Wedding at Anran, Devon

Fran and Grant met while working at a shoe shop in Covent Garden during their studies in the capital. "On our eight-year anniversary we dined at the same restaurant we went to on our first date - it's the place we try to go to each year for our anniversary," reveals Fran. "After we'd finished eating Grant pulled out a ring and proposed, which took me by complete surprise as he'd always said he didn't want to get married! We went down the spiral staircase into the restaurant and I was met by all our friends cheering and we partied the night away to celebrate."

Their scenic country wedding took place at Anr�n; Fran's petal-inspired palette of ivories, blush, pale pinks, greens and a hint of darker pink was chosen to blend with the beautiful natural setting. Carefully planning and designing the day herself, the hands-on bride arranged everything from the china teacups to the hay bales, and even designed the stationery. "I designed The Guardian-style 'Guide' magazines for our guests staying on-site and the order of service which was printed on newsprint paper in a broadsheet style as Grant loves newspapers," explains Fran.





Seasonal blooms such as veronica, astrantia and thlaspi featured in the table arrangements, vintage crates and the gorgeous bridal bouquet. Also donning delicate florals in her hair, Fran oozed relaxed elegance in her Jenny Packham gown, while Grant's tweed attire carried the rural aesthetic in style.

Following the church ceremony, guests walked to Anr�n in the sunshine, where they were met with bubbly and canapes in the courtyard and Dartmoor Kitchen's Devon Feast in the Glasshouse: a sharing-style spread including slow-cooked shoulder of lamb and a number of sides delivered to the centre of each table.

The entertainment was similarly crowd-pleasing. The Brass Junkies kicked off the musical medley with their Mardi Gras-inspired sounds and were followed by DJs The Allergies. "They mix vintage sounds with influences from funk, soul, disco, hip-hop and breakbeat," explains Fran. "They were absolutely brilliant and no one left the dance floor the whole evening!" A homemade Polaroid photo booth also entertained guests, who tucked into Tom's Pies, a cheeseboard and a delicious wedding cake with a Malteser pi�ata layer.




"We put a lot of thought into the day trying to think about the experience for us and our guests," says Fran. "Food and music are so important. Food is something guests always remember and we got so many comments about how delicious it was - having the sharing feast really was spectacular and the great music kept everyone on the dance floor all night!"

"Don't just follow traditions," she advises. "Think about what will really make you happy and what is worth spending money on and don't just get something for the sake of it."

Photography Abi Riley www.abiriley.co.uk
Venue St Matthew's Church, Landscove and Anr�n www.anran.co.uk
Dress Jenny Packham www.jennypackham.com
Bridesmaids' dresses ASOS www.asos.com
Catering Dartmoor Kitchen www.dartmoorkitchen.com
Tom's Pies www.toms-pies.co.uk
Cake Nelly Konradi www.cakesdecor.com/bertike
Hair Gershwins www.gershwins-hairdressing.com
Groom's outfit Suit Ben Sherman www.bensherman.co.uk
Shirt Percival www.percivalclo.com
Tie T.M.Lewin www.tmlewin.co.uk
Flowers Joanna Game www.joannagameflowers.com
Entertainment Brass Junkies www.facebook.com/brassjunkies/
The Allergies www.soundcloud.com/theallergies

Copyright Wed magazine 2017