Colour CRUSH

With a seaside setting and exotic styling, SOPHIA ELTAYEB and JEREMY MUIRHEAD’S day was a DIY dream.

M y best friend Fran set me up with Jeremy, her cousin, when we were living in London. She hosted a BBQ, which is where Jeremy charmed me. Two years on, he proposed, and seven months later we were married.

With its quaint vibe, intimate size and great history, Mahurangi West Hall was the venue for us from the get-go – its view of the sparkling water was the cherry on top!

I wanted to create a relaxed and homely atmosphere, so got stuck in doing things myself. We went for a rustic Middle Eastern theme, using pops of tangerine, fuchsia and sunflower-yellow, and set up a large marquee with coloured festoons and paper pom poms and lanterns. Low, Moroccan-style pouffes from Raj Tents furnished the space, and tables were decorated with colourful fabrics and clusters

of glass votives, brass candle holders and lanterns. For even more colour, Leon from Enchanted Rose did a wonderful job of bringing the blooms I wanted – daisies, sunflowers, dahlias and peonies – together in a fun but elegant way. As a nod to my homeland, I hired a bright red English post box for guests to drop their cards into.

After envisioning a relaxed and floaty dress, I was delighted to find just the one in Katie Yeung’s Daisy collection. It had a keyhole back, floral lace bodice and chiffon skirt. My two bridesmaids wore bright mangohued dresses from ASOS, while the boys wore navy suits and donned Queens Park Rangers ties – a tribute to Jeremy’s favourite football club.

After the ceremony, a Stumpy’s Pizza food truck served fresh pizza to our 100 guests. My sister and I made our Victorian sponge cake with layers of berry jam, buttercream, fresh berries and flowers. The food was an ideal start to a great party. We didn’t do an official first dance, but with lots of talented musicians for friends (and with a fog machine in full force!) we were all on our feet until the wee hours.