Jenny and Ben first met when they worked together in a shoe shop after university. “Ben caught my attention by doing the happy dance from the film Baseketball and the rest as they say is history!” she says.
Boconnoc Estate set the atmospheric scene for their winter wedding. “Boconnoc exceeded all our expectations in the best way,” says Jenny. “We hired the venue for the whole weekend. It was so good to get everyone together on the Friday night as well.” The couple opted for a “muted, dark and moody” colour scheme which was carried beautifully through the flowers and stationery.
After a relaxed morning of preparations, everyone gathered at the venue’s 800-year-old church for the early afternoon ceremony. “As we got married in December, we chose to have carols during our service which was great as everyone knew the words so really sang away,” says Jenny. “We had some floral installations and decorated with lots and lots of candles all over the church, which gave it the most beautiful atmosphere.”
Guests mingled over warming mulled cider and grazing tables of charcuterie before the speeches. “Ben and I did a joint speech, which we made up as we went along – we basically discussed all the things that had gone wrong in the planning process and how we’d fallen out about it!” laughs Jenny. “I know it doesn’t sound very wedding-y; however, if you know us, it was very us.”
Settling at tables decorated with beautiful flower bowls and handwritten bauble place settings, guests tucked into an epic wedding breakfast of smoked brisket and flat-iron steak with chimichurri, roast potatoes and seasonal veg followed by sharing plates of lemon meringue pie, brownies and poached pear chocolate pots.
Roaring fires brought a cosy ambience to the lounge, where tea and coffee was served before the newlyweds surprised their guests. “It was a bit difficult to get everyone outside without having to give it away, but we’d organised a fireworks display! It was such a good display and everyone seemed to love the interlude,” says Jenny, who then changed into a second dress for the rest of the night.
Guests delighted in the evening food, which was a ‘gravy fountain’ – complete with pigs in blankets, mini roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings to dip. At the bride’s request, everyone joined in with the first dance – to Elton John’s I’m Still Standing – which kicked off a crowd-pleasing set from The Enrichments. “They had everyone dancing all evening and they were just fantastic; the dance floor was full all night!” she says.
“The whole weekend was just so fabulous – I know it’s clichéd but everything was so amazing, I can’t think of a particular standout moment!” reminisces Jenny.
“Just do what you want to do; it’s your wedding!” she adds, by way of advice to those planning their own celebrations. “Also, I would definitely recommend hiring at the least an on-the-day planner. And I really regret not hiring a videographer. But, ultimately, don’t worry about what you have and haven’t done, as long as there is a venue and food, wine and entertainment, most people are just happy to be there celebrating.”
Photography The Curries thecurries.co
Venue Boconnoc Estate boconnoc.com
Styling & on-the-day coordination Pink Palms pinkpalms.co.uk
Dresses Emma Beaumont emmabeaumont.com
Halfpenny London from Waxflower Bridal waxflowerbridal.co.uk
Veil Emma Beaumont emmabeaumont.com
Shoes Miu Miu miumiu.com
Suit Gieves & Hawkes gievesandhawkes.com
Hair Jess Leah Hair instagram.com/jessleahhair
Make-up Lisa Caldognetto lisacaldognettobridal.com
Flowers Vervain vervainfloraldesign.com
Catering Fego Food Co
Cakes Oona’s Cakes
Stationery Bee Davies Illustration beedavies.co.uk
Fireworks Celebration Pyrotechnics celebrationpyrotechnics.com
Entertainment The Enrichments theenrichments.co.uk
