On the trek to love: Ashley and Nick’s festival wedding

Ashley Cole and Nick Paris were training for a climb to Mount Everest’s Base Camp when loved-up trekker Nick dropped to one knee.

“Once at the top of a secluded Sheep’s Tor, a tor in the Dartmoor National Park, he presented a ring,” Ashley, 28, recalls.

The couple wanted their festival wedding to be full of their favourite things: “music, our friends and family, the beautiful outdoors and lots of fun!” describes Ashley, and when it came time for her and Nick, 34, to settle on a location, they went back to where it all began.

“We went back up the Tor to discuss it. We spotted a little church at the bottom (St Leonard’s Church),” Ashley says. The couple wed there on May 14, 2016 in front of 85 friends and family.

“We then whisked our 80-plus guests up the mountains to have a Champagne toast on Dartmoor overlooking the church and the Tor that we got engaged on. Following the toast we took the scenic route back through Dartmoor to a venue called The Monks, Chagford,” Ashley says.

“We hired this for a lawn reception with a buffet… After an hour we moved our guests to an area hidden behind trees, into a large field. Our guests followed us through to the field to a marquee, outdoor stage and funfair as a band kicked off its first set!

“The details of our day, other than the hotel address and date, had been kept secret from our family and friends who’ve all said that it was the best day ever and best wedding they’ve been to.”

Photos courtesy of Photo H.

 

Ashley chose her accessories and heels from Jimmy Choo.

 

“What we love about each other is we’re both open to compromise and understanding one another,” Ashley says.

Ashley chose a classic wedding gown with plenty of lace detail.

 

“We had a smoked meats food stall serving burgers, brisket and other meat; a food van serving hot dogs, chips, ice cream, doughnuts, toffee apples, candyfloss all through the evening and into night and some vegan lunch boxes supplied by a local restaurant so that we could cater for all,” Ashley says.

“I wanted a touch of glamour to our day to bring in my liking along with Nick’s outdoor festival style – we had a dressed marquee in white and silver with centrepieces, open bar with serving staff, light up LOVE letters, photo booth… and a club DJ,” Ashley says.