It all started at the checkouts. Ellie was 17 and Nathan was 19 when the pair first crossed paths while working at Tesco. “We became really good friends at work and, nearly a year later, we got together,” recalls Nathan.
Their proposal wasn’t quite what Nathan had originally planned. A romantic December trip to New York had been booked with friends, but COVID restrictions had other ideas. “I ended up proposing a couple of months earlier,” he says. “I took Ellie to Snapes Point near Salcombe. It’s a beautiful hilltop with panoramic views of the river. We had a picnic whilst watching the sunset. As it got darker, all the lights in Salcombe and on the docked boats began to come on and I asked her to marry me.”
When it came to choosing their venue, Ellie had already fallen for The Green. “I’d seen photos of weddings there and just loved the vibe,” she says. Once they visited, they knew it was the one. “It's such a beautiful location and provides the most stunning backdrop for a wedding whatever the weather!” says Ellie.
The couple opted for a soft sage green theme, seen in the bridesmaids’ dresses and floral design. “It brought an elegant tone to the whole day,” says Ellie. Much of the styling was DIY. The couple collected champagne bottles to use as vases, placed on wood slices for a simple, rustic look. Each table was named after a lost loved one, with framed photos in tribute. “It was important for us to make them part of the day,” says Nathan.
Their ceremony took place outside beneath a bright but gently clouded sky. “Our niece and nephews led the procession and totally kicked off the emotions,” says Nathan. “Then Ellie appeared, looking absolutely stunning, walking down the aisle to I Get to Love You by Ruelle. We wrote our own vows which I struggled to read through the emotion.”
After the ceremony, the couple slipped away for photos while guests mingled and enjoyed drinks. Then came the speeches, followed by a wedding breakfast full of sumptuous flavours – from crispy polenta chips and sweet potato, cumin and coconut soup to slow-braised beef brisket, curried cauliflower risotto and salted caramel cheesecake.
Their first dance was one of the day’s most powerful moments. “I kept it together all day,” says Ellie, “but when everyone joined us on the dance floor, I cried. It was such a magical moment that I will remember for the rest of my life, but there was almost some sadness that it was all going to be ending soon!” Glowsticks were a standout hit of the evening. “We thought glowsticks would get everyone up and dancing – and it definitely worked!” Guests also left Polaroid snapshots and messages in a guestbook, a keepsake the couple now treasures.
Looking back, their favourite moment was walking down the aisle as newlyweds. “It caught us by surprise how powerful that was,” says Nathan. “It was an awesome feeling walking past all our family and friends knowing there was so much more to look forward to on the day!” Their advice to couples planning? “Chip away at things in small chunks,” says Ellie. “We loved spending a couple of hours over a weekend evening with a bottle of wine – going over our spreadsheets once or twice a month really helped us to keep on top of it all.”
Photography Younger Photography youngerphotography.com
Venue The Green thegreencornwall.co.uk
Dress Madi Lane Bridal madilane.com
Hair Mica, Precision Hair instagram.com/precisionhair
Suit Antique Rogue antiqueroguesuits.co.uk
Waistcoat Marc Darcy marcdarcy.co.uk
Flowers Floribunda floribundacornwall.co.uk
Cake Dollybird Bakes dollybirdbakes.co.uk
Entertainment Tom Baker instagram.com/tombakeracoustic
Aiden Howard
Videography I Do Film & Photos idofilmandphotos.co.uk
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