Wedding at The Bush Inn, Devon

Handmade and Heartfelt

After meeting Ali on a night out in Bideford, Paul was determined to see her again and – despite her reluctance at first – his persistence paid off. Soon after their first date, Paul moved to the area to be near her and her three children.


wedding at The Bush Inn, Devon

A few years later, the couple had enjoyed a day out walking along the cliffs at Morwenstow and lunching at The Bush Inn when Paul surprised Ali with a proposal. “As we drove away, Paul stopped the car and went down on one knee and proposed (with a blade of grass as a ring!) and said he wanted to get married in Morwenstow Church and have the reception at The Bush Inn,” says Ali. And that’s exactly what they did.


wedding at The Bush Inn, Devon

With a little help from her friends, Ali spent a year making decorations for the wedding – from bunting, invitations and lanterns to silk heart door hangers for favours – and proceeded to deck out the garden and marquee at The Bush Inn in the lead-up to the big day. A country shabby chic theme with a pretty palette of dusky pink, duck egg blue and ivory was perfect for the picture-postcard setting.


wedding at The Bush Inn, Devon

Ali describes the service as “beautiful”. She was given away by her sons Hayden and Jordan and followed down the aisle by a large bridal party. “I often said there were more of us going down the aisle than sitting in the pews!” she laughs. “Paul picking me up to ‘kiss the bride’ was one of the highlights of the day.”


wedding at The Bush Inn, Devon

The newlyweds and their guests then made their way to the inn for a relaxed garden party. “It was the hottest day of the year and the guests milled around the garden and the marquee,” she recalls. Ali and Paul managed to steal a few moments to themselves on Duckpool Beach where they enjoyed a bottle of champagne.


wedding at The Bush Inn, Devon


wedding at The Bush Inn, Devon


wedding at The Bush Inn, Devon

The wedding breakfast that followed was a relaxed and delicious affair. The menu included a variety of dishes from roast chicken with chorizo casserole to lemon and sherry syllabub.


wedding at The Bush Inn, Devon

wedding at The Bush Inn, Devon

Paul and Ali kicked off the evening festivities with a waltz across the dance floor. Swing soloist and DJ Ben Stretham got the party grooving with a set of classic swing songs followed by a performance from ‘The Johnny Fuller Band’. After a beach barbecue the next day, the couple departed for their honeymoon in Madeira.


wedding at The Bush Inn, Devon

“Try very hard to keep your focus on you as a couple and what you want for the day rather than trying to meet others’ expectations,” is Ali’s advice for other couples. She adds, “Choose a brilliant photographer to capture it all for you – we did.”


wedding at The Bush Inn, Devon

The venue
Morwenstow Church followed by The Bush Inn, Morwenstow
01288 331242 www.bushinn-morwenstow.co.uk

The dress
Ian Stuart
www.ianstuart-bride.com

The flowers
The Secret Garden, Northam
01237 474403 www.secretgardenflorists.co.uk

Photography
Rebecca Roundhill
07855 576687 www.rebeccaroundhill.co.uk

Copyright WED Magazine 2011