Our experts answer your questions HOT TOPIC BESIDE THE SEASIDE We wanted a relaxed beach wedding this summer in Devon, can you help? Meet the expert: Simon Daukes is the owner of Arches Beach Weddings based on Newberry Beach in Combe Martin, Devon. It’s a one-of-a-kind, ceremony-only, DIY beach wedding venue. The Daukes family also own The Ash Barton estate in Braunton, a wedding venue with a manor house and extensive grounds. Simon says: Arches Beach Weddings is an innovative new venue created following the transformation of the former Combe Martin museum building in North Devon. It’s the sole ceremony-only seaside wedding venue in the country where couples effectively get their own private registry office set beside the sea against the stunning backdrop of Combe Martin Harbour. The once derelict building on the Newberry promenade has been regenerated into a plush ceremony room licensed for up to 120 guests, looking out to the sea just metres away, with a private outdoor space. As well as a dressing room and toilet facilities, it also boasts an opulent bridal suite upstairs that can also be booked separately by couples if they wish to stay the night. The venue is available in two-hour slots and can accommodate up to six weddings a day, with surround sound speakers and a variety of lighting options to create different themes. Wedding couples and parties can book local pubs, restaurants or hotels for their reception and guest accommodation, as well as florists, photographers and other regional suppliers for their big day. Local businesses have been invited to offer their services on the Arches website for free. Our philosophy from the start was that we wanted the venue itself to do as much as possible for the business and benefit of the village. Any local companies that want to be featured on our website only need to get in touch. We are not seeking any commission, we are sending business directly to them. We are not in competition with anyone because nobody else offers a ceremony-only service. With the motto ‘your wedding, your way’, the aim at Arches Beach Weddings is to offer a large range of options to suit all budgets, from a ceremony and fish and chips on the beach to a reception with all the trimmings at a local pub, hotel or restaurant. The venue is ceremony-only with no parties, no noise and no local nuisance. Couples can host their entire wedding for under £1,000 in a stunning location. There’s currently a 25% discount for couples with an EX34 postcode. They can choose when they’d like to be married – at sunset, during the height of the summer or when the tide is in or out. We can be very flexible and would love to hear all of your suggestions, for example, we already have people talking about the couple arriving at the ceremony by boat! 07785 386 622 | www.archesbeachweddings.com www.facebook.com/archesbeachweddings www.instagram.com/arches_beach_weddings www.panopticgroup.co.uk EXPERT ADVICE 51
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