Your Hampshire and Dorset Wedding - November/December 2020 (Issue 83)

REAL WEDDINGS 41  THE PERSONAL TOUCHES Instead of a traditional cake, they had a whole table full of sweet treats made by loved ones. “I have lots of friends and family who bake yummy cakes so I was keen to include them in our day. I asked them to make a cake or dessert instead of giving us a wedding gift so we had a whole array, everything from lemon drizzle, rainbow, pecan and walnut, coffee and Victoria sponge to trifle, brownies and even milk-free options that my kids could eat, as they have allergies. It was perfect!” The benches fitted with the rustic theme, allowing plenty of space for guests to interact. Karen from Bespoke Graphics who did the hand-drawn artwork and the designs for the invites, save-the-dates and thank-you cards created all the place names and table plan. “My sister-in-law also created some lovely direction signs, an order-of-the-day board and painted a large wedding photo frame for people to pose in, which was a really lovely touch,” Jodie adds. KEEPING IT LOCAL The food was another highlight of the day, with lots of locally sourced produce. “Tessa arranged all the catering and used a local bakery and all of the meat for the barbecue was provided by Hadlows family butchers in Titchfield. We were keen to have a ‘posh’ barbecue with lots of lovely meat on skewers and, just as importantly, plenty of nice salads and breads to go with it,” Jodie explains. The wines and fizz were from Three Choirs Vineyard in Hampshire and guests also enjoyed delicious fresh fruit, including strawberries from a nearby farm. TIME TO CELEBRATE One of the most important things for Jodie and Duncan was to make the day fun for everyone, including the little ones. “We had 24 children there on the day so we arranged things for them, including toys and games. Tessa also set up a small bell tent where parents could feed and change their babies in peace and quiet, which was much appreciated,” says Jodie. There was also a bell tent for the kids to play in and shelter from the sun and a big tree swing decorated with ivy; great for fun photos. “One of the biggest attractions was the Segway track; our guests spent hours having fun on this!” Jodie adds. Live band Komaro were also a big hit for the evening party with a great playlist of rock, pop and indie favourites. “Everyone commented that it was like being at a gig, which is just what we wanted!” JODIE’S TOP TIP Make sure your suppliers not only understand your vision but are also inspired by it and fully on board with creating your perfect day. Mine seemed to read my mind!