26 minute read
GOT WED
Beautiful love stories from across Devon
Live the Dream
Caera and Rich’s dreamy wedding combined neutral hues, wildflowers and memorable music at Brickhouse Vineyard
“Caera and Rich first met while working together at a local restaurant the summer after her first year at university. “Rich had been working there for a few years as a waiter, and we started talking,” she says. “From there we pretty much spent all summer together and have been inseparable since!”
The couple were in Cyprus for Rich’s parents’ 30th wedding anniversary when the trip became a double celebration. After thwarting his plan to propose at Cyprus Zoo (“he kept asking to go for a walk and all I wanted to do was sit down as it was so hot!”), Rich took Caera for a post-dinner walk to the beach. “The sun was setting and everything looked perfect; after a bit of fumbling in his pocket, he got down on one knee and proposed,” she recalls.
Caera and Rich had a clear vision for their day. “We wanted something intimate, romantic and close to us in Devon, and Brickhouse Vineyard was just perfect! It has beautiful views with a cosy barn vibe,” she says. Wedding stylist Nikki Sherriff from Knots & Kisses helped them to create a day inspired by neutral and earthy tones featuring dried pampas, cream wildflowers and lots of greenery. “She made everything completely stress-free and it all looked perfect on the day,” comments Caera.
Walking down the aisle to the sound of a string quartet was Caera’s favourite moment of the day. “I had dreamed of walking down to strings playing my favourite song as a little girl, and it was the most magical, perfect moment,” she reflects.
The quartet continued to play during the drinks reception before a memorable and emotional set of speeches preceded a sumptuous feast including thyme and smoked garlic chicken thighs, baked salmon side, banoffee pie and sticky toffee pudding. A bouncy castle kept guests young and old entertained throughout the day, while live band New Daze stoked up the party vibe for the evening celebrations.
“Make sure you plan time to go for a walk just the two of you,” says Caera of the importance of taking it all in. “We did this straight after the wedding breakfast and it was nice to be alone, just us for a while.”
“Going for extra photos in the evening was probably one of our best decisions,” she adds. “The sun coming through behind us created really intimate and romantic images.”
Speaking of which, she implores other couples to gain confidence in front of the camera ahead of the wedding if possible. “Definitely do a pre-wedding or engagement shoot,” she advises. “If you’re as awkward in front of the camera as us, a little practice is always welcomed! It puts you at ease so much more on the day.”
Photography Bethany Wilson Photography bethanywilsonphoto.com Venue Brickhouse Vineyard brickhousevineyard.co.uk Wedding styling & stationery Knots & Kisses knotsandkisses.co.uk Dress Cymbeline Paris from Browns of Totnes brownsoftotnes.co.uk Groom’s outfit Moss Bros moss.co.uk Bridesmaids’ dresses Lá Closet Dé Chánel laclosetdechanel.com Flower girls’ dresses Next next.co.uk Hair Olivia Rose Hair & Beauty oliviarosehairandbeauty.co.uk Make-up Melanie Thornton MUA melaniethornton.co.uk Flowers Emma Hewlett Floral Design emmahewlett.co.uk Transport Hummer 4 U Limousines hummer4u.co.uk Entertainment 4tissimo String Quartet 4tissimo.co.uk Exeter Bouncy Castles exeterbouncycastles.co.uk New Daze instagram.com/newdazeband
“I truly felt like all my dreams had come true”
October Song
Chloe and Harry threw their dream garden party wedding, filled with laughter and personal touches at Rockbeare Manor
Chloe first met Harry when they shared accommodation at university. “We hit it off as friends, mostly because I had a habit of cooking too much food and Harry enjoyed finishing the leftovers!” laughs Chloe. “One night, Harry stole a kiss while out at a social event, and the rest fell into place!”
Harry whisked her away for what she thought was a spontaneous weekend break to distract them from the stress of buying their first home together. “He took me to the seaside for a stroll and picnic on the beach, and planned to pop the question under the sunset sky,” she explains. “Instead, it rained all day so we had to picnic in the car, we were drenched on the romantic stroll, and we missed sunset as we were on the wrong side of the hill! It was perfectly imperfect and we wouldn’t change a thing.”
