Caera and Rich first met while working together at a local restaurant the summer after her first year at university. “Rich had been working there for a few years as a waiter, and we started talking,” she says. “From there we pretty much spent all summer together and have been inseparable since!”
The couple were in Cyprus for Rich’s parents’ 30th wedding anniversary when the trip became a double celebration. After thwarting his plan to propose at Cyprus Zoo (“he kept asking to go for a walk and all I wanted to do was sit down as it was so hot!”), Rich took Caera for a post-dinner walk to the beach. “The sun was setting and everything looked perfect; after a bit of fumbling in his pocket, he got down on one knee and proposed,” she recalls.
Caera and Rich had a clear vision for their day. “We wanted something intimate, romantic and close to us in Devon, and Brickhouse Vineyard was just perfect! It has beautiful views with a cosy barn vibe,” she says. Wedding stylist Nikki Sherriff from Knots & Kisses helped them to create a day inspired by neutral and earthy tones featuring dried pampas, cream wildflowers and lots of greenery. “She made everything completely stress-free and it all looked perfect on the day,” comments Caera.
Walking down the aisle to the sound of a string quartet was Caera’s favourite moment of the day. “I had dreamed of walking down to strings playing my favourite song as a little girl, and it was the most magical, perfect moment,” she reflects.
The quartet continued to play during the drinks reception before a memorable and emotional set of speeches preceded a sumptuous feast including thyme and smoked garlic chicken thighs, baked salmon side, banoffee pie and sticky toffee pudding. A bouncy castle kept guests young and old entertained throughout the day, while live band New Daze stoked up the party vibe for the evening celebrations.
“Make sure you plan time to go for a walk just the two of you,” says Caera of the importance of taking it all in. “We did this straight after the wedding breakfast and it was nice to be alone, just us for a while.”
“Going for extra photos in the evening was probably one of our best decisions, and I would definitely say produced the best photos,” she adds. “The sun coming through behind us created really intimate and romantic photos.”
Speaking of which, she implores other couples to gain confidence in front of the camera ahead of the wedding if possible. “Definitely do a pre-wedding or engagement shoot,” she advises. “If you’re as awkward in front of the camera as us, a little practice is always welcomed! It puts you at ease so much more on the day.”
Photography Photography by Beth Wilson photographybybethwilson.com
Venue Brickhouse Vineyard brickhousevineyard.co.uk
Wedding styling & stationery Knots & Kisses knotsandkisses.co.uk
Dress Cymbeline Paris from Browns of Totnes brownsoftotnes.co.uk
Groom’s outfit Moss Bros moss.co.uk
Bridesmaids’ dresses Lá Closet Dé Chánel laclosetdechanel.com
Flower girls’ dresses Next next.co.uk
Hair Olivia Rose Hair & Beauty oliviarosehairandbeauty.co.uk
Make-up Melanie Thornton MUA melaniethornton.co.uk
Flowers Emma Hewlett Floral Design emmahewlett.co.uk
Transport Hummer 4 U Limousines hummer4u.co.uk
Entertainment 4tissimo String Quartet 4tissimo.co.uk
Exeter Bouncy Castles exeterbouncycastles.co.uk
New Daze instagram.com/newdazeband
Catering The Plot Catering theplotcatering.co.uk
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