Deciding to go on “one last date” before she deleted her dating app, Gabriella met Will – and never looked back! After a springtime proposal atop Cox Tor in Devon, wedding planning began and the couple settled on Hotel Endsleigh as the picturesque setting for their weekend of celebrations.
Under the meticulous eye of their “fantastic” wedding planner Lester Gethings, the summer wedding was styled with shades of lilac, pink, peach and orange, carried in a series of breathtaking floral arrangements including a floral arch at the church and a series of trees dotted with blooms in the marquee. The stationery, flower-topped cake and macaron towers followed colourful suit.
Kicking off the festivities in style on the Friday evening, Gabriella and Will’s guests were serenaded by a saxophonist as they arrived for a welcome barbecue and drinks.The next day, guests gathered at the church for a Catholic mass, which proved to be a family affair with the couple’s siblings taking key roles and The Ashburton singers performing. “Turning around to see Gabriella walking down the aisle was the happiest moment of my life; she looked beautiful,” says Will, citing his favourite moment from the day.
“It was incredibly special to us and our parents to have a Catholic mass, and we never take it for granted that we were able to both do this on our wedding day.” adds Gabriella.
Back at Hotel Endsleigh, guests enjoyed champagne in the sun alongside valley views and a performance by Emy and the Moon Howlers. The speeches were interspersed throughout the wedding breakfast. “Before every speech we had a song introduce us to get the crowd going,” says Gabriella. “Mine was She’s a Lady, Will’s was Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ and the best men had Rock DJ to really rile the crowds up!”
The “amazing” feast featured Creedy Carver chicken liver parfait and celeriac slaw, charred monkfish, oak smoked tomatoes fondue and asparagus with basil gnocchi and Tamar Valley raspberries with buttermilk panna cotta, shortbread and raspberry sorbet.
As the couple took to the dance floor for their first dance – Dancing Queen by Abba – they were overwhelmed with joy. “We have never felt so much love before. Everyone was shouting and screaming as we entered and sang along to the words. When Will picked me up and spun me around, everyone rushed onto the dance floor and we were swiftly put on shoulders and stayed there for the rest of the song,” says Gabriella. “Every time we listen to that song it reminds us of that perfect moment.”
The guests danced all evening, getting through “385 G&Ts, as well as duck bao buns, pulled pork burgers and pasties” before fireworks rounded off a perfect day. “We were blown away by the fantastic display and it was a wonderful surprise for our guests, plus it allowed Will and I a little moment to ourselves," reflects Gabriella.
“Enjoy every moment,” she says as words of advice. “Try to view the day through your guests’ eyes and think about what you have enjoyed about weddings when you attend them. We constantly went over our plans, which seemed intense before the day, but it paid off when it went seamlessly!”
Photography Nova Wedding Photography novaweddingphotography.co.uk
Venue Hotel Endsleigh hotelendsleigh.com
Planning Lester Gethings lestergethings.com
Marquee Hatch Marquee Hire southwestmarqueehire.co.uk
Videography Charlotte Dart charlottedart.co.uk
Dresses Pronovias pronovias.com Rixo rixolondon.com
Shoes Manolo Blahnik manoloblahnik.com
Suit Savile Row
Maid of honour’s dress Whistles whistles.com
Flower girls’ dresses Angel & Rocket angelandrocket.com
Hair The Hair Lounge thehairloungetavistock.co.uk
Make-up No 5 Beauty & Aesthetic Clinic no5beautyclinic.co.uk
Venue flowers Simon Nickell Design simonnickelldesign.com
Bouquet & buttonholes Dartmoor Flowers dartmoorflowers.co.uk
Cake & macaron towers Boo to a Goose bootoagoose.net
Stationery Bellyham Studio
Entertainment The Ashburton Singers ashburtonsingers.co.uk
Emy & the Moon Howlers & Violet Soul bandsforhire.net
Fireworks Two Tiger Fireworks twotigers.co.uk