Rockbeare Manor presented “the most magical place and people” for their May garden party wedding that had to be postponed until October due to Covid. “We wanted to keep elements of that original theme – a mix of natural foliage, sage green and white – while warming it up to suit the new autumn date, so we added burnt orange and maroons for a classic October feel,” explains Chloe.
She had her dress altered to feature Juliet sleeves, while on the day the unseasonal weather prompted another last-minute modification. “In the evening, I had an impromptu change into a jumpsuit I had on standby – I didn’t plan to change, but it was so hot and I was ready to party!” she reveals. The rest of the wedding party were equally as eye-catching, with the bridesmaids a vision in burnt orange gowns and the groom’s party in debonair navy suits.
“Our flowers were a family effort, which was so special,” comments Chloe. “Harry’s mum had been growing flowers in preparation for our original wedding and some were still in bloom. We used these along with some wildflowers to DIY our own centrepieces and bridesmaids’ bouquets, and both my nans helped make all the arrangements the day before the wedding in my hotel room.”
After taking their vows beneath two huge trees in the Dining Room (described by Chloe as “our personal favourite touch!”), guests spilled into the gardens for lawn games before a feast featuring sirloin of Devon beef, whole lemon roasted chicken and sweet potato gnocchi. After a competitive quiz about the newly-weds, everyone tucked into their favourite pudding: an English afternoon tea featuring scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, apple cake, chocolate choux buns and raspberry pavlova.
“The cake was another family affair!” adds Chloe. “My mum made and decorated the cake, with my nan making the fruit cake base. My dad spent hours helping to wire the floral centres with my mum and they even added a fondant cocker spaniel to include our fur baby on the day!”
“Overall, it was the laughter,” says Chloe of the resounding memory from the day. “You think of your wedding day as emotional and romantic, but what made it for us was how much fun we had, especially after the very difficult few years we all experienced.”
“Stop planning at a certain point!” she urges other couples. “In the end we realised that despite our best efforts we couldn’t control it all. Take a step back and enjoy the process, it goes so fast.”
Photography Samuel Box Photography samboxphotography.co.uk Venue Rockbeare Manor rockbearemanor.co.uk Dress Allure Bridals from Always & Forever Bridal & Menswear devonbridal.co.uk Groom’s outfit Limehaus limehaus.com Hair Debbie Wright Bridal Hair debbiewrightbridalhair.co.uk Décor hire Unique Designs by Tina uniquedesignsbytina.com Flowers In Bloom Devon inbloomdevon.co.uk Lawn games The Prop Factory propfactory.co.uk Entertainment Inspired Party inspiredparty.co.uk Videography Moments To Media momentstomedia.com
Beneath the Blossom
Johanna and Michael’s tipi wedding was filled with spring blossom, colourful details and fun-filled activities for guests young and old
Johanna and Michael first met at a street food market in London back in 2009. “A mutual friend introduced us and, after a couple of friendly lunches, we started dating,” she says. Twelve years later when Johanna was seven months pregnant with their second child, Michael proposed while walking in Bampton.
“We were enjoying the views when he got down on one knee. I thought he was tying his shoelace so crouched down with him to rest and he had to ask me to stand back up so he could propose!” laughs Johanna. “It took me so much by surprise I just burst into giggles!”
The couple rented a duo tipi from Tipi Spaces with an attached pagoda to accommodate the 150 guests attending their “local, low-key wedding” in an apple orchard across from their home in Bickleigh. “We had the ceremony amongst the blossoms, the wedding breakfast in a tipi and the evening dancing in the village hall,” says Johanna, who deliberately planned the wedding date to coincide with the apple trees blossoming. “We thought that would provide a beautiful, natural décor on the day,” she explains. “The ivory tipis created a lovely backdrop to the colourful decorations and gave lots of light in the day. They also created an atmospheric cosy feel in the evening once the fairy lights came on.”
