Dream Weddings Magazine - Devon & Cornwall - issue.37

contents
DEVON & CORNWALL • SPRING / SUMMER 2023 - ISSUE 37
Congratulations
P82-85 - EVERY ONE A WINNER AT THE
SOUTH WEST WEDDING AWARDS

Y ou’ve dreamt of your wedding day since you p2-23 P30-33 - LET THEM EAT CAKE!
were a small child – the handsome couple, the RAZZLE
fabulous dress, the guests all sporting their DAZZLE ‘EM
Sunday best, the flowers, the music, the cake,
the blissful romance of it all.
And now you’ve organised your life partner, it’s time to
get down to the rest of the planning so your wedding
day turns out to be as magical as you always imagined.
However daunting the whole organisation seems at the
onset, this is one celebration everyone wants to be a
spectacular success and you will find good wishes and
friendly faces wherever you turn for help.
Planning your wedding starts here and now and in
this issue of Dream Weddings magazine you’ll
find tips on every aspect of your big day, from the
latest collections of gowns to entertainment,
from wedding day etiquette to up-to-date fashions
in flowers.
You’ll also find advertisements from a whole army of
local businesses, all with plenty of experience to call
on. They will work with your ideas, offer creative
suggestions of their own and find solutions
to match every budget.
They know the shortcuts and the pitfalls –
and they’re fully aware of how important it
is to you that everything runs smoothly.
So turn the page, start planning your big
day. And enjoy every minute of it!

EDITOR JULIA SNOW 2-23 Designer dazzle 52-55 Mum’s the word!
ADVERTISING HELEN JOHNSON,
Check out the sizzling styles in the The head-turning new 2023 collections for
EVE SZEREMETA brand new 2023 bridal collections
ACCOUNTS MADELINE RIGGS stylish Mums and wedding guests

DESIGN TOM HUTTON 24-29 Roses, roses everywhere 56-57 Transport of bliss
DISTRIBUTION JANE GREY Your carriage awaits... and one bride
Fabulous flowers and how they
PUBLISHER COUNTY MAGAZINES LTD, chooses the same car as her Mum
THE GRANGE, STOKEINTEIGNHEAD, complement the style of the day
NEWTON ABBOT, DEVON TQ12 4QH.
TELEPHONE: 01626 873364 30-33 Let them eat cake! 58-77 It’s party time!
EMAIL: [email protected]
Traditional fruit, naked cakes, cupcakes, Venues, fabulous decor, mouthwatering
www.dream-weddings-magazine.co.uk even tiers of cheese - who’s dieting? food & drink for a sparkling celebration
www.extravaganza-wedding-fairs.co.uk
34-36 The circle of love 78-79 That’s entertainment
COVER PICTURE: NORSWORTHY PHOTOGRAPHY
TEL: 01548 854044 • WWW.NORSWORTHYPHOTOGRAPHY.COM Your wedding ring is the eternal symbol Entertainment ideas to engage your
of your love, choose it with care guests and get them talking

37-39 Black & white magic 80-81 Honeymoon heaven

DISCLAIMER: While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of Reportage style in retro black & white Where will you go on the most
advertisements and editorial in this publication, County Magazines Ltd
cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage caused directly or captures all you missed on the day romantic holiday you’ll ever have
indirectly by the contents of this magazine. The views expressed are not
necessarily those of the publisher or editor. While every care is taken 41-49 It’s all in the planning 82-85 Every one a winner
with material submitted for publication, no liability for loss or damage
can be accepted by the publisher or its agents. Relax and follow our step-by-step guide News and pictures from our ‘Oscars’,

and you’ll never put a foot wrong the South West Wedding Awards

50-51 She walks in beauty... 86-88 Classified information

From hair and make-up to a little work Our handy classified index, plus those

FOLLOW www.dream-weddings-magazine.co.uk - be your best you on the big day all-important dates for your diary
US ON: www.extravaganza-wedding-fairs.co.uk

DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL • 1

It’s a PICTURED: MAGGIE SOTTERO, REBECCA INGRAM AND
SOTTERO & MIDGLEY AT PRUDENCE GOWNS IN PLYMOUTH

cover-up!

Hold on to your hat... because the new 2023 bridal styles are
about to blow your mind. While romantic Cinderella styles
are still very much the order of the day, the new collections
also feature dramatic trends designed to stop you in your
tracks as you choose your look-of-a-lifetime.
Back in a big way are sleeves, floaty or fitted, long or short, detachable
or even detached! Think voluminous puff sleeves that make shoulders
appear dainty in comparison or a more modern silhouette that starts
with a little volume at the top, then tapers into a slim sleeve at the wrist,
ensuring effortless elegance.
But you always wanted to go strapless? No problem, many collections
are now offering detachable sleeves in the same way as they offer bridal
overskirts. Wear them for the ceremony and the wedding breakfast, then
simply remove them for the evening party.
There are capes too, a modern spin on the traditional veil, many of them
in semi-transparent materials to show off the dress details beneath or
show-stopping mikado coats which will give you two completely
different looks for the day.

2 • DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL

DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL • 3

Take abow...

PICTURED: ALLURE Bows have been quietly making their way
BRIDALS AT PRETTY back into the bridal scene for a couple of
SMITHY IN PAIGNTON seasons and they’re back with a bang in
the 2023 collections. Oozing drama, the
4 • DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL bow is more a fashion statement than a
simple decoration and can form part of anything
from a boho dress to a princess ballgown. Whether
it’s attached at the bottom of a beautiful scooped
back, tied around the waist, elegantly placed on one
shoulder or tied at the front, there’s a bow for
every bride.
Fit a detachable train from an oversized bow at the
back of your dress or attach tulle shoulder sashes to
tie strap bows instead of a veil.
For romance and impact, you can’t beat a bow.

DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL • 5

Be colour
PICTURED: RONALD JOYCE AT AMICA BRIDAL BOUTIQUE IN PLYMOUTH
6 • DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL

conscious

While white remains the traditional choice for brides,
there’s plenty of colour in the new collections, from
the faintest hint of champagne or blush to beautiful
black. The fact of the matter is that pure white can
be very unforgiving, while warmer shades from
nude and ivory onwards are much more flattering to a wider range
of skin tones.
And you don’t have to stop there. Colour is everywhere in the 2023
collections. You’ll find it in linings and underskirts and in pretty
details on an otherwise white gown, as well as making its own
statement as the colour of the day. And while the most popular
colour is a romantic pink, you can find delicate shades of grey, blue
and lavender as well as sizzling hot reds and dramatic black.
It’s a choice often made by brides who have been married before
and want to make a different statement, as well as by fashion-
forward first time brides.
And it makes it much more likely that you’ll be able to give your
wedding dress a few outings after the big day itself!

DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL • 7

NEW IN

A stunning range of
wrap & multi-way
bridesmaid dresses in a
myriad of colours &
made in the UK

For Beautiful Wedding Gowns • Bridesmaids & Flower Girl Dresses

12 Church Street, Launceston PL15 8AP • Tel: 01566 778989
Mob: 07516 646089 • Email: [email protected] • www.lowenbridal.co.uk

8 • DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL

DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL • 9

ST PATRICK AT BROWNS OF TOTNES

Beautifullyboho INSET ABOVE: BIANCO
EVENTO AT THE BRIDAL
BOX IN TORQUAY

10 • DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL

BIANCO EVENTO AT THE
BRIDAL BOX IN TORQUAY

Rustic and relaxed, with a LEFT & RIGHT:
festival-in-a-field feel, beautiful ST PATRICK AT
boho weddings mean wild BROWNS OF TOTNES
flowers, gorgeous flower
crowns – and a less formal DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL • 11
bridal style.
You’re looking for a less
structured gown with flowing
lines – but that doesn’t
necessarily mean a casual style.
Some boho dresses are laid-
back, others are luxurious and
glamorous – what they have in
common is a romantic, softly
focused style with a carefree twist.
Lace is a prime boho go-to, but
ethereal tulle and ultra modern bridal
separates equally fit the free spirit
look.
Accessorise with a floral crown or
twist a floral hair vine into a loose
updo or intricately plaited hair. Oh,
and carry wild flowers or a glorious
unstructured bouquet!

