Pickwell Manor

View Original

Tom and Hanni's wedding - Seashells, Apple Green and Handmade Treasures!


Our last wedding of the year took place at the weekend and it was a wedding full of surprises from start to finish!

The first surprise was that after 6 days of heavy rain the sun found its way back and gave Hanni and Tom a warm and blue skied day making their dream come true to get married outside with a view to the sea!

We had a new team of suppliers for this wedding with Sue and Louise from Balcony hairdressers in Fremmington, styling the girls hair into relaxed, beachy style waves. Then Louise from Toast Events provided the chair covers with sashes matched to colour perfection!

Tom has been blessed with an extremely talented family and introduced us to Annie Fowler who has now joined our recommended list as florist. Annie created some stunning displays that added so well to the apple green colours, seaside influence and young creative fun of the day.

Hanni, along with her Dad Martin and Mum Pamela, have spent the last nine months collecting treasures in the colour scheme, making all the decorations and thinking about everything you could possibly need to create a breath-taking wedding breakfast setting.

Pamela made these little boats (with hand painted spots!) and filled them with traditional seaside sweets (such as mini sticks of rock and gold coins) giving the guests a unique favour at their place setting.

Hanni saw little bird cake toppers in a magazine and took on the tough feat of making her own. I think her creation is amazing and perhaps could be a sideline business for her?!...

Hanni and her Dad Martin are not just father and daughter, but business partners and amazing friends! Martin worked extremely hard to help Hanni and Tom have a stylish, individual and personal wedding.

  I could write a huge list of all that he did; like having their initials made in metal that he sewed on to wicker hearts, hand painted and then placed throughout the garden. But there was one thing he did which really showed his love for his daughter. He managed to get hold of the letters 'H' and 'T' from a Parisian hotel sign where they had once spent a precious holiday together. (The hotel was about to be rebuilt so sign no longer needed). He gave it to Hanni and Tom  during his speech as a memory for their home!

I also must not forget Tom’s hard work, who had silver hipflasks engraved for each of his grooms men with their name, and the date of the wedding.

Then to top it all off he had a glass of Gin and Tonic at the ready to help them toast the day into full swing!

Lee and Kristina Timmins our wonderful partnered caterers produced a day’s menu that tied the themes together perfectly.
On our Terrace in the lovely sunshine, guests were treated to canapé’s such as fresh smoked salmon on crisp bread and miniature scones with cream and jam and fresh strawberries.


After being seated at the gorgeous decorated tables, individual anti pasti platters with home made bread were served, followed by Sea bream served with lyonnaise potatoes and hand-tied vegetable parcels.

These individual wedding cakes, supplied by Emily Rose Cakes Shop, came in 3 different flavours and filled that sweet spot perfectly!
During the day guests were not short on things to keep them entertained... After canapés, those that were able, all went down to Putsborough beach for photo’s and a quick paddle in the sea! Croquet and giant chess were laid on the lawn for those with a competitive streak.


Michael Wells came as photographer and did a great job capturing all the aspects of the day and have given Tom and Hanni some fantastic memories to keep.

Hanni also made this gorgeous wishing tree that she covered with hearts and personal sentiments (like an angle she’d had since a child). Placed under the tree were luggage tags for guests to write their wishes and memories of Hanni and Tom.


Then came the evening along with extra local friends and more entertainment...
Lee held court outside with a huge BBQ serving freshly cooked bacon butties.

Hanni and Tom also set up a HUGE sweet station that never ran out and completed it with retro stripy bags. This was a hit with evening guests and helped fuel the energy for some very funny dancing later on!

As night fell, along came the local band TheDambuskers. They got all 140 guests in the full swing of dance with a folky rock set which saw all of the musicians enter the dance floor whilst playing; the lead singer start off some great dancing; and a good sing along with some classic covers such as brown eyed girl!

And as a brilliant way to make sure Hanni and Tom didn’t miss out on anything, they provided a Polaroid camera and fancy dress bag! – I couldn’t contain my laughter when I saw the father of the groom Richard appear on the dance floor in hotpants and full ladenhoes! Or John, Toms brother who spent the final 3 hours dressed as the pink panther!

Hanni and Tom created a perfect wedding full to the brim of personal touches, comfort for their guests and heaps of laughter and fun for all involved! The obvious love their family and friends show for them is a true testament to them as individuals and together as a beautiful couple.

Have fun in Thailand and all the best for your future together Mr and Mrs Hunnibell!
Holly x