Johanna wore a custom-made gown created from a lace top, chiffon and silk skirt, and a beaded belt, for their beautiful humanist ceremony under the trees, which included a pagan handfasting. Cake, bubbly and afternoon tea followed alongside garden games. A day filled with entertainment, a bouncy castle, face painting, treasure hunt, kids disco, dress-up basket and craft area delighted the 50 children at the wedding, while the adults enjoyed a quiz, a traditional Viking game and a competitive round of tug of war.
Supper in the tipi consisted of a medley of vegetarian Middle Eastern shared platters including Lebanese lentil ragout, tabbouleh and muhammara, and was followed by an orange blossom and cardamom Eton mess. The evening continued to treat guests’ taste buds with pizzas as the couple’s DJ friends took it in turns to play sets into the small hours.
“Having 50 kids at the wedding was a worry, and it felt like we were catering for two separate parties, but actually they made the atmosphere so relaxed, fun and colourful,” says Johanna while reflecting upon their day. “We also catered a breakfast followed by a walk the next morning, which allowed us to catch up with people that we hadn’t chatted to during the wedding day.”
With friends and family contributing towards everything from the flowers and the cake to Johanna’s headpiece, she recommends delegating wherever you can. “People tend to love getting involved and contributing to a festive occasion like a wedding – and it made all the difference,” she advises. “We also had two friends on hand to deal with all the logistics and queries that inevitably come up, which took the pressure off us and meant we could just enjoy the day.”
Photography Emma Stoner emmastonerweddings.com Tipi Tipi Spaces tipispaces.co.uk Dress Pirouette pirouettethecollection.com Groom’s outfit – jacket Ted Baker tedbaker.com/uk Jeans Marks & Spencer marksandspencer.com Flower girls’ outfits Coco Flower Girls etsy.com/uk/market/coco_flower_girl Flowers Bluebells & Blossom bluebellsandblossom.co.uk Catering Eran’s Kitchen eranskitchen.co.uk Biodegradable tableware Little Cherry littlecherry.co.uk Cake Queen Bee Cakes queenbeecakes.org.uk Décor hire Fanfare Event Hire fanfareeventhire.co.uk
got wed
Written in the Stars
Sian and Jack’s relaxed, rural wedding was inspired by their favourite things
“I used to secretly laugh at his jokes from across the office,” smiles Sian of her and Jack’s workplace romance. “We kept ‘accidentally’ going to make coffees at the same time and the rest is history!”
One Christmas Eve, Jack treated Sian to dinner on Plymouth Hoe and asked that all-important question. “We went for a post-dinner walk down by Smeaton’s Tower to look at the stars and, whilst I was busy trying to get my stargazing app to work on my phone, Jack suggested we sit for a moment on a bench…and then proceeded to pop the question! It was so dark outside I couldn’t even see the ring so, after enthusiastically saying ‘yes!’ I then ran up to the nearest lamppost to take a look at it!”
Hayne fulfilled their venue brief of “pretty with laidback vibes”, with the bonus that everything was in one location – and that they also provided the ceremony flowers from their own cutting garden. “I’ve always preferred wildflowers,” comments Sian. “Everyone got a bit emotional when the bouquets arrived in the morning – they were just so beautiful.”
Taking Sian’s favourite colour of periwinkle blue as the starting point, the wedding was planned “to feel informal, with a personalised twist”, explains Sian. “So we just tried to inject as many of our interests into the day as possible!” An illustrator in her spare time, Sian created all the stationery herself, while her mum handmade the jam favours.
Opting for a garden ceremony, the couple exchanged vows before joining their guests for a feast in the barn. In keeping with the relaxed mood of the day, they chose picnic hampers brimming with local goodies (“that went down an absolute storm”) and arranged a cake table for dessert.
“Some guests even brought along their own bakes to add to the spread, which was such a lovely touch,” says Sian. “And we made sure there were cardboard takeaway boxes so guests could fill a box of goodies to enjoy on the taxi ride home too!”
