The real wedding we're sharing today is proof that, sometimes, keeping it simple pays off in a massive way. Zoë and Rob, an Irish couple living in London, had just one priority for their big day at Lapstone Barn in the Cotswolds; creating a relaxed atmosphere for their guests, which they achieved by ditching formalities, and carefully plotting out the timeline of the day. They even hired a magician to keep the good vibes flowing throughout the drinks reception! Everything else - the gorgeous, naturalistic flowers, the show-stopping Jenny Packham gown - was just a bonus. The wonderful Kathy Silke Photography has been kind enough to share their images with us, so get ready to swoon!

Before we go any further, we've got to talk about Zoë's incredible bridal look, comprising an exquisite, embellished Jenny Packham gown, a simple veil, and cobalt blue sandals by Nine West, which also functioned as her Something Blue! I love the effortlessness of the blush pink bridesmaid's dress, too, which is an ASOS find.

Zoë and Rob tell us that they met at a mutual friend's house party when they were just 17 and 18 years old. "Rob asked another mutual friend of ours for my number," Zoë says. "I think I actually did the same!" They lost touch when they went to college, but caught back up again a few years later through Facebook. "We are both Man United fans, so, one day, when Liverpool lost terribly in a game, I couldn’t resist popping him a message. There was never a day afterwards that we didn’t speak, it was as simple as that. He was living in London at the time and I had always planned to move there for work, so it all worked out perfectly."

The couple got engaged during what sounds like an epic trip to Zanzibar. They were staying in a small resort in Paje called Hotel on the Rock when Rob popped the question. "In our room, after a day of lounging, he sat me down and proceeded to tell me how we were best friends, soul mates and the best thing to happen to him. Down he went on one knee, and popped the question whilst holding out the most amazing ring. I was in shock but leapt up and said yes, of course! As we were in such a remote place, we didn’t have any wifi so we walked out to the water, arms around each other and just took in that moment on a beach to ourselves."

This couple started their wedding planning journey by viewing some venues in Spain. "Nothing really stood out for us, so we were a little disheartened," Zoë recalls. "A few months earlier, we had taken a mini road trip to Stratford Upon Avon, visiting Chipping Campden, and driving past Lapstone Barn. We hadn't thought anything of it, but when we got back from Spain, Rob contacted Lapstone Barn and asked them if we could view it. As soon as we drove down the gravel driveway to the barn, we knew it was the one for us, as cliché as it sounds. The secluded location, the beaming rapeseed fields, and the stunning layout made Lapstone the winning venue for us."

Zoë and Rob's top priority for the big day was to create a laid-back atmosphere. "We wanted our guests (as well as ourselves!) to relax and enjoy the day," Zoë says. "We didn’t have a formal dress code, the flow of the day was perfect, and the style was rustic with a romantic vibe."

It was also important to the couple that friends and family members were involved in their day. "The photographer was an old college friend, the flowers were created by another friend who lives in Bristol, two of Rob’s friends from years ago brought their guitars and treated us to beautiful Spanish and Irish music and my brother created invites," Zoë says. "I also have to mention my incredible cousin, Moya, who was the best Maid of Honour anyone could ask for. Rob and I were very lucky to have such a close bunch of friends and family be part of the wedding."

It sounds like the key to this couple's success was maintaining perspective throughout the planning process! "Having spent the guts of a year and a half planning, we knew it would all go to plan, and even if it didn’t, that wouldn’t impact the day," Zoë says. "Everyone we love and care about were in one place celebrating our day with us and that’s a pretty magical feeling."

Zoë's advice to engaged couples is to, simply, "do what you want to do. At the end of the day, it’s your day and while you might feel the need to please anyone and everyone, it’s important to make it a day that you love. We had around a year and a half to plan, which we found to be the perfect amount of time. If you’re keen on a certain photographer, venue or band, make sure you contact these first as they’re the ones who get booked up pretty quickly. Most importantly, be open to change and compromise – you might have your dream wedding planned since you were 10 years old, but it’s OK if it doesn’t all go to plan."

For their honeymoon, the couple jetted off to Miami and Mexico. "To say we had the best trip of our lives is an understatement! As a couple, we like to see a few places while on holiday, so we moved around a bit, staying four nights in Miami and eight nights in Mexico, split over two hotels. I would highly recommend the hotels we stayed in, Valentine Imperial Riviera Maye and TRS Yucatan Hotel. Everything was out of this world."

That's a wrap on Zoë and Rob's gorgeous wedding day! To see the full set of images, simply click through to the gallery below. At this point, we've got to say a huge thank you to the couple for sharing their amazing day with us, and to Kathy Silke for providing the gorgeous imagery!