Photography: JordHan Photography jordhanphotography.co.uk Venue: The Lost Gardens of Heligan heligan.com
Like many modern love stories, Briony and Tom first met online — though theirs came with a twist. “We met on Twitter after tweeting about our favourite band, Muse,” smiles Briony. When she later discovered she’d been accepted to Cardiff University, where Tom was studying, she asked him for accommodation advice. Numbers were exchanged – and fate took over.
“On my first day in Cardiff, I got completely lost,” she recalls. “With my family hundreds of miles away, his was the only number I could think to call. He drove around until he found me and delivered me safely to my halls. A first date at a local Italian soon followed – and the rest is history.
Tom proposed in a forest near their Buckinghamshire home. “He’d planned it perfectly,” she says. “But three days before, he had to be rushed to hospital for an emergency appendectomy!” Undeterred, Tom went ahead just days later. “It was the perfect proposal, in our favourite place, in beautiful sunshine.”
A visit to Tom’s mum in Cornwall led to a chance trip to The Lost Gardens of Heligan. “It was love at first sight,” says Briony. “It’s a stunning setting with a lush rainforest, extensive kitchen gardens and rambling flower patches.” With Heligan’s natural beauty as the backdrop, the couple kept their styling soft and seasonal for their May wedding. “We didn’t want to go too heavy on a theme, as we wanted the gardens to speak for themselves,” explains Briony. Their florist created cascading arrangements in soft pinks and greens, using locally grown blooms for that English country-garden feel.
The couple’s 4pm ceremony almost moved indoors as rain poured all morning, but the clouds parted just as Briony arrived. “We were so thrilled we could marry outside,” she says. Guests gathered at The Folly as the sun broke through, bathing the gardens in golden light. Music wove through every moment thanks to acoustic guitarist Nick Mears, whose soulful voice accompanied the ceremony, dinner and first dance. “He even learned Starlight by Muse,” says Briony. “As he sang the words ‘You electrify my life,’ I reached the head of the aisle – we both had chills!”
After vows came bubbles, cocktails and photographs across Heligan’s gardens – from the lush Jungle to the tranquil Italian Garden, where the couple exchanged private vows in the late-afternoon light. Dinner in the Heligan Kitchen showcased the venue’s field-to-fork menu – wild garlic and nettle soup, seafood linguine and fruity pavlova, with produce grown just steps away. “One of the main reasons we chose Heligan was the food,” says Briony. “Their commitment to sustainability and seasonal ingredients meant a lot to us.”
The evening began with their first dance to How Long Will I Love You by The Waterboys. “It’s from our favourite film, About Time,” says Briony. “We couldn’t stop grinning the whole way through.” The DJ followed with September by Earth, Wind & Fire – “and from that moment, the dance floor never emptied. It was one of the most joyful and special moments of our lives so far.”
From laughter on the rope bridge to guests’ emotional reactions to their place-setting messages, the day overflowed with warmth and joy. “Meeting eyes across the aisle,” says Briony, “was pure butterflies and giddy joy – as if no one else in the world existed.” Her advice for future couples? “Guests will remember how you made them feel,” she says. “The things that had the biggest impact didn’t cost much – printed Polaroids, personalised notes, our First Dance Sweepstake and big hugs for everyone! Choose suppliers who share your vision, embrace the process and remember you’re planning the start of your forever together.”
Photography JordHan Photography jordhanphotography.co.uk
Venue, catering & cake The Lost Gardens of Heligan heligan.com
Dress Champagne & Charlotte Bridal Boutique champagneandcharlotte.co.uk
Hair Ocean Waves Hair and Makeup oceanwaveshairandmakeup.com
Make-up Carly Angove Makeup Artist carlyangovemakeup.co.uk
Suit Cornwall Suit Room cornwallsuitroom.com
Flowers Sophie Flowers sophieflowers.com
Transport Elegant Arrivals elegantarrivals.uk
Entertainment Nick Mears nickmears.com
John Green Dynamic Entertainments johngreendynamicentertainments.co.uk
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