Our First 2015 Wedding- Sam and Andy's Spring Wedding

Sam and Andy had always wanted a small intimate wedding. Their idea was to spend wonderful quality time with their nearest and dearest whilst they celebrated their marriage. Well they certainly achieved that, their wedding had such an amazingly special atmosphere to it!

May I introduce you to Sam with her brilliant parents, Leslie and Duncan, who as you can see were ready for wedding preparation action.

Leslie and Duncan have a really lovely group of friends, who have clearly been a very important part of Sam's life. Here is Ann helping with afternoon tea set up. 

It turns out that Sam is a women of many talents!! Here she is making her own bouquets....

which looked fantastic!

This is the amazing cake that she also made herself!!

Here we have the groom, Andy, doing his bit. Andy and his mum, Liz, put up the photo strings.

How cute were they as little things!

It turns out that Leslie is also a dab hand with flowers, she put together all of the table centres.

Didn't she do well! The Freesias smelt so wonderful.

That was just the start of the flowers!

Here is Claire from Amaryllis adding the finishing touches to the fabulous staircase arrangement.

She also did these gorgeous mantle piece garlands and... 

the display behind the ceremony table. Claire is so hard working, her flowers take hours and you can really see why, beautiful!

With the house all ready, it was time to welcome guests up to Bliss lounge for afternoon tea. Leslie, Sam's mum, had baked the most amazing selection of cakes, each of which had its very own label.

The label photo shoot looked fun!

The cakes were delicious (I was 'forced' to try some, which didn't take much persuasion as they were scrummy!)

The afternoon tea was such a fantastic start to the wedding weekend, adding to the relaxed atmosphere. Then off to the King's Arm's private upstairs dining room for dinner, perfect!

The morning of the wedding, the girls got ready in Bliss apartment, with the help of the hair and makeup team from Colorseum, Bideford.

After a relaxing walk to the beach, Andy met with the best man (Alex) and his father in law to be (Duncan), to put on buttonholes. What a handsome bunch!

Duncan nervously waited outside Sam's door before he saw her for the first time in her beautiful dress....an emotional moment!

She looked so gorgeous!

They made their entrance across the terrace into the ballroom.....

where their nearest and dearest were waiting.

After a very intimate and special ceremony, it was onto the terrace for drinks and canapes, where the sun was now shining, whoop, whoop!

Scones and bubbles, yum! The Wisteria in bloom is really magnificent in Spring...

and so are the Bluebells. This is one of my favourite times of year, the woods are completely magical!

Here are Sam and Andy emerging from having photos amongst the Bluebells with their lovely photographer, Rebecca Roundhill. We can't wait to see the official photos, if the amazing engagement photo shoot at Putsborough beach is anything to go by!

Speeches were in the Italian garden with the sun shining, MC'd by Kate, the both beautiful and funny bridesmaid (Sam and Kate have been best friends since they were little).

So then in for dinner, with 29 guests the ballroom was set up with one large oblong table. This gave a great atmosphere where people could chat across to each other.

In between courses, guests filled out their 'notes to the bride and groom'.

Another lovely idea!

There was a surprise treat during coffee, Victoria, the best man's partner sang. She is a professional singer, so it was a nice surprise. In fact it was more than nice, it was both amazing and moving, with not a dry eye left in the house afterwards!!  Well done Victoria!!

The cake really was fab!

Then the first dance kicked off the evening celebrations.

Sam and Andy had made a photo booth out of the cherub settle.

How cool was this cherub!

Somehow the dressing up things made it onto the dance floor....

Leslie!?!

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Bassingthwaighte, I have loved being part of your wedding journey, you are a very special and wonderful couple and we wish you every happiness in your adventures through life together!

Rob and Kat's Natural, Local and Coastal Wedding

This was a proper local wedding and a celebration of the things that Rob and Kat love the most: 

their family, each other, Poppy the puppy and the great outdoors – especially the beach!

Rob and Kat brought a real sense of the laid back Devon vibe throughout the weekend. It all began on Friday with a cup of tea!

While Kat and her team decorated the ballroom with beautiful pieces of driftwood, candles and these beautiful pots of homemade Jam (made by Rob’s mum Mary and labels made by Kat).

Everyone then regrouped for the “Big Bunting Hang”. Amazingly, this was one piece of Bunting which Kat’s talented Mum made – it was the biggest piece of bunting I have ever seen – it zig-zagged across the whole length of the Ballroom! Everyone had fun hanging it… “to me, to you…!”

Rob and Kat together wrote an itinerary of their wedding weekend on our big chalkboard, so that everyone knew what was going on at different times of the day, and signed it off together!

Their beautiful wedding cake had this gorgeous cake topper made by Kat herself. While we were planning their wedding, at the meeting on her 'to do' list was always “make Rob” so it was great to see miniature Rob finally made and joining Kat and Poppy the puppy!

So on a blustery Autumn Saturday morning, Kat and her closest family and friends, started the day with a cup of tea in jammies! Meanwhile the boys were up early and headed off for an 11k run!

Bridesmaid Kate carefully laid out everyone’s beautiful dresses.

We got to see the beautiful Wedding Dress – a real classic gown with a contemporary twist -

and the Bride started to get ready.

Whilst everyone was getting ready, the very talented Kelly from Offshore Blooms arrived with Rob and Kat’s flowers – beautiful sunflowers – perfect for this outdoorsy, fun-loving couple. Kat decided on sunflowers after cycling past lots of these happy blooms earlier in the summer!

