Your Devon and Cornwall Wedding - July/August 2020 (Issue 26)

25  REAL WEDDINGS future sister-in-law, Jackie, called me and very modestly offered me the material she had used for her wedding dress which was from the same gown worn by her mother, Gillian, in the 1950s. Bridal dress designer Sarah Treble relished the idea of incorporating the material into a design inspired by my soon-to-be mother-in-law who was in poor health and very sadly unlikely to still be alive for our wedding. She passed away exactly three months to the day before our big day, but the dress lived on and I cherish the memories of sharing the evolution of it with her before she passed away and felt so special wearing it.” Chloe kept her accessories to a minimum, choosing to wear a pair of earrings given to her by her mum as her something borrowed and her new wedding ring which was very special because it was a true representation of the couple’s courtship, depicting the stretch of coastline from their shared home town of Appledore going westward to Welcombe which was the location of their first date. “Many bottles of prosecco were consumed on this coast path in our first year together!” Chloe also describes how she, along with Ian and the couples’ bridesmaids and pageboy, went barefoot on the day. Because their wedding was so laid back, Ian and their pageboy wore a matching waistcoat and cravat with identical cufflinks featuring the registration plate of the first Land Rover. “Our two best men wore the same waistcoats and ties and our bridesmaids chose the design of their dresses in one colour that tied in with our theme which was a muted blue shade mixed with purple,” Chloe says. “They all looked so beautiful on the day.” LET ME ENTERTAIN YOU Chloe and Ian booked a string trio who played a combination of classical and contemporary pieces, followed by a Spanish guitarist who performed throughout the rest of the day. “For the evening, we both compiled some Spotify playlists which we played through a sound system,” Chloe explained, “and we had a dressing-up box containing fun masks. What with the youngsters ditching their glad rags to go swimming in the lake and some guests paddle boarding or rowing around it,” there was something for everyone. This was in addition to myself and Ian dancing around the croquet lawn, our ‘dancefloor’ to Let There Be Love by Nat King Cole – we had taken dance lessons six weeks previously and not told a soul – our guests loved it!” As a grand finale, fireworks were set off from the far shore across the River Torridge at midnight. “As the evening grew closer, there began a debate between Ian’s nephews as to who would get to row the boat over to the far shore to deliver, and set off, the single ignition box of fireworks,” Chloe explains. “Once decided, two of the nephews made it safely across the river only to find that the instructions were written in Chinese so it was not clear which way up the box should go! With a riverbank full of guests waiting to see the display, they took a gamble, lit the paper and rowed away as quickly as they could - thankfully they had made the right choice and the fire display was spectacular!” “Ian’s sister Deborah took a day away from her wedding venue, Harefield Barn, to officiate as our celebrant for the day which was an extra-special touch.” – Chloe