More Than Just a Wedding Day

One of the many things that makes a 3-day weekend wedding here at The Great Barn so special is the time it gives you… Time to settle in, to enjoy the company of your favourite people, and to make a little more of the occasion than a single day allows.

With exclusive use of the estate from Friday through to Sunday (or even Monday if you wish!) your wedding becomes a whole weekend spent together in the countryside, in the privacy of your own estate. There’s the anticipation of Friday, the celebrations themselves on Saturday, and the rather lovely prospect of Sunday, when the excitement has settled and nobody is in quite such a hurry to leave.

Here’s how to make the most of the days either side of your wedding…

Friday: The Day Before

By Friday, the estate is entirely yours. Your guests can arrive, unpack and settle into their cottages, while you begin to see all those months of planning take shape around you.

There’s time for a relaxed rehearsal, with as many run-throughs and questions as you need to feel comfortable with the plans for tomorrow. It’s also your opportunity to bring your ideas to life across the venue, adding those finishing touches to the barn, arranging flowers and dressing the spaces where you’ll celebrate.

But Friday needn’t be all about preparations. One of the real pleasures of having the estate for the whole weekend is being able to slow down and enjoy it. Catch up with friends you haven’t seen for months, share a drink in the garden or simply take in the peace and quiet of the surrounding countryside. With the Teign Valley on your doorstep, there’s plenty of room to breathe before the excitement of the big day begins.

An Evening Together

As the afternoon draws to a close, there’s no need to organise an elaborate evening or rush off anywhere. You can gather in the West Barn for supper, prepared and served by our lovely team, or make the most of the kitchens and gardens and cook together.

If you fancy heading out, The Manor Inn is around a 15-minute walk away and serves excellent food. It’s a lovely option for those who would rather leave the cooking to someone else.

However you choose to spend the evening, Friday is about getting everyone together, enjoying the first moments of the weekend and letting the anticipation build naturally.

Sunday: The Day After

After the wedding day itself, Sunday has a rather different feel. The formalities are over, the dancing is done and there’s no need to rush straight home. The estate remains entirely yours for the day, giving you time to enjoy the company of your guests and savour the last few hours of your wedding weekend.

For some, that means a slow start and a leisurely breakfast in the cottage kitchen. For others, it’s a chance to gather everyone together once more for a delicious brunch, prepared by our in-house chefs and served in the West Barn.

There’s also the opportunity to explore a little more of the surrounding countryside. Follow the footpath through our land and woodland to the neighbouring village of Doddiscombsleigh, where The Nobody Inn makes a wonderful destination for a Sunday lunch. In warmer weather, you might prefer a swim in the outdoor pool, a BBQ in the garden or simply another few hours spent outside, talking through the highlights of the day before.

It’s often these quieter moments that become some of the most memorable: the stories being retold over breakfast, the photographs being passed around on mobile phones, the laughter that comes from being together without a rigid timetable to follow.

A Weekend That Feels Entirely Your Own

Every couple approaches their wedding weekend differently. Some fill the days with plans and activities; others prefer to leave plenty of room for spontaneity. The beauty of a three-day celebration at The Great Barn is that you have the freedom to do either.

With exclusive use of the estate, beautiful accommodation for your guests and the flexibility to make the most of the venue and its surroundings, you can shape the weekend around the people and the things that matter most to you.

And when Sunday finally comes to an end, you can leave knowing that you’ve had the time to enjoy not only your wedding day, but everything around it, too.

Discover more about our exclusive-use venue and three-day wedding weekends in the heart of the Teign Valley. Request a private viewing at a time that suits.