Ellie and John Jo's beautiful 'garden party' wedding

As spring met summer, Ellie and John Jo had a gorgeous wedding with spring flowers and heart warming, balmy Devon sunshine.  They wanted a relaxed "garden party" feel to their day: garden flowers, bunting, cool colours, and twinkling tea lights.

Meet Ellie and John Jo - our completely gorgeous couple:

Over the course of a year, they had meticulously planned a perfect weekend. Beginning on the Friday, Ellie, her lovely Mum and Dad (Lesley and Stuart), John Jo, and his cool surfer mum (Carol), decorated the house.

Look at the beautiful favours. Wild flower sachets in these cute bags,  all sewn by Lesley.

Lesley also made all the bunting, with some help from Ellie and Carol too.  It was a mammoth task, but well worth it, as everywhere looked so pretty. There was bunting outside, inside and even on the bar!

Here's a photo of Charlie from The Real Cut Flower Garden who grows all the flowers she works with in her own garden.  Ellie and John Jo wanted in-season flowers, so Charlie's flowers were perfect!

The wild flowers really lifted the entrance hallway.

These beautiful lanterns, which Ellie made from old jam jars, made the Bride's aisle look magical!

The vintage china completed the garden party look in the Ballroom.

And Voila! The Ballroom was ready for the next day.

There was a really chilled vibe at Pickwell on the Saturday morning,  John Jo and his best boys enjoyed a full english breakfast.

Meanwhile, Ellie, Lesley and Stuart had tea and soaked up some morning sunshine at the back of the house - she had to make sure the groom wouldn't see her before the moment!

Although the Saturday was Ellie and John Jo's wedding day, it was also a very important day for their niece. Grace is 2 years today! Ellie popped to Grace's apartment to give her a big birthday present!  It looks like Henry wanted to wear the birthday badge though!

And then it was time to get ready, here are Ellie and her sister (and Bridesmaid) Janine having hair and make up by Gemma and Gemma from Changing faces.

Getting ready is one of my favourite parts of the wedding day - just the girls, a few glasses of fizz, hair spray, make up and lots of laughter as they help each other into their wedding clothes!  Here is Ellie helping Abi, her other Bridesmaid and best friend, into her fabulous bridesmaid dress.  

And then Janine too (massive thanks to Rebecca Roundill, Ellie and John Jo's lovely photographer for letting me use some of her wonderful photo's for this blog - you'll see some more in a moment!)

Then, it was time for Henry and Grace to get in their page boy and flower girls clothes. Completely adorable!

Meanwhile, the boys were having their own fun getting ready.

Best Man Guy explores other purposes for a tie!

Finally, we get to see Ellie in her Wedding dress. As you can see, she looks stunning.  The lace and the little bit of sparkle is glamorous and effortlessly cool - the dress was perfect for Ellie!

While Ellie was chatting through formalities with the registrar, the Bride and Groom's mothers, Lesley and Carol took a moment!

And then it was time for the Bride to walk down the aisle, a few tears and a quick kiss... 

...proud Stuart led his daughter towards the Rose Arbour.

Here's a photo of the ceremony, the guests stand to welcome the bride to really beautiful music by Sorelli Strings. It was a really meaningful ceremony, a few tears and lots of cheers!

Here are the newly married MR and MRS as their guests throw confetti over them (Again, I wish I could take credit for this, but this is the talented Rebecca Roundhill)!

After the ceremony, guests enjoyed Pimms and fizz on the Terrace in the sunshine.

And tucked into some delicious canapés, thanks to our wonderful and super talented caterers Guess Who is Coming to Dinner? 

While some guests enjoyed getting involved in our garden games! I think Henry fancies his chances at Wimbledon later this year - watch out Murray!

This gave Ellie and John Jo a quick moment to sneak away to our woods for some atmospheric wedding photos - they really are a gorgeous couple!

It was time for the Wedding meal! All guests took their seats to welcome in Ellie and John Jo.

*Confession alert* I put my camera down somewhere and lost it for a while during the wedding, (which is why I am grateful to Rebecca Roundhill for her photo's) but it means I only managed to take a photo of the delicious starter - Black Sea Bream! They had a beautiful Rack of Lamb main course with dauphanoise potatoes and local Devon vegetables, and a summery Eton Mess for desert.

Stuart began the speeches, he said such sweet things about Ellie - such a great Dad!

John Jo's speech included an all important singing of 'Happy Birthday' for Dear Grace!

And then came Guy's speech.....  Can you tell how the groom was feeling about this last speech??!

In actual fact, Guy's speech was hilarious and heart felt in equal measure. No-one could have laughed any more.... or been more teary at the end, least of all him! Well done Guy! You certainly deserved that Whisky!

I must share this photo with you, while the speeches were going on, Henry decided he'd had enough of all the grown up chatter, and found this awesome wig in the photo booth props box! 

Ellie and John Jo love their cheese and so decided that for their wedding cake they would have a cheese cake!  All locally sourced from West Country Cheese, here in Barnstaple.

While everyone went outside for a group photo, the Pickwell team transformed the Ballroom ready for a fun evening of dancing!

The Bride and Groom cut their cake

And the first dance began.

It wasn't long before they were joined by all of their family and friends!

Ellie and John Jo had a great idea for their photo booth, a personalised banner with their own props!

The homemade lanterns twinkled outside as the evening came to a close, it had been such a beautiful day!

In the morning, bright eyed and bushy tailed, Ellie and John Jo and their guests enjoyed a delicious cooked breakfast courtesy of our chef Lee and his team.

They were able to relive the wedding day and share stories of who's dance floor moves were the best, or who had the funniest photo in the Photo Booth, as well as say a meaningful thank-you and good bye to all their guests.

And then it was time to leave Pickwell, although not without one last trick from John Jo's best boys! What's that rattling noise.........?!  

Ellie and John Jo, it has been a delight to meet your families and all of your friends, the care and consideration for those you love showed in volumes - it has been a joy to see your wedding grow from your ideas to a wonderful reality!

See you soon when you are in North Devon again

xxx

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