Athena and James’s paths first collided during a Burns Night dinner hosted by a mutual friend. Five years later, the couple were on a road trip in California when James proposed as dolphins leaped from the water during a sunset cruise in Santa Barbara.
From the Californian coast to the leafy climes of North Devon, Tree Top Escape provided the most stunning retreat for their intimate wedding, which incorporated a palette of blush pink, red and a hint of tartan to reflect their Burns Night beginnings.
With a sharp focus on style throughout the day, the groom’s party wore all-black velvet ensembles personalised with motorbike cufflinks (“as they’re all riders!”), while Athena dazzled in a lace gown with sparkling embellishment.
Every element of the celebrations was considered, with guests given rose quartz crystals for them to bestow their best wishes upon before placing them in a bowl when entering the ceremony. “We now have those crystals for good luck in our home,” says Athena.
Guests were greeted with a glass of bubbly before congregating in The Nest to await Athena’s entrance. With her adorable Cavapoo as ring bearer, she walked the aisle to the dreamy vocals and acoustic sounds of musician Emma Stevens. The couple then took their vows before a moon gate dressed in fresh flowers, foliage and pampas grass and the idyllic countryside beyond.
“After the ceremony had finished, we didn’t have any timings to keep to and we could all relax and enjoy ourselves for the rest of the night,” comments Athena on the laidback schedule of the day.
The Prosecco flowed while Athena and James headed off for photos in the grounds before a three-course supper was served in the Grill Haus. Seafood cakes and warm goat’s cheese, pear and toasted walnut salad primed tastebuds for the main courses of sirloin of beef, roasted cod, and spiced butternut squash, spinach, cashew nut and feta cheese pancake, all of which were served with winter slaw, rosemary and garlic potatoes, and warm panzanella salad.
“Having such a small wedding (14 guests) meant we could interact with everyone throughout the day as well as making it feel like a personalised event to them,” says Athena, reflecting on their day. “I wanted to make sure they felt appreciated, so we had handwritten thank you notes waiting alongside takeaway cake slices and a personalised lottery ticket with numbers meaning something to them. We also sent a ‘Welcome to Devon’ hamper to guests who had travelled from afar.”
Photography Maria Broome mariabroomephotography.com
Venue Tree Top Escape treetopescape.co.uk
Styling Best Day Ever Devon bestdayeverdevon.co.uk
Hair & make-up Maddie Pearce southwestmakeupartist.co.uk
Flowers Heather Eales churchparkflowers.co.uk
Catering Cooking With Gazz cookingwithgazz.com
Cake Jax’s Cakes ‘N’ Bakes jaxscakesnbakes.com
Stationery Emily Reynolds designbyemily.co.uk
Entertainment Emma lastminutemusicians.com/members/emma
