A mutual friend’s birthday night out in 2016 set the scene for Luke and Sam’s first encounter. “We spontaneously booked our first date to Beyoncé’s Formation World Tour in Cardiff and the rest is history,” says Sam. Six years later, Luke proposed in Greenwich Park before sweeping views of London. “It couldn’t have been any better and adds to our love of London,” reminisces Sam.
Choosing their wedding venue was easy. “We instantly fell in love with Badgers Holt – it just fit with us and our vibe,” says Luke. Nestled in the heart of Dartmoor, the venue inspired the couple’s laidback aesthetic, combining natural accents with a chic palette of black, white and sage green.
Sam, especially, enjoyed planning their June wedding. “The flowers were incredibly important to us and an absolute joy to plan with our florist, Amelia,” he explains. “We met and got engaged in June and it was essential to get married in June – the season of the peony!” The delicate summer blooms took centre stage, adorning the cake, bouquets and buttonholes.
The weekend celebrations started with a Friday night barbecue, followed by a relaxed breakfast with their respective grooms’ parties on the morning of the wedding. Luke and Sam donned black tuxedos, incorporating their favourite colours – red and green – through Gucci accessories and the signature red soles of Luke’s Christian Louboutin shoes. Their groomsmaids wore sage green dresses, perfectly complementing the white and green palette.
The ceremony took place in front of the bandstand by the river, with guests seated on hay bales and the resident peacocks chiming in amidst cheers and happy tears. “The ceremony was beautiful,” says Luke. “It was important to us to have an intimate ceremony with our nearest and dearest family and friends – and our two miniature Dachshunds.” A playful highlight was the announcement of their married surname. “We had an easel at the entrance where guests could place their bets, and once we were married the registrar announced us as Mr and Mr Booth as we did our confetti walk,” says Sam. “It was a truly special moment!”
After cocktails and canapés, guests tucked into a locally sourced menu featuring Beech Ridge duck, cauliflower steak and a dessert blending Luke’s love of chocolate with Sam’s love of citrus: chocolate delice with candied lime, lime sorbet, hazelnut brittle and meringue kisses.
With evening guests arriving during the late afternoon, everyone enjoyed a photo booth and a crazy golf course before Luke and Sam’s first dance to Abe Parker’s Last First Kiss. The newlyweds then changed into white tuxedos for the cake cutting and took a quiet moment for photos on Dartmoor’s dramatic heights at sunset before rejoining everyone for a night of dancing.
For Sam, the highlight was walking down the aisle. “As I began to walk down the aisle, the sun broke through the clouds directly onto us; to this day that still doesn’t feel real, it was like a moment you see in the movies.” For Luke, the speeches and letting off the rainbow-coloured smoke bombs with their closest friends were standout moments.
“Enjoy the process because every second of the lead-up is part of the big day,” says Sam as word of advice. “All the mishaps add to the day and the memories, so embrace them. Most importantly, surround yourself with those you love and everything else will fall into place.”
Photography Hannah Wilde hannah-wilde.com
Venue Badgers Holt badgersholtweddings.co.uk
Hair Shanna & Bryony, The Hair Clinic instagram.com/thehairclinic_uk
Flowers Amelia’s Flower Farm ameliasflowerfarm.co.uk
Catering Coast and Country Catering coastandcountrycatering.co.uk
The Pig Apple the-pig-apple.com
Cake Mrs A’s Bakes instagram.com/mrs_a_bakesdevon
Entertainment Go Tell Alice gotellalice.co.uk
Portable Putts portableputts.co.uk
Photo booth Vintage Camper Booths vintagecamperbooths.co.uk
