A dating app led Laura and Hugh to their first meeting at a London pub back in 2017. “We quickly became inseparable with our love for the water and adventures,” says Laura. “I spent most weekends down on the south coast where Hugh was living.” Three years later, Hugh popped the question during a trip to Cornwall.
“We went for a walk on the cliffs at Polkerris where Hugh got down on one knee and proposed, followed by a picnic breakfast in the sunshine overlooking the water,” says Laura. And the ocean-loving pair chose Watermouth Cove, on the North Devon coast, as the backdrop for their wedding celebrations. “We wanted to get married by the sea and keep the theme beachy, rustic and relaxed with blues and yellows,” she explains.
To help achieve the coastal look, Laura handcrafted a number of elements herself. “I enjoyed getting crafty and re-using things – I made oyster shell candles, painted candles for the tables as part of my hen do and sanded up and wrote on old fencing for our welcome and order of the day signs,” she says.
From milk churn arrangements to the beautifully blooming pagoda overlooking the sea, the flowers followed Laura’s brief of being “in season and locally grown with a rustic, picked-from-the-garden look.”
In keeping with the relaxed mood, Laura wore a gorgeous two-piece for the barefoot ceremony on the clifftops. The personal, music-filled proceedings saw a performance from singer and saxophonist Lucy Harvey as well as the congregation singing All You Need Is Love.
After the vows, guests tucked into sparkling wine and canapés, while the newly-weds climbed down the rocks to get on their paddleboards. “We paddled around the headland to all our guests cheering. There was a moment when we looked at each other and thought ‘we actually did it’ – what a great start to our married adventures together!” Laura jumped off her paddleboard into Hugh’s arms, walking up the beach to a shower of confetti.
The wedding breakfast presented sharing platters of roast lamb and pork and a trio of desserts, and the delights continued into the evening, with a rum and gin bar, fish and chips, barbecue lentil goujons and churros while live band The Nashville Heat performed.
“Don't be afraid to be different: if you like something, be decisive and go for it – and remember that it is your day to enjoy all your favourite things!” Laura imparts as words of advice. “Also, if you can, use local suppliers – we met so many amazing, talented people along our wedding planning journey.”
Photography Freeformimages Photography freeformimages.co.uk
Venue Watermouth Cove watermouthcoveweddings.co.uk
Dress Catherine Deane catherinedeane.co.uk
Bridesmaids’ dresses Motee Maids moteemaids.co.uk
Flower girls’ tutus Coco Flower Girls etsy.com
Groom’s outfit Moss Bros moss.co.uk
Hair & make-up Chloe Bond chloebondmua.com
Flowers Petal and Posie facebook.com/petalandposie
Entertainment Lucy Harvey lucyharvey.co.uk
The Nashville Heat thenashvilleheat.co.uk
