment for me was when my dad and brother surprised me by wearing rainbow ties,” Sarah reveals. “I didn’t know, but they had asked Kat the day before the wedding if she thought I’d like it.”
The marriage service took place in the old chapel, from which one particularly fond memory lingers. “Caleb, our amazing pageboy, giving us our wedding rings during the ceremony was incredibly special for us. He had been practising for weeks beforehand to make sure he gave us the right ones!” says Kat. “He did so well for a two-year-old!”
Afternoon tea included an assortment of cakes and cocktails as the couple’s 30 guests mingled and played garden games. “We were able to sneak off to the beach to capture some unique photos and have a moment away from the party!” adds Kat.
Catering was a casual affair comprising fish and chips rounded off by DIY ice cream sundaes all served from mobile food van, The Whiddon Wagon.
Bellies suitably filled, it was then time for the speeches. “Our dads’ speeches made everyone cry,” says Sarah. “Hearing both of them reflect on our journey as a couple and how proud they were of us was so special; and hearing Kat’s father talk about how she has taught him that love has no gender was a moment that will be with us forever… Then we danced until midnight with our favourite people!” she says of the evening’s shenanigans, which played out against a personalised Spotify soundtrack.
Looking back, Sarah is armed with plenty of advice for other couples keen to achieve a day like theirs. “Once you have the venue, everything else falls into place, so start there,” she says.
“If you can hire a wedding planner, they are invaluable and can help you bring your vision to life. They will also manage your day, and problemsolve if there is anything wrong, so you don’t have to know about it! And get help from your friends and family – do they have any special skills that could contribute to your day to make it really personal?” she suggests.
“Have a vision but be adaptable – you never know what is around the corner and fitting everything into such tight restrictions is hard!”
Photography Freeformimages Photography freeformimages.co.uk Venue Ash Barton Estate ashbarton.com Planning & styling best.day.ever! bestdayeverdevon.co.uk Dresses Essense of Australia from Love Bridal London lovebridal.co.uk Eliza Jane Howell from Mirror Mirror London mirrormirror.uk.com Transport Coastline Taxis coastlinetaxisbarnstaple.co.uk Cake & afternoon tea Mrs Smudgers Kitchen mrssmudgerskitchen.co.uk Catering The Whiddon Wagon familyfoodcompany.com
A picturesque proposal led to an equally idyllic wedding in the sunshine at Harefield Barn for Gemma and Jack
Set up on a post-rugby match date by colleagues, Gemma and Jack’s relationship status switched from happy singletons to officially betrothed at Paschoe House. “Jack asked me to go in front of the outside fountain for a picture, I walked and turned around and he was there on one knee!” reminisces Gemma of her perfectly timed proposal.
Choosing the idyllic rural climes of Harefield Barn for their naturally styled wedding, the couple designed their celebrations around a white and green palette whose tone was set by the floristry featuring white spray roses, gypsophila and eucalyptus. “Our inspiration was mainly found on Pinterest and stealing a few ideas from the many weddings we’ve attended over the last few years!” confesses Gemma.
Every element from the self-created stationery to the acoustic entertainment was carefully planned, but on the day one last-minute hitch occurred just as the bride was about to make her grand entrance.
“Ten minutes before I was about to turn up, Jack realised that the tables hadn’t been set with crockery, cutlery and glasses!” reveals Gemma. “So he summoned his friends to get up from their seats at the ceremony and give him a hand setting the tables. He asked all the guests to keep it a secret from me, as it was one of the things he was supposed to do! His friends were great and worked hard together to make sure everything was perfect before I arrived, even if it was just moments before!”
The rest of the day panned out seamlessly: After marrying beneath the Clock Tower overlooking miles of rolling hills, everyone enjoyed mingling in the sunshine before taking their seats in the Main Hall for the wedding breakfast. The exotic feast included the likes of Lebanese chicken shawarma, Persian pork belly, aubergine boats, stuffed peppers, Persian lentils, and orzo and giant couscous with lightly pickled vegetables.
Food continued to provide another highlight for the couple and guests alike courtesy of the cake – a sumptuous salted caramel, lemon curd and Victoria sponge confection – and later, pizza and ice cream vans presenting even more culinary delights.
Suitably refuelled, Gemma and Jack then stole away for one of their favourite parts of the day – some much-treasured together time on a photo shoot as newly-weds. “It was such fun going off in the golf buggy but was a slightly bumpy ride to the point we both almost fell out at one point!” laughs Gemma. “This experience was such great fun and really nice to have time alone together as you get so caught up in the day and catching up with everyone.”
