A FLORAL FANTASY

A floral fantasy Flowers are important to bride and florist Jess who made sure they played a key role in the big-day styling

Images courtesy of Interlace Photography

Jess and Jake met aged 13 while undertaking the Ten Tors challenge with their local guide and scout groups. However, being from different schools and indeed, towns, they didn’t keep in touch afterwards and it wasn’t until the age of 17 that they met again at a scout jamboree. This time, they discovered lots in common and spent more time together. In 2007 they started dating and have been together ever since.

No doubt Jess assumed there’d be no saving her 30th birthday celebrations, which had to be cancelled when the first lockdown was announced the week prior. Deciding to get some fresh air on the day itself, the couple set out for a walk with the dog. Pausing along the way, Jake pulled a beautiful engagement ring from his pocket and turned to Jess: “This wasn’t really supposed to be for your birthday, but today feels like the right time. Will you marry me?” It was a complete surprise for her and made what was bound to be a much quieter birthday than planned, the best one yet!

Jess had long dreamed of saying “I do” at All Saints Church in Long Ashton. Her grandparents, parents and sister were all married there along with a fair few other couples in her family. So, the choice of ceremony spot was an easy one. When it came to the reception, the pair knew they wanted an outdoorsy vibe and remembering Jess’ sister’s wedding in their parents’ garden complete with tipis they opted to do the same. “The setting was just so lovely and it meant a lot to us to make memories there too,” Jess explains.

Join us as the bride gives us the lowdown on W-day – 21st August, 2021...

I was so excited on the day, I couldn’t wait to get down that aisle! When the doors opened in the church and I saw all of our friends and family, I was a bit overwhelmed and teary, but then I saw Jake waiting at the other end and just felt excited. Although, I did cry a bit during the ceremony!

I wore Meg by Enzoani. Sarah and her team at The White Collection in Clevedon were fantastic. The dress was the complete opposite of what I thought I’d wear, but once I put it on I felt fantastic. I walked out to show my mum and sister and they cried, as did I! We hired a vintage Rolls Royce. It was actually used on the set of Peaky Blinders, which Jake and I love.

Jake wore a three-piece suit teamed with a tie to complement the bridesmaids’ dresses. His groomsmen wore the same, but he had a fancier buttonhole allowing him to stand out. The whole groom’s party also wore a Marie Curie daffodil pin in memory of Jake’s grandad, Walter.

The bridesmaids wore matching dresses – Angelina by Barbaroni in Tahiti, a dusky lilac colour. We paired the dresses with some sparkly champagne block heels and matching clutch bags. Favours were mini succulents in terracotta pots for the ladies and Marie Curie pins for the men.

Our table plan was displayed on a large full-height vintage-style mirror dressed with flowers. We used white vinyl decals for the table names and place settings. Jake and I met doing Ten Tors and have spent a lot of time on Dartmoor together, so we named our tables after Tors and places we enjoy visiting including our favourite pub. Centrepieces were tall, gold stands with large floral arrangements at the top in colours matching the theme.

Flowers were a massive part of the day. Being a florist myself and working with my mum and dad in the family business, they were always going to be amazing! Although I found it difficult at times to settle on the varieties, once the colour palette was decided it was much easier. We used a combination of garden roses ranging from a subtle natural hue, right through to a pinky peach. We teamed that with hydrangeas, stocks, clematis, lisianthus, amaranthus, bouvardia, dhalia, asclipeas and showstopping royal peach phaleanopsis orchids. We also used a beautiful selection of mixed foliage including passionflower vines, eucalyptus and fern.

Our lovely four-tier cake, iced in white, had four different flavours – lemon, vanilla, salted caramel and chocolate. It was decorated with lilac ribbon to complement the colour palette as well as individual orchid heads. We had guests’ names laser cut from wood, which we placed on the napkins along with a single orchid head and tied a satin lilac ribbon around each one.

We had a beautiful round wooden pallet bar that we decorated with flowers, as well as a sweet cart, memory ladder and hanging wheel dressed in foliage and blooms.

The pathway to the marquee was lined with vintage-style lanterns and large potted hydrangea plants.

We always wanted food to be a big part of our day and had our hearts set on a traditional sit-down wedding breakfast. We replaced the starter with lots of canapés and offered a choice of three mains: slow-roasted beef, chicken supreme or veggie wellington. Guests could then decide between profiteroles, white chocolate and raspberry crème brulee and chocolate brownie for dessert. We had wood-fired pizzas for the evening, which were great and everyone loved them.

Our photographer Eleanor made us feel so comfortable and created the best atmosphere for us to get memorable snaps of the day. Everyone was brilliant and we wouldn’t change a thing about our day, well... maybe less rain, but other than that, nothing! I think it was one of the first big days out people had been to since Covid struck, so everyone was just so happy and the space was full of laughter. Kieran the DJ started at around 7pm and I don’t think people stopped dancing until the very end of the night.

“I woke up excited, but relieved to have finally got there. We invested a lot of time into the planning and had lots of help that we’re very grateful for.” – Jake

JESS AND JAKE’S SUPPLIERS Marquee, Barny Lee Marquees, https://barnyleemarquees.co.uk | Photographer, Interlace Photography, www.interlacephotography.co.uk | Bride’s dress, The White Collection Clevedon, www.thewhitecollectionbridal.co.uk | Bride’s accessories, Olivier Laudas, www.olivierlaudus.com | Hair and Make up, Gemma James Makeup, www.gemmajamesmakeup.co.uk | Groom’s suit, Clifton Suits, www.cliftonsuits.co.uk | Cake, Laura Bakes Cakes, www.instagram.com/laurabakescakes_ | Flowers, Kimberleys The Florist, www.kimberleystheflorist.co.uk | Transport, Triggols Vintage Car Hire, www.vintagewedding-cars.co.uk | Stationery, That Copy Shop Clevedon, https://thatcopyshop.com | Entertainment, Kieran Clarke Entertainment, www.kieranclarkeents.co.uk | Catering, Cotswold Pizza Co, www.cotswoldpizza.co.uk | Catering, Samantha Johnson Fine Cuisine, www.samanthajohnson.org.uk | Wedding planner, Westcountry Wedding Planner, www.westcountryweddingplanner.co.uk