Your Bristol & Somerset Wedding - Jun/Jul 2019 (Issue 71)

REAL WEDDINGS 37  T atum and Luke Haggett Palmer had a second chance at love after going on a few dates together in 2011. “Being young, and possibly dumb, things fizzled out,” Tatum tells us. Luckily, a few months later, the pair struck up a friendship, and they soon fell in love. “We had so much in common, and everything just felt right – as clichéd as that sounds,” she says. Luke had always insisted that marriage wasn’t on the cards. However, a few years later, he was planning a romantic proposal while backpacking in Bali. “We went snorkelling a number of times in the hopes of seeing a turtle – my favourite animal,” Tatum remembers. “Each time we went out, he’d secretly hidden a laminated sign in his shorts that said “Marry me?” On the 7 th May, we set off again, but this time Luke spotted a large hawksbill turtle. He signalled for me to come over and pulled out his sign!” After swallowing a lot of seawater in all the excitement, Tatum managed to say “yes,” and they returned to shore having captured the whole thing on their GoPro. Back in the UK, the pair started planning a wonderfully relaxed celebration for the 7 th July, 2018, at Huntstile Organic Farm. Tatum lets us in on all the details… SETTING THE SCENE Despite falling in love with Huntstile Organic Farm on their first visit, the couple viewed other settings before going back to book it. “We wanted somewhere we could have for the weekend that was renowned for great food and was close to home – it ticked all our boxes,” the bride says. “The staff were amazing, and we even had a private pizza night the evening before, which set the scene and settled some pre-nuptial nerves!” The pair knew a laid-back vibe would suit them, and they chose a palette of burgundy, blush pink, sage green and rustic browns. “Our florist, Dinah Taylor Floral Design, sourced proteas as the star of our floral arrangements,” Tatum says. “They’re my favourite bloom and South Africa’s national flower; we received so many compliments on them.” They opted for three long trestle tables. “It made the day less formal and created a more sociable atmosphere,” the bride says. The place settings were Kraft-card signs wrapped around the cutlery with hessian. Picking things based on what they felt was important, favours were left off the to-do list. Instead, they treated their guests to a sweet cart and a delicious naked Victoria sponge cake, created by their friend Kate of Cakefaice. For a personal touch, they had large letters displaying their initials and a ladder holding photos of the people who were sadly missed on the day. There were also fabulous upcycled pallets used as signs, created by the bride’s uncle. LOOKING THE PART In our social media world, it’s so easy to get bombarded with wedding dress ideas, but they don’t always look the same in real life. At least, that was Tatum’s experience. “I went to so many shops thinking I’d seen my dream dress online, only to find out it didn’t look how I imagined it to,” she says. “Another bridal shop recommended Parham House Brides in Dunster. I booked an appointment with the owner, Susan, and the first dress I tried on was the one !” The La Sposa by Pronovias number was made of crepe and guipure lace, and the simple style was exactly what Tatum had envisaged. The bride smiles, “Susan has a wealth of knowledge and offered me so much advice; I’m so grateful to her. On the day, I felt like a superstar.” The men chose dapper outfits in navy, brown and burgundy just 10 days before the wedding. “He’s so laid-back, and I pleaded with him to organise them sooner,” laughs the bride. “My nerves were shot.” The bridesmaids wowed in beautiful blush pink dresses alongside the super-cute flowergirls in white.