Country Romance

Melanie, 32, owner of a hairdressing salon, and Tom, 28, a cheese-maker, tied the knot in spring in a pretty country wedding.

Melanie says: "Our venues were dear to me. We were married in the church where my father is a bell-ringer and held the reception at my parents' house, which they built. 

We had a relaxed country-garden theme with bunting and informal flowers. Peonies in old-fashioned bottles and gerberas in Wellington boots decorated the tables. Hydrangeas in milk churns were outside the marquee.

Our table plan was pinned to the boot doors of my grandmother's Morris Minor,which was filled with vintage suitcases from an antique market in Brighton. 

We served cider, made from apples that family and friends had collected in an apple-picking get-together six months earlier. We had two barrels with a sign that said 'The Wedding Press' and photos of us at work. 

My cousin played his ukulele for our first dance, whichwas a medley of Your Love Gets Sweeter by Finley Quaye and You're Te One Tat I Want from Grease. 

We all slept in tepees in the orchard next to the marquee. We had a special 'Chez Mel and Tom' tepee that Tom's sister, Lucy, had filled with a hamper of champagne, strawberries, chocolate and cheese. 

My advice to brides? Take a look and appreciate what everybody is there for - you and your new husband!"