Being a creative type, Gina was also in her element decorating the DIY venue. "I just love craft," she says. "We kept the theme rustic yet elegant using lots of hessian and lace." Wooden centrepieces and bottles painted in grey chalk paint adorned the tables, "they worked alongside jars filled with gypsophila and tea lights," says Gina of her simple, elegant approach. Flowers included astilbe, brunia berries, wax flower and freesia with added Juliet Austin roses for a splash of colour. Gina's sister complemented the colour scheme in her beautiful dove-grey bridesmaid's dress with soft tulle overlay while the bride wowed in a Justin Alexander gown.
The bride's sister led the way down the aisle with the couple's 18-month-old daughter, Indie. "I was accompanied down the aisle by my gorgeous nephew, Mario," says Gina. "Unfortunately, it was all a bit much for Indie and she spent a lot of the ceremony crying, which set off a few of the other babies, so we're not sure how much people heard, but it did make us laugh! It actually helped us feel slightly less nervous, too."
A tapas-style menu of edible delights such as chicken and chorizo paella and Parmesan and chilli meatballs followed by a selection of four miniature desserts worked perfectly with the relaxed mood of the celebrations.
Creative lighting, including a fairy light canopy, added to the atmosphere, as did the playlist of live music selected by music-lovers Gina and Chris. Sam Dowden played an acoustic set after the ceremony and wedding breakfast, while an acoustic three-piece, Such & Vincent, played when the evening guests arrived, and local band The Garden Club then rocked everyone into the night. "This was followed by a DJ set from Liam Fairlie of Flybase DJ," explains Gina. "We didn't stop dancing!" The couple's first dance was to 'Sky Full of Stars' by Coldplay, which was their standout moment of the day. "It was around nine o'clock and everyone was well into the swing of the reception. Our DJ invited our guests to join us on the dance floor part way through and we surprised everyone with a confetti canon," says Gina. "It worked so well and we got some great photographs from this too!"
Photography GRW Photography www.grwphotography.co.uk
Venue Ash Barton Estate www.ashbarton.com
Catering H&A Catering www.hacatering.biz
Dress Justin Alexander at Frilly Frocks www.frillyfrocks.co.uk
Bridesmaids' dresses Kelsey Rose at Frilly Frocks www.frillyfrocks.co.uk
Make-up Nikita Learnihan The Beauty Bar in Barnstaple
Groom's outfit Ted Baker www.tedbaker.com
Flowers Charlie's Flower Shop www.charliesflowershop.co.uk
Lighting Flybase www.flybasedj.co.uk
Entertainment Sam Dowden www.samdowdenmusic.com
Such & Vincent www.facebook.com/suchandvincent
The Garden Club www.facebook.com/gardenclubrock
Liam Fairlie of Flybase DJ www.flybasedj.co.uk
Copyright Wed magazine 2017
