From meeting for the first time at a ball in 2016, to taking their first dance as husband and wife, we sit down with Verity and Marcus Fairfax Fountaine, co-founder of Fairfax and Favour, to discuss the sentimental details of their wedding in Exmoor.
The Story So Far
Verity and Marcus Fairfax Fountaine met at a Hump Ball (party) 8 years ago in 2016 in Norfolk, when her sister introduced them. Verity is originally from Norfolk but came back to visit her Mum and consequently met Marcus at the ball. Verity then moved in with Marcus just before lockdown in 2020. They got engaged on the 31st January 2023 whilst on a skiing trip. Verity’s parents used to have a shale in the Alps. They both really enjoyed skiing, so a proposal in the Alps was a natural decision and Marcus proposed on the top of Le Grand Mont. They married on 8th June 2024, with a 2 carat round diamond with cluster and diamonds around the edge.
The Venue
Verity and Marcus married in Exmoor, where Verity’s extended family are from. The couple married at Verity’s mother’s family home. Verity was also christened in Exmoor, so it was a special place to her. The wedding included 100 of their friends and family. The day before the wedding they had a rehearsal drinks for the groomsmen and bridal party on Friday at Northmoor House where Marcus was staying. Verity then hosted a bridesmaid supper at her mother’s Exmoor family home. The groomsmen then went out for supper and Verity had an early night. After the wedding, friends and family gathered for a lunch made up of salads, coronation chicken, meats etc.
The Fashion
Verity used her something borrowed as the family vale, a piece worn when her great-grandmother, grandmother, mother and sister married in. Verity started with the vale and planned her outfit around that. Due to the intricate detailed lace, she had to ensure her dress to clash with the beauty of the vale. She accessorised with a pearl headband by Victoria Fergusson. Her dress by Suzane Neville, was an original design but had been made in a different fabric and fitted by a lady in Exmoor. The shop was Parham House Brides, in Dunster. Her something blue included a pair of Manolo Blahnik heels and her bag from Fairfax & Favor. For the rest of the weekend, Verity wore Fairfax & Favor shoes and accessories.
The Jewellery
Marcus gifted Verity matching earrings as her wedding present. Rings were from Lanes Jewellery in Holt.
The Bridal Party
Bridesmaids wore green. Verity said they could choose any dress they liked as long as it stuck to the green colour palette and were from a variety of detailers. Shoes and bags were all Fairfax & Favor and each bridesmaid chose their shoes and bags. Verity also had her hair done with gypsophila flowers around the top of the veil. Verity gifted the shoes and bags from Fairfax & Favor as part of a lovely goodie box for the day for her bridesmaids and included facemasks and tissues and were given the day before.
Transportation
Verity’s Grandpa walked her down the aisle and one of his friends had an old car which transported her to the church in Dolton. After the ceremony, Verity and Marcus went up to the moor behind her mother’s house. They took a helicopter from the moor to their reception. This was a nod to Verity’s late father who was a pilot, so this was a special nod to him. It was Verity’s wedding present to Marcus, and it was hard to be kept a secret from all! Felix joked to the guests about them arriving for everyone to ‘hold onto their hats!’ to which everyone guessed it was the newlyweds!
The Tablescape
The tablescapes were created by local florist Brompton Buds. Verity wanted to keep everything white, clean cut, with white tablecloths and nothing too jazzy. The Marquee Company sourced quite a lot of these additions. On the top table, the napkins were made with an embroidered gold ‘F’ on. A round bar was also a key feature which lit up for the evening dancing. It had a tree in the centre from Twilight Trees (London).
From their engagement party to through to their wedding day, every time they had a bottle of champagne (which is Verity’s favourite drink) they collected the corks. Each wedding table was a different brand of champagne. As champagne was an important part of the day, Pol Roger champagne was used for the reception. A champagne fountain also replaced having a cake, as neither Verity or Marcus were fond of having a cake. Their wedding favors included toffee vodka in shooting cartridges from Narford. Toffee Vodka was an ode to skiing, as that is what they would drink when skiing.
