Your Devon and Cornwall Wedding - November/December 2020 (Issue 28)

27  REAL WEDDINGS L aura and Frank met when they were teenagers and were set up as a joke by mutual friends. They started dating and always knew that they wanted to get married but had plenty of other things to spend their money on beforehand. “In the end, we gave in to the constant questions about it from our friends and family and got engaged,” Laura says. “It was a joint decision between us both when the time was right.” The couple chose idyllic country venue Deer’s Leap Retreat in South Molton, Devon, in which to tie the knot because it felt so relaxed and natural to them as soon as they first visited. “The owner, Heather, was very welcoming and made us tea which we enjoyed in the stunning farmhouse,” Laura tells us. “The retreat was perfect for our special day because we wanted an intimate wedding with just our close family members at the ceremony. The farmhouse offered enough rooms for our ceremony guests to stay over in (with a couple of people camping in the grounds), and the beautiful barn was big enough for the party for all of our friends the following day.” SETTING THE SCENE “We both love Exmoor, so we wanted our choice of decorations and food served at our wedding to complement our location, Laura says. “My sister, Jane, owns Eden Flower School & Wedding Flowers so naturally she was very “Heather and the team at Deer’s Leap Retreat were brilliant. They looked after everything.” – Laura and Frank