Our Wedding
Vanessa the Bride: Getting married in Cornwall was important for us as it’s where my family live, and we wanted a traditional ceremony in the village church. On our hunt for reception venues our hearts fell for the beautiful
Shilstone House, despite it’s Devon location. Being an architect I'm a sucker for Georgian proportions, the way that the house had been renovated is very sympathetic and considered. The staff and house were so warm and we were both in admiration of its incredible views. We loved how we were able to experience the grandeur of the house and benefit from putting our own stamp on our day by having the reception in a marquee that we could decorate as we wished.
The Bride
During my visit to
Sophie Grace Bridal I pulled styles that were closest to what I’d pictured and one that was completely different but caught my eye for it’s simplicity and crepe material. It’s beading, in a geometric shape, reminded me of the Art Deco era, a favourite of mine. I tried it on first and was a bit upset as it didn’t fit and my family weren’t keen. However, after trying on the other dresses I couldn’t get it out of my mind, I tried it again wiggling into it. I walked out and my family burst into tears and I knew it was the one. I paired it with a cathedral length veil, to match the dress train and a vintage style head piece with pear shaped beading, matching the dress and my engagement ring.
The Groom
We knew early on that the tradition in us would prefer morning suits, but the more contemporary side of us meant that top-hats and standard cut were a no-no. So the hunt began for a slim fit morning suit to suit the groomsmen who mostly stand over 6ft tall. We found the high street pretty limiting, so the hunt transferred online. We found a slim fit navy suit and grey waistcoat from
Dobell to buy; we hadn’t set out to buy suits, but the cost wasn’t much more than renting, and it meant we weren’t tied to returning them the day after. Ties and pocket squares were sourced to match the bridesmaid outfits. Aside from a last minute trouser alteration for an usher who lives in Singapore, it all went very smoothly!
The Decor
The form of the beading on my dress was the inspiration for the decor, little to Nathan’s knowledge. I translated the shape into the outline for flowers that I drew for the invitations. I made them soft grey-greens and white with a hint of blue Sea Holly. Our love of vinyl records also inspired the day - I designed all of the stationery and we spent many a weekend hand-making the invitations based on a vinyl and sleeve. We linked the theme and colours into our venue decorations, making as much as possible including hundreds of tulle pom-poms, silver-leaved jars for centrepieces, stands for framed vinyls for our table names and all the signage. We also made keep-sake boxes for our flower girls and page boy with toys inside to keep them entertained. We made countless trips to DIY stores and used several cans of grey spray paint! This was such a fun element to the buildup and enabled us both to be involved.