If you go down to the woods today: The wedding of Nick and Clare Darch

The wedding of Nick and Clare Darch at St Mary’s Church, Fordingbridge, Hampshire followed by reception at Wedding in the Woods in the New Forest

Photography: Kismet Photography

It was a whirlwind of a day and one that, believe it or not, I would love to do all over again. I think we had a good balance between careful planning and spontaneity. The day was about friendships and true love not only between Clare and myself but between family and friends. It really was a day where we were made to feel very special in the hearts of so many. I genuinely didn’t believe or understand that that could be true.

The ceremony was carried out by a close family friend making it even more special and meaningful. Having our children so involved was an obvious highlight as well as photos in the New Forest along with our wedding campervan. We had chosen Wedding in the Woods as it was set in the heart of the forest and its natural surroundings were the perfect backdrop to our hog roast and ceilidh reception. As the evening came to an end, the final few guests gathered around the campfire for hot chocolate and marshmallow toasting before retiring in the early hours of morning to tents and shepherd huts. What a day!

Perhaps the best part of the day was the wedding itself. It was the time in the day where there was a quiet, time for reflection while being surrounded by our very dearest friends and family made it a truly unique occasion. The location in the woods was the perfect backdrop and meant the ‘decoration’ was already done! To pick one highlight is almost impossible as each part of the day brought different moods and emotions. We were keen to pick a location where guests could stay overnight and the toasting marshmallows at 2am with friends followed by breakfast the next morning as the forest woke up gave us all time to chat and reminisce.

We had decided to make the most of the kind offers from grandparents of free child care so jetted off to Sri Lanka and Clare’s dream destination, the Maldives for our honeymoon. Split between the two very different islands, we experienced the culture and sights of Sri Lanka before the luxury and relaxation on the island of Vilamendhoo – chosen specifically for its house reef. We were not let down and can look back on swimming with manta rays, turtles, sharks and thousands of beautiful tropical fish.

THE DETAILS

Photography: Kismet Photography, Salisbury, 01722 398822, kismetphotography.co.uk

Venue: Weddings in the Woods, New Forest Outdoor Centre, Lyndhurst, Hampshire, 02380 284 401, weddingsinthewood.co.uk

Dress: Lavender and Jude, lavenderandjude.co.uk

Groom: Moss Bros, Southampton, moss.co.uk

Stationery: Designed and printed ourselves

Catering: Hunts Hog Roast, Southampton, 02380 428856

Cake: Hunts Hog Roast, Southampton, 02380 428856

Flowers: Lesley Cooke freelance florist, 01980 635116, Flowersbyoccasions.co.uk

Transport: Friend’s campervan

Entertainment: Murphy’s lore, 01202 434280

To see more of Nick and Clare’s wedding pictures see our online album or the 2013 issue of Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire BRIDE