Sharol Planning Her Weekend Wedding

Your Weekend Wedding Planning Start Here!

A few top tips from Joanna at Higher Holcombe

It’s your wedding weekend and you’re going to be surrounded by all your favourite people – hooray! I’m quite sure that some guests may have travelled from far and wide and will be looking forward to helping you both to party! Your best friend from primary school; your cousins who moved to Australia and that cool chick you met on a trip round South America. Everyone will want to make the most of being able to spend some quality time with you both. How often, after all, do you have all your faves in one place at one time?

Guests Walking To Willow Cathedral

By planning and hosting a weekend wedding, you are opening up so many fun possibilities to help make your wedding especially full of happy memories! I know, I know – your big day itself is probably more than enough to think of  in terms of planning. Don’t worry! You can keep the options super simple! Help your guests make the most of their weekend wedding getaway by planning a few (optional) activities. We’re pretty sure your guests will love the chance to enjoy a mini break in the Devon countryside as well as help you both to party!  Here are our top planning tips for the perfect fun-filled weekend wedding. They mainly seem to be about food! So – all good, right?

Tip 1: Make each meal a focus with a few treats thrown in!

Friday – The Perfect Weekend Wedding Begins!

Your guests will arrive at different times and will want to settle into their glamping tents or rooms in the farmhouse. Make a time slot – say 3pm to 6pm to pick flowers, decorate the venue and stash the drinks in the fridges. Put someone in charge of the music to play while you spruce up your flower sprigs. Your bridesmaids will hang their dresses and groomsmen will iron their shirts. Allow some time for everyone to shower and freshen up. Your weekend wedding fun can really begin!

Tip 2: Meet at 7pm for secluded sundowner drinks in a woodland glade.

Sundowner Savouries in the Woodland

Make the most of the wooded glades and kick start the weekend with sundowner drinks and nibbles in the woods! After a glass of fizz (or whatever your favourite tipple is) and some tasty savouries – wander back through the wooded pathways to the farmhouse. You organised for one of your team have arranged some delicious sharing platters for you all to tuck into. Informal food is the perfect choice especially if there are groups who have never met before. It’s a great ice breaker.

Serving Relaxed Sharing Platters

PS Don’t stay up too late  – tomorrow’s a big day!

Saturday: The Best Day Ever!

Your BIG DAY has arrived! Today’s the day that you’ve been dreaming of for months!  You’ve thought of everything –  and really, the only thing you must do now is to get ready to walk up the aisle! With plenty of time to enjoy the lush Devon countryside, why not take yourself (and your besties) on a walk! After, you’ll all have a fresh air blush to your cheeks and a sparkle in your eyes! It’s time to get ready! Take your time and enjoy every moment! If the walk didn’t do it – you might want to book a visit from an expert!

Tip 3: Treat your bride tribe to a ‘getting ready’ relaxing massage.

The rest of the day will go in a flash – it really will! The photos, the fizz, the friends, your family and food!  Congratulations!

Topping Up The Glasses

Sunday Morning: Mellow Musings

It’s unlikely there’ll be many (or even any) early risers on Sunday morning!  Make the most of it and enjoy a  lovely romantic snuggle time in Higher Holcombe’s unique Hobbit House Honeymoon suite. Drink in the woodland views on the first morning of your marriage!

Snuggle In the Hobbit House

Everyone will want you to indulge and have a lovely lie in on your first morning as Mr and Mrs! Give yourselves plenty of time to come ’round and get ready.  You do know, of course, that everyone will be dying to see you both again!  Meet up on the terrace in front of The Old Dairy and enjoy a relaxing brunch and a chance to catch up on all of yesterday’s magical moments!

Tip 4: Book a specialist team for an alfresco brunch

Mellow musing on all of yesterdays shenanigans will be the way to start your first day as husband and wife! With a relaxed-style order as you go, your Sunday morning munchies will be just the job after all the excitement of yesterday’s celebrations. Top up your coffee cups, jazz up your juice and get ready to re-live all those lovely memories! Your flower girl throwing all the petals at once? Adorable! Aunt Izzie’s speech? How we laughed! The first dance? Just lovely! Memories in the making!

Winding Down Your Weekend Wedding

Perhaps you’ll send someone out to get a stash of Sunday papers for those who want a mellow morning reading the columns. For the more energetic, and for those who have travelled from the big smoke, Sunday afternoon is the perfect time for a bit of an outing – perhaps a paddle in the sea at nearby Sidmouth or Budleigh Salterton.  Is it time for everyone to get their own ordersi in for fish and chips? You can eat them sitting on some seaside rock and finish with an ice cream. Most importantly, enjoy the loving company of the very special people in both of your lives.

Tip 5: Mix it up with a scene change and go to the beach!

Whether your own weekend wedding is in the Devon countryside, the gorgeous Lake District or somewhere really exotic like Zanzibar or Marrakesh – the key is having a highlight for each day.  Perhaps you could focus on an essential like a meal.  We all have to eat – right?!  Make it special with a theme or an unusual setting. It might be as simple as a walk to pick wild flowers in the nearby lanes or a special occasion visitor or event.

Get Everyone Involved!
Photo Credit: Unsplash

Here are a few more ideas.

• Wine tasting;  gin mixing; rum totting
• Games of football, rounders, volleyball, cricket or a walk in the woods
• Al fresco picnics, BBQs, Fish n Chips, Paella or Pizza – making
• Welly wanging, Tug o’ War, Treasure Hunting, Tree planting or Foraging

I’m sure that you have plenty of ideas of your own! Put someone in charge to make them happen!

If you liked this blog, you might like to read the one about how, at Higher Holcombe, you are very welcome to forage for flowers and additional greenery from our hedgerows, meadows and  woodland.  Don’t forget that for when you’re all ‘setting up’ on Friday!