Chloe and David first laid eyes on each other across a crowded bar on Halloween. “Somehow in all the madness and seas of people in fancy dress we lost each other,” recalls Chloe. “I woke up the following day to a message from David asking to take me on a date. I accepted and the rest is history!”
David surprised Chloe by proposing while renovating their first home during lockdown in 2020. “He called me and, when I walked into the room, he was down on one knee amongst the rubble and proposed. His reasoning for proposing in our new home was because we were literally building our future together and he said: ‘it just feels right and I couldn’t wait any longer’.”
With its sweeping parkland and breathtaking celebration spaces, Powderham Castle made an enchanting venue for their “autumnal, rustic, country estate” wedding. “We met in the autumn and it’s also our favourite season, so it seemed a fitting theme,” explains Chloe. Against the majestic spaces of the historic castle and the golden autumnal light, the seasonal palette of burnt orange, rust and soft peach, which carried from the flowers to the bridesmaids’ dresses, made for a soul-stirring scene.
A violinist provided a stirring soundtrack to their emotional ceremony in the State Dining Room, after which drinks and canapés were savoured in the rose garden “as we were blessed with gorgeous sun and clear skies,” reminisces Chloe. “The kids danced to the music with the deer running around in the fields behind.”
Guests tucked into a wow-worthy feast full of Devon produce including slow-roasted sirloin of Westcountry beef and A ‘Taste of Devon’ trio of desserts comprising Uffculme dark chocolate torte, local clotted cream and poached rhubarb panna cotta, and Luscombe apple cider sorbet.
“The speeches had the room both laughing and crying about our childhood memories and the years we’ve spent as a couple,” says Chloe. The newly-weds were transported to the Riding School Barn in the back of a burnt orange pick-up for an evening party filled with live music, a photo booth and glitter bar. “The whole day was filled with smiles and we finished the evening to cheesy disco classics and way too much cake!” she laughs.
“My favourite moment was when David and I got back to the castle after all our guests had left. It was the first time we spent together alone and without prompt we both hugged and slow danced again for the last time on such a precious day,” she reflects. For David, it was the ceremony that provided the standout moment. “Seeing Chloe walk down the aisle was my favourite moment by far,” he smiles. “That feeling will stay with me forever.”
Chloe has some tips for couples in the midst of planning. “Create a supplier checklist with contact details. You can also note and track your spend against each supplier,” she advises. “This helps keep on top of your budget and you can also use the checklist closer to the time to confirm last minute details with each person.”
“Make time regularly to recap what you have booked so far,” she adds. “You can get lost in wedding brain fog so taking an hour to check what’s actually booked every few months is really refreshing.”
Photography Freckle Photography frecklephotography.co.uk
Venue Powderham Castle powderham.co.uk
Dress & veil Enzoani from Little London Brides littlelondonbrides.co.uk
Groom’s outfit Marc Darcy from Zebel zebel.co.uk
Bridesmaids’ dresses Oh Hello Clothing ohelloclothing.com
Hair Natalie Nichols instagram.com/natalienicholsbridal
Toni Gogola tonigogola.co.uk
Make-up Lopez Beauty lopezbeauty.com
Flowers Simply Flowers Devon simplyflowersdevon.com
Catering Posh Nosh posh-nosh.co.uk
Cake Chloe’s Bakes chloebakesashburton.co.uk
Entertainment Richard Toomer musiciandevon.co.uk
Mafia 4 instagram.com/mafia4uk
Your Big Event yourbigevent.co.uk
Photo booth & glitter bar Vintage Camper Booths vintagecamperbooths.co.uk
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