A range of entertainment included two acoustic sets from their talented friend, Ezmay Grace, alongside a pub quiz and ice cream trike as guests revelled into the evening.
When asked to pick her favourite moment from the day, Sian is so spoiled for choice that she selects two. “Having our rescue golden retriever, Gus, with us on the day was absolutely amazing,” she says. “I made treat packets for our guests so that, if they saw Gus, they could give him a treat and a pat on the head – I’m so glad I did this because everyone loved having an excuse to say hello to him!”
“As the weather was really touch-and-go, we didn’t think we’d actually be able to get married in the garden, so the most magical moment was when it all went ahead and we were stood with each other in that beautiful garden exchanging our vows,” reflects Sian.
“Stick to your vision and don’t let anyone else’s opinions dilute your day!” she adds as a note of advice to others in the midst of planning.
Photography Grace Elizabeth grace-elizabeth.co.uk Venue Hayne Devon haynedevon.co.uk Dress Wed2B wed2b.com Bridesmaids’ dresses ASOS asos.com Flower girl’s dress JJ’s House jjshouse.co.uk Groom’s outfit Prudence Gowns prudencegowns.com Hair Hair by Hannah hairbyhannah.net Make-up Justine Olver justineolver.co.uk Flowers Milla at Hayne haynedevon.co.uk Catering The Wild Picnic Company wildpicnics.co.uk Two Scoops Tricycle instagram.com/twoscoopstricycle Papavero Pizza Company papaveropizza.com Entertainment Ezmay Grace ezmaygracemusic.co.uk Dog chaperone A Pad 4 Paws padforpaws.co.uk
got wed
Age of Elegance
Olivia and Phil’s intimate wedding blended bundles of white roses, eucalyptus and gypsophila with an idyllic rural backdrop
“Shortly after the birth of our child Immie, Phil took me to Salcombe for the night,’” says Olivia, reminiscing about their engagement. “As it was my first night on the wine since having our daughter, I got a little drunk, so Phil’s original plan to propose over a romantic dinner didn’t happen! Instead, when I woke in the morning he got down on one knee beside the bed and popped the question,” she smiles.
New wedding venue Welbeck Manor Hotel and Golf was the setting for their elegantly styled wedding, which took a simple yet striking colour scheme of sage green and white. A stunning mix of white roses, eucalyptus and gypsophila formed the basis of the floristry, while the tablescapes were beautifully pared-back with a single white rose in a vase with a hint of greenery and a scattering of gypsophila throughout. The three-tiered cake echoed the contemporary styling, with a hint of sparkle and white sugar roses adding romance.
The dress code was equally as chic. Accessorised with a bouquet of white roses and a sleek updo, Olivia donned an elegant strapless gown with a beaded bodice. “I fell in love with the first dress I tried on,” she says. Meanwhile Phil was the epitome of modern suave with a navy three-piece suit, tan brogues, sage green tie and white rose buttonhole.
Olivia relished a champagne breakfast and memorable morning of preparations with her nearest and dearest. “Getting ready with the girls and walking down the aisle,” she cites as her fondest memories from the day, made all the more poignant by the soundtrack of her grand entrance and aisle walk by singer, Angel Flukes.
After the ceremony, guests gathered on the decking for cocktails and canapés of mango cups, Thai shrimp and spring rolls as Angel continued to deliver her stirring vocals ahead of the delectable wedding breakfast.
Spicy starters of tom yam soup, coconut shrimps and red pork noodles primed appetites for a main course of cod fillet, pad Thai chicken and red curry vegetables served with pineapple fried rice. The speeches were served in-between courses, after which an evening of dancing continued well into the early hours, leaving Olivia and Phil exhausted but elated, and full of reflection upon their day.
“Keep it simple,” says Olivia when asked what her best piece of advice would be to other couples in the midst of wedding planning. “Don’t worry about impressing anyone but yourselves, and enjoy every moment as it goes by so quickly.”
