Wedding at Moorland Links Hotel, Devon

A Moorland Love Story

Jess was 17 and Ben was 20 when their friends introduced them on a night out just before Christmas in 2003. “We were immediately attracted and had lots in common,” says Jess.  On Christmas Day five years later, Ben produced a beautifully decorated box with a little note inside asking Jess to marry him and a white gold solitaire diamond engagement ring.


wedding at Moorland Links Hotel, Devon

“Within one week of the proposal, the date was set for 6th August 2010 and the venue booked,” says Jess. The couple chose to marry at St Eustatius Church in Tavistock and the Moorland Links Hotel in Yelverton for the reception. Given the setting, a Dartmoor theme seemed appropriate so each table was named after a different Tor and the hotel’s Dartmoor Buffet menu was served for the wedding breakfast.


wedding at Moorland Links Hotel, Devon

A colour scheme of deep Cadbury’s purple contrasted beautifully with the ivory roses and complemented Jess’s stunning Maggie Sottero dress, which she accessorised with a tiara and full-length veil.


wedding at Moorland Links Hotel, Devon


wedding at Moorland Links Hotel, Devon

Despite bad weather in the morning, the skies cleared as Jess arrived in Tavistock for the ceremony. Photos and confetti in the church grounds followed the ceremony before the party relocated to Moorland Links Hotel’s gardens for a Pimm’s reception.


wedding at Moorland Links Hotel, Devon

The wedding breakfast followed, and guests tucked into a variety of dishes such as roast sirloin of beef, seafood platter and slow-cooked belly of pork with cider gravy. Lemon tart and warm chocolate brownie rounded off the scrumptious feast.


wedding at Moorland Links Hotel, Devon

A DJ and Exeter-based band, ‘Lush’ provided the entertainment for the evening reception. The band’s performance of ‘Use Somebody’ by Kings of Leon for the first dance proved a highlight: “It was one of our favorite parts of the day as all our guests sang and cheered all the way through which was a really touching and happy moment,” remembers Jess. “Throwing the bouquet was also great fun as I threw it really far and all my friends really fought to catch it!”


wedding at Moorland Links Hotel, Devon


wedding at Moorland Links Hotel, Devon

The pair enjoyed tropical bliss in the Maldives for two weeks before returning to commence married life.


wedding at Moorland Links Hotel, Devon

“My top tip for any bride and groom would be to enjoy every minute of the lead-up and planning of the wedding,” comments Jess. “Time goes so quickly and the day itself just vanishes.” And, some reassurance for any bewildered grooms out there: “Your bride may get a little obsessed and crazy about every tiny wedding detail – but just let her enjoy it. She will return to normal eventually!”


wedding at Moorland Links Hotel, Devon

wedding at Moorland Links Hotel, Devon

The venue
St Eustatius Church, Tavistock followed by Moorland Links Hotel, Yelverton
01822 852 245 www.moorlandlinkshotel.co.uk

The dress
Maggie Sottero from Prudence Gowns, Plymouth
01752 558858 www.prudencegowns.com

Photography
Picshore Photography
01752 842556 www.picshore.co.uk

Copyright WED Magazine 2011