Photography: Freckle Photography. Venue, catering & flowers: Uphill Farm
Elif and Oliver’s love story began, in their own words, “the old-fashioned way” – eyes meeting across a bar in Plymouth. That instant spark soon blossomed into romance, culminating in a dreamy proposal on the Greek island of Symi. “It was a very romantic rooftop proposal overlooking the harbour,” recalls Elif.
The couple exchanged vows in the grandeur of St Andrew’s Church in Plymouth, describing their ceremony as both “emotional and beautiful”. “It was led by our friend, Reverend Andy Bowden, and he did a fantastic job of making it fun, relaxed and personal to us!” says Elif.
The celebrations continued in the enchanting walled garden of Uphill Farm. “We fell in love with the beautiful garden the moment we stepped in,” says Elif. “Charlotte, the owner, was so warm and accommodating with every detail. We had the best day of our lives thanks to her!”
Their reception unfolded beneath a leafy canopy of mature trees, where arches, flower-filled corners and rose-draped walls created an English garden fairytale.
Inspired by the setting, the couple chose a garden-inspired palette of white, green and pale pink, which flowed through the details, from the rustic wooden tables styled with seasonal flowers in bud vases and soft pink and sage green linens. “We wanted a look that was softly elegant yet rustic, with a whimsical touch from candles and fairy lights,” says Elif.
A harpist set the tone during the drinks reception, as guests mingled in the sunshine with champagne and canapés. For Oliver, a standout moment was walking into the marquee together. “Seeing how happy everyone was for us, enjoying the day that we'd taken so long to plan – that was unforgettable,” he says.
The feast featured rump beef with chimichurri, dauphinoise potatoes and seasonal vegetables, followed by heartfelt speeches and the cutting of a stunning Lambeth-piped cake.
As golden hour melted into evening, cocktail hour and garden games gave way to dancing. Elif and Oliver opened the floor with their first dance to At Last by Etta James. “It’s such a romantic song that represented tying the knot for us,” she says. “After we started our dance, we invited everyone to join us on the dance floor – it was such a beautiful moment knowing that we were surrounded by so much love!” The party continued under fairy-lit skies with a DJ soundtrack until midnight.
“The best thing about the day was having all our friends and family in one place, I still can't get over how amazing it was,” reflects Elif. “I’ll never forget how everyone was watching us with a smile and excitement when I was walking down the aisle – I wish I could have stayed in that moment longer!”
When it comes to planning, Elif has a few pearls of advice: “Wedding planning can feel overwhelming at first, so I'd advise getting the venue sorted early, then you can enjoy picking the details. Ensure that you leave plenty of time on the day for chatting, drinks and dancing – and starting the ceremony at midday really helps maximise that time!”
Photography Freckle Photography frecklephotography.co.uk
Venue, catering & flowers Uphill Farm uphillfarm.co.uk
Dresses Sophia Tolli sophiatolli.com
Enzoani enzoani.com
Suit Brook Taverner brooktaverner.co.uk
Hair Bridal Hair by Maddy bridalhairbymaddy.co.uk
Make-up Georgina Markham Make-up & Beauty cornwallmakeup.co.uk
Cake Crafty Cakehole craftycakehole.co.uk
Entertainment Fionnuala Kirby kirbyharp.co.uk
Ocean City DJs oceancitydjs.co.uk
