Your Bristol & Somerset Wedding - Page number 31 - June/July 2021 (Issue 83)

which meant we got a surprise on the day,” Jackie says. There was a personal touch to the table plan, with Polaroid pictures of all the guests with the couple’s favourite tennis players as table names – reflecting how they met. Place settings and favours were doubled up, and the couple’s nearest and dearest were treated to homemade sloe gin, using sloes picked from the fields by the house. To fit the rustic vibe, hay bales provided by Stowey Farm were used for seating, while the confetti was made from rose petals that were handpicked and dried from the garden. As well as providing the marquee, Archers Marquees also organised the lighting, which lit up the river beautifully in the evening. AISLE STYLE Jackie wore Kelsey by Maggie Sottero, which she first saw in the window of Krystle Brides in Bath when she went for an appointment. “The staff in the boutique were so helpful and never made you feel rushed,” Jackie says. “I loved the train and the detail on the back of the dress. It was comfortable and sparkly, but not too formal given the rustic setting of our wedding.” She teamed the gown with a veil and a pair of earrings, which were a gift from one of her bridesmaids. Dan’s tailor-made Moss Bros suit was in a royal blue with his choice of East Asian-inspired lining and gold stitching on the cuffs. The groomsmen wore a similar blue suit, while the bride’s brother, who lives in Scotland, wore a kilt made from his university tartan. The bridesmaids looked elegant in the Salma dress by Ghost, in a luxurious emerald green. TIME TO CELEBRATE To set the scene and provide a wonderful atmosphere, a string quartet performed while the guests arrived, during the ceremony and for the reception; the lead violinist was Jackie’s old music teacher. After a delicious meal from The Full Spoon, the guests all gathered by the river for a duck race, which saw some of the guests wading in the water to help! “In the evening, the party got started with a live ceilidh band,” Jackie says. “This was followed by our own playlist of dancefloor-fillers.” MAKING MEMORIES While Jackie was excited on the morning of the big day, Dan was feeling nervous about his speech. “He was so relieved when it was over,” Jackie smiles. “He could then relax and enjoy the rest of the wedding.” The day was full of glorious sunshine. “We had a contingency plan to relocate everything inside the marquee in the event of rain,” Jackie says. “Luckily, the weather was perfect!” The pair loved having their photos taken in the late afternoon in a local tannery. Jackie remembers, “It meant walking across a field, through the woods and crossing a river to reach the location! I had to take my shoes off while Dan held up my train.” Jackie’s words of wedded wisdom: “Make sure you’re comfortable with the suppliers you choose. This allows you to trust them, leaving you to relax and enjoy the day.” REAL WEDDINGS 31