Photography Katie Goff katiegoffphotography.com Venue Eden Project edenproject.com
Music was always at the heart of Elize and Jay’s relationship – so it naturally shaped every moment of their wedding, from the emotional ceremony to the final dance-floor anthem.
The pair first met while studying at music school: a decade later, Jay orchestrated a romantic proposal in Berlin while Elize was on tour as a backing vocalist. “He flew out to visit for the Berlin show and surprised me by proposing at the Beethoven-Haydn-Mozart Memorial,” she says. “I tearily said yes.”
When it came to planning their wedding, the couple had one venue firmly in mind. “The Eden Project was our absolute dream,” says Elize. Inspired by its ‘Global Garden’ ethos, they styled the day as a romantic Mediterranean garden party. Their ceremony took place in a fragrant citrus grove, while whimsical pastel flowers arranged in natural troughs and warm, low-strung lighting created a relaxed, al fresco atmosphere for the celebrations.
The day was very much a collaborative effort, with friends and family lending their talents throughout. Elize designed the stationery, while Jay upcycled a vintage telephone bench to create an audio guestbook table. Elize’s mum added a glamorous flourish with a handmade satin tablecloth for the cake display – and cake was a serious priority for self-confessed cake-lover Elize. Three vintage-style cakes formed the centrepiece of a dessert table alongside homemade bakes, while 150 sugar cookies created an edible seating chart.
Music threaded through the entire celebration. “We wanted our guests to feel like they were at a mini music festival, showcasing a diverse range of performers to create a memorable day,” says Jay. Elize walked down the aisle to a close friend singing The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face by Roberta Flack before a heartfelt ceremony led by Vickie Bishop, who has known Elize since childhood. “It was important that the ceremony felt personal,” she explains. “We had friends performing the music and my mum read a beautiful poem.”
A classical guitarist played during the drinks reception, with music continuing throughout dinner, as three pianists and five singers performed love songs as guests enjoyed a Cornish-inspired menu. Guests then moved to the Rainforest Biome, where Steel Appeal Cornwall brought Caribbean energy to the evening drinks reception. “Half my family are from Barbados so we brought a taste of the Caribbean to Cornwall,” says Elize. “Hearing the birds chirping alongside the steel pans in the rainforest was unforgettable.”
Back in the Mediterranean Biome, the party kicked off with Jay’s band – with Jay himself jumping on the drums for a few songs and Brazilian carnival dancers who surprised guests with a performance that had everyone on their feet. “Seeing people’s faces and watching them get involved was such a highlight,” says Elize. The music kept flowing with a nine-piece party band playing soul, Motown and pop classics before one of the groomsmen took to the decks with the couple’s favourite R&B tracks. “Our dream was an endless stream of live music,” says Jay, “and we felt incredibly lucky to have so many talented musicians performing.”
Despite all the unforgettable moments, one memory stands above the rest. “Walking down the aisle,” says Elize. “So much work goes into planning a wedding, but the moment you see each other, everything else fades away.” Her advice to other couples? “Don’t obsess over tiny details. Focus on the memories you want to create. For us, the venue, the food and the music were what people remembered most.”
Photography Katie Goff katiegoffphotography.com
Venue Eden Project edenproject.com
Dress Jane Hill Bridal from Lace & Grace laceandgracebridal.co.uk
Suit Stephen Williams London stephenwilliams.london
Hair Hair from the Heart hairfromtheheart.co.uk
Make-up Tiani Maisie tianimaisiebridal.com
Flowers Floral Creations floral-creations-cornwall.co.uk
Cake Anna Cake Couture thisisanna.co.uk
Entertainment Steel Appeal steelappeal.org.uk
Tropicalia tropicalia.co.uk
Soul Ponies soulponies.co.uk
Videography Sean Raymond Films seanraymondfilms.com
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