Put your

back

into it

Beautiful back details ensure that, however
stunning your gown looks from the front, it’s
equally – if not even more – gorgeous from
the back. High backs, low backs, illusion
backs, V-necks, scooped backs, asymmetric backs:
with beautiful lace details or sequins, pearls, bows and
fabric-covered buttons.
Designers are really letting their hair down this season
and with good reason. All the way through the
ceremony, your guests will be gazing at the back of
your dress.
If you’re tossing your bouquet, it will be your back your
guests are seeing. Then there’s the first dance, another
moment for your back to take a turn in the spotlight.
Don’t neglect the back view when you’re choosing your
dress. On the big day, it will get at least as much
attention as the front!

ENZOANI AT 14 & ROMANTICA AT THE BRIDAL
SIXPENCE IN TAUNTON EMPORIUM IN EXETER AND
BEE BEE GOWNS IN PLYMOUTH
12 • DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL

ENZOANI AT
14 & SIXPENCE
IN TAUNTON

MAIN PIC & LEFT:
ROMANTICA AT THE BRIDAL
EMPORIUM IN EXETER AND
BEE BEE GOWNS IN PLYMOUTH

DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL • 13

EexabRcoreiluttlyiootnic2qgaa0untn2eine3!wg’

Tel: 01823 276590

By Appointment [email protected]
www.14andsixpence.co.uk
Only

The dress of
your dreams
without costing
the earth!

"Wonderful new boutique with amazing wedding
dresses to suit all tastes, shapes and sizes from 6 to

32! If you fancy something different this is the
place to go. Kim will be able to help with dresses

and accessories in beautiful surroundings!"
Lesie Ros - September 2022

THE FIRST AND SECOND FLOORS • 4 CROSS STREET • BARNSTAPLE • NORTH DEVON EX31 1BD
T: 01271 375877 M: 07563 388588 • E: [email protected]

14 • DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL

48 High Street, Totnes PRUDENCE
By appointment - Tel: 07875 504779 GOWNS

[email protected] PLYMOUTH

LOUANNON est. 1982
MENSWEAR
Beautiful wedding dresses
and Menswear from

international designers...

• Maggie Sottero
• Essense of Australia
• Justin Alexander
• Sottero & Midgley
• Rebecca Ingram
• Lillian West
• Sincerity

Bridesmaids by
Emma Bridals

M.O.B. by Emma Bridals

Menswear by
Marc Darcy & Cavani

Accessories

Bridesmaids • Menswear • Prom Dresses • Accessories W W W. P R U D E N C E G O W N S . C O M
TEL: 01752 558858
434 Crownhill Rd. West Park, Plymouth PL5 2QS
2, SALTASH ROAD, KEYHAM,
Tel: 01752 221222 Tel: 01752 350305 PLYMOUTH PL2 1QT

www.louannonmenswear.co.uk www.beebeegowns.co.uk DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL • 15

Let the
adventure

Shopping for your wedding dress should
be an occasion of unadulterated joy, but
it can turn out to be a little fraught, so
make it easy on yourself. Start looking
seriously around 12 months before the
wedding, that will ease the pressure on you to find the
right one in a hurry.
Make appointments if you can. Lots of boutiques
offer you the chance to browse and try on on spec,
but for individual full-on service an appointment
will ensure you get all the attention you
deserve. You may even get the whole
boutique to yourself, so you really can
relax and love the experience.
If you really hate the dress you’re
trying on, say so.

16 • DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL

PICTURED: PHOENIX GOWNS AT
LOWEN BRIDAL IN LAUNCESTON AND
THE BRIDAL EMPORIUM IN EXETER

begin

Bridal assistants work on their own experience of
what is going to suit your shape and your feedback,
so tell them what you like – and what you don’t –
about the styles they give you to try on.
If you start getting overwhelmed by all the choice out
there, take a break. It’s supposed to be the most
exciting shopping of your life, so as soon as you find
yourself becoming confused, just stop. If you’ve
given yourself plenty of time you can ease up on the
pressure to find the one.
And never buy a dress that’s too small now. You may
be intending to lose a dress size or two, but
remember it’s easy to take dresses in and almost

impossible to let them out. Start your diet or
exercise regime before you start
looking, not afterwards!

DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL • 17

We love weddings!

Glamorous Brand new* & re loved dresses from
gowns in REAL £100 £900 • Sizes 8 24
sizes for REAL
women! Bridesmaids • Flower Girls • Accessories

Tel: 01823 331053 We offer a Buy directly
unique home online • by
48, Bridge Street, Taunton, TA1 1UD fitting service. appointment
www.izzistocktonbridal.co.uk
only

*dresses have some imperfections

Tel: 07831 577026 • [email protected]
www.bridalbeautydevon.co.uk

For the dress of your dreams
at a fraction of the price!

Tel: 01822 610501

14b, Market Street, Tavistock PL19 0DB
www.bridalreloved.co.uk

@tavistockbridalreloved @bridalrelovedtav

18 • DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL

TRES CHIC AT IZZI
STOCKTON IN TAUNTON

Make it
easy on
yourself!

Mesmerised by the vast range of bridal styles?
Beginning to panic about how you are going to
choose? Follow our top tips and we promise you’ll
have the shopping experience of your life: First and
foremost, your dress has to suit your figure, your
personality and your style – no-one else’s. It may be a cliche, but you
wear the dress, the dress doesn’t wear you, so make sure you don’t
just look at that gorgeous gown, you actually see yourself in it.

Second, stick to your budget. Trust us, there’s only heartache in
falling in love with a dress you simply can’t afford.
Third, ask for advice from the professionals. The boutique’s
assistants know their stock and their stuff and they might just
surprise you.
Fourth, limit yourself to trying on half a dozen dresses at a time –
more than that and you’ll end up hopelessly confused.
Fifth, take your time, stand, walk and sit in the dress to make sure
you’re comfortable on the day. If you’re not sure, don’t make a hasty
decision.
And last, but certainly not least, limit your entourage. A whole bevy of
friends will have a whole bevy of conflicting opinions, so just take a
couple of very special people.

VICTORIA KAY AT IZZI STOCKTON IN TAUNTON

DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL • 19

SONSIE BY VEROMIA
AT IZZI STOCKTON
IN TAUNTON

Cute

and

So you’re not a perfect dress
size 8 or 10 or 12. So what? That
engagement ring on your finger is
proof positive that your husband-
to-be loves your sexy, voluptuous
curves. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes
and brides with generously curvaceous
figures needn’t feel nervous about choosing
their bridal gowns. Most collections come in
sizes up to 30 and some collections, specially
designed to flatter fuller figures start at size
16 and go up to 36.

20 • DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL

SONSIE BY
VEROMIA AT
IZZI STOCKTON
IN TAUNTON

ABOVE INSET LEFT: ALLURE BRIDALS
AT PRETTY SMITHY IN PAIGNTON
ABOVE INSET: TERRA BRIDAL AT
BRIDAL RELOVED IN TAVISTOCK

curvelicious!

If you’re looking for a few pointers:
• A streamlined design in a classically styled gown

will elongate your figure
• A high-waisted, A-line gown will skim your tummy

and sleeves or a pretty wrap (so fashionable at the
moment) will cover less than perfect arms.
• Perfectly fitted underwear makes a huge
difference, so invest in that before you start looking
for your dress.
And finally, remember, every bride’s most beautiful
accessory is her smile. If you’re happy and confident,
you can’t help but be a beautiful bride.

DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL • 21

Of maids...
PHOTO BY I DO FILM & PHOTOS
L ong gone are the days when you styles, fabrics and colours available – and different bridesmaids’ figures – and, if you
were thrilled that your best friend virtually all of them can be worn time and really want to stand out from the crowd, you
asked you to be her bridesmaid – time again after the wedding. Delicate pinks, can even choose different tones of the same
but your heart sank at the prospect lilacs, blues and greens are perennially colour, or even toning but different colours.
of the fussy, frilly confection she was going popular, but so too are rich purples, vibrant Your bridesmaids already love you, but
to expect you to wear. fuchsias and intense teals. they’ll love you even more if they enjoy
Today’s bridesmaids can expect to be Advice for brides? Don’t be afraid to choose wearing their dresses as much as you enjoy
completely spoilt by the delicious choice of slightly different styles of dress to suit wearing yours!

and

Hired formal wear or an excuse
to splash out on a beautifully
tailored suit? Tomorrow’s
groom is relishing the
prospect of cutting a dash at his own
wedding almost as much as the bride
is enjoying choosing her dress – and
the trends are every bit as varied. From

22 • DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL

men

traditional striped trousers and tailcoat through and T-shirt. Conversely, if she’s going boho with choose exactly what the men in the bridal party
swirling Highland dress to lounge suits, dinner flowers in her hair, top hat and tails are unlikely are going to wear.
jackets and even casual separates. to be an option for you. Arrange a fitting for everyone well in advance of
The rule for the men in the bridal party is that Most grooms choose to hire their formal outfits the big day and expect to pick up your suits a
there are no rules – except one: whatever you – but do make sure you choose a reputable couple of days before the wedding.
do, match the bride’s style. If she’s going in a outfitter, who will fit you properly. It’s a good If you’re going on honeymoon straight after the
glorious traditional wedding dress, you’ll look idea for the bride and groom to go for the initial wedding, make sure you arrange for the hired
completely out of place if you turn up in jeans consultation on their own. Then they can suits to be returned a couple of days later.

DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL • 23

FLOWERS BY DAISIE
CHAIN FLORAL DESIGN

Daisie Chain Floral Design Say it with
Creative & individual floristry
Flowers are the centrepieces
of weddings and Plymouth-
based Daisie Chain Floral
Design specialises in
bespoke, long-lasting, memorable
creations that will have your guests
talking long after the wedding
is over.
Owner Natasha’s passion is for
bright, bold and unique floral
designs and her use of unusual
statement flowers and colour
palettes guarantees that you’ll get dazzling, breathtaking bridal flowers.
Natasha will help you choose the best bouquet and arrangements for your
unique style and personality, working with you to bring your dream to life and
fill your special day with aromas and beautiful colours.
For details, call 07713 506159 or visit www.daisiechainfloraldesign.co.uk.

07713 506159

[email protected]

24 • DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL

PHOTO BY MAXI PHOTOGRAPHY

flowers... PHOTO BY LOUISE RICHEY
PHOTOGRAPHY
T he language of flowers has been around
since Victorian times and there’s no PHOTO BY ACRONYM
better place to employ it than when PHOTOGRAPHY
you’re choosing your wedding flowers.
Red roses, of course, are the most well known DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL • 25
symbol of love, but they’re far from alone.
Dahlias are believed to represent commitment
and a lasting bond – making them perfect for
your bridal bouquet – while red tulips
symbolise true love.
Peonies are a popular choice for summer
weddings, not least because they represent a
happy marriage while cheerful daffodils
represent new beginnings and good fortune
and gerbera daisies mean cheerfulness and
loyal love.
Kate Middleton famously incorporated Sweet
William – one of the few flowers to symbolise
masculinity and gallantry – into her bouquet,
alongside lily of the valley, a bridal favourite
which brings good luck in love.
When it comes to your wedding flowers, go
with your colour theme. Think classic whites,
perfect pastels, rich crimson reds, passionate
deep purples or blazing blues, all set off by
luscious green foliage.
For a really stunning effect, pick a simple floral
theme using just one colour – or shades of one
colour – and let your imagination run riot.
And if you’re looking for a wonderful scent,
think of delicate freesias, sweet peas and lilies
of the valley.

Creator of stunning wedding flowers
from classic style to contemporary chic

...and make
the most of

W hether you choose
fresh flowers or
realistic faux flowers
Doris the Florist will be
happy to design for you. From
traditional style to boho, rustic,
contemporary, whimsical, beach
style plus much more, the list is
endless.
Doris the Florist also hires out
wedding bouquets, flower walls,
flower arches, garlands, 4ft high
letters with lights and much more.
She would be happy to hear from you and help make your dreams come true.
Rent or purchase faux or purchase fresh flowers, the choice is yours.
For details, call 01752 424807 or visit www.qcflowers.co.uk.

Faux & Fresh Flowers
(artificial, which can be fragranced)
Fully Qualified • Free Consultation

The Studio, City Business Park,
Somerset Place, Stoke PL3 4BB

Tel: 01752 424807 or 07980 856894

[email protected] • www.qcflowers.co.uk

26 • DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL

PHOTO BY MAXI PHOTOGRAPHY

your budget PHOTO BY CRESSER
PHOTOGRAPHY
How do you choose your wedding bouquet?
If you think all bouquets are just DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL • 27
arrangements of flowers tied with ribbon,
think again! The first thing to bear in mind is
that your flowers should complement your
dress. If you’ve chosen a ballgown fit for a princess,
your flowers need to have a similar impact. If you’ve
chosen a slim fit or a mermaid style, you can
complement it with a cascade or a posy.
Similarly, if your dress has a wealth of beautiful detail,
keep your flowers simple – though you can really go to
town if your gown is sleek and seductive.
Think about your venue too. A larger bouquet may
work better at a formal church or civil wedding, while a
smaller, looser flower arrangement will complement a
casual festival-type celebration.
As the bouquet, sitting in the centre of your form, will
be the focus point, so its size needs to be in proportion
to you. If you’re a petite bride, having a large bouquet
could swamp you, while a longer but narrower
arrangement could work beautifully.
It always helps your florist if you have already decided
your colour theme and if you compile images of
bouquets you love. You can make your bouquet personal
too, by adding touches like a favourite flower, a picture
of a loved one who can’t be there or a family heirloom.
Take advice and input from the experts, but always
follow your heart. Like everything about your wedding,
your bouquet should reflect your personal style
and taste.

Simply Stunning Based on the Devon/Cornwall
Wedding Flowers! border, Bouquets n Blooms is a
small one-woman enterprise
"Tina is a very friendly and talented lady! our wedding which creates beautiful keepsakes
bouquets were absolutely beautiful, nothing was to much from your wedding flowers. From
trouble! Would highly recommend, an excellent service!" buttonholes to full bouquets, Vicky
carefully preserves your flowers to retain
Your ideas beautifully created by their colour and form before encasing
them in crystal clear epoxy resin to
Fine Floral Design showcase them and give them a second chance to shine.
Don’t throw your bouquet away, keep it with you always.
TEL: 01805 938946 • [email protected] For details, call 07583 080101 or visit www.bouquetsnblooms.com.
WWW.FINEFLORALDESIGN.CO.UK
Blooming
27 SOUTH STREET, TORRINGTON, DEVON EX38 8AA

Experienced florist Lucy
Cooper provides a
unique floristry service
for all occasions for
Plymouth and surrounding
areas. Having been in the
industry for several years, Lucy
is a wedding specialist and

Wildflower Floristry has a
wide range of special touches
for your wedding, from
confetti to wedding favours,
gifts and table centrepieces.
Her personal service includes
offering seasonal workshops
in a variety of locations
around the city.
For more details, call 07523
880568 or visit
www.wildflowerfloristryplym
outh.co.uk.

28 • DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL

Happy to work with any budget, flowers and colours, Plymouth-based Jamelias Flowers is this Y our wedding flowers play a huge part in the
year’s winner of Best Wedding Florist in the 2022 South West Wedding Awards. Owner Lucy look of your big day, says Master Florist
Loveridge is ready to create all your floral needs and offers a no-obligation free home visit Tina Hodgson of North Devon-based Fine
to discuss your wedding. Floral Design. They set the tone and style
For more details, call 07809 298411. for the day, so think about them carefully and make
sure you choose a qualified and reliable florist.
beautiful! Tina offers a no-obligation consultation to discuss
your bridal flowers in detail. She will then prepare
an estimate for you and on your wedding day, she’ll
do everything for you, from setting up the venue
and church flowers to hand delivering your bridal
flowers wherever they need to be.
Tina only takes on one wedding per day, so you
can be confident that you will be the only focus of
her attention.
For details, call 01805 938946 or visit
www.finefloraldesign.co.uk.

