About us
When James, my husband and I finally got engaged after 8 years, we were looking for a special place where we could share our important day, not just with each other, but with our children, friends and family. We knew that we wanted somewhere we could stay and have a whole weekend in one place, partly because moving our eldest son around, who is in a wheelchair would make him anxious and partly because we and our friends had young children. We wanted somewhere relaxed where I could cater the afternoon tea and we could supply our own meat in the evening. Of course, we had the option of getting married at home and I loved the idea of that, but I was put off by the thought of having to do all the organising, overseeing and most significantly, the clearing up – definitely a downside of DIY weddings.
Throughout the process of wedding venue searching we realised just how difficult it can be to find a venue with the flexibility and ‘can do’ attitude that we were after, instead of rules, T&C’s and additional charges for everything from corkage to extra waste. It was mind boggling trying to compare and nail down prices and in the end we realised that unless we wanted someone else’s idea of a wedding, we would have to get married at Deer’s Leap after all and put up with the clearing up.
Our wedding day was, quite honestly the most wonderful day of my life. It was so relaxed and having everyone around for the weekend helping to get ready was as special as the day itself. I loved wondering around on the morning of the wedding with people getting ready and increasingly excited, all the children playing and talking about wearing their special clothes and then hearing my nephew play the bagpipes to call everyone down to the ceremony made me cry. It all felt so incredibly personal and intimate, which I wasn’t expecting, but it wasn’t like any wedding I’d ever been to. Everyone was there for us, so we didn’t feel on show or exposed, we felt loved and really supported by our family and friends.
We realised that the magic of a Deer’s Leap wedding was too special not to share and we have been running weddings here ever since. We are truly invested in every wedding that takes place here because we want everyone to have the amazing experience that we were lucky enough to have.
Our aim is to help couples have the wedding they want, we try to combine the best of the DIY idea, flexibility, individuality and creativity and the support you would get from a hotel with a team of staff – (most significantly no clearing up the next morning)!
What We Offer
Nestled on the edge of Exmoor National Park, Deer’s Leap is a beloved home with a beautiful, traditional country farmhouse, a lake, a stone barn with terraces, lakeside Gazebo, tennis court, a games room, glamping area and ample parking for guests.
The farmhouse is equipped with all the home comforts & modern conveniences you could wish for – beamed ceilings and inglenook fireplaces to curl up in front of & beautiful sunsets on the lakeside with Champagne in hand. There are even Hot Tubs and a Sauna.
All our weddings have exclusive use of Deer’s Leap and we only ever have one wedding a weekend. It’s really important to us that couples getting married here can relax and enjoy the process, not feel like they’re on a conveyor belt.
The Barn
Deer’s Leap is equally suitable for traditional weddings and more informal weddings. The stone barn is so versatile, it’s a great backdrop to create your theme.
During warmer evenings the terrace area with outdoor seating and fire pits is a relaxed space where you can’t help star gazing, whilst taking a breather from dancing and in the colder months the large wood burner in the barn is perfect for gathering around whilst sipping on a winter warmer.
Accommodation
As with any gathering or celebration, you’ll need somewhere to put everyone!
With close friends and family able to stay on site in the farmhouse or in the Glamping area they’ll share the whole event with you, and be on hand to help with last minute prep.
The farmhouse sleeps 19 in 9 bedrooms, with an extra double sofa bed in the Snug, should you need it plus a couple of z-beds and cots if you have any younger guests.
There are also bell tents available in the milder months (May-September) for the more adventurous.
Would you like to know more?
If you like the look of what we offer here at Deer’s Leap Weddings, but want more information regarding the venue, we are always here to help with any queries you may have.