Earthy Garden Wedding on the English Countryside

Cornwall UK Wedding

Hidden away in their own little corner of the world, two beautiful souls met and fell in love. Matt + Alex wed on the English countryside, surrounded by rolling hills, budding gardens, and botanical greenhouses near their home in Cornwall. We love how these two incorporated such simplicity and natural beauty into their day, calling on colors and textures reminiscent of a slow, quiet walk through the fields at dusk. We suggest pouring a cup of tea, grabbing a cozy throw, and slowing it down juuust a bit to soak in the details of this sweet + soulful day.

Matt + Alex gave us some insight into their vision: From the start we knew we wanted a really informal, intimate and laid back wedding day. Just a gathering of our nearest and dearest in a beautiful part of the world. Our general (if slightly humorous) premise was “a really good party in a field”. In terms of styling, we decided to go for something in a similar vein; keeping it simple and natural; hopefully capturing both the graceful and refined, alongside the organic and earthy. Like both our loves for art and design and the great outdoors.

It was with the idea in mind of seasons and simplicity, that we desired a real homegrown-foraged-veg-patch-almost-farm-like feel. And so much of it was homegrown, handmade, collected or foraged! From all the stationary to the fabric hanging signs, the confetti, some of the floral arrangements and all of the decor – even the jam jars on the tables that we’d collected over the course of the year! Our wedding day was a complete work of love.

Enchanted Brides captured all the charming moments:

plant illustrated invitation

Alex designed all her own paper goods, complete with hand-lettered signs and details.

artichoke bouquet

The 17th September was our wedding day, a date that fell in those warm-hazy-last-of-the-summer days. We styled our day around this charming transition-season, hoping to capture both the airy freshness of summer along with the cosy indulgence of autumn-to-come. Alex (who was in charge of styling) formed a color palette that mixed minty neutral shades with the deeper jewel tones, of indigo, teal and a mustardy-gold. When choosing clothing or décor, we mixed breezy natural fabrics with sumptuous velvet details that appeared in the bride’s shoes, the groom’s braces, plus all the buttonholes and bouquets. We also featured seasonal produce such as apples and conference pears; artichokes, wild blackcurrants, dried herbs, spices and seeds. Big fluffy bumble bees also appeared on the invitations and confetti envelopes.

BHLDN wedding dress

Isn’t Alex just glowing in this Annabelle by Jenny Yoo in Ivory from BHLDN?? And we LOVE that deep red lip, courtesy of makeup by Amy Pike.

mint bridesmaids

greenery bouquets

Are you loving the artichokes as much as we are? Matt + Alex called on The Cornish Cutting Garden to create these earthy beauties.

flower braid bridesmaids

Cornwall UK Wedding

groomsmen

Our venue of choice was Kestle Barton, an ancient Cornish farmstead turned gallery and gardens. Both pastoral and down-to-earth, yet sleek and simple in its architecture, it was the ideal venue. Plus it was located just a stone’s throw from Frenchman’s creek where we got engaged!

Cornwall UK Wedding

Cornwall UK Wedding

Our Musical Choices

Processional: Wedding Song by Angus & Julia Stone

Recessional: Do You Remember by Jack Johnson

First Dance: Dela by Johnny Savuka

plant ceremony

We decided to hold our ceremony between the trees in the orchard; singing in the open air and conducting a tree planting as part of the service.

Cornwall UK Wedding

Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding

Although there were so many unforgettably wonderful moments in the day, the bits that stand out the most are all those precious moments we got alone. Even if others were around. Like when Alex first joined me at the front of the aisle, when we planted our olive tree together and basically whenever we got a breather to sneak off for photographs. Yet I think for both of us the best bit had to be our first dance. It was on a dance floor where we first met and as the song began playing it felt like everything came full circle. Like a movie-moment, it was perfect. Underneath the stars, with messy hair, Alex’s dress swishing round her bare feet. Outside a huge golden harvest moon was rising and all at once our friends and family gathered around and joined us.

signage

Cornwall UK Wedding

Throughout the day we enjoyed Kestle Barton‘s gallery, gardens and beautiful greenhouse in the vegetable patch. Such spaces made for perfect photo-ops and exceptionally darling wedding imagery. In the late afternoon and evening, we held our reception in their field, in a clear span marquee we picked for its likeness to a botanical glasshouse. Dressing it up with hanging candles and dried herbs; it was divine to see everyone dining by candlelight and dancing beneath the stars.

Cornwall UK Wedding

Cornwall UK Wedding

How great are these?? Hanging bundles of dried and herbs and flowers might just be our new weekend DIY…

Cornwall UK Wedding

drip cake

Our Advice To Those Planning Now

Everything can be improved, so don’t necessarily aim for a perfect day. Aim for a day that’s perfectly you. Both of you. Aim for a day that feels like a second skin, like a favorite memory or coming home. You probably already know that people will give you a shizz-tonne of advice, accept this as graciously as you can (and maybe even make a few gracious amendments) but at the end of the day, your day needs to feel like it belongs to the both of you.

tented reception

Don’t these two just feel like a nice, long hug? Many congratulations to M+A!

photography: Enchanted Brides // venue name: Kestle Barton, Manaccan, Cornwall, UK // event design: Alex (the bride) Serpentine Shores. Co // florals: The Cornish Cutting Garden // wedding dress: Annabelle by Jenny Yoo in Ivory // wedding dress boutique: BHLDN // bride's shoes: Topshop // bride's ring: Monica Vinader // bridesmaid dresses: Needle & Thread // makeup artist: Amy Pike // groom attire: Moss Bros // paper goods: Alex (the bride) Serpentine Shores. Co // calligraphy: Alex (the bride) Serpentine Shores. Co // handmade details: Alex (the bride) Serpentine Shores. Co // catering: The Garden // cake: The Garden // tabletop rentals: Trevarno Hire // music: Josiah Mortimer

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