Wedding at The Alverton, Cornwall

Pete's proposal to Emma was unforgettable - for many reasons! "On the day before my 30th birthday we hiked up the Hollywood Hills to a lookout spot overlooking the famous sign, but things didn't go exactly as planned!" reveals Emma. "Firstly, I was three months pregnant, exhausted and suffering from morning sickness! We reached a bench where Pete had intended to pop the question, but there was a man doing yoga on it. I was moaning about the heat, being pregnant, being made to hike...and finally the man moved and Pete dropped to one knee. I cried - a lot!"

Falling for the romance of an autumnal wedding at The Alverton, the season inspired a palette of reds, oranges and golds flanked by fallen leaves, while an "Americana harvest twist" was beautifully achieved with the addition of pumpkins, gourds and pine cones.





Family and friends pitched in to help the couple create a magical and brilliantly personal event. Pete's mum, Ann Wallwork of Ann's Couture, designed and made the tea-length dresses worn by Emma and her bridesmaids, as well as the ushers' waistcoats, while Emma's step-mum, Samantha Prydderch, teamed up with Anna Sawle of Wedding Flowers in Cornwall to create the vibrant floral arrangements as well as decorating the aisle with pumpkins and autumn leaves.

Their wedding wheels were another characterful feature. "My car was a 1959 Armstrong Siddeley Star Sapphire and Pete was lucky enough to have a good friend with an ex-Hollywood movie 1967 Cadillac," says Emma.

The personal mood of the day continued as the couple's son and godson took to the stage while Emma and Pete uttered their vows. "They stole the show playing and had everyone in stitches," Emma recalls. "And to have our dog, Alice, there too was just lovely: she's part of our family and it was so important for her to be involved and The Alverton were so accommodating with her."

After a sumptuous dinner of roast sirloin of beef, oven-baked hake and sun-blushed tomato and olive linguine, magician Dan Brazier wowed guests with his close-up magic before everyone gathered on the patio for sparklers and the distant spectacle of bonfire night fireworks.




The newly-weds kicked off the evening shenanigans with their first dance to Buddy Holly's 'True Love Ways' performed by rock 'n' roll band, Joe Jive and the Wonderers. "The rest of the night was a blur of friends and family and J�germeister, but it was perfect!" adds Emma.

Looking back on their family-filled celebration, Emma reveals how the atmosphere was created through a collaborative effort. "Seeing the pumpkins decorating the place that we had all got together as a family to carve, along with the DIY decorations that so many friends and family members had helped with, really made it special," she comments.

Speaking of which, she advises other couples to consider the decor well ahead of time. "Get started on the DIY as soon as you can. No matter how prepared you are you will feel like you have left everything until last minute!" she says. "And let children be children," she urges. "We let the little ones roam free during the ceremony and act like kids do. It worked out so well."

Photography Ashley Hampson ashleyhampson.com
Venue The Alverton thealverton.co.uk
Bridesmaids' dresses Ann's Couture annscouture.co.uk
Hair Natalie and Jadene Martin
Makeup Sally Orchard cornwallmakeupartist.co.uk
Groom's outfit Moss Bros moss.co.uk
Flowers Samantha Prydderch and Wedding Flowers in Cornwall
Transport Amelia's Classic Cars ameliasclassiccars.co.uk
Entertainment Joe Jive and the Wonderers thewonderers.co.uk
Magician Dan Brazier danbrazier.com

Copyright Wed magazine 2017