Real woodland wedding

Destiny led Emma to Totnes. A fortuitous encounter with a couple who came to her aid when her beloved truck, 'Lovebug', broke down planted a seed in her mind. "They asked me if I'd ever been to Totnes before. I told them I'd never heard of it. And they said: 'you must go, I can see you living there.'" Two years later, Emma packed up her life and moved to the town. On walking down the high street three days after arriving, Matthew casually tapped her on the shoulder and asked if she fancied a pint. "I felt like I had known him for 20 years, said 'yes please', moved in with him at his family home and within six months we were expecting a baby!" she recalls of their whirlwind romance.

Keen to celebrate her love of all things festival, Beaconside House proved the perfect place for Emma and Matthew's fun and laidback weekend-long party. "I wanted a DIY venue so I could put all the decor up and do everything myself, and somewhere that we could hire for three or four days that slept around 40 people," she says of her W-day non-negotiables.

Having always dreamed of a woodland wedding and being granted permission to use the grounds for their handfasting ceremony, Emma - who is a creative celebrant and wedding planner (bestdayeversouthdevon.com) -threw herself into creating the very idiosyncratic pink, green and gold glitter wedding scene. "I love pink, glitter and anything colourful! Our theme was always going to be fun and laidback festival vibes," says Emma, who handcrafted a carnival of details including the flowers, signage, decor, 'WedFest' lanyards for favours and her flower crown, which completed her flowing lace dress.

Emma's friend Gordon conducted the ceremony and provided one of the biggest surprises of the day by donning a bright red cardinal's outfit. "I couldn't stop laughing - he was and will always be the highlight of our wedding for both of us!" says Emma. A symbolic candle lighting ceremony remembered friends and family passed, while the ring exchange, self-penned readings, communal singing to Bruno Mars' 'Marry You' and jumping the broom ensured the entire event was both poignant and light-hearted - and full of quirky character. "Being a celebrant, I was always going to have a unique ceremony which has no rules or restrictions," says Emma. "I wanted it to be super fun and it proved to be hilarious!"

Canapes and afternoon tea - comprising smoked salmon sandwiches, scones with cream and jam and a selection of cakes - were devoured ahead of a hog roast as guests enjoyed a space hopper race, limbo competition and bouncy castle fun. A huge barn dance style party ensued and was rounded off by a set from DJ friends who kept the festival feel in full, foot-stomping spirit well into the early hours. 

Having hired Beaconside for three days, the next day allowed an opportunity for the newly-weds to relax with their guests in the hot tub and on the beach. "Have a wedding weekend and if possible stay on at the venue after everyone has left," she advises. "It was lovely to have that extra time with family and chill out in the hot tub with my new husband!"

Photography Freckle Photography www.frecklephotography.co.uk 

Venue Beaconside House www.beaconsidehouse.co.uk 

Dress Allure Bridal at Angel Face www.angelfacebride.uk 

Bridesmaids' dresses Lindy Bop www.lindybop.co.uk 

Hair and make-up Maddie Pearce www.southwestmakeupartist.co.uk 

Groom's outfit Debenhams www.debenhams.com 

Entertainment Hogwash www.hog-wash.co.uk