Real Weddings Exeter: Hannah and Tom’s charming Exeter wedding

A beautifully converted barn was the perfect backdrop for this pretty Exeter wedding. Our WED2B Real Weddings feature reveals more…

Hannah and Tom were friends for a while before they had their first date in Birmingham, where Tom went to university. “He showed me around, we had a nice dinner and stayed overnight,” says Hannah. “He later proposed while we were on a weekend trip to Prague with my parents. It was the first night and we’d just got back to our room. I was absolutely blown away. It was a complete surprise!”

Hannah and Tom’s charming Exeter wedding

Featured dress: Sawyer from The Signature Collection

Finding the perfect dress

Hannah bought her Sawyer dress from WED2B’s Exeter store. “It was one of the first ones I tried on,” she says. “I went on to try so many other dresses from other bridal shops, but in the end, I had to go back!"

Finding the perfect wedding dress for their Exeter wedding

A dreamy Exeter wedding

The couple chose The Oak Barn, an Exeter wedding venue set in the picturesque countryside. “We had a non-religious ceremony at the Oak Barn itself,” says Hannah. “My dad walked me down the aisle and we had three readings, one of which Tom wrote himself.”

Confetti wedding shot at this dreamy Exeter wedding

Drinks and nibbles

After the ceremony, guests headed to the outside terrace for canapés and drinks from the ‘Pimp your Prosecco’ stand, while listening to acoustic music. “We then had a sit-down meal and speeches,” says Hannah. “Later, my band, Basher Tate, were the entertainment, along with a wood-fired pizza van to keep everyone going.”

Special touches

“One of our closest friends, Daniel, made our wedding cake for us, which was incredible,” says Hannah. “Both my dad and my stepdad did a speech, which was lovely, and my stepdad also made our Order of Service and Destiny Plan from wooden pallets."

Beautiful wedding flowers for this Exeter wedding

Featured supplier: Dotty Bee Florist

"One of Tom’s best friends also flew in for the day from Canada, despite having to fly straight out again the next day, which was amazing! Probably the most memorable moment though was in the evening, when I sang one of Tom’s favourite songs with the band. It was a total surprise for him!”

Hannah and Tom's wedding photo for this Exeter wedding

My top tips…

“Enjoy the planning and try not to let it become stressful,” says Hannah. “Also, spend money on the bits that you care about the most on the day and not on all the rest. Remember that it's your day too, and you can’t please everyone. If you want a party atmosphere, choose a venue where you can do your own bar or one where the drinks aren’t too overpriced. Also, I’m biased, but if you can afford it, have a band. It really makes the party! And, finally, enjoy every second because it really is amazing.”