'We met on an old-fashioned night out in St Albans. I was with work friends and Tom was on a night out he nearly didn't go on. We got chatting, had a few drinks and danced, then realised we were going home on the same train to the same station!' recalls Lisa.
The pair got engaged at sunset on Sugarloaf Mountain during an unforgettable trip to Rio de Janeiro. 'We went for a slap-up meal and lots of champagne! We both love to travel and experience different cultures, so it really was the perfect place,' reminisces Lisa.
An extended wedding at the Ash Barton Estate allowed the festival-loving couple to 'invite as many of our friends and family as possible for a massive celebration with a festival feel,' explains Lisa. A party on the first night kick-started the festivities; the following day was spent preparing for the wedding, with more guests arriving to camp in tipis, and a Caribbean-style feast in the evening.
Together with 'just-gathered' style wild flowers blending pops of pink, yellow and blue, the stationery helped set the nature-inspired tone of the celebrations. Lisa enlisted the help of her friend, Kate, who hand-painted the wild flower invitations and place settings, which were attached to the napkins with twine and lavender.
The dress code was another key component of the look of the day. Lisa chose a champagne gown complete with beautiful beading, floral and vine detail on the skirt, and a demure low back. 'I wanted a kind of vintage and understated look, but still glamorous!' she says.
Brown tweed suits were paired with floral ties and pocket squares ' 'and little bee brooches to continue the wild flower/nature theme' ' to give the groom and his groomsmen a tailored yet on-trend look.
With a relaxed approach to catering being key to creating a festival vibe, guests tucked into giant paella and mini desserts alongside the atmospheric sounds of the Brass Junkies.
'On Sunday, my nan's husband cooked an absolute feast of pulled pork buns, chicken shawarma, and vegan cheese and vegetarian burritos,' adds Lisa of the after-party delights on offer.
'I think the main thing that stood out for us was just the amount of love there was at the wedding!' she says, looking back. 'Our family and friends did so much for us to make our day so special, and there were so many personal touches. Everyone was in such high spirits and we joined up many parts of our lives all in one place and they all embraced each other and had a great time.'
As for advice for nearly-weds, Lisa encourages others not to stress about things out of their control: 'Remember that even if something doesn't turn out exactly as you had in your mind, your guests will not know any different.'
Photography Freckle Photography frecklephotography.co.uk
Venue Ash Barton ashbarton.com
Dress Ellis Bridals ellisbridals.co.uk
Bridesmaids' dresses ASOS asos.com
Groom's outfit The Vintage Suit Hire Company vintagesuithire.co.uk
Hair Pinned to Perfection pinnedtoperfection.co.uk
Flowers Offshore Blooms facebook.com/OffshoreBlooms
Catering H&A Catering hacatering.biz
Entertainment Brass Junkies brassjunkies.co.uk