Everything
wedding floral,
chair and venue
decorations, flower

preservation
keepsakes and gifts.

www.jameliasflowers.com [email protected]

Preserve your flowers forever,
please ask for details or visit
www.revivedblossom.com 07809298411

DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL • 29

Creating Inviting designs!
Beautiful
Specialist wedding stationer
bespoke Fine Design knows that
wedding cakes first impressions matter –
and that the design of your
t: 01884 242064 invitations will set the tone for your
www.mandysclassiccakes.co.uk forthcoming wedding celebrations.
Exeter based owner Teresa Kirkby,
has over 30 years’ experience in
helping brides to create the perfect
stationery for their special day. She
offers a very personal service for
all Fine Design’s wedding
stationery and, in addition, there’s
a bespoke service too, so Teresa
can create your own individual
design, unique to you.
She said: ‘All of the stationery is individually handmade from materials of
outstanding quality, with the utmost care and attention paid to every detail. For
brides looking for inspiration, Fine Design offers a contemporary range of
styles featuring wax seals, boxed scrolls, ribbon designs and original
illustrations, each of which are tailor-made to complement the style of the day.’
For more details, call 01392 460440 or visit the website at
www.finedesignweddingstationery.co.uk

30 • DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL

Get a PHOTO BY
LOUISE RICHEY
PHOTOGRAPHY

slice
of the
action

Y our wedding cake is the centrepiece of your First choose your style Mandy has always had a passion for
reception. You want it to look fantastic, Traditional white tiered wedding cakes can be designing and making beautiful
reflect your style – and taste delicious! Will personalised with sugar flowers reflecting your wedding cakes and she will invite
it be traditional or contemporary? Will it be bridal bouquet, delicately constructed butterflies, you to her home to discuss your
ideas. You can browse through her portfolios
moist fruit cake or luscious chocolate? Or sponge beads, feathers and sparkles. and put everything together to create your
dream cake, knowing it will be unique, will look
cake, lemon cake, carrot cake? A tower of Novelty cakes comes in all shapes and sizes from stunning and be the perfect centrepiece for your
reception. Mandy prides herself on using only
profiteroles? A stack of fairy cakes? A naked cake tiers of suitcases or parcels to cakes in the shape of the best ingredients and producing cakes which
not only look good, but taste delicious as well.
bedecked with flowers or fruit? Even a painted cake? the Eiffel Tower or a grand piano. For details, call 01884 242064 or visit
www.mandysclassiccakes.co.uk.
If your groom likes fruit cake but you prefer Chocolate cakes are almost as versatile. Choose a

chocolate, you can even have smooth, shiny chocolate

one tier of each. If your budget’s PHOTO BY icing, or mouth-watering
running a bit tight, think of ACRONYM PHOTOGRAPHY chocolate fudge or exquisite

having a cake which you can chocolate curls. And, of

serve as a dessert at the end of course, they can be milk,

your wedding breakfast. dark or even white chocolate.

So, if you thought choosing your Fairy cakes can be made in

wedding cake was going to be paper cups decorated with

one of your easiest decisions, hearts and topped with

think again! How to go about it? white icing scattered with

matching hearts or

decorated with individually

made sugar flowers. Imagine

it, it’s yours!

Find your cake maker
Visit several cake makers, look at photographs of
cakes they have made, take time to discuss your
ideas and your budget and see what they come up
with. Do check that they use the best ingredients
because, while your cake must look spectacular,
the proof of this pudding is certainly in the eating.

PHOTO BY LOUISE RICHEY PHOTOGRAPHY Finalise your order
Ideally your cake should be ordered at least three
months before the wedding. Remember to check
whether your cake maker’s price includes delivery
and setting up the cake at the reception venue as
well as the use of a cakestand and knife. You may
even be able to save some money by collecting the
finished cake yourself and your reception venue
may provide a cakestand and knife.

DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL • 31

32 • DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL

Everybody A recommended supplier at the
say ‘cheese’! prestigious Bedford and Two
Bridges hotels, Debbie White
F or nearly 500 years the started White’s Cake House from
Quicke family has farmed her family home 10 years ago and hasn’t
the beautiful Exe Valley at looked back since.
Newton St Cyres but they’re The Tavistock-based business started making
far from stuck in the past. celebration cakes for all occasions and has
For five centuries each succeeding now moved on to Debbie’s passion for mainly
generation of the award-winning wedding cakes.
cheesemakers has worked with For more details, call 07703 113742 or visit
dedication, understanding and www.whitescakehouse.co.uk.
expertise to keep up with the times.
Since the mid-1970s, they have been
crafting award-winning cheese by
hand from the very best milk
produced from their land.
Now Quicke’s are offering cheese
wedding cakes, the perfect
centrepiece for your wedding
breakfast or evening reception.
Decorated with flowers or fruit (or
both) and served with artisan bread,
delicious crackers, chutneys and
preserves, they look every bit as
good as they taste and
they’re available in sizes to feed
between 35 and 180 guests.
For more details,
call 01392 851000 or visit
www.quickes.co.uk.

DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL • 33

“Beautiful handcrafted, bespoke
wedding rings commissioned
in our South Devon Studio”

At JWF Unique Designs, we use recycled precious metals to
create individual handmade wedding rings working with
ancient sandcasting techniques.
We work with a wide range of raw materials such as
Damascus Steel,Titanium, Mokume Gane, Bronze, Copper,

Stainless Steel and Wood to create unique wedding bands.
We're happy to use the customers' ideas,
sentimental metals and diamonds.

W W W. J W F U N I Q U E D E S I G N S . C O. U K • I N F O @ J W F U N I Q U E D E S I G N S . C O. U K

The ring’s the thing

Drakes jewellers, now under the umbrella of PHOTO BY James French at JWF Unique
award-winning jewellers Allum & Sidaway, ACRONYM Designs, is passionate about
have some top tips for choosing your PHOTGRAPHY jewellery-making and loves nothing
wedding rings: more than working to commission,
Reflect your personality • White gold is coated with rhodium to create that making personal, bespoke pieces which
There are no rules when choosing your wedding beautiful bright white finish. Rhodium will wear become treasured possessions. His
rings. If you and your partner have different styles over time (this is perfectly normal) so your ring distinctive rustic wedding rings and other
then embrace it. Although it can be a nice reflection will need to be re-coated from time to time. collections draw inspiration from his home
of your union if your rings share similarities, they and childhood memories of being in the
don’t need to match. And there are other ways of • Platinum is the strongest jewellery metal. It is countryside.
conveying the union – matching engraving inside is resistant to damage and it will never tarnish, plus And he’s happy to work with you and your
always a great option. its naturally white colour doesn’t require plating. ideas, even incorporating family heirlooms
Think about your engagement ring into his designs.
Choose a ring that sits perfectly with your • Palladium does not tarnish, is hard wearing and For more details, call 07789 998948 or
engagement ring. Both rings signify a special light in weight. visit www.jwfuniquedesigns.co.uk.
moment in your life so they should complement
each other. Where possible we encourage you to • Titanium is grey in colour and the hardest metal
select the same metal as your engagement ring, you can buy, so it’s a good choice for someone
that way both rings offer the same properties in with a very physically demanding job. Titanium is
terms of wear and durability. a lot more scratch resistant than other metal
Metal and colour types.
Everyone has their own preference, but remember:
• 18ct white, yellow or rose gold will be hard Add a little sparkle
Thinking of choosing a wedding ring with
wearing. diamonds? The most important thing to consider is
quality. Always remember the 5Cs – colour, cut,
clarity, carat and confidence.
How does it feel?
Choose a wedding ring style that complements
your lifestyle. You want to enjoy wearing your
wedding ring for the rest of their life so make sure
it feels comfortable.
For more information, call 01752 227775 or visit
www.drakesjewellers.co.uk.

DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL • 35

BEAUTiFULLY CAPTURED WEDDiNG PHOTO BY WEATHERED
ViDEOS, TELLiNG THE STORY OF OAK PHOTOGRAPHY
YOUR SPECiAL DAY
Gold
07743 246332
standard
WWW.FMPViDEOS.CO.UK
C atherine Bishop’s passion is simply jewellery – and bespoke
Simply rings, locally crafted to your wish, will add an extra special touch
perfection to the lasting symbol of your marriage. Catherine has been
in jewellery for nearly 40 years and, she says, more
people than ever want the ring they wear for
life to be unique.
She said: ‘We design here in the shop and
have our own specialist jewellers, so
anything is possible. People can come
in with the seed of an idea which we
transform into the ring they have
dreamed about and at no more cost than
a similar, off the shelf ring, from a high
street shop.’
Catherine offers a free consultation and works in
all three colours of gold, silver, palladium and platinum.
For more details call 01271 342777 to speak to Catherine. .

14 High Street, Barnstaple
t: 01271 342777

e: [email protected]

36 • DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL

PHOTO BY LOUISE RICHEY PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO BY
FOCUS
WEDDINGS

PHOTO BY WEATHERED OAK
PHOTOGRAPHY

Black &white magic...

PHOTO BY
ACRONYM
PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO BY PHOTO BY WEATHERED OAK PHOTOGRAPHY
NORSWORTHY
PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO BY MAXI PHOTOGRAPHY
DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL • 37

PHOTO BY PHOTO BY FOCUS WEDDINGS
WEATHERED OAK
PHOTOGRAPHY

...it’s the new colour!

PHOTO BY PHOTO BY LOUISE RICHEY PHOTOGRAPHY
MAXI PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO BY ACRONYM PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO BY CRESSER PHOTOGRAPHY
38 • DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL

PHOTO BY PHOTO BY
LOUISE RICHEY NORSWORTHY
PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO BY PHOTO BY
CRESSER MAXI
PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO BY CRESSER
PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO BY NORSWORTHY PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO BY ACRONYM
PHOTOGRAPHY

DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL • 39

Not your average wedding photographer!

All day wedding photography & video for just

£795*

My approach is relaxed and easy-going with an artistic use of

perspective and a touch of humour here and there! woyeof2duc0dorivyaneergraesiransign

*(monthly payment plans available )

Find us on our YouTube channel... Focus Weddings
facebook.com/focusweddings

e: [email protected] • www.focusweddings.net

Tel: 07835 218119

Plan ahead for Planning Makes Perfect
your perfect day
The Engagement
So how much is it all TOAA- SLALTNEYDPOT-UBHYEN-NESETSDEOPMTOGEU.K.IN.DOEW
Traditionally, the first thing to do after telling going to cost?
your family and close friends about your TRADITIONALLY,
forthcoming marriage is to announce your Basically, the answer is as much or as little as
engagement in your local and/or a national you want it to. An intimate ceremony with the bride’s parents pay for:
newspaper. Do check how much it will cost before lunch in your favourite pub for your closest
you place the announcement. family and friends can be every bit as special as a • Announcements in the newspapers
It will usually read: huge event at a top venue for hundreds of guests. • All the wedding stationery
The engagement is announced between Michael, If you’re working on a limited budget, decide what’s • Bride’s and bridesmaids’ dresses
elder son of Mr and Mrs David Jones, of Truro, most important to you and spend your money on that. • Transport for the bridal party to the
Cornwall and Jennifer Anne, only daughter of Mr and Maybe you want a really spectacular dress and are
Mrs Simon Hayes, of Exeter, Devon. prepared to do without a flashy car to take you to the ceremony and from the ceremony
Though the habit of giving engagement presents has reception. Or perhaps you’ve always wanted to arrive to the reception
now fallen somewhat into disuse, if you are lucky at your wedding in a pony and trap, and will settle for • Flowers for the church and the reception
enough to receive some, don’t forget to write and fewer guests. • The reception itself
thank the senders. Whatever you decide, do remember that many guests • The wedding cake
may be coming a long way and spending a lot of
Getting down money simply to attend your wedding, so it’s often The groom
better to look after a small number of people well than
to Business to invite more than you can comfortably cater for. traditionally pays for:
The important thing is that it’s your day and the last
The very first things you must decide about thing you want to be worrying about is how you’re • All the fees - whether for church
your wedding are where, when - and how going to find the money to pay for it. So be realistic officials (including vicar, organist,
much. The most popular days for weddings when you’re setting your budget - and remember that, choir, bellringers) or for the registrar
are Saturdays and the most popular months are with a little imagination, you can make your money go and civil licence.
from May right through to September. If your a lot further.
plans follow that pattern, be aware that the most • Bouquets for the bride and
popular venues get booked up very early, so set Your budget will need to cover: bridesmaids, sprays of flowers for the
the date and book the venues as soon as bride’s mother and his own mother and
possible after your engagement. • Wedding ring(s) buttonholes for himself, the best man
Talk to both sets of parents about setting • Wedding dress and the ushers.
budgets and who is going to pay for what. • Bridesmaids’ and attendants’ outfits
It is increasingly common for bridesmaids to pay • Groom’s suit • Engagement and wedding rings for the
for their own dresses, but if they do you should • Stationery bride.
allow them some say in what they are going to • Flowers
wear. If you plan to pay for them yourself, you • Fees for the ceremony • Presents for the best man and the
can choose their outfits. • Reception venue, food and drink bride’s attendants.
Your wedding will probably be the biggest • Wedding cake
party you ever throw - which means it will • Photographs/video • Transport to the ceremony for himself
probably also be the most expensive. So it’s • Wedding transport and the best man and to the reception for
vital that you set your budget and stick to it. • Thank you gifts for best man and attendants himself and the bride
Nowadays it’s becoming much more common • Going away outfits
for the bride and groom themselves and even • Honeymoon • The honeymoon.
the groom’s parents to contribute towards the
cost. Again, whoever is contributing to the
cost should have some say in how the money
is spent.

INSURANCE

cut out and keep Much though we hate to say it, things can go quotes before you decide which one to take out - Mr and Mrs Simon Hayes announce that the
wrong at a wedding and it’s some and do read the small print to see exactly what wedding of their daughter Jennifer Anne to Mr
consolation to know that you won’t lose out each policy covers. Michael Jones will be postponed until (date)/will
financially if they do. Insurance policies on offer Should unforeseen circumstances mean the not now take place. If you have announced the
cover everything from damage to your wedding postponment or cancellation of your wedding, engagement in the newspaper, it would be
dress to loss of deposits due to cancellation of the guests can either be notified by telephone or by a appropriate to place a similarly worded notice
wedding and theft of wedding presents. Do get personal or printed note saying: there too.

DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL • 41

Planning Makes Perfect BELOW: Invitations by Hand

The invitations...

Y our wedding stationery is the first clue presenting a unified theme for the whole day. As a matter of courtesy, an invitation
your guests will have about the style of Invitations should be sent out six weeks before should be sent to the groom’s parents and to the
your wedding, so it’s worth taking time to the wedding (see panel for suggested minister and his wife. When ordering your
choose something appropriate. wording), but many couples now use an early invitations, remember you’ll only need one for
If you’re planning a big formal affair, stiff cards and warning system in the form of a Save the Date each family, plus a few spares for emergencies.
high quality envelopes will sing and dance card – particularly useful if your wedding is
traditional glamour. planned for the busy summer months when “...It’s always a
If your wedding theme is vintage or rustic, some of your most desired guests are likely to good idea to
you can go for floral decoration or vintage be taking holidays. include maps with
lace embellishments. Chic and classical? Allow your stationer or printer about three your invitations to
Try contemporary stripes or bold colours. Going months to complete your order. help guests find
for a theme? Then match your stationery to it. Apart from Save the Date and invitation their way easily...”
Once you’re chosen the style, all your wedding cards, you’re going to need order of service
stationery should be in keeping, sheets (one for each guest plus a few spares), LEFT: English Rose Wedding Stationery
menus for the reception, place cards, perhaps a BELOW: Coral Wedding Invitations
English Rose table plan.
It’s always a good idea to include maps with your
invitations to help guests find their way easily, plus
details of where guests can park and, for those
who are coming long distances, a selection of
recommended accommodation.
For guests of the groom’s family, the groom’s
mother should send a list of names and addresses
to the bride’s mother so she can issue the
invitations.

