Ben and Frankie’s autumnal wedding was the epitome of effortless elegance and romantic simplicity. They chose a natural theme to complement the soft colours of Pynes House and its rural setting. Read on to hear more about how they used seasonal flowers and foliage to create a beautiful English country garden wedding.
Some Words From the Bride…
Frankie Says
We were keen to have our wedding in Devon as that’s where my family are from. When we saw Pynes House, we knew immediately we wanted to have it there. The house and gardens are incredibly beautiful – grand without being overwhelming. We loved that there were enough rooms for the bridal party to stay so that we could make a proper weekend out of it (we had a brilliant party the night before our ceremony too!). Plus, the bathtub in the bridal suite was to die for!
The Outfits…
I wanted a dress which was traditional and impactful yet felt contemporary. It needed to be big to work with the grand venue, but I didn’t want to look like a meringue. I chose the Adele by Sassi Holford which has a full skirt and scoop neckline. I accessorised it with white crystal Manolo Blahniks and little pearl hoop earrings by Daphine. The bridesmaids wore beautiful gowns by Ghost and the flower girls wore little frocks by Monsoon. Everything was in shades of white.
The Day…
Our wedding day was fun from start to finish. We wanted it to be relaxed and effortless, which, thanks to the amazing Jo Royal, it was! We had 80 guests so it felt really intimate and sweet. Our friends did flowers and photographs and family did readings during the ceremony. We also did our own vows which was really special.
The Look…
We purposefully picked a venue that was very beautiful on its own, and so didn’t need a lot of decorating. We just added seasonal flowers and foliage to the ceremony room and the ballroom and a scattering of tea lights (electric). For the tables we went with classic white linens and tableware, pastel pink and green tapers and bud vases of dahlias. Our place settings were by Papier and had little seashells on them which spoke to our proximity to the coast.
We wanted everything to look as natural and true to the setting as possible. We purposely chose a rural setting and loved the soft colours of Pynes House, so we played to this. We got married in October so we had lots of dahlias in peaches, creams and pinks with pretty green foliage. It was very English Country Garden.
The day in 3 words: Romantic, Relaxed and Fun
The Food…
Pickle Shack did our catering – we loved their ethos of using seasonal ingredients to make elegant, delicious dishes. We wanted our wedding breakfast to echo the relaxed mood of the day, so we went with sharing platters for the starters, which were scattered down the two long tables of guests. We had an amazing fish dish for mains, then huge bowls of fruit crumble and custard for dessert – a big hit with guests! Instead of a wedding cake, we had a tower of cheese and pork pies that everyone could tuck into later.
The Entertainment…
The night before our wedding day, we invited our guests to a quiz with drinks and a casual dinner at the house to get everyone in the party mood (though bedtime was strictly 11pm to ensure no hangovers!). On the day itself we had South West Ensemble (a contemporary string quartet) who played during the ceremony and drinks reception. For the party in the evening, we had a brilliant band called The Colts.
Most Memorable Moment…
Saying our own vows was really special. Jill Halfpenny was our amazing registrar and our entire ceremony was incredibly personal and sweet. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room! We also had the most amazing weather (something we weren’t expecting in October), so we could have our drinks reception in the Rose Gardens. It was beautiful.
Some Advice…
Don’t get stressed out on the little details when planning your wedding – no one will notice if the place settings aren’t exactly right or favours don’t work out. As long as there’s good food, good music and plenty of fizz, everyone will have a great time. Remember that the day is all about you as a couple – make every decision to suit you both and enjoy yourselves. Also get someone to film the speeches – there’s no way you’ll remember them all and it’s lovely watching them back the following day!
We had the best time planning our wedding at Pynes and it really was everything we could have hoped for – and more. Kate and the team were a delight to communicate with and so helpful. On the day Jo was incredible. If we could do it all again, we would!
To hear more about Pynes House, head over to our gallery to explore the extensive grounds at our Devon wedding venue. If you’re interested in booking your personal show around or have any questions for us, please get in touch.
Supplier List
Flowers: Flowers by Wetherly
Photographer: Claire Pepper
Evening band: The Colts
String Quartet: South West Ensemble
Cake: Pickle Shack
Caterers: Pickle Shack