“We just loved having all our friends and family there to celebrate our special day,” says Gemma as her most standout memory. “Some of them we hadn’t seen since before the Covid lockdowns and it just made the whole day so special.”
When asked to dispense her top advice, she lists three main concerns as those she’d personally prioritise if planning the whole event again: “Explore lots of options before making a decision, have fun and don’t stress!”
Echoing a sentiment made by many just-marrieds, Gemma’s final words highlight the importance of taking stock on the day itself. “Make sure you take some time to yourselves during the day and take a step back to enjoy,” she says.
Photography Evolve Photography evolvephoto.co.uk Venue Harefield Barn harefieldbarn.co.uk Catering Eran’s Kitchen eranskitchen.co.uk Exe Valley Pizza Co. exevalleypizza.co Dress Wed2B wed2b.com Jackets & waistcoats Zebel zebel.co.uk Hair Changing Faces changingfaces.net Flowers Pumpkin & Pye weddingflowersdevon.co.uk Cake Coco’s Devon cocosdevon.co.uk Entertainment Joe Dostal Music joedostalmusic.co.uk
It wasn’t the day they originally planned, but Charlotte and Nic’s rustic al fresco wedding surpassed their wildest dreams
“Nic proposed to me on a skiing holiday in France,” reveals Charlotte, who met her beau at university through the Medics Bouldering Club. “He got down on one knee in the fresh snow on our balcony and asked me to marry him. It was so romantic.”
Having originally booked a wedding in Italy, Covid travel restrictions forced the couple to cancel the event just five weeks before the day. However, they remained undeterred in their quest to wed as soon as possible and set about re-planning a whirlwind wedding for the same date.
Despite Uphill Farm being booked when they made their initial enquiry, fate intervened when the other wedding was postponed. “It felt like a sign, so I booked having never seen the venue or speaking to Nic about it!” grins Charlotte.
“It’s a beautiful walled garden full of roses and flowers with a lovely natural, relaxed, garden party vibe,” explains Charlotte, who didn’t choose an aesthetic as such but says: “I suppose it was slightly Italian themed, but more like a nod to Italy through the food and drink choices rather than a theme.”
Selecting a bright colour scheme of coral, orange and pink, the décor was flanked by fabulous floristry in similar hues. “I wanted it to feel like summer even in the UK drizzle,” says Charlotte. A combination of peonies, roses and seasonal wild flowers was central to achieving the “fresh from a hedgerow” look, while the bouquets “all had depth, colour, texture and movement”.
The “light-hearted and personal ceremony” was staged under a floral arch and presided over by Charlotte’s uncle, Richard. After confetti under the rose arches, the newly-weds enjoyed antipasti and an Aperol Spritz ahead of some shots with their photographer.
“This was one of my favourite parts because we were able to talk to each other properly for the first time all day,” reminisces Charlotte. “The speeches were another of my favourite parts. It was so nice to listen to what our families had to say and for us to be able to say thank you to all our special people for their love and support through a really tough couple of years.”
The food – a series of rustic, homemade sharing platters – was one of the day’s most raved-about features, presenting guests with antipasti boards, picanha beef, panzanella, seasonal vegetables and summer fruit pavlova with homemade lemon curd. Later, pizzas freshly cooked from the outdoor oven were devoured as day turned to night.
Games, a DJ set and a unique party-starter of sea shanties provided the day’s entertainment, which also afforded Charlotte one of her favourite moments – “when everyone joined in part-way through the song of our first dance”, she announces. “Even the older guests were rocking out to ‘I Believe In a Thing Called Love’ by The Darkness! I was so happy in that moment and you could feel the energy of everyone in the room; all the people we love enjoying themselves and letting go for the first time since the start of the pandemic. It was euphoric!” she says.
“Use your friends and family,” she implores other couples in the midst of planning. “They are an amazing source of love, support, knowledge and ideas. We pulled off an amazing day in five weeks and it was because of my friends and family. And try not to get too stressed about the details. We didn’t have the wedding I’d spent a year dreaming about and planning – instead we had something far better with all the people we love. Ultimately, that’s the important part.”
Photography Venue Dress Shoes Groom’s outfit Hair Flowers Cake Clare Kinchin clarekinchinphotography.co.uk Uphill Farm uphillfarm.co.uk Marylise from The Ivory Secret theivorysecret.co.uk Jimmy Choo jimmychoo.com Ted Baker tedbaker.com/uk Gorgeous Bridal Hair gorgeousbridalhair.co.uk Dartmoor Flowers dartmoorflowers.co.uk Silverstone Bakes facebook.com/silverstonebakes