I took up the buttonholes to give to Rob – his Dad bore witness to Rob taking the box of beautiful blooms, in case Rob put them down and lost them!

Meanwhile, Kat showed a very beautiful response to her bouquet. She was so moved as it was an “I’m getting married today” moment.

Such a cheerful choice of flowers!

Here are three of the bridesmaids Claire, Charlotte and Emma with their bouquet’s. Having everyone get ready together is lots of fun, there was much laughter and cheer from Kat and Rob’s family!

After such an autumnal start, the day took a beautiful turn for Rob and Kat. The view across to Baggy Point was crystal clear – perfect for our beach loving couple.

Meet Kat’s gorgeous and very proud Dad, Tom, all dressed and ready to give Kat away.

Back in our apartment Affinity, the wonderful Hannah from Brighteye Beauty finishes Bridesmaid Claire’s Make-up.

While Amy from Tangles finishes beautiful Kat’s hair

While the girls finish getting ready and put their dresses on, the boys were busy in the apartment next door. In the background here is Mike Wells, Rob and Kat’s wonderful photographer.

Rob and his best boys are keen cyclists, so while I was chatting to Rob and his Dad, I was surprised when Best Man Ian walked in, in nothing but his “Crown Joules boxers” (all the boys wore these pants as it is a play on the surname of the Groom - you can buy your own here!) and these fabulous red spot socks! Red Spots for the Tour De France’s King of the Mountain! 

And of course the Groom wore yellow socks for the 'Yellow Jersey' or Tour de France Winner. One day Rob, you may win the actual Yellow Jersey… Just remember us at Pickwell when you do!

Kat and Rob were married at St Brannock’s Church in Braunton. Here we have the very handsome Groom and his best boys leaving for Church. We love the top hats - they are perfect for a Wedding.

Just before they left, just time for a groom photo with Rob’s mum, wearing blue for her boy!

As the boys were leaving, we got our first glimpse of Kat in her dress - stunning!

A moving picture of Mum with her daughter on her wedding day. Wedding days are such special moments for mum’s and Linda glowed all weekend with pride!

A stunning photo Mike Wells set up – I sneaked in to take this photo of Kat in front of our window in Affinity!

This is William; Kat’s brother and sister-in-law's son, who had a VERY important role as Page Boy!

Here is our Bride ready to be married at Church…

Followed by her wonderful bridesmaids.

Last minute check before everyone headed off – all looked beautiful; classic but still capturing Kat and Rob’s fun and laid-back Devon personality!

After the ceremony Kat and Rob stayed at the church for private photos. Guests headed back to Sunny Pickwell for Pimms, Ale and Cider – properly Devonshire! They also enjoyed some delicious canapés: Butterfly Prawns, Somerset Bree with tomato and pepper compote, Honey and Mustard Sausages and Yorkshire Puds with Devon Beef.

And here are the brand new Mr and Mrs Joules! 

They arrived back to cheers from all their family and friends.. Check out how beautiful the back of Kat's dress is!

Guests were seated to enjoy glasses of wine and sharing pies: scrummy Steak and Ale and local Chicken and Leek with a host of local seasonal veggies.

In-between courses, the MC read out telegrams from those guests who were unable to make it, but still wanted to send their blessings. Kat’s dad followed, who shared some lovely stories!

For their dessert, Rob and Kat were very decisive: Profiteroles! Our wonderful caterers made these blooming homemade profiteroles and served them with jugs of butterscotch and chocolate sauces. My favourite pud ever!

It was time for Rob’s speech. After gifting his parents a huge pear tree and other lovely plants, he shared stories of how he and Kat met. Kat was visiting her friend who was a housemate of Rob's. Rob claims, he walked into his lounge to find Kat watching 'Jeremy Kyle'… Kat's version is slightly different, she says she was watching 'This Morning'… either way, the rest is history!

Whichever the programme, I’m sure you both now have a fond place for daytime TV?!

Best Man Ian delivered a hilarious speech. He and Rob have been best friends forever.. and Ian had plenty of stories to share!

I love to see how different couples choose to create their guest books – Rob managed to capture the exact moment he proposed to Kat in the Caribbean and they used this defining image for guests to sign around. Amazing!

After the speeches, it was time to cut the wedding cake with a sword! The sword represents Rob’s time in the Armed Forces and is a special family heirloom.

In the evening, Rob and Kat had more friends join them, and they were welcomed with wedding cake, proper Devon Fish n' Chips and the first dance to 'Hey Ho' by The Lumineers!

They chose to have a second dance with everyone to “Happy” by Pharrell Williams.

The band then kicked in, beginning with “White Wedding.” 'The Garden Club' a local North Devon band were brilliant and played some rocking tunes which everyone danced to all night!

To end their amazing day, Kat and Rob’s family and friends gathered around them while they danced in the middle – so cute, a perfect end to a perfect wedding day!

Sunday morning, everyone was sprightly and enjoyed a hearty breakfast in Bliss and Affinity apartment lounges before guests set off for home.

Rob and Kat, you are an amazing couple and really looked after all of your family and friends over your wedding weekend. We loved seeing your wedding plans develop, meeting your friends and family and we so enjoyed your wedding. We’ll see you around North Devon! 

Lots of love and good wishes for your journey together as Mr and Mrs Joules! 

xxx