Rachel & Steve's Black Tie Summer Wedding

“Steve proposed in early December in 2017. Over dinner the night before, he told me that I had the next day off and that I was going on a spa day with my friend. The next morning, I woke up to four envelopes that had to be opened at certain times throughout the day. The final envelope told me to go home and get ready for dinner at my favourite restaurant. I walked through the door to find our house lit by candles and Christmas lights. Ribbon with lots of pictures of us was attached to the front door, led me to the kitchen and then to the Christmas tree. He was down on one knee waiting for me”.

Growing up in Devon meant Rachel had her heart set on this special location, she had her eye on Rockbeare Manor as a wedding venue since before the engagement, and couldn’t wait to visit when the time came.

The Big Day

When the day arrived, the sun was shining which meant Rachel and Steve could have the outdoor wedding ceremony they had dreamed of. Our quaint terrace, which affords beautiful parkland views with the Devon countryside beyond, was dressed with floral sprays along the aisle and either side of the Pavilion, framing the steps where the bride and groom said their wedding vows. 

Whilst the events team prepared the wedding venue, Steve and his groomsmen were getting ready in the Billiard room, enjoying a game and a drink or two. Rachel and her bridesmaids were upstairs in The Drawing Room preparing for the day, “I loved the morning getting ready with my bridesmaids and family. Lots of prosecco flowed and it was relaxed and stress free! It was so nice getting ready in the bridal room and looking down seeing our guests arrive”.

When the time came to walk the aisle, Rachel had good company “My two older brothers walking me down the aisle was a special moment, they were typical older brothers throughout, joking down the aisle … ‘wouldn’t it be funny if I pushed you in that fountain’”. Following the ceremony the guests spilled onto the lawns for the reception, where they enjoyed celebratory drinks and an array of garden games, whilst the talented singer Sam De La Haye entertained. 

The guests were then seated ready for a delicious wedding breakfast and Rachel and Steve prepared to be announced into the Ballroom and see everything they had spent a year and a half planning, come together for the first time. “We both loved walking into the Ballroom after being announced in. The noise was so loud, and everyone was in such good spirits, it felt like the party had started then! But also seeing how everything had come together was lovely, it's hard to picture after 18 months of planning, but seeing the flowers, candles, menus, name tags and other little bits and bobs placed in the room was so nice”.

In keeping with the theme, the wedding breakfast gave the guests a taste of Devon. Dining from our lavish Barouche Banquet Menu, the guests indulged in a selection of locally sourced foods; “We only had a handful of guests that lived locally so we wanted the wedding to be a celebration of Devon and the West Country. From the food and the West Country platters we had as starters, the afternoon tea for pudding and the evening food of pasties! And the wedding cake made from cheese, all sourced from Devon and Somerset. We were so pleased with our choice of wedding menu and the quality of the food was amazing”.

As the evening drew in and dinner came to an end Rachel and Steve snuck off for a romantic stroll through the parkland to bask in the glorious evening sun before speeches. “The best bit of advice I was given was to take 20 minutes out, away from your guests as husband and wife. We skipped out when pudding arrived and just took it all in for a moment. It was really lovely and we got some of our best shots there because it was natural”.

Decoration And Styling

Rachel and Steve chose elegant pastel tones and blush pinks which paired so beautifully with the botanical floral displays, to bring to life their glamorous summer wedding at Rockbeare Manor, which is just 7 miles from the vibrant City of Exeter. 

The groomsmen donned classic tuxedo’s whilst the bridesmaids wore nude pink dresses with a hint of sparkle. “I’ve always wanted an elegant and glamorous summer wedding and Rockbeare Manor as a wedding venue was the perfect backdrop for that”.

When planning their decor, Rachel and Steve took inspiration from Pinterest, we think you’ll agree that the result is a Pinterest dream wedding board itself! Everything tied in so beautifully, from the rustic copper arch which hung the perspex welcome sign, to the tall geometric vase table centrepieces.“The little touches of decorations such as the mirror table plan, prosecco station on the bar and the greenery on each setting were all stolen from Pinterest but before deciding on anything, we just asked ourselves if it was elegant and would it fit with Rockbeare Manor”.

Advice For Future Couples

Reminiscing on the day, Rachel shared some valuable advice fo future couples; “If you’re having readings – and if you trust them – let that person choose it. We let my oldest school friend choose the reading and it’s even more special knowing that those were the words she wanted to say to us”.

A simple, yet important tip - soak up the day and trust in your suppliers,“Just enjoy it, I know it sounds silly but, in the lead, I thought I’d be stressed in the morning, but you don’t need to be! The team at Rockbeare Manor took care of everything, trust your suppliers, and let them get on with it. It will be the perfect day, but try to relax because the day goes so quickly so enjoy every moment”.

Finally, some lovely feedback for Rachel and Steve’s wedding venue Event Manager, “One last thing, whenever I talk about our wedding to others that have got married, I always bring up the fact that Davy always ensured we had a drink in our hand, knowing what we both drank. I didn’t think much of it at the time but that wasn’t the case for friends on their own wedding. Just a minor thing that on the day made us feel really looked after!”

For more information about holding a wedding at Rockbeare Manor near Exeter in Devon, please visit our wedding venue page or call us on 01392 797444 - we would love to show you around and find out all about your plans. 

Wedding Suppliers

Photography - Gramp Lampard Photography

Videography - Lion Island Media

Flowers - The Flower Girls

Entertainment -Sam De La Haye & Black and Gold

Wedding Dress - Mikaella, Grand Jour

Matching Bridal Party Robes - The Little Lovebird