In a scene reminiscent of the silver screen, Graham was about to embark upon an RAF tour of Morocco and wanted to propose to Lauren before he left. Taking her for a sunrise clifftop stroll towards a local beach, he had strewn red roses in the hedgerows and written 'will you marry me?' in the sands below, bending down on one knee as they walked along the path. "Typically, the tide had started to come in and wash it away!" remembers Lauren. "He then went away and left me to plan the wedding!"
Choosing the venue was easy, as Tredudwell Manor had it all: "an amazing venue set in a truly beautiful location that's fairly priced and personal to the couple", explains Lauren. "The owners, Valerie and Justin, have put so much love and thought into every aspect and it shows."
Their day centred on a gorgeous cream, blush pink and gold colour scheme, with many of the details being handmade, including the cracker wedding favours, games, photo booth, decorations and stationery. "It can be hard work but I had so much fun and lots of laughs roping in friends and family to help," comments Lauren.
Graham opted for an on-trend wedding outfit, donning a dapper blue suit and matching grey and blue tweed waistcoat. Lauren, meanwhile, wore a beautiful lace gown, accessorised with a lace-edged veil, pearls woven through her hair and her very first W-day purchase: a pair of Badgley Mischka shoes. "I bought these three days after Graham proposed - I have a thing for shoes!" she explains.
After the ceremony in the idyllic climes of St Wyllow Church, guests gathered at Tredudwell Manor for 'beers and bellinis' and canapes of crab cakes, mini burgers, smoked salmon and goat's cheese tartlets. Lauren and Graham headed to nearby Lantivet Bay for photos, while guests amused themselves with games including a coconut shy, hook-a-duck, giant Jenga and croquet. The weather was so glorious, the wedding breakfast was pushed back to allow everyone to bask in the sunshine before settling into the beautifully dressed pavilion for a series of sharing platters followed by rack of lamb with all the trimmings and a delectable trio of desserts comprising apple cheesecake, bread and butter pudding and chocolate parfait.
In the evening, a tantalising blend of live music from The Edge Band and pizzas from Kernowforno kept spirits high into the early hours.
"It really was a day full of love and laughter," says Lauren, who has some advice for busily planning couples. "Be organised and don't be afraid to delegate and ask for help", she recommends. "I had an hour-by-hour running of the day and a list of things that needed to be done and when. I printed these out and gave copies to the ushers, bridesmaids and our parents so we didn't have to run around and worry about things on the day and allowed us to enjoy it."
Photography Liberty Pearl Photography www.libertypearlphotography.com
Venue St Wyllow Church, Lanteglos-by-Fowey and Tredudwell Manor www.tredudwell.co.uk
Dress and veil Pronovias from The Wedding Company www.the-wedding-company.co.uk
Shoes Badgley Mischka www.badgleymischka.com
Bridesmaids' dresses Goddiva www.goddiva.co.uk
Hair Creative Hair by Amy Flood www.facebook.com/creativehairbyamy/
Make-up Katherine Bamford www.facebook.com/kbamfordbusiness/
Groom's outfit suit Ted Baker www.tedbaker.com waistcoat River Island www.riverisland.com
Groomsmen Moss Bros www.moss.co.uk
Catering Richard McGeown from Couch's Catering www.couchscatering.com
Pizzas Kernowforno www.kernowforno.co.uk
Flowers Flourish www.withaflourish.co.uk
Transport Roaring 30s www.roaring30.co.uk
Entertainment The Edge Band www.theedgeband.co.uk
Copyright Wed magazine 2017