...and what they should say

The traditional invitation, with the Mr and Mrs Simon Hayes request the
bride’s mother and father acting as pleasure of the company of

hosts, is worded as follows: ........................................................
at the marriage of their daughter
Mr and Mrs Simon Hayes request the Jennifer Anne (etc)
pleasure of your company at the marriage of
their daughter Jennifer Anne to Mr Michael Invitations for civil ceremonies and
Jones at St Benedict’s Church, Plymouth on partnerships follow the same pattern.

Saturday August 19th at 2pm and Make it clear precisely who is being
afterwards at The County Hotel, Plymouth invited. For a married couple, Mr and
Mrs John Jeffries; for a family, Mr and
RSVP 10 Marigold Gardens, Plymouth Mrs John Jeffries, Jeremy and Jemima.

In this form, the names of the guests If you’re hosting the wedding
are handwritten in the top left hand yourselves, change the
wording accordingly.
corner of the invitation.
Alternatively a space is left in the invitation Invitations to the evening reception
only should be worded as follows:
for the guests’ names:

Mr and Mrs Simon Hayes request the cut out and keep
pleasure of your company at an
evening reception to celebrate the

marriage of their daughter Jennifer
Anne to Mr Michael Jones at The
County Hotel, Plymouth on Saturday

August 19th at 8pm

RSVP 10 Marigold Gardens,

Plymouth

4 42 2 • • D DR RE EA AMM WWE ED DD DI NI NG GS S I NI N D DE EV VO ON N & & C CO OR RN NWWA AL L L

REGISTER OFFICE The Ceremony Planning Makes Perfect
To marry at a register office or building approved church or civil
for civil ceremonies, your first step is to contact
the registrar and/or venue to confirm registrar Religious or civil, register office or one of the new approved
and date are available. venues, a wedding can take place on any day of the week
Then both bride and groom must each give between 8am and 6pm. While most still take place on Saturdays,
notice of the wedding in person at the register Fridays are gaining in popularity allowing guests travelling a fair
office covering the area where they live (and
where they must have been in residence for at distance to make a long weekend of the celebrations.
least seven days).
If you both live in the same district you should Church Weddings Second
attend the register office together - but whether Marriages
you do or not, ring your local office first as many The Church of England welcomes couples
now operate appointment systems. who want to marry in church whatever their TwlwiEmhoniolrlicgtutioehlrgadfccnfhcuoedtomrontnhwdassaeoituSlacnRllentiemovircnimvdleagiisrccavryeenoyiornroeuCcdfmwreaivB,thvoohltiinerchcocsyhaelei,srrc.dtiesnhEcopgeahvmreeuCaeoenrfhpctsmeuihloferrmiw,cydnhosoaeisoureotdsefiastrr’n.sseot
Each of you will have to produce evidence of your beliefs, whether or not they are christened
name, age, marital status and nationality - for and whether or not they are regular
example, a current valid full passport. If you churchgoers, though same sex couples are
don’t have one, you’ll need two documents - for currently limited to civil ceremonies.
example a birth certificate and utility bill. A marriage conducted in church will include
If you have been married before, you’ll need
evidence that you are now free to marry - for asking for God’s guidance and blessing, adding a
instance a decree absolute or former spouse’s
death certificate. spiritual dimension to the ceremony which many handed down through generations, you still have
Photocopies of any documents are not normally
acceptable. couples find particularly special and moving. a huge amount of influence over the service.
The fee for giving notice is £35 each and you
must wait 28 clear days before the wedding. Your first step is to find a church, which need not You can choose your hymns and music,
In exceptional circumstances the Registrar
General may consider waiving the waiting period. necessarily be your local one, and arrange an readings and what prayers you would like and
A notice of marriage is valid for 12 months.
appointment with the vicar so you can get to family and friends can contribute to the service.
THE NORMAL ORDER
OF SERVICE FOR A know him or her and complete It’s important to establish early on what
CHUEnRtrCanHceWofEthDeDbrIiNdeG• IS:
some forms. The vicar will the church’s policy is on
SigHniynmHgynom•fntThohereprmesgaailrsmrtiea•rgB•ele•RsePscrianeygsesriosnal
explain the church fees and photographs or video being
LICENSED VENUES
the system of reading the taken during the service,
Over the past few years since a change
in the law some 2,000 venues banns. whether any secular music is
throughout the country have become
licensed to hold civil weddings. They range Banns are the public allowed and on the throwing
from hotels to stately homes, zoos to football
clubs. You still have to give notice of your announcement of your of confetti within the church
intention to marry in the same way as you do
for register office weddings and, in the same marriage and legally must be grounds.
way, you can personalise the ceremony to
called in church for three Ask too about other couples

Sundays during the three marrying on the same day as

months before the wedding. it may be possible to share the

They have to be read in the cost of the church flowers.

parish where each of you Religious services in churches

lives and also in the church outside the established Church

where you will marry, if this of England require a licence

is different. from the authorised registrar

Although the vows you make PHOTO BY of your area and will have
to each other in church are LOUISE RICHEY different requirements, so see
those which have been PHOTOGRAPHY your priest or minister as early

as possible.

suit yourselves although no religious music Marrying abroad
is allowed. Though this option costs more
than a register office ceremony - you will

have to pay for the hire of the room and it Combining your wedding with the holiday of a lifetime is gaining in popularity with exotic
costs more to have the registrar travel to you destinations luring an increasing number of couples. The sun-kissed beaches of the Caribbean,
- it is becoming increasingly popular as the the Maldives and Bali are among the most popular choices and many tour operators now offer

cut out and keep trend away from church weddings all-inclusive packages. The legal requirements for each country may differ but generally if a marriage

continues. is recognised as legally binding in the country in which it takes place, it will be recognised in the UK

as well. Consult your tour operator and allow at least three months for all the paperwork to be

properly processed.

DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL • 43

Planning Makes Perfect The Best Man the ceremony and from there to the reception one, assume those duties himself - these
• Organise accommodation for the groom and include announcing the speeches and the
cutting of the cake
If the bride is the star of the wedding show, the best himself the night before the wedding • Reply to the groom’s toast to the bridesmaids
man is the kingpin of a successful wedding day, so • He might also be asked to help with accommodation with a brief, polite and - if possible - funny
make sure your groom chooses him with care. speech before reading out the cards and
However tempting it might be to choose the joker for guests and to liaise with live musicians or
disco both before and during the reception telegrams
• Announce the newlyweds’ departure
who’s the life and soul of every party, you’re from the reception and ensure they
have all their tickets and luggage
far better off with someone who will take his PHOTO BY N O R S W O RT H Y P H O T O G R A P H Y • Make sure all the guests have
transport to their accommodation
responsibilities seriously, keep all the • Arrange for any wedding presents
taken to the reception to be taken
organisation under control and leave you to home
• Take the groom’s wedding clothes
enjoy your day without any niggling worries from the reception and, if necessary,
return hired suits.
about how many guests have been stranded
The speech
at the church. The part that worries most
When it comes to the speech, all the
best men is the speech, but that should be advice is: Resist the temptation to tell any juicy
stories whatsoever from the couple’s past. The
the least of their problems. The best man’s escapades may have been hilarious, but now is
not the time for embarrassing reminders about
job, in a nutshell, is to support the groom past romances or past quarrels between the
happy pair.
both in the run-up to the wedding and on Because the best man’s speech is generally
regarded as the prime entertainment at the
the day itself. reception, getting it together can be a daunting
prospect - but don’t panic. If you can tell jokes -
Before the wedding, the best man clean ones, please - that’s fine, but a short, polite
should: and sincere speech wishing the couple every
happiness will fit the bill just as well.
• Make sure he keeps himself up to date with all On the day Unless you’re experienced at this sort of thing,
the arrangements, liaising regularly with the write down exactly what you want to say and
groom and the bride’s family • Take the groom’s going away clothes to the practise it. Don’t be tempted to wing it onthe day.
reception venue The three essential parts of the speech are to
• Check the hiring, cleaning or collecting of suits thank the groom on behalf of the bridesmaids for
for himself and the groom • Check the service sheets are delivered to the his kind words about them, to read the cards and
church for the ushers to hand out to guests as telegrams that have arrived and to announce the
• Check the ordering of the flowers for the bride they arrive cutting of the cake.
and her attendants, sprays for the two mothers
and buttonholes for himself, the groom and • Make sure the groom arrives for the ceremony
other immediate members of the families in good time

