A midsummer night’s dream: Carly and Steve’s enchanted forest wedding

By:
Content Team
/
Updated on: March 17, 2022

With working lives that can keep them apart, Carly and Steve know how to make the most of the time they have together.

“We actively fill our time together with as many obscure activities as we can, including tandem cycling, paragliding, massage courses, scuba diving, life drawing, glass blowing, stunt kiting, jetskiing, hiking, murder mystery, pottery painting and rock climbing – to name a few!” Carly, 30, says.

“The time we do get to spend together is precious we try and make the absolute most of it. I guess the bonus is, this far into a relationship, we still get to miss each other and appreciate each other.”

The couple met online when Steve, 29, was an army corporal. Seven years and two tours of Afghanistan later, and Steve is now an offshore engineer, which still means plenty of time apart.

Carly says made it even more important that their enchanted forest wedding reflected their stories and hobbies.

The Bristol pair chose Orchadleigh House in Frome for their April, 22, 2018 wedding celebrated with 70 guests.

“We fell in love with this place as soon as we saw it, I have always wanted to get married outside with a Midsummer Night’s Dream-esque feel and the old garden with the contemporary building just lent itself perfectly,” Carly, a former wedding planner says.

“The day’s décor was based on our hobbies, tattoos and stories. The theme was enchanted
forest so included a lot of vintage pinks, greens, rose gold accessories and moss.”

Photos courtesy of Neil Atkinson Photography.

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_008

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_010

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_SBS_009Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_SBS_007

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_014

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_013

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_SBS_010 Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_SBS_011

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_007

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_016

Carly’s experience in the wedding industry, and now as the owner of her own cupcake company, paid off when it came to her own big day. “I made everything from the invitations to the centre pieces, bouquets, button holes, fudge favours, signage, table plan and wedding cake,” she says.

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_017

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_019

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_020

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_022

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_SBS_017 Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_SBS_020

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_024

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_025

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_026

Steve proposed while the couple were on a scuba diving trip in Croatia. Steve hid a fake ring in a treasure chest at the bottom of the sea, before a second proposal with the real sparkler back home in the UK.

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_028

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_029

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_SBS_025Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_SBS_003
Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_SBS_023 Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_SBS_024

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_034

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_037

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_030

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_042

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_041

“We wrote our own personal wedding vows – mine re-lived Steve’s words to me on our fifth date ‘I trust you, please don’t prove me wrong’, and his compared marriage to a tandem bike ride we once had – if he ever finds life hard, he knows I will be peddling just like he is even if he can’t see,” Carly says.

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_SBS_028 Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_SBS_030

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_021

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_039

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_038

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_044

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_045

The couple were thrilled with their wedding photos by Neil Atkinson Photography. “The colours and the mood of Neil’s editing really fit with our day and the tones of the venue,” praises Carly.

Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_SBS_005 Carly_Steve_Enchanted-Forest-Weddding_Neil-Atkinson-Photography_SBS_033

Featured Suppliers:

Bomboniere Bomboniere: DIY

Brides Accessories Brides Accessories: Accessorize , Family heirloom

Brides Gown Brides Gown: Flossy & Willow , Watters

Brides Shoes Brides Shoes: River Island

Bridesmaid Shoes Bridesmaid Shoes: River Island

Bridesmaids Accessories Bridesmaids Accessories: Accessorize , New Look

Bridesmaids Dresses Bridesmaids Dresses: ASOS

Celebrant Celebrant: Somerset Registrars

Ceremony Music Ceremony Music: Playlist

Entertainment Entertainment: Adam Westcott , Adam Richards Magic , Chrissy Marshal , Tailored Entertainment

Flowers Flowers: DIY

Grooms Attire Grooms Attire: ASOS

Grooms Shoes Grooms Shoes: Ted Baker

Groomsmen Attire Groomsmen Attire: ASOS

Groomsmen Shoes Groomsmen Shoes: Base London

Hair Hair: Bath Bridal Hair

Honeymoon Honeymoon: Longleat Centre Parcs

Invitations Invitations: DIY

Makeup Makeup: Thierry Davies MUA

Photographer Photographer: Neil Atkinson Photography

Rings Rings: Jewelry Point

Venue Venue: Orchardleigh House

Wedding Night Venue Wedding Night Venue: Orchardleigh House

Wedding Planner Wedding Planner: Karl Stephens

Photos courtesy of Neil Atkinson Photography