Wedding at Kea Church, Cornwall

The Garden Party

Love struck couple Lamorna and Andrew first clapped eyes on each other at Blue, Andrew’s bar in Porthtowan, and then again in Falmouth when Lamorna and friends opted for an impromptu nightcap at the very bar where Andrew happened to be.



Six years later, the couple enjoyed a trip to the Bahamas, where Andrew was born. Intent on finding the perfect engagement ring there, he arranged for Lamorna to have a private viewing of some rings. “We narrowed it down to three and then he made the final decision without telling me!” says Lamorna, who was left on tender hooks. Three days after their return, he proposed on bended knee at their home.



The couple drew on their cultural roots to ensure an eclectic and highly individual wedding celebration. Their Cornish meets Bahamian theme fused the influences of an English country wedding, tea party and colonial Bahamian garden party. Mixing shades of lime green, pink and mink, the Absolute Canvas marquee was filled with an abundance of flowers – including large pink peonies, pink and white ranunculus and pink tipped roses. Decorations of gingham and floral bunting, birdcages and butterflies lent a “wonderful vintage but rustic feel – with hay bales everywhere!” recalls Lamorna.



She accessorised her beautiful dress with a vintage hairband and peep-toe platforms, while her sister – the sole bridesmaid – wore a Karen Millen pleated prom dress. Andrew wore an ivory suit (as Bahamian tradition dictates) with a white and mink floral shirt.





Kea Church made a poignant venue for their ceremony. Not only was Lamorna christened and confirmed in the church, her grandfather is buried there and it overlooks the family farm where the marquee reception was held. The Grace Notes performed numbers such as ‘Oh Happy Day’ during the moving ceremony. “Seeing each other in the church for the first time was like seeing each other with new eyes. A very teary moment!” reflects Lamorna.




 
The garden party followed, and guests dined on Bahamian meat patties, Cornish crab claws and mini Cornish cream teas washed down with Pimm’s and Bahamian rum punch, while steel band Hammered Steel got toes tapping.



The champagne reception breakfast featured homemade bread with roasted garlic, olives and sun blushed tomatoes followed by roast pork with crackling and vegetables. Cornish strawberries and cream and a chocolate orange wedding cake finished the feast in delectable style. DJ Si Specs kept the party grooving until 4am.


 
Andrew arranged a honeymoon to Venice, then surprised Lamorna with an additional week’s cruise to Croatia, Corfu, Athens and the Greek Islands. “The only thing I wish is that we could do it all again and again!” she gushes. As for advice, she says: “Enjoy every minute. Cherish every moment – it goes so fast!”



The venue
Kea Church followed by a marquee reception
Absolute Canvas 01326 375747 www.absolutecanvas.co.uk

The dress
Essense from Vu’s Bridal
01208 815440 www.vusbridal.co.uk

Photography
Pervaiz Shah
01736 755043 www.shahphoto.co.uk

Copyright WED Magazine 2011