A matchmaking success story, love blossomed for Charlotte and Lewis when her friend put them in contact. Lewis was working onboard a ship in Bahrain when her friend’s husband approached him in the staff room and said “Do you want a girlfriend?” The pair got talking and the rest is history!
A special place for Charlotte filled with fond childhood memories, the couple went to the Isles of Scilly for her 30th birthday. “We went for a stroll on St Martins before sitting down and looking over the bay. Lewis then got down on one knee and asked me to marry him!” she recalls.
Inspired by their shared love of travel and the Amalfi coast, the couple’s Devon country wedding was styled with shades of lemon and sage, with Italian touches carrying from the flowers to the menu.
The nuptials began with a church ceremony, where Charlotte’s brother Tom played Glasgow Love Theme by Craig Armstrong on the piano as she walked down the aisle, which was decorated with daisies and Italian ruscus. “The ceremony was beautiful,” says Charlotte. “We lit a candle to ignite our love for each other, and as the church bells rang after the ceremony, lemon and sage confetti was floating in the air as we ran towards our vintage car.”
Moving on to Shilstone House, guests mingled in the grounds before taking their seats in the marquee styled with towering arrangements of sunshine yellow blooms. “It was a beautiful sunny day and the flowers in the garden were in full bloom. Fresh flowers filled our venue, the smell was incredible,” Charlotte recalls.
The Italian-Devon fusion feast included tomato and mozzarella bruschetta, local Devon fillet of beef with dauphinoise potatoes and Sicilian lemon tarte with raspberry coulis. “Lewis and I sat down during the wedding breakfast looking over at all our family and dear friends; we just couldn’t believe we had all these people in one room!” she reflects.
Continuing with the travel-inspired theme, the couple used fresh lemons as name place holders, which the guests took home to add to gin and tonics. Further sweet touches included the French macaron favours in pistachio and lemon, a sweet bar and cake made by a family friend .
The first dance was to Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong, which was poignant at the time, and even more so, in retrospect. “This means so much looking back, as the lyrics relate to our most recent news of expecting our first child this year,” says Charlotte. Saxophonist Daniel Costin set the party mood for the evening continued into the evening, with The Swing Kings keeping the dance floor full until the close
Looking back, Charlotte remembers one moment particularly fondly. “Just after the ceremony, we hid at the back of the church and sat on a bench and just took it all in,” she says. “A private moment of pure bliss and happiness.”
When it comes to wedding planning, the couple are advocates of living in the moment. “Take time for yourselves and don’t stress,” she says, with an added tip for nearlyweds. “The best thing we did was to book a minimoon in Salcombe for two nights. To soak it all in, celebrate with champagne and take walks on the beach was just what you need as a newly married couple.”
Photography Tara Statton Photography tarastattonphotography.com
Venue St Mary’s Church in Brixton & Shilstone House shilstonedevon.com
Dress Sophia Tolli from The Wedding Company the-wedding-company.co.uk
Suit Peter Posh from The Grooms Room the-wedding-company.co.uk
Hair Vicki Kent instagram.com/victoriak.hair
Make-up Emma Roberts emmarobertsmakeup.co.uk
Flowers H.Watts Florist hwattsflorist.co.uk
Macarons Butterscotch Bakes facebook.com/ButterscotchBakes
Transport CDEC Wedding Cars luxurydrive.co.uk
Entertainment The Swing Kings theswingkings.co.uk
Daniel Costin danielcostin.live
Videography Maven Visuals Wedding Films mavenvisualsweddingfilms.com
