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Real Weddings in Cornwall and Devon

Wedding at Woodland Valley Farm, Cornwall

Wedding at Woodland Valley Farm, Cornwall

A Wedding in Wonderland


Joanne and George's family celebration at Woodland Valley Farm



Although Joanne and George attended the same university in Dundee, it wasn't until some years later, when they were both living and working in Edinburgh, that they actually met at a friend's party. "In 2014, George took me out to a restaurant in Truro for a birthday dinner and proposed at the end of the meal," says Joanne. "I was heavily pregnant with our second baby so we decided to have a two-year engagement."

A strong sense of family was at the heart of their wedding and the venue, Woodland Valley Farm, ticked all the boxes for a child-friendly do, with its relaxed vibe, on-site accommodation and oodles of space for their many child guests to run around. Nestled in the venue's ancient woodland, a beautiful old beech tree made an enchanting setting for their handfasting ceremony: "It was just what we were looking for and made the ceremony very personal and quite magical," says Joanne.

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The setting also inspired their 'Woodland Wonderland' theme, which popped with imaginative details and a palette of cerise, yellow and teal. "I have always loved 'Alice in Wonderland' and nature, which has become a large part of our lives with our children and dog," explains Joanne. "I am an illustrator and George is an architect so we are both very creative which helped a lot; it also gave us the courage to just 'go for it' and do it ourselves."

The labour of love started a whole year before the wedding, with the creative couple making everything from the individual and brilliantly detailed Wonderland-inspired centrepieces, signs, bunting and paper flowers to the sloe gin wedding favours. Joanne also used her illustrative skills to create the invitations and save the dates. "We grew a lot of our own flowers, including sunflowers, cosmos and cornflowers," she says; they teamed their homegrown blooms with hydrangea, wildflowers and ferns to create stunning rustic displays.

Accessories were playful and personality-packed - from Joanne's 'Alice' shoes and paper origami flower bouquet to the buttonholes combining fabric flowers and Lego 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'. George and the couple's two-year-old son even wore matching kilts.

After the "beautiful and personal" ceremony written and conducted by The Cornish Celebrants, everyone tucked into 'cream tea and fizz', comprising scones, sandwiches and sloe gin fizz, while a selection of games - as well as tractor rides for the children - kept guests entertained. A locally sourced barbecue feast of steak, chicken and sausages served with salads and breads followed, with chocolate brownie and lemon and ginger cheesecake to finish.

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In the evening, Jonah's Lift kick-started the party with a memorable first dance. "They got everyone in circles around us for an epic barn dance. This moment really stands out as we were surrounded by all our friends and family and it was wonderful to have everyone up dancing and having fun with us," reflects Joanne. "The caller was fantastic with the children and they included some child-friendly barn dances!"

She fully recommends making children a part of your day. "Don't be frightened about inviting lots of children," she advises. "As long as you get the right venue, they will honestly make the day so much fun! And the parents have a blast too!"

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Photography Enchanted Brides www.enchantedbrides.photography
Venue Woodland Valley Farm www.woodlandvalley.co.uk
Planning & stationery Joanne Nethercott Illustration www.facebook.com/JoanneNethercottIllustration/
Ceremony The Cornish Celebrants www.cornishcelebrants.co.uk
Dress House of Mooshki at The Bridal House of Cornwall www.thebridalhouseofcornwall.co.uk
Shoes Irregular Choice www.irregularchoice.com
Bridesmaids' dresses Lindy Bop www.lindybop.co.uk
Hair and make-up Neila Dawes www.weddingsbyneila.co.uk
Entertainment Jonah's Lift www.jonahslift.co.uk

Copyright Wed magazine 2016