After being postponed by almost 13 months due to covid, it is a real pleasure to be able to share Danielle and Devon’s autumn wedding with you on the journal today. The couple tied the knot on Saturday 16th October 2021 and although it was delayed, it was still the wedding they had originally planned for, surrounded by their favourite people. They were also graced with gorgeous weather so they could really make the most of the outdoor space that our barn wedding venue in Devon has to offer!
Choosing a wedding venue felt a bit like house hunting and we got that instant gut feeling with Upton. We’ve been to our fair share of weddings and know how key the indoor space is when planning one in the UK. Upton has got it spot on, there’s plenty of space and it’s practical which each area having a purpose. The whole venue has been finished to an impeccable standard, you could have a wedding there tomorrow and it’d be gorgeous! Then there’s the part that sealed the deal, especially for a groom-to-be who’s had his fair share of ushering duties decorating barns and marquees until the early hours. We could drop off all our wedding bits the day before and the wonderful Upton team did the rest. Bliss!
Danielle and Devon based their wedding styling around a ‘rust orange’ colour palette. “I’ve always loved earth autumnal tones and our wedding was no exception to the rule. I was particularly drawn to rust orange and it soon became the main colour that brought everything together,” the bride explains. They embraced a ‘rustic romance’ vibe and combined lots of wooden DIY details with a warm colour palette and gold accents for a touch of luxury. This crafty couple upcycled an old wooden pallet to create a confetti stand, a large wooden frame that was used as a backdrop for their photo guestbook and even made their own table plan, welcome sign and all their stationery.
They included lots of lovely personal touches, which really did add an element of magic to their celebration. Danielle explains, “Ahead of the wedding we asked all our day guests to submit a photo of themselves stating how they knew us, using a maximum of 5 words. We then had these printed and displayed in the bar area for everyone to see.”
Devon had also proposed to Danielle during a trip to the Caribbean, so they wanted this to feature on their special day and chose to name the tables after places they visited. The duo then served killer rum punch at the welcome drinks with reggae music playing in the background – which went down an absolute treat! Guests were also spoilt with pink prosecco, and bottled beers during the welcome drinks, where the team at the Mulberry Catering Co served a delicious selection of canapés. Danielle and Devon spoilt their friends and family with a traditional three-course plated menu, evening food and of course, plenty of wedding cake!
The beautiful bride wore her hair in loose, natural curls (courtesy of Jeanette at Changing Faces) with a sparkly hairpiece from Janie at The Lucky Sixpence – which she found at one of our Upton supplier events. Her Maggie Sottero gown was an antique ivory sheer lace design with long sleeves and bell cuffs – the perfect choice for an autumn affair. A hip length veil with a scallop edge and small diamantes and pearls completed her look, with plain court heels from Rainbow.
Danielle’s bridal bouquet was created by Alice at From The Wild. “I tried to keep the brief pretty simple, I just knew I wanted it to be slightly rustic with some trailing. Sometimes you can get too specific with details and I feel it’s best to give the professionals the chance to be creative, they know what works! Alice got my bouquet absolutely spot on, I couldn’t have asked for any better. We then added some gorgeous pale gold silk ribbons, which were made by a colleague of mine.”
Danielle and Devon bought a couple of polaroid cameras for people to take photographs and to pop them into the guest book. They really wanted to go big for the evening (everyone was in need of an epic party) and booked a live band. “After meeting Blue Lion Band at a wedding fair, we went to one of their showcase events in Exeter, which was an ideal opportunity to see them in action before committing. I was sold as soon as they performed ‘Crazy in Love’, their brass section just took it to another level. So, we ended up with a 7-piece band and the dance floor was full all night.”
When it comes to a few pearls of wisdom, Danielle and Devon, share a few hints and tips that you may find useful…
Enjoy the process. There’s no need for it to be stressful, set yourself tasks and goals that you know you can manage. The cost of that photographer you really like is worth every penny. Remember that you’ll be looking back at these photos for the rest of your lives, consider it an investment. Hire a videographer! Everyone will tell you how fast the day goes, and it’s so true. Watching our videos brought all the emotions straight back and reminded us of how amazing the whole day was.