Food & Drinks
Food and drinks included Pol Roger Champagne, Château Minuty Rose, red and white wine. They used a flair bartender that has worked at the Fairfax & Favor stands and served espresso martinis, mojitos and margaritas. Supplied by Kit & Kee, they had Lightly Smoked Trout Roulade, Roast Red Devon Beef and Short Rib Croquette or Wild Mushroom Pithivier and Pump Street Chocolate Mousse and to finish a selection of British farmhouse cheeses
Entertainment
Verity walked down the aisle to Duomo “Wildest Dreams” (Taylor Swift Cover) from Bridgerton. In the evening, Verity and Marcus shared their first dance to L-O-V-E by Nat King Cole. Fireworks were also released to a playlist of music at the bottom of the field in pattern to each song. Music highlights when dancing included the gladiator soundtrack, Game of Thrones theme tune, Lady Gaga and Hold my hand – Top Gun.
Beauty Regime & Wellness
Verity frequented Dr Medi Spa and factored this into her travel to Exmoor and stopped off on route for a Fire and Ice facial. Treatments that made her wedding look included LVL lash lift and a 111 Skin Mask. For her wedding makeup, Verity had a local artist from ISiS Wellbeing and Skincare, who finished the look with Verity’s hero products, Charlotte Tilbury lipstick in Penelope Pink. Topped up with the Chanel, Rouge Elure, 62 Still. Perfume used for the day was Chanel No.5. Hair for both Verity and her bridesmaids were styled by Hannah at Hair By Hannah.
Favourite Wedding Gifts
Verity’s sister gifted a painting of her dog – Tarka. The couple’s favourite photo. A friend gifted a modern painting of Grant Mont where the couple got engaged with them in skiing gear and friends skiing around. Lots of wonderful house bits and pieces were also gifted and were gratefully received.
The Honeymoon
Verity And Marcus Fairfax Fountaine had a delayed honeymoon, spending July at home. They then went to Botswana on safari, Okavango Delta in Botswana and the Kalahari Desert where they spotted all of the famous five, bar rhinos as they are protected in Botswana. They then headed to Zanzibar after and spent 5 day on a beach to relax.
Advice
1 – Organisation is key. Stationary done before. Order of service, menus, everything printed in advance. Hugely minimises stress!
2 – Best friend had a hair drama in the past! Have one or two trials if you are having your hair up!
3- Give yourself enough time to plan. Verity had just over a year, but all of that time was definitely needed.
With Thanks To:
Bride & Groom: Verity And Marcus Fairfax Fountaine @verityfountaine @marcusfairfaxfountaine
Venue: Mother’s House in Exmoor.
Caterer: Kit & Kee @kitandkeeevents
Dress: Suzane Neville @suzanneneville
Bridesmaids: Various retailers.
Groom outfit: Waistcoat, Favor Brooke @favourbrook and Fairfax & Favor shoes @fairfaxandfavor
Flower girls & page boys: @maidstomeasure.
Florist: Brompton Buds, 20mins away. Were amazing and even moved flowers from church to marquee after ceremony @bromptonbuds
Tableware: Mostly sourced by marquee company.
Stationery: Gee Brothers @geebrothersprinters
@Jademarieatelier created big table plan, map and sketches for tables that were each named after a place that meant something to the couple. She was a Fairfax & Favor fan and also Devon based so knew the area.
Food: All locally sourced in Devon and Somerset area.
Photographer: Chloe Ely @chloeelyphotography
Second photographer called Ross Herley with her. Worked together, he did the boys getting ready for example, whilst Chloe shot the girls.
Videographer: George Ryan – @georgecharlesryan
Wedding rings: Lanes in Holt Jewellery Shop @lanesjewellery
Makeup: ISiS Wellbeing and Skin Care – @isiswellbeingandskincare
Hair: @hairbyhannahuk
Bridesmaid gifts: Fairfax & Favor @fairfaxandfavor
Wedding Planner: Verity planned! (Marcus made a joke that if she wasn’t a midwife she should be a wedding planner).
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