A whirlwind holiday romance in Majorca blossomed into love for Naomi and Aidan. “We enjoyed our first date in England two weeks after we returned home,” she says. “We have since had two children and built our happy family life in West Sussex.”
Six years after their first Mediterranean encounter, Aidan orchestrated an epically romantic proposal at one of Naomi’s favourite beaches in southern Italy. “There was a table laid for two, scattered with rose petals and surrounded by candles. I remember saying: ‘look at that beautiful set-up, someone must have a very romantic evening planned’. Then I turned around and he was down on one knee holding a beautiful ring!”
The couple knew exactly what type of wedding they wanted. “It has always been a dream of ours to have an intimate wedding in a place surrounded by natural beauty,” explains Naomi. “We also wanted somewhere away from home, so that it felt like a a special getaway for us.” That special somewhere was Brickhouse Vineyard. “We instantly fell in love with everything about it,” she says.
Naomi relished the challenge of planning and styling their wedding. Choosing a boho theme with warm pastel sunset colours, the floristry was key to the look of the day, featuring fan palms, stocks, toffee roses, garden roses, phalaenopsis orchids, peonies and pampas. “We wanted beautiful flowers to bring the place to life and complement the surrounding natural beauty,” she explains.
Bringing a DIY element to the day, Naomi made the stationery, signage and – being a professional pastry chef and cake maker – the wedding cake and macaron favours. “I made all the place name cards on seeded paper that could be kept and planted to grow wildflowers,” she says. “I also crafted the bridesmaids’ flower crowns from pampas grass and gypsophila that I picked and dried myself.”
The ceremony proved a standout moment of the day for the couple. “One of my favourite parts was reading our personal vows that we had each written and had kept a secret until the day,” says Naomi. “It made my heart melt to hear the loving vows Aidan had written for me.”
After drinks in the grounds, everyone tucked into an “outstanding” feast, featuring Darts Farm beef, roast sea bass, ratatouille tart, wedding cake and fresh fruit platters, before a DJ took to the decks for guests to dance the night away.
Looking back, the first dance lingers in Aidan’s mind as a magical moment. “It was like it was just me and Naomi in the room dancing to our song,” he reflects. “Then when it finished everyone joined us on the dancefloor, which made it feel even more special.”
“Having our children as part of our wedding day was the most magical thing for us,” adds Naomi. “The following day our daughter asked us ‘when are mummy and daddy getting married again?’ because she enjoyed the day so much!”
Naomi imparts some sound planning advice. “Writing a guest list should be one of the first things you do as this will help you to find a venue with the right amount of space for your party,” she recommends. “Schedule in some couple time without wedding talk, and remember that your wedding day is really about the two of you and your happiness!”
Photography ElsieLove Photography elsielovephotography.com
Venue Brickhouse Vineyard brickhousevineyard.co.uk
Dress Grace Loves Lace graceloveslace.com
Groom’s outfit ASOS asos.com
Hair Rocco Staff Hair Designers instagram.com/roccostaffhairdesigners
Make-up Rita Siviero from Backstage Academy backstage-academy.co.uk
Flowers Floren Studio florenstudio.co.uk
Fairy light canopy Socialights socialights.co.uk
Peacock chairs The Natural Hire Company thenaturalhirecompany.co.uk
Catering Mulberry Catering Co mulberrycatering.co.uk
Bouncy castle Exeter Bouncy Castles exeterbouncycastles.co.uk
Entertainment Urban Idol DJs entertainment-nation.co.uk
Videography Friends Film It friendsfilmit.co.uk
