Wedding at Pendennis Castle

Fairytale Fancies

Carly and Ali met in a bar in Falmouth four years before Ali’s romantic Parisian proposal in a restaurant on the Champs Elysées.



Their wedding was all about the fairytale factor with a twist of exotic style. White lanterns and fairy lights cast a magical glow around Pendennis Castle; the white theme continued with the flowers: Carly’s bouquet was a fusion of white ranunculus and gypsophila, while the table arrangements comprised big balls of gypsophila cascading from tall clear vases. Wrapped in white chocolate ruffles, Nicky Grant’s show-stopping cake was a vision of indulgence, while the bridesmaids’ long black evening dresses and the groomsmens’ black suits and skinny ties proved the perfect contrast.



The wedding took place on “the windiest and coldest day you could imagine,” reflects Carly, the backdrop of Pendennis Castle and restless seas heightening the sense of drama. Stevie Wonder’s ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered’ and Florence and the Machine’s ‘You Got The Love’ played during the beautiful ceremony, after which champagne was supped in the castle barracks before a King Harry coach whisked the guests to the Greenbank Hotel.




 
Guests were treated to a surprise interlude during the feast, which included smoked salmon, lamb shank, potato gnocchi, apple pie and chocolate torte. In celebration of Ali’s Moroccan heritage, a belly dancer wowed the guests to Moroccan music. “It was wonderful to see everyone’s faces!” says Carly. Female guests were even given traditional slippers as favours from Ali’s home city of Marrakech. The dancing and feasting continued into the night with a disco and a hearty evening buffet of curry and rice and chips served in a cone.



Buzzing from their “amazing” honeymoon in New York, Carly reflects, “I really wouldn't change a thing about our day. I advise future brides and grooms to plan the day that you want. In years to come, all you've got is memories and you want them to be amazing.”



The venue
Pendennis Castle, Falmouth
0844 824 6727 www.english-heritage.org.uk/hospitality
The Greenbank Hotel, Falmouth
01326 312440 www.greenbank-hotel.co.uk

The dress
Pronuptia, Truro
01872 273970 www.pronuptiacornwall.co.uk

The flowers
George Mackay Flowers
07852 405311 www.georgemackayflowers.com

Photography
David Sterratt
07525 618369 www.davidsterratt.co.uk

Copyright WED Magazine 2010