March 2020 proved even more memorable than most for Harri and Doug, who became engaged on the Saturday before the first lockdown was announced. “We were going to Charmouth to drop some shopping off for my grandparents – we went to the beach first and Doug got down on one knee up on the cliff,” says Harri, who then promptly returned to her grandparents’ house to share the good news.
The Oak Barn was the first venue that they viewed, and it was love at first sight. “We love Devon and knew that was where we wanted to tie the knot,” explains Harri, whose favourite colour, red, featured everywhere from the bridesmaids’ dresses and bridal shoes to the table napkins for their autumnal celebrations. “Doug really liked the idea of green tweed, so the main colours came from that, while I also sneaked in a lot of gold!” she says.
The flowers were instrumental in achieving the look, reflecting the day’s palette of reds, dark pinks, creams and lots of greenery. Eye-catching hanging arrangements adorned the main barn, while “the chandelier was something else!” Harri notes.
Beginning the day with a bridal brunch in the Linhay, Harri readied herself before walking down the aisle to an acoustic version of Tina Turner’s Simply the Best, inspired by the television series Schitt’s Creek.
After taking their vows, the newly-weds treated their guests to some of their favourite food and drinks, from the local cider and Prosecco served during the drinks reception to the pie and mash wedding feast. “As a couple we are obsessed with pie!” laughs Harri. “Food was one of the most important elements for us and M Welsh Catering Services blew us away with the service and quality.”
The speeches provided much merriment amongst guests, who devoured favours of mini bottles of Fireball inspired by a past Glastonbury festival Harri and Dog attended. “I think even my grandpa downed one during the speeches!” she recalls.
Live music, sparklers, cheese toasties and an “impromptu fireman’s lift during the cake cutting” rounded off the day’s proceedings, leaving Harri and Doug to reflect upon their joy-filled day. “With our anthem of the day being Simply the Best, the band learned a cover to play as the last song of the evening which Doug organised as a surprise for me,” she reveals as one of her most treasured moments.
“It’s never too early to plan or book something!” she advises other couples. “Involving family and friends is invaluable. And, on a practical level, we found it helpful to do a walk-through of our day from different perspectives to check we hadn’t forgotten anything.”
Photography & Film Amy & Nick of Amy Chapple Photography amychapplephotography.co.uk
Venue The Oak Barn theoakbarn.co.uk
Catering M Welsh Catering Services mwelshcatering.co.uk
Evening catering The Toasty Badger instagram.com/the_toasty_badger
Dress Stephanie Allin stephanieallin.net
Alterations Honiton Dressmaker honitondressmaker.co.uk
Bridesmaids’ dresses SilkFred silkfred.com
Bridal jewellery Tara Osborne Jewellery shoptaraosbornejewellery.co.uk
Groom’s outfit Dobell dobell.co.uk
Hair Brigitte Fisher brigittefisher.co.uk
Make-up Amy Elizabeth Makeup Artist amy-elizabeth.com
Flowers In Bloom Devon inbloomdevon.co.uk
Stationery & signage Emma Lou Stationery emmaloustationery.co.uk
Entertainment Greg Agar gregagar.com
Someone Borrowed someone-borrowed.co.uk
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