• Check the printing and collection of order of • Hold the ring(s) until the appropriate moment in
service sheets and make sure that the ushers the ceremony when they should be handed to
know what their duties are the groom or the minister

• Check arrangements for the first night and • Pay all the church fees on the groom’s behalf
honeymoon are in place and that necessary before the ceremony
passports and visas are in order
• Sign the register as a witness to the marriage
• Organise the groom’s stag night - preferably • Get the bridal party together for photographs
some days in advance of the wedding - and • Make sure the ushers arrange lifts to the
make sure the groom gets home safely
afterwards reception for any guests who need them
• Escort the bride and groom to the bridal car and
• Check the rings have been collected
• Check the transport for the bridal party both to then escort the bridesmaids to the reception
• Liaise with the toastmaster or, if there isn’t

The chief bridesmaid THE USHERS

The bride’s equivalent of a best man also needs to be chosen with care as it is she who will support the Church weddings normally have
bride in the run-up to the ceremony and on the day itself. Though her duties aren’t as arduous as those three ushers who should arrive at
of her male equivalent, they’re every bit as important in ensuring the bride has a worry-free day. the church about 40 minutes
before the wedding is due to start.
THE CHIEF BRIDESMAID: Their principal job is to hand out the
order of service sheets to guests as they
• Arranges the hen night and make sure the bride arrive and show them to their seats -
gets home safely friends and family of the bride on the left
of the aisle, friends and family of the
• Arranges for the bride’s going away outfit and groom on the right.
honeymoon luggage to be taken to the They should make sure one of them pays
reception venue special attention to the groom’s parents
and the bride’s mother as they arrive and
• Helps the bride to dress for the ceremony escorts them to their places.
They should also help the best man
• Makes sure the flowers and bouquets have organise lifts to the reception for guests
who may need them.
arrived on schedule

• Supervises the other bridesmaids and

attendants and assembles them at the church PHOTO BY WEATHERED OAK PHOTOGRAPHY
ready for the arrival of the bride

• Arranges the bride’s dress and veil before the procession down the aisle

• Takes the bride’s bouquet at the start of the wedding service and carries it to the vestry ready to give
back to the bride after the signing of the register

• Keeps an eye on young attendants during the reception cut out and keep
• Helps the bride change from her wedding dress into her going away outfit
• Arranges for the wedding dress to be returned home

44 • DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL

Who does what Arrival at the Planning Makes Perfect
- and when... church
The ushers should arrive about 40 minutes before
If you think military precision takes the fun out of a the ceremony is due to begin
wedding, you’d be wrong. The essence of a trouble-free The groom and best man should arrive about 15
minutes before the ceremony is due to begin
day is that everyone knows where they’re supposed The bridesmaids and attendants should arrive about
to be and what they’re supposed to be doing. five minutes before the ceremony is due to begin
The bride’s mother should be the last to arrive before
cut out and keep Your civil ceremony At the Reception the bride - when she is shown to her seat that is a signal
explained to the congregation that the wedding is about to start
The formal receiving line at the reception should The bride will be met on her arrival at the church by the
Gone are the days when a civil marriage was a take the following order: minister, who precedes the bride and her father down
hasty 15-minute affair, conducted in a small the aisle As the congregation rises, the groom and best
room at the register office. Nowadays many Bride’s parents man take their places at the chancel steps
register offices have light, spacious ceremony Groom’s parents The order of the bride’s procession is: Minister,
rooms or suites accommodating reasonably large Bride and Groom Bride on her father’s right arm, Attendants.
wedding parties and even a separate bride’s Chief bridesmaid
waiting room and garden for photographs. PHOTO BY CRESSER PHOTOGRAPHY
A large number of venues are now also licensed and best man
for civil ceremonies and the only major restriction After the meal, the best man (or toastmaster, if helped her plan the big day, to thank her own parents
is that no religious music or reading may be used. you have one) introduces the speeches in the for all their support and to thank the groom’s parents for
Otherwise, you may personalise your ceremony in following order: welcoming her into their family.
terms of vows, readings, music, dedicating The bride’s father (or an old family friend) Last of the speeches is always the best man, who
candles and lots more. The registrar will offer help always speaks first, welcoming the guests to replies to the groom’s toast to the bridesmaids, wishes
and advice in planning your ceremony and will the reception and his new son-in-law to the happy couple well, read the cards and telegrams
normally meet you a few weeks in advance to go the family. He will complement the bride and and announces the cutting of the cake.
over the format which could be: often thanks her mother for their many happy Many weddings now include an evening dance or
• Pre-arrival music years together. He ends by proposing the disco. Before it begins, the best man should make sure
• Entrance music toast to the bride and groom. the bride and groom are ready to take the floor first,
• Welcome by the registrar The groom replies to his father-in-law’s followed by the bride’s parents, the groom’s parents, the
• Reading toast, thanking him and the bride’s mother best man and chief bridesmaid.
• Legal declarations and vows for their daughter, for their welcome into the family and
• Promises and exchange of rings for the reception (the wording can be discreetly The best man then returns to his seat.
• Signing the register changed here if the newlyweds and/or the groom’s After the ceremony, the minister leads the
• Reading or music parents have contributed to the expense). couple to the altar for prayers, possibly a hymn
• Presentation of the certificate He thanks the guests for coming to celebrate the day or psalm and a final blessing. The minister then
• Leaving music and for the presents they have given. He thanks his best leads the couple to the vestry to sign the register
You can also have a ‘dual’ ceremony – after a short man and the bride’s attendants for the help they have and they are usually joined by their parents, the
ceremony at the register office to fulfil the legal given to the bride. He then proposes the toast to the best man and the chief bridesmaid. The signing
requirements, you can have a further ceremony of bridesmaids. Now girl power is more firmly of the register must be witnessed by two adults
your choosing in front of family and friends on the established, it is not uncommon now for the bride to and it is at this point that the bride raises her veil.
beach or in a woodland glade, for instance. say a few words and if she chooses to do so, she should While this is taking place, the choir may sing or
Most registrars will try to be as flexible as possible speak after her new husband. This is a good the organist play a piece of music.
to accommodate individual requests and they will opportunity for her to thank all the people who have The bridal procession then leaves the church in
lead you through your declarations, vows and the following order:
promises. Order of service Bride and groom
The one thing you must do is agree all of your Young attendants
selections in advance to ensure they comply with The order of service is variable and your Chief bridesmaid with the best man
the law. minister or priest will advise you. Often a Bride’s mother with the groom’s father
hymn is sung after the bride’s procession, Groom’s mother with the bride’s father.
GOGOODOBDYLEUACNKD followed by readings and an address by the If you are having bells, they will peal out at
minister. this point.
TdheebtphrbsatiTedhrhrhiiertedeuelgeeifrssiboaerhaesvginonasteofdugtsttioenlmdgafrgolwreadtorthanaooohevymaeysetchnrohtlrnsohhoajohuteovwhuosnerentueehscclbycdeheameerasnfpaobnoldttwriogoho,euaenenifydsqi..rtshuhienebette,o The marriage itself follows. The minister asks:
“Who giveth this woman to be married to this
man?” and the bride’s father silently gives his
daughter’s right hand to the minister, who passes
it to the groom.
The bride’s father takes his seat beside the bride’s
mother.
The vows are made and the best man may either
pass the ring(s) to the groom or they may be
placed on the minister’s prayer book before he
passes them to the groom.

DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL • 45

Planning Makes Perfect Those all-important

details

The Photographs The Cake PHOTO BY
NORSWORTHY
I f you’re anything like most brides, your wedding Ideally your cake should be ordered at least PHOTOGRAPHY
day will fly by and the best way of reliving it in the three months before the wedding. Though the
years to come will be through your photographs. tradition is for a multi-tiered fruit cake, the rich
So how do you go about choosing your variety of styles and designs now means you can
photographer? have anything from profiteroles to a rich
The Professional Wedding Photographers Network
(PWPN) advises:

• Base your selection on whether you like the kind of chocolate fudge. The only thing to remember is

work your photographer does. Visit a selection (in that it will have to be big enough to give you can save money on the reception by
person or by website) and ask to see examples of everyone a slice at the reception and to send choosing a wedding cake which will double as a
their work from recent weddings. Notice how the slices to absent friends. Traditionally the top tier dessert. If you do this, you might want to cut
photographer has chosen his settings and make sure of a wedding cake was kept for the christening of your cake early at the reception,
there’s a mixture of different types of shots. the first child - if you want to follow that tradition, so it can be cut up ready to serve at the
• If the firm you visit employs several photographers, you’ll have to opt for a cake that will last that appropriate time.
find out who has taken the pictures you like best long. Ask to see designs of wedding cake and You will need the cake to be delivered to the
and make sure you book that specific photographer find out whether bakers will create one to your reception venue on the morning of the wedding -
for your day – and find out what happens if that own specifications. Try to match the style of cake and don’t forget to check that the venue has a
photographer is suddenly not available. to the style of your wedding - and remember that cake stand and knife you can use.
• Decide whether you want formally posed shots, or

whether you would like the photographer to take

informal pictures as they happen. The Transport
• Black and white photographs are now as popular

as colour so find out whether your photographer
will shoot in black and white film or turn colour

pictures into black and white afterwards. Ask It’s lovely to have a luxury chauffeur-driven limousine to drive you to the ceremony - and it’s also a
whether proofs will be available at the reception. practical choice. You can be sure you’ll arrive on time and with all that room in the car, you won’t
• Your photographer may well know the church and have to worry about your dress getting creased.
reception venue you have chosen, but if he doesn’t

check he will visit both before the day so he can Normally the best man drives the groom to the ceremony and then takes the car to the reception. But

choose the best locations. you will need transport for the bride’s mother and bridesmaids (who usually travel together) and for

• Make sure you get a written quotation. the bride and her father to the ceremony and for the principals from the ceremony to the reception.

All PWPN member The Video Whether you want a traditional Rolls Royce, a classic Daimler,
are professional wedding a convertible Cadillac, a stretch limo or even a horse and
photographers and only ever take Much the same advice applies to choosing a videographer carriage, contact a variety of companies in your area and ask
one wedding per day. Fully insured as to choosing a photographer. Make sure you see to see the cars themselves, not just pictures of them. Some
they use the latest technology companies offer a service which includes flowers in the cars
and have back-up cameras. samples of recent work, make sure the videographer you and a glass of champagne for the bride and groom on their
For more information – and get is the one whose work you like best. Again check with way to the reception. Check exactly what’s included in the
an instant availability check – the priest first whether he is prepared to give permission price and get a written quotation.
visit the website at
www.pwpn.co.uk. for filming during the ceremony.

The Flowers PHOTO BY
MAXI PHOTOGRAPHY

T he cost of your flowers depends very much on the time of year, so if you want a huge
display don’t choose the middle of winter when you’ll have to pay a fortune for
sufficient blooms. Spring and early summer are when the biggest choice of blooms is available -
it’s something of a myth that flowers are easy to come by in the height of summer - though at other times
of year dramatic effects can be achieved with foliage.

Your florist will help you match both the colours and the arrangement of your flowers to the style of the
wedding, teasing out the shades of your bridesmaids’ dresses, matching the men’s buttonholes and styling
the arrangements for both church and reception to help you create an atmosphere which may be country
style, dreamily romantic, classically elegant or even based on a theme.

46 • DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL

A right royal reception Planning Makes Perfect

Whether it’s a small buffet for a few close family and friends or a lavish do at the
smartest of venues, your reception is the big celebration of your wedding - a chance

for people to share your happiness and an opportunity for you to thank them for
their presents and for coming to see you married.

A s this is likely to be PHOTO BY FOCUS WEDDINGS to do this before the speeches
the most expensive to allow it to be cut and served)
part of your Departure of bride and groom
wedding day, it’s If you are having a sit-down
important to set the standard meal, it is essential to have a
seating plan. Try to put
early on in your planning. together tables of people who
you think will get on well
Popular venues get booked together. The top table seating
plan for a sit-down meal is
up well in advance, shown below.
Don’t feel hidebound by what
particularly on Saturdays you think a traditional wedding
breakfast should consists of -
during the peak wedding nowadays anything goes, from
bangers and mash and jam
months so make sure of your roly-poly to pasta with wedding
cake for dessert. It’s also worth
choice by booking as early as remembering you may need to
cater for vegetarians or guests on special diets.
you can. Do also make sure Do give considerable thought to the room and
table decorations and the lighting at your
you confirm all the details reception. Flowers should match the theme
colours of the wedding and a little money spent
with the venue in writing, on atmospheric lighting can make an enormous
difference.
paying particular attention to Favours for guests range from the traditional
small baskets of sugared almonds or fortune
what is included in the price. cookies to little books of love poems.
Crackers and balloons always help create an
Depending on your budget, atmosphere.
If you are having a number of small children at
you can have anything from a Pimms or Bucks Fizz on arrival and wine with the your wedding, it’s worth giving some thought as
buffet catered for at home by family and friends meal, saving the champagne - or, indeed a good to whether you can organise a creche - both
to hiring outside caterers for a church or village sparkling wine - for the toasts. For reference, you to stop the youngsters getting bored and
hall to a formal sit-down meal at a hotel followed will get between 10 and 12 glasses of sherry to to give their parents a chance to enjoy
by an evening dance. each bottle and between six and eight glasses of themselves without worrying about what their
A sit-down meal is obviously the most expensive wine or champagne per bottle. Do remember to offspring are up to.
option, but there are all sorts of alternatives from provide plenty of soft drinks for children and
drinks and canapes to a buffet or even a adults who prefer them or who may be driving. WHATEVER THE SIZE OF
barbecue. Whichever you choose, do make sure Allow between half and one litre per person. YOUR RECEPTION, it’s always nice to
there are plenty of chairs for people to sit down There can be a long break between vvceremony have a formal or semi-formal receiving
while they’re eating - standing up balancing a and reception while photographs are being taken
drink and a plate while trying to eat is virtually and some couples are now offering a glass of line to welcome your guests. This
never comfortable for guests. sherry outside the church and perhaps live ensures that you get the chance to
If you choose a hotel, do try to eat there and music to entertain guests as they arrive at the meet everybody and accept their
sample the food before making your booking. reception.
Check such details as corkage, parking space congratulations.
and whether the hotel will offer a cake stand and The usual order of events at the reception is: The bride’s parents, as the hosts are
knife and a room for the bride and groom to The receiving line
change into their going away outfits. Many hotels The meal usually first in the receiving line,
offer a package which includes the services of a Speeches and toasts followed by the groom’s parents, the
toastmaster and a complimentary room Cutting of the cake (though some couples prefer
bride and groom and then the
for the first night of the honeymoon. Top Table Seating Plan bridesmaids and attendants.
Once you have chosen your venue,
confirm in writing what you understand

is included in the price.

Drinks for your guests will take up a

large part of your budget. It’s
cut out and keep

Chief bridesmaid
Groom’s father
Bride’s mother
Groom
Bride
Bride’s father
Groom’s mother
Best Man
reasonable to assume each will drink

one or two glasses on arrival at the

reception, three or four glasses with

their meal and another glass with the

toasts.

Though champagne is the traditional

wedding drink, you can offer sherry,

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48 • DREAM WEDDINGS IN DEVON & CORNWALL or call 01626 873364 Alsofinduson: