A quintessential English summer wedding at Deer Park
Francesca & Gareth // Deer Park
Francesca and Gareth’s summer wedding at Deer Park in Honiton, Devon was a great example of how a day can unfold beautifully even with a few rain showers thrown in. Deer Park Country House is a Georgian manor set in about 80 acres of gardens, woodland and lawns, where couples can choose from outdoor spots or the elegant orangery for their celebrations. It’s a venue that manages to feel relaxed and stylish at the same time, with plenty of interesting backdrops for photos wherever you wander. There are a range of interesting spaces inside including the elegant and large wedding breakfast room easily accommodating all the guests on the long banquet tables, perfect for a mighty feast!
Francesca and Gareth’s day began with preparations and I was with the bridal side of things before meeting the boys prior to the ceremony at Ottery St Mary Parish Church. Francesca’s dress from Corston Couture at Timeless Elegance in Cardiff worked perfectly with the country house style, and hair by Bridal Hair by Rhian and makeup by Laura Le Page were spot on for a summer wedding vibe. An emotional ceremony commenced and a delighted newly married couple emerged! I could only take a few photos here due to restrictions. The Wedding Car Hire People provided their charming 1991 Nissan Figaro for Gareth to drive off to cheers and applause from guests.
We all the followed them back to Deer Park for the wedding reception. The weather teased everyone with showers, but there were enough the dry spells to explore the grounds and I captured some lovely moments between the couple, whose special veil shot request was made us laugh! During the drinks reception the sound of soothing saxophone from Lucy Harvey added a warm, upbeat atmosphere while everyone mingled and enjoyed the setting.
As the day moved into the evening, Club Kudo kept the party going with DJ sets that got plenty of guests up on their feet, and some actually off their feet! Whether it was dancing under the roof of the orangery or exploring the grounds between showers, the varied story of the day was a dream to capture. I can’t wait to return to Deer Park this summer for another wedding!
