Just the Two of Them | An Intimate Elopement at Deer Park Country House
Let’s talk about doing things your own way. No rules. No massive guest list. Just two love birds & a stunning wedding venue in Devon.
Just two brides, wildly in love, taking over Deer Park Country House for one unforgettable, deeply personal, intimate elopement - honestly? It was a vibe.
Zoe & Meghan got ready together that morning. A slow, unrushed start to the day, surrounded by soft light, good music, and the kind of quiet excitement that hangs in the air when you know something big is about to happen. Final touches made. And then, just before the ceremony, they stepped into separate rooms for one moment to get into their outfits for the day. Then they shared a first look together before the ceremony, a moment we absolutely love to capture when couples choose to have one.
The ceremony was stunning, meaningful, and exactly what they wanted. Zoe & Meghan walked down the aisle together, no big entrance, no fuss, just two brides side by side, ready to do this their way. It felt stripped back, but full. They read personal vows that had us smiling (and maybe a tiny bit teary)
Afterwards, we explored the grounds and Deer Park Country House delivered at every turn, as always. Beautiful light, big views, and endless space to just be together. We loved exploring the venue, having plenty of time to take photos in all of Deer Park’s stunning locations. The Italian gardens, the house itself & the stunning views all around it.
The team at Deer Park were brilliant. Canapés, drinks, constant support, they didn’t just host the day, they helped make it feel special. Proper service, but never over the top, exactly the kind of team you want on your wedding day.
Later on, Zoe & Meghan sat down for dinner, just the two of them. No schedule to follow, no speeches, just great food and a chance to take it all in. They wrapped things up with a champagne spray outside, the perfect way to end the day.
Zoe & Meghan
Briefly, how did you guys meet?
Despite living 5 minutes down the road from one another, we met on Tinder! Zoe shamefully took far too long to respond, but soon redeemed herself.
When did you guys start planning your wedding?
Following our engagement in July, we spent August holidaying (featuring a fabulous trip to Italy) and then started planning our original 'big' wedding in September 2024. We then had a change in circumstances and a change of heart, which concluded in us realising that the big wedding was not what we wanted. So, In December 2024 we decided to cancel the original wedding and plan an elopement, just the two of us.
How long did it take you to find your perfect wedding venue?
It took us 1 long month of obsessive searching!
How would you describe your wedding theme? What was the inspiration?
Modern luxury with a classic twist that would ensure our wedding was timeless! Our inspiration was us, what we love as a couple! And what we love is classy elegance with an injection of fun - a memorable experience for all of the right reasons.
Tell us about your ceremony & your wedding reception
The definition of intimate! Our ceremony was personal, with no family or friends (although those there felt like it!) with our witnesses being our wedding planner and another member of the planning team and our photographers present. It meant that everything focussed on the meaning of the day and our happiness and love, so intimate - so special. Our reception, was the same - intimate! We explored the house and grounds, sped around in a golf cart, ate our canapes in the cosy treehouse and had our first dance in the orangery by ourselves in the evening. The reception was a peaceful bliss that centred around our happiness and fun.
What was your favourite part of planning your wedding?
Selecting our suppliers and planning our menu! We so enjoyed looking for suppliers, exploring the variety of experiences and getting to know some amazing, kind and lovely people who all get so invested in and genuinely care about your day. We're also big foodies - one of the big reasons we selected Deer Park as our venue. Planning two different weddings gave us the opportunity to enjoy the menu selection twice! First, going to the tasting menu and curating a menu that we knew our loved ones would enjoy. And then, picking a menu just for us - being able to divulge our own palettes without a single worry about whether it could be mass produced or enjoyed by others. It was ours to love!
Do you have any regrets or things you wish you knew before planning a wedding?
Confetti cannons! The biggest wedding con. Period. A flurry of expensive dust is all you can expect!
Looking back on your wedding now, what was the most memorable moments?
The champagne spray, so much fun! The ability to be spontaneous and enjoy our day - the day was ours and ours alone to enjoy, this meant no worrying (people, timings, suppliers, family!) we we're just able to follow on our own happiness and relax into the day.
What were some of the best decisions you made when planning your wedding day?
Our venue, our photographer and prioritising us. Our venue was absolute perfection, we couldn't envision ourselves getting married anywhere else - they delivered everything they said they would and more. Our photographers, we love you both. You understood us, our vibe and were the best wedding guests we could've asked for! Prioritising us - the swivel from a big wedding to an elopement felt like a loss at first. In reality, it was a gain - we gained a day that was special, intimate and about only us and our marriage. Perfection.
If you had any advice for future bride & grooms, what would that be?
Pause before you start planning, quietly explore what you think you want without anyone else involved. Give yourself the time the time to truly understand what you want and the implications of what you want - does it all balance out to reflect the couple you are and who you want to be. Ultimately, your wedding is about you - not anyone else. You don't owe anyone, other than yourselves, anything. Enjoy the day you both want to!
