The teal shade of the topaz inspired their colour scheme, which they blended with sand beige to create a stylishly nautical scene. Their love of the seaside meant a coastal wedding venue was a must and, on visiting Ocean Kave, it was love at first sight.
As well as seaside inspiration, an array of handmade features made Zara and Luke's wedding beautifully distinctive - including the wedding dress, which Zara made with the help of her mum and a friend. "It was a massive challenge having never made a dress before, but it gave me a huge sense of achievement," explains Zara. She opted for a tea-length design of silk dupion and lace, with a net underskirt with blue edging to echo the teal bridesmaid dress, which she made from a 1950s' vintage Vogue pattern.
The crafty mother-daughter duo also made bouquets from silk flowers and brooches, and lighthouse table centrepieces adorned with blue crystals and tea lights.
While most of the wedding party made their way to the Kave by foot in the sunshine, Zara opted for a memorable arrival via the venue's mule buggy! She walked down the aisle to Train's 'Marry Me' performed by their friend Johnny Edgar. With their bearded dragons as ring bearers, Zara and Luke exchanged their own vows. "The whole ceremony was just full of emotion and you could literally feel it around the Kave," reflects Luke on the moment that proved the highlight of the day for them both.
Everyone spilled outside and tucked into cake pops in ice cream cones and cocktails, specially created to match the colour scheme. In keeping with the laidback vibe, the wedding breakfast was a barbecue of lamb burgers, sausages, chicken and steak, followed by an ice cream station. The wedding cake was another DIY feature - this time by Luke, who iced a mountain of banana cupcakes on the morning of the wedding!
The entertainment was eclectic and uplifting, from children's entertainment and circus skills on the lawn from Damian Patton and Zara's Dad's folk ensemble to the most dazzling performance of all: the newly-weds' choreographed dance to Paul Simon's 'Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes' - for which Zara had diamantes specially inserted into her soles - followed by a rock'n'roll spin to 'Candy Man'. Everyone then danced the night away to a set by Johnny Edgar.
Rounding off their wedding with a week in luxury cottage, Royal Celerity, Luke has some wise words for soon-to-be-weds: "Don't ever settle for ordinary. Go that bit further; it's worth all the stress, tears and tests of your inner self to produce a day that will always be remembered by everyone that was a part of it." Zara adds: "Never lose sight of what you both want from the day. Take time during the madness to step back and reflect on what you have achieved."
Photography Rebecca Roundhill www.rebeccaroundhill.co.uk
Venue Ocean Kave, Westward Ho! www.oceankave.co.uk
Groom's outfit Suit Next Shirt Ted Baker www.next.co.uk www.tedbaker.com
Entertainment Johnny Edgar www.johnnyedgar.co.uk
Damian Patton www.damianpatton.co.uk/parties
Hair Sam's Hair and Beauty 01237 473686
Copyright Wed magazine 2014
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