Last Saturday we saw the first wedding at Ash Barton in over three months. And what a fantastic day it was too - despite the Devon drizzle.

The happy couple, Emily Smith and Ben Watts from Topsham, plus a couple of dozen of their closest friends and family, enjoyed a socially distanced ceremony under the oak tree by the lake, followed by an indoor picnic in the old chapel.

“We were only allowed 30 guests, so it was our immediate family attending plus 1-2 guests on either side,” said Emily. “As we were confined to our homes for so long, it was extra special to see our closest friends and family again. I think being in lockdown has made us really appreciate them.”

In fact, July 4th was Emily and Ben’s original wedding day, before pushing the date back to June 2021 as the country went into lockdown. But with Devon registrars offering their services again from last Saturday, the couple opted to have their wedding ceremony anyway, albeit with a just a handful of people. They’re following this up next year with a full-on party at Ash Barton.

“We originally planned to have a big wedding at The Ash Barton Estate over several days. It was meant to be a big weekend celebration with lots of friends and family. Ben has family from Thailand and the USA who were going to travel to attend our wedding. So when we found out about the Government COVID-19 restrictions, we had to rethink our original wedding plans drastically.

“When Simon at Ash Barton said we could have an intimate wedding with a few guests, we just felt sheer joy. Knowing that our original date could happen, and we could make that commitment to one another was an amazing feeling.”

The team worked hard to prepare Ash Barton for Saturday and make it safe for guests, including handing over the posh loos and drying room block for the sole use of the wedding party. With its under floor heating and luxury amenities it proved to be the perfect spot for Emily to get ready.

A handful of guests then tucked into picnic boxes and glasses of fizz in the old chapel.

“Having flexibility is what Ash Barton is all about,” said Simon. “At the beginning of lockdown, I called all the brides and grooms and said ‘listen, let’s get you booked in for next year wherever possible. But, if things start to open up and you want to have some kind of ceremony or celebration on your original day, you can. The choice is yours.’ Ash Barton is all about giving couples plenty of flexibility and letting people make their own decisions. Whatever they choose to do, we’re here to support them.”

To date, over 60 events that were due to take place between March and October have been successfully rearranged for 2021 or later in the year. We’re looking forward to enjoying many more weddings and celebrations in the coming months. 

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