Committed to planning a whirlwind wedding in just four months, the couple opted to celebrate their union in the nearest Anglican church and village hall to their new home, which inspired their village fete theme.
The ceremony at St Martin's Church was a poignant and personalised affair, featuring a tear-inducing vocal performance by Fran's sister, and Phil's brother welcoming the couple into married life with a special Apache Blessing.
Coad's Green Village Hall hosted the reception, with the grounds being creatively transformed into a miniature fete with a series of fun features and dazzling details. "I painted a hoopla and a face-in-the-hole board for photos, Phil made a coconut shy and we hired a bouncy castle," says Fran. "Phil's mum produced the most stunning cake stall - with a little baking help from aunts and uncles - so everything was fresh and delicious. And my sister-in-law painted personalised mason jars for all the guests as favours, which helped people identify their drink as well as each other."
Adding to the atmosphere, the flowers incorporated a country hedgerow feel and beautifully marked the transition from summer to autumn with daisies, crocosmia and berries, while the marquee was adorned with large vases of hydrangeas.
The sensory delights didn't stop at the decor. A barbecue satisfied appetites with the likes of rib-eye steak, spatchcock chicken and sea bass with a selection of vegetables and salads. Guests were treated to further delicious treats in the form of fairy cakes, DIY Eton mess, cream teas, Cornish Yarg and hot pasties for supper, which fuelled a lively ceilidh and disco.
With such a tight timeframe for the planning, Fran steals the chance to reflect upon the highlights of her day. "It was a lot of hard work in the run-up, and we were both nervous and excited for the ceremony; but the moment I let go of all the adrenalin and tension was when my Dad gave his speech," she explains. "I relaxed properly then - it was so touching and funny. I looked around and everyone was having such a good time, full of great food, the children having a blast, and they were all here rooting for us: it was the best feeling!"
Photography Paul Keppel www.paulkeppel.co.uk
Venue St Martin's Church, Lewannick and Coad's Green Village Hall www.facebook.com/coads.green
Marquee Western Event Hire www.westerneventhire.co.uk
Dress Lusan Mandongus at Teokath of London www.teokath.co.uk
Bridesmaids' dresses Monsoon www.monsoon.co.uk
Flower girls' dresses Gilly Gray www.gillygray.com
Pageboys' bow ties and waistcoats Etsy www.etsy.com/uk
Groom's outfit Walker Slater www.walkerslater.com
Flowers Flower Scene www.flowersceneflorists.co.uk
Catering The Gourmet BBQ Co. www.thegb.co.uk
Transport Westcountry Limos and Cars www.limosandcars.net
Entertainment Squeeze Fiddle Pluck www.facebook.com/squeezefiddlepluck
Elite Wedding Discos www.eliteweddingdisco.com
Copyright Wed magazine 2016
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