Inside: A Garden Wedding Filled With Heart And Homegrown Charm

A weekend rooted in friendship, family and the countryside, celebrating a church wedding and a garden reception surrounded by loved ones.

The Story So Far

Max and I met at the University of Bristol – he was studying Ancient History, I was reading English Literature – and we’ve been together ever since. We were friends first at university before our relationship naturally evolved. We got engaged without any big theatrics, which felt completely right for us. It turned out to be the same hotel Max’s aunt and uncle, who have the most wonderful marriage, have been returning to for years. The connection made it feel even more special, and we now visit every year. My engagement ring originally belonged to Max’s great-grandmother, and Max had it redesigned to make it my own – it’s one of my most treasured pieces.

The Setting

We got married in Tenterden, where I grew up. Our ceremony took place at St John the Baptist Church, a pretty country church. On the morning of the wedding, guests gathered for pre-service drinks, which made for the most relaxed start to the day. Our reception was held at my family home, with a Sail & Peg marquee set up in the garden surrounded by my mum’s roses. The night before, we hosted a relaxed dinner on the terrace for our families and wedding party, and the day after the wedding nearly all 176 guests returned for Bloody Marys and a BBQ cooked by my grandmother Ednamay and a family friend, Helen, who had travelled from Australia – true Aussie style. We were also really touched to have guests fly in from Australia, France, Singapore, Zimbabwe, Kenya, The Netherlands, Sweden, India and Lithuania.
Speaking of grandmas, it was wonderful to have both my grandmas there, Ednamay and Mickey.

The Dress

I wore three variations of the same Louise Selby dress – the ‘Willow’ – which felt like the perfect reflection of the day’s different moments. For the church, I wore a lace top with georgette sleeves and satin buttoned cuffs, with a waistband forming a bow at the back. For the reception, I wore lace cap sleeves with a lace belt, which I later removed for dancing. My veil was silk tulle with a delicate ribbon edge, and my shoes were Emmy London, complete with a hidden blue gemstone under one sole and a pearl under the other. Max looked so handsome in his Hackett suit, finished with cufflinks I had personalised for him and gave to him as a gift on the day.

Jewellery

My jewellery all belonged to my mum, Deanne – earrings, bracelet and necklace – and she also made Max’s wedding band herself as the founder of May Thomas Jewellery. My engagement and wedding rings were both created by EC One, who beautifully reimagined Max’s family heirloom.

Bridal party

I had eight bridesmaids, including my sisters, including my Maid of Honour Polly, and friends from school and university. My sister in law was also one of my bridesmaids. They wore sage green Maids to Measure dresses in different styles, and our four flower girls – all of Max’s cousin’s daughters – wore silk Amelia Brennan dresses. Max had six ushers, including his best man Nick, our MC Danny and his brother in law George. After the ceremony, we drove away in my mum’s duck-egg blue Nissan Figaro, which I loved.

The Details

Our flowers were by Jo Everett from The Garden Room, with colours of dusty pink, sage and cream to complement the garden. Max’s mum, Gill, who is also a florist for KGL Flowers, created the most beautiful arrangements in the church. Our stationery was designed by Emma Bradstreet, and Max’s sister, Alice, designed the front cover of the order of service with a gorgeous drawing of the church, as well as the drinks menu. Each table was named after a Greek god or goddess – a nod to our shared love of Greece and Max’s degree in Ancient History.

Food & Drink

Food was incredibly important to us, and Two Many Cooks, led by Chesca Cura, made it unforgettable. The canapés alone were a highlight – smoked trout blinis, spicy Thai prawns, pistachio chicken with harissa yoghurt, Peking duck rolls and more. For our main course, we served lemon and sage roast chicken with English asparagus and salsa verde, followed by profiteroles – Max’s only request.

Cocktails played a big part in the evening: Espresso Martinis appeared as fireworks lit up the sky, alongside Aperol Spritz, Moscow Mules and my signature G&T. We served Peyrassol Rosé, Penfolds Shiraz-Cabernet and Vasse Felix Chardonnay from Western Australia, where much of my family is from. Even the beers had meaning – Black Sheep for Max’s Yorkshire roots, and a keg from Stroud Brewery, near his mum’s hometown.

Entertainment

Music was a huge part of our ceremony. My sister Emily sang Rutter’s Gaelic Blessing and Panis Angelicus, while my sister Charlotte and Max’s aunt read beautifully chosen verses. I couldn’t resist including Shine Jesus Shine, played by my old music teacher on the organ, which ended with everyone clapping and doing the actions – it was such a joyful moment.

For our first dance, we chose Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley. We took dance lessons with Yana, who was wonderfully patient, but I still forgot the opening steps on the day! The band, The Spoils Collective, were incredible, followed by fireworks by Wizard Fireworks and a DJ set from Andy McKirdy that kept everyone dancing.

Beauty & Wellness

My make-up and hair were by Tamara West (Glam by Tam), who was an absolute dream. Tamara was supported by a fabulous team including her wonderful aunt Gillian. In the lead-up, I had a few Sarah Chapman facials and regular acupuncture sessions with my wonderful acupuncturist Amanda, which helped me feel calm and balanced.

Honeymoon

The night after the wedding, we stayed at The Gallivant in Camber Sands, then took a mini-moon road trip to France, staying at Domaine de Primard – the spa and afternoon “cake bell” were divine. In September, we spent two weeks in Greece exploring Athens, Hydra, Spetses and the Peloponnese. Hydra completely stole our hearts.

Advice from the Bride

Don’t spend hours taking formal shots – enjoy being with your guests.
A big bridal party is wonderful if you love being surrounded by friends. Include as many personal touches as possible; our families played such a big role in making the day what it was.
If you feel comfortable, give a speech – otherwise, it’s just the men talking.