Corinne and Mark didn’t want a wedding so much as they wanted a festival. A chilled-out celebration of music, good food, and the people they love. With help from their talented friends – many of whom work in music, events, and festivals – they brought that vision to life over a long weekend in the Devon countryside.

Higher Holcombe, their venue, became a makeshift festival site for three days. They kicked things off the night before with curry, beers, and a fire pit gathering for over thirty guests staying on-site. The morning of the wedding was equally relaxed. There was a buffet breakfast, pasties for lunch, and last-minute decorating to go. They didn’t want a strict schedule so the ceremony wasn’t until 3.30. “The late ceremony meant we actually got to eat and spend time with everyone before the formal stuff,” said Corinne. “That also meant we went straight into drinks, then food, then music and dancing without any hanging around in between.”

Held in the venue’s ‘Silver Birch Church’, the ceremony was bathed in gorgeous September sunshine. Corinne drove her dad, who is disabled following a stroke, to the ceremony site in a golf cart, laughing as they navigated the uneven path together. “He joked the whole way about whether he’d make it without falling. Thankfully, he did”, she said.

They opted for a registrar-led service but personalised it with their own vows and handpicked readings, including a memorably recited version of Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen). “We didn’t tell anyone what it was beforehand. Some people twigged straight away and laughed, and others got genuinely emotional.”

Right after the ceremony, the surprise brass band kicked off. “They appeared out of the trees just as we reached the end of the aisle, playing a brass cover of Do Your Thing by Basement Jaxx. Then they led a full-on parade to the reception area. It was brilliant.” Later in the night, they played two more sets, keeping the dance floor buzzing.

Decor-wise, Corinne spent months making multi-coloured bunting from fabric samples, while Mark constructed a DIY Glastonbury-style ‘Jeffordfest’ sign and DJ booth facade. A Guinness World Record-holding friend brought hula hoops, and soon guests were spinning under the trees.

They were also quite certain they didn’t want a formal, sit down meal or a seating plan. Instead, a pizza truck served buffet-style slices alongside fresh salads, followed by churros from another food truck. “I didn’t want people to be stuck on tables with people they didn’t know. It was all about creating a relaxed atmosphere,” Corinne explained.

Spending the whole weekend at the venue was a game-changer. It meant extra time with guests, less pressure on the day itself, and a proper chance to unwind. Over 50 people camped out the night after the wedding, with a communal breakfast and plenty of helping hands for packing down. If they could do it all again? “We’d probably just make it even longer,” Corinne said. “More music, maybe another night.” As for regrets, there weren’t many – aside from the lack of sleep in the days beforehand!

To couples currently planning, they have a few words of wisdom: ask exactly what your venue includes, expect everything to take longer than you think, and don’t worry if things go off plan. “Something will be forgotten or missed. That’s okay,” she concluded. “The day will still be amazing. Remember it’s okay to pick and choose the traditions you want to keep. No one is going to judge you, they’re just going to have a great time.”