Hannah and Marcus first met through work when Hannah moved to Exeter for a new job. “We hit it off pretty much straight away,” she reflects. “A couple of games at Topsham RFC watching Marcus play later, and the rest is history!”
After becoming engaged during a trip to Edinburgh two years after their fateful first meeting, the couple set about planning their wedding – but Covid meant their road to the altar was anything but straightforward. After being forced to postpone their wedding three times and their original venue closing, the couple settled on Huntsham Court as the backdrop to their handmade day.
“We just wanted a chilled-out vibe with our family and friends together,” says Hannah of their vision for their country house celebrations. Booking the venue from Sunday to Wednesday allowed the couple an extended event with plenty of time to prepare for the big day and savour the setting afterwards.
Hannah swept into nearby All Saints Church in a stunning ball gown carrying a colourful bouquet featuring tulips, her favourite flower. After the vows, guests gathered on the lawn for drinks, canapés and “amazing” live music by Adam in the Hat and Richard James.
The mouth-watering flavours continued with a sharing platter feast including rare beef, pork and gammon with a range of sides, with Granny Gothards ice cream and cheeseboards for dessert.
“Our first dance on the lawn!” announces Hannah when asked to reveal her fondest memory from the day. “Adam and Richard learnt our song for us – Little Things by Keywest – and we danced to this outside. We hadn’t heard their version of the song before we danced to it on our wedding evening, but they nailed it!”
The band then kick-started the evening reception, which featured a supper of fish and chips and a packed dance floor until the early hours. “Us and about 10 close friends got a second wind and partied until 5.30am in the bar,” says Hannah. “It was so much fun, and something we talk about time and time again!”
The following day, the newly-weds savoured some quality downtime with their loved ones: “a chilled-out day playing cricket, croquet and nursing hangovers on the lawn in the sunshine,” recalls Hannah. “We had Harry’s Kitchen on-site, where our guests had options to purchase different street food options. It went down a storm!”
“Don’t let it consume you!” she warns other couples of the potential perils of the planning process. “There is always something else to do or plan but try to take some time when you aren’t talking weddings. It is supposed to be fun, and not a chore!”
Photography Maxi Photography maxiphotography.com
Venue All Saints Church & Huntsham Court huntshamcourt.co.uk
Catering Astridges astridgescatering.co.uk
Dress Sophia Tolli from The Bridal House of Cornwall thebridalhouseofcornwall.co.uk
Groom’s outfit Moss Bros moss.co.uk
Bridesmaids’ dresses ASOS asos.com
Hair & make-up Bridal Beauty Team bridalbeautyteam.co.uk
Flowers Floralities floralities.co.uk
Stationery Sumo Ltd sumo-ltd.co.uk
Entertainment Adam in the Hat adaminthehat.co.uk
Richard James richardjamesofficial.com
Basher Tate bashertate.co.uk