Photography Melanie Barnfield Photography melaniebarnfieldphotography.com Venue Welbeck Manor Hotel and Golf welbeckmanorandgolf.co.uk Dress Abella Bridal Boutique abellabridal.co.uk Hair Therapy Hair Boutique teamtherapy.co.uk Make-up Victoria Ansell Bridesmaids’ dresses Ever Pretty ever-pretty.co.uk Groom’s outfit Suits Plus suitsplusbristol.com Flowers Emma Brinsden Florist emmabrinsdenflorist.co.uk Cake Cakes by Kate cakesbykateuk.com Entertainment Angel Flukes instagram.com/angelflukes
got wed
Summer Love
Ruth and Anthony’s wedding had all the ingredients of a perfect summer celebration, with a Greek feast, al fresco vows, fun games and plenty of sangria!
Ruth couldn’t have been more surprised when Anthony dropped to one knee at home on an average Thursday back in 2019. “It was unexpected, understated and I loved it,” she reflects. “The best part was that he had also organised a surprise engagement party for the next evening. He told all our guests that it was a belated housewarming party, but we got to surprise them instead with our engagement news!”
Engagement celebrations over, the couple set about finding a venue for their vision of a “relaxed, rustic but people orientated wedding” – and Harefield Barn was the perfect fit. “One of our best decisions was that we chose to host our wedding at beautiful Harefield Barn,” says Ruth. “We loved the idea of a DIY wedding where we could bring in suppliers who would fit our day, and the owners, Deborah and Robert, were so welcoming and helpful that we knew it was a good match!”
Ruth and Anthony relished the opportunity to put their stamp on their big day. “After the pandemic we were all just in need of some good quality time with friends and family, so we focused on great food, fun games, minimal formalities, and the best sangria recipe,” she says. The styling celebrated both the season and rural setting through a burnt orange hue paired with natural textures, from chipboard signage to bundles of dried flowers.
After the outdoor ceremony, where the couple took their vows before views across rolling meadows, the festivities kicked off in style with sangria, games and live music from Emma Pick.
In keeping with the summer vibe, the couple opted for a Greek feast. “We wanted hearty and delicious food that would be perfect for a summer wedding. Our guests couldn’t stop raving about it!” enthuses Ruth who savoured this special meal at a sweetheart table with Anthony. “We wanted the day to be all about time with family and friends but taking this moment to take it all in, enjoy our delicious Greek feast and people watch was a highlight.”
The wedding favours also delighted their guests. “Our first date ended on a shot of Licor 43 so we wanted our married life to start on one,” says Ruth. “Anthony finished his fantastic speech and then asked all our guests to join us. Seeing all our loved ones take a shot with us was such a highlight!”
Ruth and Anthony’s decision to do a last dance proved another standout moment. “We were both nervous at the thought of a sober first dance so we decided to finish with our favourite song, Mumford & Sons’ There Will Be Time, and it brought all our guests together for one final dance. What we thought would be daunting turned out to be one of the best bits.”
And any nerves at the prospect of posed photos vanished on meeting their photographer, Kat. “She made us feel so comfortable and really became part of our day – in doing so, she was able to capture the real side of it, not just the picture-perfect moments,” says Ruth. “Don’t compromise on your photographer!” she adds as a note of advice.
