Inspired by their mutual love of gardening, the couple designed a vintage garden party with a pretty palette of creams, greens and pale pinks in the enchanting setting of Bickleigh Castle. "We both fell in love with Bickleigh the moment we set our eyes on it, from the cute little cottages where all our friends and family stayed to the lovely little chapel where we had our wedding blessed. And not forgetting the gorgeous ginger cat and the ducks swimming about on the duck pond which added to the rural charm!" comments Helen.
Helen's lace gown perfectly complemented her bouquet of pink peonies, old English roses and freesias, which she carried as she made her grand entrance into the Great Hall. "The ceremony was very emotional as we had chosen to write our own vows," recollects Helen. "But a reading by Pam Ayres added some comedy in addition to Jamie's tears."
After a blessing in Bickleigh's historic chapel, guests enjoyed canapes, croquet and giant Jenga on the lawn before settling into the breakfast room, which was adorned with cottage garden flowers, bunting and handmade details. In a bid to encourage their guests to discover the joys of gardening, Helen and her mum grew a multitude of basil and parsley plants which served as novel place names, while the favours were packets of wildflower seeds.
The wedding breakfast presented the luscious likes of a timbale of Beesands crab, braised pork loin and Devon apple millefeuille with clotted cream and warm butterscotch sauce. "The butterscotch sauce was a roaring success with some guests even adding it to vodka to make their own butterscotch vodka!" adds Helen.
In the evening, guests were treated to a hog roast, sweetie table and ice creams from a vintage trike, along with a magic display by Duncan Norris and top tunes from live band, Solar Funky Music.
"Make sure you ask people for help," advises Helen. "Everyone likes to get involved and help out if you give them a chance. Also make sure you add your own personal touches to the day. We made loads of things ourselves and our guests really appreciated the effort we made." She adds: "Pick a good venue. The staff at Bickleigh Castle, particularly Sharon our wedding coordinator who we could not have done without, knew exactly what they needed to be doing both prior to and on the wedding day. The fact they were so organised took a lot of pressure of us and meant we could enjoy the day."
Photography Photography by Roger Clotworthy and Sheena Taylor
www.shotbyrogerandsheena.com
Venue Bickleigh Castle www.bickleighcastle.com
Dress Sottero and Midgley from Serenity www.serenitydreams.co.uk
Groom's outfit Ultimate Formal Hire from Serenity www.serenitydreams.co.uk
Hair and make-up Sarah Case www.sarahcase.co.uk
Flowers West Country Wedding Flowers www.westcountryweddingflowers.co.uk
Entertainment Duncan Norris www.duncansmagic.com
Solar Funky Music www.solarfunkymusic.co.uk
Vintage ice cream tricycle Cafe Bon Bon www.cafebonicecream.com
Copyright Wed magazine 2014
