Mirroring the setting of their first meeting, Nick's carefully planned - and very public - beachside proposal took Maddi by complete surprise during a surfing weekend with visiting friends. "We had just come out of the water after surfing on Mawgan Porth beach. Still in our wetsuits, Nick and my friend Kat went off to the lifeguard hut," she recalls. "The next thing I knew, one of our lifeguard friends said over the tannoy: 'My friend Nick is known as a bit of a surf legend round here. He's got something he'd like to ask his girlfriend Maddi,' after which classical music started playing." Dropping to one knee, Nick took a ring from the sleeve of this wetsuit and popped the question as champagne corks flew across the sands. "It was amazing and very surreal!" adds Maddi.
The ceremony in the Stable Yard at beautiful Boconnoc House was another highly personal, family and friend-filled affair, featuring readings from Maddi's best friend and Nick's son as ring-bearer. "Nick's nine-year old daughter's reading from Winnie the Pooh about Pooh and Piglet's friendship moved everyone to tears; it was a beautiful moment," reflects Maddi.
Opting for a gold, cream and purple "with a hint of James Bond!" wedding theme, the gorgeous floral arrangements were inspired by the colour scheme and time of year, balancing soft creams with warm autumn tones, berries, vining and seasonal foliage. Nick oozed 007 style in a sharp tuxedo, while Maddi looked the picture of elegance in a Maggie Sottero gown.
The afternoon presented an al fresco drinks reception in the sun, games such as cricket and bouncy hoppers and, later, a sumptuous sit-down meal of Cornish leg of lamb, Parmesan polenta cake with ratatouille, and warm rich dark chocolate brownie with Cornish vanilla ice cream. Guests mingled before the log fire in the drawing room after the "hilarious and perfect" speeches, followed by an evening reception featuring a hog roast and live band HitPinch.
"Looking around the room during our wedding breakfast, taking in the atmosphere, the buzz of everyone chatting away, and seeing the light shining through the windows into the room, Nick and I took one look at each other and said, 'Isn't this amazing, to have all these people in one place who love us?'" says Maddi, recalling one of her most memorable moments from the day.
Marrying creativity with practicality, hands-on Maddi encourages other couples to take a similar approach while planning the finer details. "Think about where you can reuse your flower arrangements," she says. "We had an urn arrangement for the ceremony that was then moved to our top table for the wedding breakfast."
"And take in the atmosphere as much as you can," she adds. "As everyone says, the day does go really quickly!"
Photography Toby Lowe www.tobylowephotography.co.uk
Venue Boconnoc www.boconnoc.com
Dress Maggie Sottero from Amanda K Bridal
Bridesmaids' dresses Coast Corwin www.coast-stores.com
Hair Rochelle Winter www.hairbyrochelle.co.uk
Make-up Tamsin Siddiqui www.cornwallweddingmake-up.co.uk
Groom's outfit Neal and Palmer www.nealandpalmer.com
Flowers The Garden Gate Flower Company www.thegardengateflowercompany.co.uk
Catering Anytime Anywhere www.anytimeanywherecaterers.co.uk
Cake Heidi Core
Entertainment HitPinch www.hitpinch.com
Copyright Wed magazine 2017
