It all began on the campus of Plymouth University, where Hannah and Mark’s paths crossed while training to become teachers. “Mark asked me out on a date to the old Reel cinema in Plymouth,” recalls Hannah. “I still have the popcorn bucket from that date.”
Five years later, Mark chose the festive season to propose. On Christmas Eve, while visiting Hannah’s grandparents’ memorial tree in Swindon, he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. “Our golden retriever, Skyla, was equally shocked and was running wild around the trees!” laughs Hannah.
The couple fell head over heels for Upton Barn and Walled Garden, a venue that offered natural beauty in spades and stunning celebration spaces, requiring little embellishment. “It’s just so beautiful, we didn’t want to overdo the décor,” says Hannah. Their August celebration was styled with soft romanticism: abundant eucalyptus paired with blush and dusky blue florals, olive green bridesmaid dresses and dapper blue suits.
With the sun shining overhead, Hannah made her way down the lavender-lined aisle of the walled garden to Marry Me by Train. “It was a beautiful ceremony and seemed to go so quickly,” she reflects. “I almost began to sob when reading my vows, but Mark managed to calm me down.”
Acoustic melodies set the tone for a relaxed drinks reception as guests mingled in the sunshine. Later, the Stable Barn played host to a flavour-packed feast – think pork scotch eggs, duck liver parfait, curried cauliflower and hoisin pork belly, followed by lemon tartlets, brownies and sticky toffee pudding. But not before the newlyweds kicked things off with a tour around the tables, sunglasses on and all smiles.
As twilight fell, the evening celebrations began with a vintage camper photo booth and a nostalgic sweet table brimming with the couple’s favourite sweets. “We included Percy Pigs as a nod to my grandma – she used to buy them for me as a child,” says Hannah.
With just a quick practise the night before, Hannah and Mark span around the dance floor to Bubbly by Colbie Caillat, before live band The Sound filled the floor with feel-good anthems.
When it came to choosing their dream venue, Hannah had no doubts. “You will just know,” she says. “When we arrived at Upton Barn, we walked down the aisle together, looked at each other and I started to cry. We knew it was the place.” She’s also a firm believer in the beauty of a longer engagement. “Being engaged for two and a half years gave us the time to save up and book things in plenty of time.” One piece of advice they stuck to throughout? “Do what you want – no matter what you worry others will think.”
And in a fun twist on the traditional countdown, the couple created a monthly hip-bump video from the moment they got engaged. “We filmed one on every 12th of the month and finished the last one in the Tack Room before the wedding breakfast,” says Hannah. “Mark hated doing them, but when he saw the final edit, he was glad I’d made him do it!”
Photography Clare Kinchin Photography clarekinchinphotography.co.uk
Venue Upton Barn & Walled Garden uptonbarn.com
Dress Kiva & Zen Bridal kivaandzenbridalcornwall.co.uk
Bridesmaids’ dresses Six Stories sixstories.co.uk
Suits Moss moss.co.uk
Hair Codie Symons instagram.com/codie_symons_bridal
Make-up Oksana Voronina instagram.com/oksana_voronina
Catering Pickle Shack pickleshack.co.uk
Flowers Floren Flowers florenflowers.com
Table plan & frame Fika Event Hire fikaeventhire.com
Transport Redwoods Travel redwoodstravel.co.uk
Entertainment The Sound thesoundplymouth.co.uk
Photo booth Vintage Camper Booths vintagecamperbooths.co.uk
Videography Sean White Films seanwhiteweddingfilms.co.uk
