Photography: Ivyhouse Photography Venue: Upton Barn & Walled Garden
Emily and Adam’s connection goes back to high school. “12-year-old me fell hard for the long blonde hair the second I saw him,” recalls Emily. Seven years later, they had their first date at London’s Winter Wonderland. “We shared our first kiss at Marylebone Station and from that moment, everything just fell into place.”
A new chapter unfolded in Exeter and soon came the proposal – just after a dramatic thunderstorm during a road trip across France. “The skies had cleared, my mascara had almost survived, and the moment was magical,” says Emily.
It was love at first sight when they visited Upton Barn and Walled Garden. “It’s so breathtaking, and the team have such a warm and friendly energy!” says Emily. “They have designed the venue so beautifully that the whole day flows seamlessly.”
From a young age, Emily dreamed of including yellow roses – her late mother’s wedding flowers – in her bouquet. This meaningful choice inspired the lemon palette threaded throughout the day: pastel floral arrangements, butter-yellow bridesmaid dresses, delicate ribbons, Limoncello favours and stationery in a playful retro font. Minimal table décor – bud vases, handwritten place cards and tapered candles – let the natural beauty of the venue shine. “Everything tied together in a way that felt joyful, personal and full of sunshine,” she says.
Emily wore a timeless satin gown, while Adam and his groomsmen opted for sharp black tie. Before the ceremony, Emily shared a treasured first look with her dad – “his reaction was everything!” – then walked down the lavender-lined aisle to stirring strings. “It was such a beautiful, heartfelt moment, and I’ll never forget the way Adam and I locked eyes so intently,” she says. “I took a moment to look around and soak in everyone there, witnessing our love – it was truly unforgettable.”
After the vows, guests showered the newlyweds in dried petals collected over two years from the gardens of loved ones, including Emily’s childhood home. “Knowing we’d been holding onto those petals for so long made being showered in them on our wedding day feel incredibly meaningful and magical,” she says. Guests then mingled over canapés and Aperol Spritzes in the spring sunshine, with Serenity String Duo’s modern-meets-classical set lending a Bridgerton flair.
Dinner featured Dart’s Farm topside of beef with all the trimmings, followed by an Italian-inspired desserts platter. Later, signature burgers – served in customised – proved a crowd-pleaser.
The heartfelt speeches were Emily’s favourite part of the day and, as the sun dipped, a golden-hour espresso martini photo shoot stole the spotlight. The first dance to Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You, followed by a father-daughter moment to Say a Little Prayer, set the tone before swing and jazz band All Jazzed Up took over. “One of my favourite moments was when the whole band came off the stage and joined us on the dance floor, kicking off I Wanna Be Like You from The Jungle Book,” says Emily. “Everyone was buzzing, dance-offs broke out and the energy was electric.”
Looking back on their journey from engagement to wedding day, Emily has words of wisdom for other couples: “Enjoy the planning! Make it fun - turn it into date nights, paint signs in the sunshine, pick playlists over wine, talk budgets over brunch - and remember why you’re doing it all.”
Photography Ivyhouse Photography ivyhousephotography.co.uk
Venue Upton Barn & Walled Garden uptonbarn.com
Dress Adriana Alier adrianaalier.com
Suit M&sS marksandspencer.com
Bridesmaids’ dresses Azazie azazie.com
Hair Hair by Pais instagram.com/hairbypais_
Make-up Laura Ettery lauraetterybeauty.co.uk
Flowers Field Good Flowers fieldgoodflowers.co.uk
Catering Bridal Brunches bridalbrunches.co.uk
Eat the Bird eatthebird.co.uk
Cake Jayne Long
Entertainment Serenity String Duo serenitystringduo.com
All Jazzed Up all-jazzed-up.com
Content creation Molly instagram.com/undercoverbestie
