Allison & Chloe
VALUES
Community
Relationships
Fun
VENDORS
Venue — Colehayes
Photos — Grace Elizabeth
Flowers — Chloe’s Nan
Dress — Still White
Jumpsuit — Chloe’s Nan
Cakes— Luminary Bakery
Our Five-Day Devon Wedding: Planning a Non-Traditional Celebration with Community at the heart
When Chloe (they/she) and I started planning our wedding, we began with what mattered most: quality time with the people we love. We were just coming out of the COVID‑19 lockdowns and hadn’t seen many of our friends and family in so long. With many guests travelling from overseas, we didn’t want a day of rushed hugs and quick catch‑ups — we wanted a non-traditional wedding celebration with space for connection, joy, and fun. We also hoped our friends and families — many of whom had never met — would leave feeling like old friends.
A traditional one‑day London wedding didn’t feel like it would give us that — and it came with a hefty price tag. As we started looking further afield, we realised we could spend about the same amount on something far more us. That’s when we found it: a huge manor house in Devon, near where Chloe grew up, with space for more than 60 guests to stay. Suddenly it all clicked — if we could have everyone under one roof, why limit ourselves to just one day? And so, our five‑day wedding celebration was born.
We filled the week with activities that brought people together — games, workshops, shared meals. There was a fiercely competitive “Team Allison vs. Team Chloe” rounders match, a pub quiz that ended in a raucous sing‑along, a bonfire with s’mores, and swims in the lake on the property.
Instead of hiring caterers, we self‑catered the whole week— even the wedding meal. Everyone was assigned to a cooking team with recipes and ingredients, and the house filled with the smell of good food and the sound of new friendships forming in the kitchen. Behind the scenes, I had spreadsheets, timetables, a full recipe binder, and a plan for every meal and every activity. I loved the planning, but as the bride it also meant I was juggling the roles of planner, organiser, and host all week. Looking back, if I’d had a day‑of wedding coordinator to take the reins so I could have been fully present on the day itself, that would have been incredible. It’s exactly why I do this work now— so my couples can hand over the logistics they’ve worked so hard on and immerse themselves in their celebration so they don’t miss a thing.
We were incredibly fortunate to be able to lean on the talents of our people. My cousin married us. Chloe’s nan made their outfit. A dear friend did our hair and makeup. My mum and auntie led a floral‑arranging workshop to create all the table flowers. A friend who’s a yoga teacher guided a class on the morning of the wedding; another led a hike on the moors the day after; and another, a professional baker, hosted a scone‑baking workshop that turned into a cream tea for everyone.
Not everyone has a whole crew of friends and family who can step in like that — and honestly, you don’t need to. I love helping couples create that same warm, personal feel by making sure all of their vendors work together seamlessly, like they’ve known each other for years. It means your florist, caterer, photographer, and celebrant feel like part of the family, and the day unfolds effortlessly..
Our wedding day itself was overflowing with love and emotion. The ceremony included vows we wrote to each other, as well as vows our community declared to us. And after a gorgeous September evening dining al fresco, I kicked off the dancing with an outfit change into a leotard and a whole lot of sequins , making my grand entrance to Beyoncé’s Crazy in Love. From there, it was all our favourite songs, all our favourite people, and a packed dance floor that carried us into the wee hours of the morning.
Looking back, it felt exactly like us. Not traditional, but deeply intentional. A celebration of the community we love most— rooted in the values we began with: connection, community, and fun.
If you’re dreaming of a wedding that’s truly you — full of connection, community, and joyful moments — I’d love to help you bring that vision to life. Whether you’re planning a one-day celebration or a multi-day experience, I’m here to take over the logistics so you can relax and enjoy every second.
Get in touch here, and let’s start dreaming up a wedding that feels uniquely yours.
