Fiona and Russell, please could we hear a little bit about you as a couple?
We met at university before we both joined the British Army. We are a really outdoorsy couple and love travelling in our campervan, climbing mountains and surfing. We have been together for 9 years and have a dog called Darcy.
Why did you choose Tree Top Escape for your wedding?
Fi grew up in Devon and so her dream was to get married at a venue in the Devon countryside. We started planning our wedding during the Covid-19 lockdown and so we felt it was a good idea to keep the wedding small to avoid the heartbreak of cancellation if restrictions changed. So, when we found Tree Top Escape, it felt like the perfect venue. We loved the rustic and sustainable nature, and it felt so cosy and intimate. The view from ‘The Nest’ over the Devon countryside was stunning and the perfect backdrop for our ceremony.
Tell us about your ceremony?
Our immediate family joined us for the day, so we had 12 guests in total. We had the ceremony at 2pm and this included our own vows that we had written together. We had a few readings - ‘He Never Leaves the Seat Up’ by Pam Ayres, read by Fi’s sister, and ‘The Art of Marriage’ by Wilferd A. Peterson, read by Russ’ mum. Russ wore his military uniform for the ceremony.
What facilities did you enjoy as part of the celebrations?
We had the ceremony in ‘The Nest’ and then went to ‘The Meadow Room’ for cocktails and to cut the cake. We then went back into ‘The Nest’ for dinner, before having a party back in ‘The Meadow Room’.Myself and Russ stayed within the accommodation for the night before and night of the wedding.
Who were the suppliers that worked their magic for your big day?
The team at Tree Top Escapes was faultless on the day – Nicola was very calm and made sure everything went smoothly.Michelle Ley was our fabulous photographer – the photos are amazing! She put us at ease immediately and captured such lovely memories of the day. She is so artistic and the colours are so beautiful.
Justine Wood provided the food, which was so tasty, and the service from her team was great.
Make-up was done by the lovely Amy Elizabeth Make Up, who made Fi, Fi’s mum, and Fi’s sister feel fantastic. She really put us at ease and it was such a fun morning getting ready together. She used such quality make-up, which lasted all day/night.
Hair was done by Hair by Hannah, who worked her magic on Fi, Fi’s mum, and Fi’s sister. She was so lovely and friendly and went above and beyond to help us get ready. She even ended up kneeling on the floor with me trying to fix my sister’s necklace – haha!
My cake was made by the incredible L&F Cakes, who is so talented and everyone commented that it was the best wedding cake they’ve ever tasted.
North Devon Registry Office provided a beautiful heartfelt ceremony and made us feel so special. We had provided all the details for the ceremony to them before the day, and so it went so smoothly!
What did you enjoy most about your intimate wedding?
The venue is so secluded, cosy, and unique, that although we only had a few guests, it didn’t feel any less of an important occasion. We loved that we could design it exactly as we wanted and make it a bit different than the traditional template. It was so special having the opportunity to share this day with just our immediate family.
Did you feel well looked after by the Tree Top Escape Team?
So looked after. Nicola answered every email or call so promptly and fully in the run-up to the wedding that there was no stress when it came to the day.What was the most special moment on your wedding day?
Too many to count! Writing and including our own vows was very special as this felt so personal and allowed us to make commitments beyond the standard phrases. We also decided to have a first look before the ceremony for me and Russ – though this isn’t very traditional, we loved it. It felt like a very special moment and helped us to feel so much more relaxed.
Did you add any unique touches that made your big day personal to you?
We decorated the venue ourselves and loved how personal this made it feel. My sister’s partner made the wooden arch that we stood in front of, which was so beautiful. We decorated ‘The Meadow Room’ with photos and fairy lights and renamed the cocktails available after ourselves. The music was chosen by us and our siblings, so it was fun to see people’s reactions when their song choices came on.We tried to have our dog, Darcy, involved in the ceremony but she’s an old girl and preferred to stay in her bed - haha! But that’s her choice (and very her!), so we weren’t too disappointed.
Have you got any advice for other couples thinking of opting for an intimate wedding?
Go for it! Wedding planning can be very stressful, but Tree Top Escape provides a great opportunity to have your perfect day, tailored just to you.
We love chatting about all things wedding, so if you are thinking of celebrating your special day with us at Tree Top Escape and want to find out more about our intimate wedding packages get in touch on weddings@treetopescape.co.uk or 01769 629069.
