Winter wedding ceremony options
If you’ve booked your winter elopement with us (that’s November, December and March), that’s a great decision you’ve made right there. Now you’ve got another choice – one of 3 winter wedding ceremony locations.
There’s:-
- the wedding barn
- the terrace or
- the main house
As you know in the summer getting married here in the gardens is now an option since the recent Government rule change. That doesn’t apply in the winter because the Registrars ask to be under cover so that gives us the barn, the terrace or the main house as the available choices.
Let’s have a look at all 3 for you so you can start thinking about where you’d like to get married.
Winter wedding ceremony choice 1 – the wedding barn
This is a super popular space for the ceremony, under cover in all weathers but open sided so you still get that outdoor feel with the sound of the river and the birdsong.
The barn always has the olive trees in baskets outside, we’re lucky they’ve survived all weathers so far and there are small topiary pots inside too for some greenery at all times.
This is the barn set up for Fabi & Dan’s wedding in November 2021. The draped arch is set up centrally as the ceremony backdrop. The Registrar’s table is on the left dressed with linen and candles. We added the sheepskin runner, lanterns and candles for all the cosy feels. Post ceremony celebration drinks are set up on the hand cart on the right with more candles.
And here’s Fabi & Dan just after the ceremony ended – yay they’re married!
If you get married in the barn in December you get a Christmas tree too like Katie & Connor
Ashleigh & Michael got married in the barn in November 2021. The arch was set up with flower sprays in moody dark colours by our elopement florist and dressed with a black sheepskin rug and steel lanterns.
All set up for Roxie & Ben in November
Winter wedding ceremony – option 2
So onto option 2 for winter elopements – the glass covered terrace. This space is licensed by Devon County Council for wedding and civil partnership ceremonies.
It’s not a big space and we have to fit in the Registrar’s table and 2 chairs and then also chairs for any guests. This is the set up for one of our elopement weddings in November 2022. The arch with additional flower sprays ordered by the couple from our elopement florist on the left and the Registrar’s table set up on the right. Compact.
This photo gives another view of the space, this time during Molly & Laura’s wedding in November 2021. They had 2 guests who had the comfy seats on the sofa during the ceremony. The Registrar’s table is set up on the left with lanterns in front of the fire.
Nathalie & Anthony had their 2 daughters as their only guests, we set up 2 chairs for them and the dining table was already part of the decor, adding to the intimate feel.
The weather wasn’t that cold for November so we had one of the central screens rolled up. If the weather is colder, we have all the screens down to keep in the heat.
In this pic below you can see the Registrar’s table set up for their winter wedding ceremony with linen and the two chairs required by the Registrars. The sheepskin runner and the lanterns add to the cosy winter feel.
Whilst the family was out with Clare having photos after the ceremony, we removed the chairs, pushed the Registrar’s table against the wall, and hey presto it’s now a cake table
In December we always have a Christmas tree on the terrace and sometimes we have an additional installation like our giant wreath which was in place for Katie & Dave’s wedding in December 2021. They had no guests and got married on the terrace with the wreath as the ceremony backdrop.
The Registrar’s table is set up on the opposite side to the wreath, next to the Christmas tree with the fairy light canopy just visible in the background.
Whilst Katie & Dave were out with our Clare having their photos in the gardens and the woods, we quickly switched up the space. We moved the Registrar’s table to the other side and turned it 180 degrees and ta da, it’s now the cake table…
And this is how the space looks all together after the change around – sweetheart table for two, cake table and sofas with cosy rugs and throws in front of the fire for later.
Marian and Judy were married with us here last year in December 2022 and had their ceremony on the terrace. There was no installation for this wedding and they asked not for it to be too Christmassy so there was no Christmas tree. The fire is on, the arch is in place as the ceremony backdrop and the couple brought in a dried flower garland for an extra dash of colour. You can just see the Registrar’s table set up to the right of the blazing fire.
Whilst Judy & Marian were out having photos with their guests, we changed up the space. We gave the Registrar’s table a twirl so it was now the cake table on the opposite side of the wall, framed by the arch and we brought in the round dining table so everyone could eat in front of the fire.
And here’s the wider view of the changed up room
Megan & Daniel got married with us in December 2021 and they also opted for their ceremony on the terrace. We had a giant wreath that year which acted as the ceremony backdrop
this pic below gives a sense of the view behind the Registrar’s table into the terrace beyond with both screens down for warmth
Then the switcheroo whilst the drinks ceremony took place, spinning round that Registrar’s table to make the cake table display
Third and final winter wedding ceremony option
We’re on the final winter wedding ceremony option now – the main house. We had this part of the house licensed by Devon County Council for ceremonies.
You come into the main house through the front door
There’s somewhere for guests to hang their coats
The porch leads straight into the garden room which is the space available for both a ceremony and post-ceremony drinks reception. The room looks out onto a bank of evergreen planting so you always get that garden feel whatever the season.
There’s plenty of seating for guests and there’s a handy built in bar area for drinks service
As well as underfloor heating throughout the room, there’s a contemporary slate open fire which will keep everyone feeling cosy whatever the weather is doing outside
Catrina and Stuart used this space for their wedding in December 2021 – oh yes and we have our family Christmas tree in here in December.
We haven’t had any wedding ceremonies in the space yet, most people prefer the barn or the terrace. It’s mainly used as a drinks reception space if the wedding ceremony is on the terrace with guests and we need to get the space changed over and guests need somewhere toasty for the drinks reception.
Making your choice
When we start going through the details for your wedding with you, we’ll ask about your first preference for your wedding ceremony location.
Sometimes it’s weather dependent and you might want to have the barn with the terrace in front of the fire as a second choice if the weather is really chilly. We like to know your plan A and have a plan B if the first choice depends on the weather.
NGL if the garden room in the main house is on your list, I need as much notice as possible as I’ll need to tidy up (yeah that).
Any questions about these options and how they work? Drop me a line and just ask me. You’ll find me at [email protected]
Credits:
Photos: Clare Kinchin Photography
Flowers: Amanda Randell Cox (retired)
Cake: Boo To A Goose
