Wedding at Launcells Barton, Cornwall

The flower-filled table decorations and bouquets also featured a striking palette of greens and whites with a hint of rustic reds and burnt oranges, with "everything else done by my super creative, talented mum", says Nicol. "She made these beautiful hanging wreaths and brought all her big vases of dried and synthetic flowers from home; it looked stunning."

Having officially tied the knot at their dreamy venue, Launcells Barton, on the Friday with just immediate family present, Nicol and Ben called upon a close friend to 'marry' them in front of extended friends and family on the Saturday. "While the legal bit is obviously important, for us it was more significant to have someone we love and cherish so dearly be our celebrant, so we had two weddings!" Nicol explains. "It was so personal, and incredibly special. Doing it this way meant we could do what we wanted without being restricted by the formality of the legal ceremony."

Middle Eastern-style mezze and sharing platters treated guests to the tantalising likes of crispy pomegranate glazed lamb, spiced pork belly and an array of sides including courgette and mint fritters, and whipped feta and honey-glazed halloumi. "We skipped a traditional dessert and cake and instead had a wall of doughnuts and a table full of autumnal-coloured sweets and treats!"

The evening saw the dance floor packed to the fantastic sounds of The Zu Zu Men and was completed with a final feast courtesy of Woody's Pizza, "because there is nothing better at the end of the night than pizza!", laughs Nicol. "We wouldn't actually offer any advice other than do 'you'," she adds as a message to nearly-weds. "We were given so much advice that actually never came true: the day will go so fast, you won't get to speak to anyone, people will be upset if you don't invite them. We didn't experience those things at all. So we'd say do what's right for you as a couple. For us it was as much about our friends and family as each other, and that drove every decision we made."

Venue Launcells Barton launcellsbarton.co.uk 

Catering Beautiful and the Feast beautifulandthefeast.com, Woody's Pizza woodyspizzacornwall.com

Dress Charlie Brear charliebrear.com

Hair Hannah Woodgates Hair Design facebook.com/hwhair

Flowers Bleujen Florist bleujenflorist.com

Entertainment The Zu Zu Men thezuzumen.com