Photography Kathryn Clarke-Mcleod Photography kathrynclarkemcleod.com Venue Harefield Barn harefieldbarn.co.uk Dress The Wedding Company the-wedding-company.co.uk Hair A Salon Called Hare asaloncalledhare.co.uk Emily Zade Rickard instagram.com/emily.rickard84 Make-up The Brow Lady facebook.com/TheBrowLadyX Kim Bowen instagram.com/kimbowenbeautymua Bridesmaids’ dresses ASOS asos.com Groom’s outfit Zebel zebel.co.uk Catering The Greek Outdoors thegreekoutdoors.com Exe Valley Pizza Co. exevalleypizza.co Cake Ben’s Bakes bens-bakes.co.uk Flowers The Barn Florist barnflorist.co.uk Tableware South West Event Hire southwesteventhire.co.uk Entertainment Emma Pick instagram.com/pick_emma Retro Disco retrodisco.co.uk
Classic Romance Where the Wildflowers Grow
Homegrown flowers, fiesta grooves and vows with Dartmoor views made for the most enchanting wedding for Nell and Will
After Will proposed to Nell on a sunny November morning, choosing a wedding venue was an easy decision. “We got married at Will’s family home, Coombe Trenchard,” says Nell. “What makes it so special is the amount of different areas which open up like a jewellery box – from two large terraces to the grand inside rooms and the leafy coach house. Then there are the gardens to wander, play croquet and take in the views of Dartmoor.”
The couple drew on the enchanting setting for the look and feel of the day. “We wanted the wedding to feel rustic yet refined with a muted earthy colour palette and plenty of wildflowers,” explains Nell. “In light of the house’s history, there were also nods to the Edwardian Arts and Crafts style with Liberty print ties and my choice of dress.” The perfect mix of traditional and fashion-forward, her Katya Katya gown paired a French floral lace top with a tiered tulle skirt, which was altered so she could remove the last layer for the evening.
Nell and Will were the first couple to have their ceremony on The Italian Terrace. “Elegant stone columns frame a view of Brent Tor and cross-backed chairs were arranged in an arc shape to echo the stone centrepiece,” she explains. All grown from seed at the venue, Will’s mother Sarah arranged the flowers, lining the walkway with wildflower meadow boxes bursting with deep reds, oranges, muted pinks, whites and greens.
The homegrown blooms also brought gorgeous colour to the tables, while handmade napkins and ceramic pinch pot favours from Nell’s mum added further character to the place settings. “The combination of these elements paired with candlelight was magical,” reflects Nell. “At night, this area was transformed into a Mamma Mia! style affair. Tables were cleared, the disco ball was lit and the band struck up a Gipsy Kings number. We danced late into the night to Bamboleo Band fuelled by coffee liqueur and Cornish spirits from the Peacock Bar.”
The wedding breakfast proved another highlight of the day. “Our favourite dishes were the smoked beetroot with preserved lemon crème fraiche, toasted hazelnuts and fennel seeds and the local catch of the day in a Café de Paris sauce with nasturtium leaves,” she says. A selection of ice creams served from a tricycle rounded off the feast.
Looking back, Nell cites a particularly fond moment that stands out in her mind. “Standing arm in arm with my dad, we heard the music and he looked at me and said: ‘I think it’s our time’. The moments that followed were overwhelmingly emotional. Seeing Will, surrounded by all our favourite people and our dog Louis set against the majestic views of Dartmoor, was more beautiful than I could ever have imagined.”
“Don’t try to please everyone and only do the bits that you want to do! Find a venue where you can build a good relationship with the events manager. The rest will fall into place,” she advises other couples. “Also, make mood boards for the different sections of the day to help you narrow down a style and communicate your vision to suppliers.”
Photography Nick Walker Photography nickwphotography.com Venue Coombe Trenchard coombetrenchard.co.uk Catering Beautiful and the Feast beautifulandthefeast.com Dress Katya Katya katyakatya.co.uk Bridesmaids’ dresses Topshop at ASOS asos.com Flower girls’ dresses Little Linen Stories at Etsy etsy.com/shop/linenlittlestories Hair Laura Bukin instagram.com/laurabukin Make-up Gisele Michel-Gendre instagram.com/gisellemichelgendre_mua Groom’s outfit Suit Supply suitsupply.com Bouquets, flower crowns & buttonholes Joanna Game instagram.com/joannagame_flowers Table & walkway flowers Sarah Marsh, Coombe Trenchard coombetrenchard.co.uk Stationery Mingo Mingo Studio mingomingo.co.uk Ice cream trike The Dartmoor Ice Cream Company dartmooricecream.co.uk Entertainment Bamboleo Band bamboleoband.com
