Laura and Tom’s love story began at the University of Bath, where they first met studying Biology in 2012. “We were friends who saw each other in lectures and at parties,” recalls Laura. “It wasn’t until our final year, three years later, that we actually started dating.” During their first date at Wagamama’s, Tom’s enthusiasm for ramen resulted in an unfortunate splash across his white shirt. “The rest,” laughs Laura, “is history!”
After their planned Hogmanay trip to Edinburgh was thwarted by COVID, Laura and Tom decided they couldn’t wait any longer. On a drizzly New Year’s Day in 2022, while walking across Port Meadow in Oxford, Tom proposed. “It was low-key, romantic and perfectly us,” she says.
Their love of botanicals and the great outdoors shaped the aesthetic of their wedding – a vibrant fusion of sea and garden influences. They exchanged vows in the lush surroundings of Lamorran Gardens, a subtropical paradise overlooking the sea, before continuing the celebration at the enchanting Potager Garden.
The morning of their wedding was a dramatic display of Cornish weather at its finest. “We woke up to a yellow weather warning, thunderstorms and hail coming in through the windows!” says Tom. But by the time they made their vows, the skies had cleared into dazzling sunshine, as if the universe had orchestrated a perfect moment just for them. “Our celebrant, Sara, helped craft an informal and very personal ceremony, full of our story and readings from some of our nearest and dearest,” says Laura.
After the ceremony, guests enjoyed celebratory fizz, canapés, scones and fruit tartlets beneath the palms. Then came one of the day’s most memorable moments: the newlyweds led a joyful procession down to St Mawes Harbour, where a Fal River Cruise boat awaited. As the estuary sparkled around them, guests were ferried to the reception at Potager Garden.
As dusk settled over the venue, everyone took their seats for a family-style feast of lamb shawarma, marinated late-summer vegetables, jewelled rice and flatbreads followed by a panna cotta. “It was absolutely delicious,” says Tom. Laura's artistic touch was woven throughout the day, with hand-painted stationery and bespoke design elements adding a personal flair to the celebrations.
One of the most magical moments came courtesy of Laura’s sister, Emma, who had spent a year growing and drying petals to create the perfect confetti. “We were literally showered with love as we walked out of the ceremony,” Laura recalls. The newlyweds' entrance to the glasshouse at Potager Garden was another highlight. “We walked into ABBA, with everyone waving their napkins in the air, cheering – it was just incredible!” Their first dance took place beneath twinkling lights to the soulful music of Joseph Hurworth. “It was an intimate, unchoreographed moment to ourselves,” she reminisces.
Reflecting on their dreamy day, the couple advise other engaged couples to take moments to reconnect. “Step back throughout the planning and remember it is your day and a celebration of you both and your love,” says Laura. “We were able to plan a day that reflected us by being flexible and doing a lot of research, which isn’t for everyone, so seek help from friends, family and professionals. Even if things don’t go to plan – such as the thunderstorm on the morning of our outdoor wedding – approaching your day with an open mind and stepping back to enjoy all your hard work is key.”
Photography Verity Westcott veritywestcott.com
Venue Lamorran House Gardens lamorrangardens.co.uk
Potager Garden potagergarden.org
Celebrant Sara Price Celebrant sarapricecelebrant.co.uk
Dress Wedding Quarter weddingqtr.co.uk
Make-up Hannah Symons instagram.com/makeupbyhannahsymons
Suit Moss moss.co.uk
Flowers Rose Valley Farm Flowers rosevalleyfarmflowers.com
Cake Clifftop Cakes clifftopcakes.co.uk
Furniture & glassware Abbotts Event Hire abbottseventhire.co.uk
Transport King Harry Coaches kingharrycoaches.com
Fal River Cruises falriver.co.uk
Entertainment Joseph Hurworth instagram.com/joehurworthmusic
Videography North Coast Media northcoastmedia.co.uk
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