Inside: A Pretty Marquee Wedding In Devon

From an office romance to a pretty marquee wedding celebration in Devon, Emily and James Nunns reveal the secrets behind their unforgettable wedding day.

The Story So Far

James and I started our relationship as an office romance. Even though we worked in different departments, we got chatting one day and realised we coincidentally both grew up very close to each other and had lots in common. James used to play cricket at my village’s club. James proposed to me with a 4ct oval-cut diamond engagement ring, with a hidden halo on a pavé platinum band. I always knew I wanted a very simple, classic engagement ring style, so James chose perfectly.

James intended to propose in Venice – where we went for our first ever trip together – however his plans fell through at the last minute when the hotel had to undergo renovations. Instead he took me to one of our favourite places, The Newt in Somerset. He proposed underneath a waterfall, down on one knee in the rain. It was a magical moment I’ll never forget.

The Venue

Our wedding venue was at the home of my grandparents. They have lived in their beautiful Grade-II listed Devon longhouse in Clyst Hydon for 59 years and it’s where my parents got married on the same date – Saturday 7th September – 33 years previously.

The Fashion

My wedding dress was by Italian designer Peter Langner and I bought it from Browns Bride boutique in London. I originally went in thinking I wanted a very classic Vivienne Westwood dress with a fitted silhouette, but my mum actually told me I should try on the Peter Langner style. I wasn’t sure about a full skirt, but as soon as I tried it on I absolutely knew it was the one for me. Nothing else compared. My shoes were Loeffler Randall’s new Kimora heels in pearl white. I changed into an evening dress which was a Galvan gown I actually bought second-hand on eBay. My evening gown was inspired by Caroline Bessett-Kennedy’s iconic wedding dress which I have always loved. The simplicity of it felt just right for the evening and I teamed it with an oversized ostrich feather boa.

The Jewellery

I am the founder of jewellery brand Ballinger, so myself, my bridesmaids and the leading ladies of my family all wore styles I designed on the day. I designed a special pair of freshwater pearl drop earrings that myself and my grandmother wore on the day.

The Bridal Party

My bridesmaids were my something blue. They each wore blue chiffon gowns from high-street brand Wallis. The dresses featured tiny bead detailing which really beautifully captured the light on the dancefloor. Our flower girl Emilia wore a white princess gown from a little store in Exeter. I bought my bridesmaids jewellery from my brand Ballinger. I let them each pick out the earrings they wanted to wear, and I also gifted them bracelets I designed from my upcoming latest collection.

Transportation

We were transported in Range Rovers from Land Rover Experience West Country.

The Tablescape

We wanted to achieve softness with our tablescaping, so we incorporated textured table runners, long floral displays down the middle and lots of candles. We opted for long tables over round ones, as we felt they looked more dramatic.

Food & Drinks

We always knew we wanted Pickle Shack to do our catering, and my husband James worked with them to create a bespoke menu. Our main course was the star of the show – rolled blade of beef. For dessert, we served a nostalgic family favourite of ours – banoffee tart with banana jam and chocolate sauce.

Entertainment

My first dance was with my five bridesmaids rather than my husband! We hired a band called Mammoth. They were incredible and so many people told me they had never seen such a full dancefloor at a wedding before!

Beauty Regime & Wellness

My hair stylist was the wonderful Hannah Powell. She specialises in beachy waves, and this is the look I wanted for myself and my bridesmaids on the day. Makeup for the bridal party was by the wonderful Jodé Bliss-Thompson using Charlotte Tilbury products.

Favourite Wedding Gifts

A gorgeous teak salt and pepper mill set, a vintage wall mirror and a gift voucher for a restaurant called Osip in Bruton.

The Honeymoon

A day after the wedding, we travelled to Corfu, Greece for a mini moon. We are planning our honeymoon in 2025 and plan to go on safari in Kenya.

Advice

We planned for our ceremony to be in the garden, underneath the tree my Grandfather planted on my parent’s wedding day, however it started to rain so we needed a last-minute Plan B. My advice would be to try and go with the flow on your wedding day. Not everything will go to plan but that’s OK. It’s all part of the experience.

I loved changing into a second wedding dress for the evening. It was lighter and less restrictive to dance in, and also meant I travelled to our wedding night hotel in a dress that wasn’t as tricky to transport back the next day!

Eat a really good breakfast on your wedding morning. You will be so busy and distracted during the day that you might forget to eat much, so make sure you are fuelled in the morning before all the celebrations kick off!