Devon McDaniel and Rob Newman met while they both worked at the same company for many years. "When I relocated from the U.S. to London in 2014, we started working closely together and had an immediate connection," recalls Devon. "Our friendship developed easily over team lunches and after-work pub trips, and we began dating in 2015."
Fast-forward three years later and Rob proposed while the couple were on holiday in Oslo, Norway in December, 2018. “We were on a winter walk next to a frozen river and when we got to a secluded section of the trail, Rob knelt on one knee in the snow and pulled out a ring (after a bit of fumbling around trying to find it in his thick winter coat). It was heartfelt, simple, and perfect,” shares Devon. The big date was set, 27th July 2019, with the Fisherman’s Hut at WWT London Wetland Centre providing the ceremony setting, followed by a reception in The Drawing Room at The Old Ship, Hammersmith, London. Here, Devon tells us more about their day...
With thoughts of a small intimate wedding, Devon and Rob wanted a venue that was natural and helped create the atmosphere they desired. "On a visit to the London Wetland Centre shortly after getting engaged, I instantly fell in love with the Fisherman's Hut, with its thatched roof and picturesque setting in a field of grasses and wildflowers," shares Devon. "We didn't know it was available as a wedding venue at the time, and were overjoyed to discover that it could be booked for the ceremony."
The couple hosted a cocktail hour in the centre's Observatory after the ceremony, where guests were able to mingle while the couple had their newlywed shots.
"For the reception, we wanted a simple pub lunch, and looked at several venues close to London Wetland Centre," recalls Devon. "The Drawing Room at The Old Ship was a perfect choice, with a cozy and relaxed atmosphere and a terrace overlooking the Thames."
The meadow setting of the Fisherman's Hut, inspired Devon's choice of flowers and decorations, opting for a natural and unfussy look. The wedding party's flowers were made by The Artisan Dried Flower Co and included an assortment of blue and purple flowers, tied with twine. "The bouquets were gorgeous and because they were dried, they could be delivered weeks in advance, saving some stress nearer the wedding day," reveals Devon.
The Fisherman's Hut didn't need much decoration, due to the lovely setting and rustic interior of the building. To add a bit of colour, the couple hung a few strings of flower-printed bunting and a ribbon backdrop, and tucked flowers into the existing fishing baskets that hung on the walls of the hut.
"At The Old Ship, we decorated the tables with mismatched glass vases and an assortment of flowers from Wheeler's Flowers in Chiswick.
Each place setting included a name card with a lavender sprig motif, and a vial of loose-leaf tea, tied with twine to match the wedding party's flowers," she shares.
Instead of a traditional tiered wedding cake, the couple ordered a few different cakes from Lola's Cupcakes, which each sat on a separate cake stand.
Devon wore Phase Eight's Mylee wedding dress featuring a lace sheath dress with beaded overlay and a small train. "I wanted a soft romantic dress, and with its belted waistline and loose-fitting skirt, the dress was comfortable to wear for the full day," adds Devon. "Since the dress was heavily embellished, I didn't wear many accessories other than a pearl bracelet and a few white flowers in my hair."
The groom stood out in a blue three-piece suit from Moss Bros, accessorised with a turquoise tie. Since the wedding was small, the bride and groom chose a friend-of-honor each, instead of bridesmaids and groomsmen. Both friends chose their own dresses, in shades of blue with silhouettes to match the bride's dress.
"It was nice to see that all our hard work and planning paid off on the day," says Devon, "but we were also stressed about making sure that everyone was enjoying themselves and nothing was going to go wrong. Mostly though, we were happy and in love."
There were a number of high-points throughout the day for the couple, including Devon getting her hair and make-up done with her mother and best friend before the ceremony, and the wonderful personal wedding ceremony performed by their good friend. "My favorite part of the day though was the end of the reception, after all the toasts had been given, and all the responsibilities were done for the day, when we could just focus on drinking prosecco and spending time with our loved ones," recalls Devon.
"Spend money on the things that matter to you, and save where you can. One of the things we cared about most was having lovely photos of the day, so we wanted to hire a photographer who would really reflect our style and personalities, and we couldn't have been happier," shares Devon.
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