and he set up a WhatsApp group to which he shared a couple of our wedding photos with the caption ‘this just happened’ – everyone was over the moon that we did it in our own way.” Jenn and Tom legally married at Quay House in Kingsbridge first. “Our witnesses were unknown to us but they were grateful to be asked,” Jenn says. “Lunch consisted of sizzling king prawns and garlic muscles served in a novelty bucket at one of our favourite spots to eat, Beach House on South Milton Beach. We pre-booked our table as it’s always very busy but we didn’t reveal the occasion. We changed from our wedding attire into shorts and T-shirts in the car park and sat amongst the other diners who were blissfully unaware. The only subtle giveaway was my novelty sunglasses that said ‘Just Married’!” The couple then headed to Carswell Cove, the private beach location where they planned to have a ceremony at sunset and then spend the next few days on their honeymoon. “Carswell Cove is completely isolated and invisible from the coast path above. It has a small pebble beach and a unique little cottage built into the cliff with a wood-fired hot tub set against the most amazing views of the stunning South Devon coastline,” Jenn tells us. “We were blown away by the scenery and its remote location. It was an exciting moment for us both when we first arrived because we realised it was everything we had hoped for. We even had a surprise visit from a lone seal shortly after we’d arrived.” The couple didn’t want the constraints of a timed schedule so as the sun was starting to set, Jenn got into her wedding dress and her and Tom headed down to the shore to begin their ceremony which was delivered beautifully by the celebrant Louise Gather. “We didn’t give our celebrant any specifics so the wording of our ceremony and a reading which Louise chose for us was a complete surprise but it couldn’t have been more perfect,” Jenn tells us. “We then popped open a bottle of champagne and Tom carried me off into the sea which was freezing and very choppy - luckily he didn’t drop me although I still ended up drenched.” Jenn wore a two-piece design by the British designer Kate Beaumont. “I work in the wedding industry and obsess over my client’s wedding dress choices every day but there was never any question over who I’d go to for my dress,” she tells us. “I almost didn’t want to go into the sea wearing it but I’m so glad I did in the end. I wore the lace top with trousers to the register office in the morning, then wore the lace top over my silk slip dress on the beach. When I ventured into the sea, I was able to remove the top so that part of it is still pristine, unlike the dress!” Jenn teamed her dress with a pair of delicate freshwater pearl earrings by the British bridal jewellery designer Debbie Carlisle. “Our wedding rings were made by my friend Lois Cora whom I tried to fix Tom up with before we became a couple!” Jenn tells us. “She happens to be a jewellery designer and made our rings as a surprise. Tom had no idea as the rings were presented to us by our celebrant as having been made by ‘the one who got away’ - it was a funny moment and I love the sentiment.” The couple had a crab bucket and bride and groom rubber ducks to decorate their elopement celebration. “We found the metal crab bucket at Ashby’s of Salcombe. It made a good ice bucket for our champagne and it continues to get plenty of use as crabbing is our favourite thing to do on holiday.” The couple also had locally grown wildflowers which they picked up from Ben’s Farm shop in Totnes. Jenn and Tom’s wedding day was followed by a few days of relaxing in their beach hut in Carswell Cove where they enjoyed swimming, beach combing, reading, barbecues and the hot tub. “Tom made full use of his wedding gift from me - a set of binoculars for a spot of whale watching from our hammocks,” Jenn tells us. “It was pure bliss and we were sad to leave.” 18
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