One FINE DAY

Devon wedding venue Shilstone provided the timeless backdrop for Melissa and Joshua’s big day decorated with an elegant white and sage-green theme Images courtesy of Danielle

Melissa

and Joshua met via the dating app Hinge and enjoyed their first date at the Cross Keys in Chelsea, London. “Joshua had asked me out for a coffee, but I don’t drink coffee, so I told him if he wanted to see me on a Sunday, it would have to involve a Sunday roast!” Melissa tells us. “From the very beginning, it was clear we had the same thoughts on everything – morals, work ethics, family values and similar interests including skiing, wine and walks in the country.”

The couple became engaged on 4th November 2020 which was their second anniversary and the eve of the November 2020 lockdown. “Joshua had planned a weekend in the Cotswolds to coincide with our mid-week anniversary - we had visited the Cotswolds to celebrate our anniversary the year previous and had decided to make it a tradition,” Melissa tells us. “When the lockdown was announced a few days in advance on a Saturday, little did I know that he went into both panic and action mode! Not knowing whether it would last for one month as planned, he wanted to ensure that we still went on the trip. He convinced me to swap my holiday days at work and for us to go away from Tuesday until Wednesday. He proposed on one knee during a walk around Blenheim Palace. We were in the middle of Bladon Bridge and it was a crisp November day with the sun shining against the blue sky. There were swans in the water on either side of the bridge and considering that Joshua had never been there before, he had to choose a spot, on impulse, and it couldn’t have been more perfect.”

We drove back to London after the proposal where we had a reservation for dinner at the Cross Keys – we have continued going there every November since our first date. The atmosphere was electric, and to be back where we met the day we got engaged couldn’t have been more romantic.”

Setting The Scene

The couple knew that they wanted to get married in Devon, despite neither of them growing up there. “At the time, my parents had a holiday home between Dartmouth and Salcombe so we stayed there for our first weekend away as a couple,” Melissa tells us. “Since then, we have made fond memories in Devon.”

Due to the lockdowns, the couple drove to the region and did back-to-back viewings at venues over two days. “Shilstone was the last one that we viewed and as we approached the driveway, even in the rain we both knew instantly that it was the venue for us,” Melissa tells us. “It showcased such incredible views.”

Melissa and Joshua’s table plan was produced by Unique Design By Tina. “We were very grateful to them for accommodating several cancellations the day before due to

“We had a pre-wedding rehearsal dinner at the Beach House on South Milton Sands with our dearest and dearest, just after we were legally married (although we kept that secret). This was a lovely, informal way to start the weekend. My two family dogs were able to join too, which meant the world to me. Sadly one of them, Keira, passed away a month later at the age of 15. Looking back on pictures I have from her at the Beach House are so special and it made me feel like she had held on for our wedding.” - Melissa illness!” Melissa tells us. “We also had stunning white cherry blossom trees from them which made such an impact in the marquee. The team at Unique Designs by Tina and our florist, Caroline Hodges collaborated to transform the marquee and some of our guests commented that they felt like they were in an episode of Bridgerton which we took as a big compliment!”

The couple’s table names were after some of their favourite places in the area written in calligraphy and displayed on white wooden signs suspended from the branches of the cherry blossom trees. “We commissioned oyster shell place names adorned with gold leaf and calligraphy writing,” Melissa says. “Our favours were glass bottles of homemade, rosemary-infused olive oil for our guests to take home.”

Melissa and Joshua’s florist, Caroline, stuck to their brief of using eucalyptus and white blooms to coordinate with the colour theme. “I wanted beautiful flowers with a classic bouquet,” Melissa says. “I carried a bridal bouquet of white hydrangeas and my bridesmaids had white gypsophila in theirs. We also had eucalyptus runners on the tables, with the top table featuring a more elaborate set-up containing hydrangeas to match my bouquet.”

The talented team at Shilstone provided the catering and the couple chose a wedding cake of cheese from Sharpham Cheese. “They hosted us for a tasting a couple of months before our wedding to select the cheese for each layer which was a great idea,” Melissa says.

Looking The Part

Melissa wore a dress purchased from the Bridal Rogue Gallery in Marylebone, London. “I had been trying dresses on for months but with six months to go until the wedding, I still hadn’t chosen one. I knew the shape and neckline that I liked so I typed this into an Instagram search and within fifteen minutes, I had three new options, all in my price range. I emailed the stockists to see if they had the dresses and as luck would have it, the Bridal Rogue Gallery stocked two of the brands and had both dresses available to try on. The other dress was down in North Devon and so I ended up driving a 10-hour round trip to realise it wasn’t the one!”

Melissa chose the Milan dress by the designer Freda Bennet and had a statement bow added at the back. “I also had the train lengthened because I’m tall, and tweaks made to the neckline and straps,” she tells us. “I accessorised it with a pair of baroque pearl earrings and a gold bracelet with J&M entwined in the centre that I commissioned from my friend Gabby who has a jewellery design company. I also wore my grandmother’s plain gold wedding band – sadly she passed away a few years ago so it was lovely to involve her memory in such a special occasion. I also carried my dream bag – a giant pearl from Simone Rocha which I purchased the week we got engaged. I had admired it for ages and felt that I could finally justify it.”

Joshua wore a morning suit and matched his waistcoat to the colour of the bridesmaids’ dresses. The ushers wore their own morning suits and waistcoats and all of the male bridal party had a white rose buttonhole on their lapels. “Our bridesmaids all wore sage-green dresses,” Melissa says. “I wanted loose-fitting dresses so they felt relaxed and could eat and drink as much as they wanted later in the day – I also chose fabrics which didn’t crease.”

Time To Celebrate

The couple had a soul band called Soul Funktion who played two sets. “We also had a DJ named Steve, who doubled up as our sound engineer and was such a pleasure to work with and followed our carefully curated playlist,” Melissa says.

THE DREAM TEAM

Venue and catering, Shilstone, https://shilstonedevon.com | Photography, Danielle Veitch, www.danielleveitch.com | Venue styling (table plan and cherry blossom trees), Unique Designs by Tina, https://uniquedesignsbytina.com | Florist, Caroline Hodges Flowers, https://carolinehodgesflowers.co.uk | Cake of cheese, Sharpham Dairy, https://sharphamcheese.co.uk | Prop hire, Unique Designs by Tina, https://uniquedesignsbytina.com | DJ, DJ Wall of Sound Disco & Photos, https://www.facebook.com/djwallofsounddiscophotos/ | Rehearsal dinner, Beach House Devon, https://beachhousedevon.com | Post-wedding brunch, The Winking Prawn Beach Cafe – Salcombe, https://winkingprawn.co.uk | Band, Soul Funktion, www.soulfunktion.co.uk | Dress, Bridal Rogue Gallery Gowns & Accessories, www.bridalroguegallery.co.uk | Earrings, Completedworks, https://completedworks.com/collections/earrings | Bridal bag, Simone Rocha, https://simonerocha.com/collections/bags | Bracelet, Gabrielle Greenwood @Celeste&Cupid | Wedding rings, Gerry Summers Exquisite Jewellery, https://gerrysummersjewellery.com | Make-up artist, Danielle Yates Make-up, @danielleyatesmakeup | Suit, Neal & Palmer, https://nealandpalmer.com | Waistcoat, Sirplus, https://sirplus.co.uk | Bridesmaids’ dresses, ASOS, www.asos.com | Stationery, www.etsy.com/uk/shop/awordinyourshell | Wedding night accommodation, Gara Rock, www.gararock.com

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