While Pia and Joe were aware of each other at school, nothing happened between them until they were old enough for a bit of Dutch courage, and met up at a pub five year’s after leaving. “Although we weren’t high school sweethearts, meeting in our early 20s felt like the right time for both of us to have this forever thing going,” Pia explains. “It’s funny because even when we started dating, Joe said he didn’t want anything too serious. Obviously that didn’t quite go to plan!” While away on holiday in Dominican Republic in 2023, the couple stayed in the adults only Secrets Hotel in Punta Cana. Since they both love the beach they booked a romantic dinner there during golden hour, surrounded by lit candles and hearts drawn in the sand. While there, Pia noticed a bride who’d just been married on the beach. When she turned back to Joe she found him holding out his great grandmother’s ring. “That could be you one day,” he said, popping the question. “It was a girl’s perfect dream,” Pia remembers. The next day the couple began to celebrate and share the news with their nearest and dearest. “I was so detached from reality that I went to breakfast with my dress on inside out and back to front,” Pia laughs. Already nearly a decade into their relationship, the couple weren’t interested in a long engagement so they started looking for wedding venues as soon as they got home. On the hunt for something as local as possible, Joe found the beautiful Old Oak Farm, which was having its new barn built at the time. Even though it wasn’t 100 per cent complete when they viewed it they found themselves squeezing each other’s hands with excitement during the visit and immediately cancelled their other venue appointments. “It gave us all the amazing feels and we just knew it was where we’d become husband and wife,” Pia explains. They secured 15th June 2024 to celebrate their big day. Join us as the lovely Pia tells us more... SETTING THE SCENE “My idea for the theme was to keep a fleck of gold going throughout the mostly green palette, along with a touch of orange, blush and neutrals,” Pia explains. This clean, modern palette would work beautifully with the couple’s vision of a romantic rustic vibe. Favours were wildflower seeds in bags labelled: ‘let love grow’ in gold foil script. They also gave guests confetti in similar bags, which read: ‘throw some love.’ The table plan was presented in gold frames arranged in apple crates decorated with fairylights and rose petals. The place names meanwhile came in the form of gold goblet drink coins allowing guests to continue sipping their own drink! The couple hired long silk flower displays in their colour palette from Unique Designs by Tina, which would be suspended above the reception tables from gold frames decked in bauble candles. For a touch more colour, they added colourful goblets, gold chargers and cutlery plus neutral French linen napkins. The bridal party bouquets by Bouquet Florist in Cheddar were designed in keeping with the colour palette and included toffee coloured roses, to beautifully complement the gold. They were tied with twine to fit the rustic feel. The semi-naked two tier big-day bake was created by Love My Cake. It was adorned in gold leaf and flowers supplied by the wedding’s florist. A wooden cake topper personalised with Mr & Mrs Ansell sat proudly on top, and the whole thing was presented on a log slice stand. Pia and Joe made their own signs for the day using pallets and other wood remnants. These included a welcome sign, order of the day, backdrop and more. “We were pretty proud of bringing some of our own DIY to the wedding,” Pia says. “The catering by Old Oak Farm included their own signature cider.” REAL WEDDINGS 25
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