From a sunny day on the Isle of Skye to windswept Dartmoor in the depths of winter, Tara and Kelvin's love story has been played out amongst some epic landscapes."The proposal was a complete surprise while on a road trip around Scotland," explains Tara. "Kelvin got down on one knee on a beautiful coral beach on the Isle of Skye."
Deciding they wanted "a very natural and simple wedding," the couple knew they'd found the perfect setting in Badgers Holt, an intimate wedding venue on Dartmoor. "We love the outdoors and wanted to reflect that in our special day. Dartmoor and Badgers Holt suited this perfectly with their relaxed approach to weddings," says Tara.
Sustainability was a key consideration for the couple. "We were conscious of the environmental impact and tried to reduce waste where possible," she says. "So we reused table decorations provided by the venue and reduced excessive waste by keeping the save the dates and invitaions electronic. We kept decorations very minimal - Badgers Holt is already very twinkly and with beautiful floristry little else was needed."
The wintery hues and natural aesthetic of the flowers perfectly complemented the couple's relaxed wedding attire: Kelvin wore a country-style suit, while Tara donned a stunning bohemian lace gown.
Framed by a foliage-filled arch, the ceremony provided the couple with their standout moments. For Kelvin it was "seeing Tara come down the aisle looking totally stunning" and, for Tara, it was "walking down the aisle to see Kelvin at the end and being surrounded by family".
"The ceremony was just the start of a whole day so filled with love," she reflects. "After two years of Covid, being able to share our wedding with all our family and gathering at Christmas gave an extra special feeling."
The couple exchanged wedding rings which were made by Tara's uncle. "He also made my parents' rings 38 years ago. This was very special to us," she says. After the vows, everyone enjoyed hot mulled wine and a feast of duck, pork and vegetarian and vegan dishes. As darkness fell, the party moved outdoors for sparklers and drinks around the firepits before ceilidh band Banned from the Moor got everyone on the dance floor with their fun-filled, high energy music.
"The whole day felt like a huge family wedding and Christmas party without having to worry about cooking a turkey and washing up. It was perfect," reflects Tara, who has advice for engaged couples. "Add some homemade elements. We handmade place names and used pine cones to hold them up so they could all be recycled afterwards," she syas. "Keep it relaxed. Many of our guests said it was the best wedding they'd been to. And most importantly enjoy your day. Bulid in time to take it all in."
Photography Hannah Wilde hannah-wilde.com
Venue Badgers Holt badgersholtweddings.co.uk
Dress White April from Evolved Bridal evolvedbridal.co.uk
Hair Summer and Lola summerandlola.co.uk
Groom's outfit Torre from Zebel Bespoke zebel.co.uk
Flowers Milli Fleur millifleur.com
Entertainment Banned from the Moor bannedfromthemoor.co.uk
Pizza van il Cornicione Pizza ilcornicionepizza.co.uk
