After Kevin's romantic proposal in Paris, the couple chanced upon a Pinterest image of a wedding breakfast, dressed with accents of glass and gold, beneath huge trees lit with fairy lights. This became the springboard for their choice of wedding venue, as well as the vibe and aesthetic of their day. "We wanted to find a venue where we could create our own 'luxury garden party' but in the unpredictable Devon weather!" explains Hannah. "We simply fell in love with Ever After. The venue ticked all our boxes so we booked straight away!"
Hannah and Kevin threw themselves into creating their 'organic botanical luxe' theme, crafting signage and wedding wands, as well as sourcing props for the day. "We opted for lots of foliage and greenery to echo the venue's surroundings, mixed with all white flowers and just the faintest hint of pale pink, glass and gold accents," says Hannah. Details such as foliage chandeliers and fern and foliage circlets interwoven with flowers made a green and gorgeous statement, while maintaining the natural, relaxed approach the couple envisioned. Arrangements of plants, ferns, flowers and herbs in mismatched glass vases and bell jars, nestled amongst trailing jasmine, antique medicine bottles and brass candlesticks, looked magical on the tabletops.
Kirsten Butler of The Little Wedding Helper helped pull together the couple's ideas on the day. Her innovative concept for a table plan - comprising florals and bell jars - proved a standout feature, as did the archway, built by Kevin and decorated with eucalyptus, soft ruscus, ferns, jasmine, honeysuckle, ivy and flowers. It made a stunning backdrop for their beautifully personal humanist ceremony delivered by Alison Orchard. "She really understood us as a couple, what it meant for us to be marrying and the sort of couple we want to be in our future," says Hannah.
Hannah's gown exuded the relaxed elegance of the day, complete with a floaty skirt - "so I could twirl around on the grass barefoot!" - while her bridesmaids looked pretty in dusky pink and Kevin wore a bespoke suit teamed with personalised vintage map cufflinks showing the locations of their engagement and wedding day.
A keen sense of place was echoed in the bespoke wedding breakfast brimming with light summer flavours and local produce. Guests dined on sharing mezze platters featuring cured meats, fishcakes, edible flowers and relishes, followed by roasted rump of Devon lamb and vanilla panna cotta, dark chocolate fudge cake and salted caramel ice cream. Phil Rostance and The Marshall Band then delivered a crowd-pleasing mix of dance floor fillers into the night.
Reflecting on their gorgeous garden party, Hannah advises: "Do what makes you happy as a couple and don't get overwhelmed by what you think you 'need' to have to make the day perfect." She adds: "Writing your own vows and then delivering them on the day is something you'll never forget."
Photography Nova Photography novaweddingphotography.co.uk
Venue Ever After lowergrenofen.co.uk
Catering Outside Inn Cuisine outsideinncuisine.com
Styling The Little Wedding Helper littleweddinghelper.co.uk
Dress Charlie Brear at Perfect Day Bride perfectdaybridal.net
Shoes Rachel Simpson rachelsimpsonshoes.co.uk
Bridesmaids' dresses For Her and For Him forherandforhim.com
Hair The Hair Lounge thehairloungetavistock.co.uk
Make-up Elle Hitchens ellehitchens.co.uk
Groom's outfit Clifton Suits cliftonsuits.co.uk
Flowers Dartmoor Flowers dartmoorflowers.co.uk
Entertainment Pam Adams pamscelticharp.weebly.com
Phil Rostance and The Marshall Band philrostance.com
Copyright Wed magazine 2017
