So the deed has been done. The photographs have been taken, the champers has been quaffed. But, as you wake to your first day of married life, you can’t escape that nagging feeling: you want more.

How many brides have you heard wistfully lament, “It just went too fast”? After all the planning and preparation, after the overdose of commotion and emotion, the day seems to be over in a flash. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

A growing number of couples are choosing to extend their wedding celebrations to a two or three day programme of feasting and socialising. And who can blame them? Some guests will probably travel miles to attend the wedding and, with everyone from your photographer to your little bridesmaid vying for your attention on the day itself, it’s difficult to spend quality time with everyone.
Whether you envision a four-day extravaganza à la Wayne and Colleen or a laidback brunch the morning after, time spent chatting about the day’s events with family and friends can be as memorable and cherished as the day itself.
But how do you follow the party of the year? The possibilities are endless, but here’s a starter for ten…


photo Rosie Parsons

PARTY ON
Fancy dress party
After the fabulousness of the wedding day, and the galaxy of cocktail dresses and high heels, there’s something quite refreshing about getting togged up in an altogether different sense of the term ‘fancy dress’. Whether it’s a subtle flourish of fanciness or an outlandish head-to-toe affair, a fancy dress party is an instant ticket to a fun and celebratory vibe. For a personalised twist, consider opting for a theme that is specific to you as a couple.

Marquee party
If you’ve spent many a painstaking hour deliberating over your marquee décor, from choosing the colour of the swags to hanging the bunting, it seems criminal to take it all down after just one day. Throwing a marquee party affords you the opportunity to spend another day in your bespoke party palace. Serve up a barbecue or buffet, turn on some tunes, play some games and enjoyed a chilled out social with your nearest and dearest.

Tea party
A tea party is a relaxed and uber stylish way to wind down after the frenzy of the big day – not to mention a fabulous excuse to indulge in a scrumptious Devonshire cream tea. A DIY element adds to the chic factor so ask your guests to bring a plate of tea party staples, from sandwiches and fairy cakes to cream, scones and jam.

Lucy Turner and Sarah Wright followed up their marquee wedding celebration with a chilled out party.
“We had a marquee wedding which meant that we had a ready made venue for the following day. We wanted a relaxed vibe with Bloody Mary reception drinks, a Tex-Mex style buffet, bring a bottle and casual dress. It meant that everyone could unwind – especially those who had to make a speech the day before – and we had more time to properly catch up with our guests. People have often travelled a long distance, so why not extend the celebrations to make the most of having your nearest and dearest around you? The Southwest offers one of the best wedding backdrops in the country and we found that most of our guests took full advantage of their long journey and turned it into a week's holiday. Plus, we had the chance to wear two dresses rather than one and an opportunity for another great party!”

AND…POSE!
What, more photos? Granted, the day of ‘I dos’ might have felt like a day in the life of Cheryl Cole, with the amount of snaps being taken of your every move. However, a photo session the day after the wedding is well worth consideration. Not only will you have more time to capture some images against a range of different backdrops, you’ll probably feel more relaxed and less conscious of keeping to a schedule.

It might be a trash the dress style shoot, a chic bridal fashion shoot or the chance to capture some gorgeous portraits of the two of you in the first flush of newly wedded bliss.

CHILL OUT
A day of indulgence, pampering and relaxation is a fabulous way to spend your first day of married life. Hit the spa with your new spouse, friends and family and enjoy a glorious day of chatting and chilling as your every whim is attended to.

Perched in a sublime spot on the North Devon coast, The Saunton Sands Hotel offers a luxurious setting for a pamper day. Complete with indoor and outdoor pools and an extensive range of treatments from a bespoke Guinot facial to stone massage therapy, you’ll emerge feeling refreshed, radiant – and ready for your honeymoon.

GO AL FRESCO
Spend some precious timeout with your loved ones amidst Devon’s glorious landscape. Hit the beach for group games and fire up a barbecue. Go for a ramble in the countryside and wind down with a cosy pub meal. Or escape to the wilds of Dartmoor armed with a picnic and a few bottles of champagne.

GET COMPETITIVE IN THE COUNTRY
Tying the knot in the countryside? Then why not embrace the rural vibe with a programme of post-wedding country pursuits? Not only are such activities great for bonding, it’s a sure fire way to see off the sluggishness from the indulgence of the previous days and have great fun to boot.

Nestled amidst rolling green Devonshire hills and mature woodland, Northcote Manor is an idyllic spot for hitting the great outdoors. A series of activities, from game fishing and golf to croquet and horse riding, can be arranged for al fresco fun.

Stoodleigh Court boasts a similarly impressive location with panoramic views across Exmoor. While you’re there, have a go at archery or laser clay pigeon shooting for a memorable post-wedding wind down. Nestled in the heart of Dartmoor, Bovey Castle offers a bewildering choice of rural pursuits; try your hand at clay pigeon shooting, horse riding, fly fishing or rock climbing.
 
HIT THE SURF
Itching to swap your posh togs for a wetsuit? Wash away that post-wedding bleariness with a surf while your less active pals take a walk or chill out at a beachside café. From Saunton Sands to Sidmouth, Devon offers a wide choice of surfing hotspots for you to catch some waves and exhilarating moments with your close pals.


photo The Picnic Boat

HOP ON BOARD
Imagine spending your first day as Mr and Mrs reclining on a boat, as breathtaking scenery rolls by and the fresh sea air fills your senses.

A luxury boat charter is a unique and utterly indulgent way to relax with a select group of loved ones. Riviera Boat Charters will whisk you across the water in style; enjoy beautiful views across Lyme Bay, explore the tranquil waters of the River Dart and maybe stop off at a secluded cove and sup on champagne.


photo The Picnic Boat

You can also discover the beauty of the River Dart on board The Picnic Boat. Tuck into a delicious feast, whether it’s the ‘West Country Luxury Picnic’, the decadent ‘Seafood Heaven’ or a Devon cream tea, as you glide across the water and take in the sights. Heaven.


photo Rosie Parsons

Nick and Hannah Brooks had a three-day wedding at Lee Abbey in North Devon.
“When planning our wedding we knew we wanted to have an extended celebration. We both love the coast and, with Hannah's family being from North Devon, we decided to marry in her home church, Holy Trinity, Barnstaple. When the opportunity arose for us to make use of The Beacon Outdoor Activity Centre, set in 280 acres of farm and woodland, overlooking the dramatic coastline near Lynton, we were thrilled! It was the perfect setting for our families to come together.
 
The activity centre offered various outdoor pursuits from team building exercises like crate stacking to just plain simple zip wire fun. We set about tailoring the weekend to include sessions outdoors: for the Friday there was tree abseiling and crate stacking to get friends and family bonding. On the Saturday morning prior to the ceremony, the speedy changers had the opportunity to try out archery, wall climbing or high ropes. Then it was off to the church on a vintage bus for the wedding ceremony. On our return, we enjoyed the wedding breakfast followed by the evening entertainment: an acoustic set and then a DJ to dance the night away.

A brilliant addition to the weekend was seeing everyone again, on the Sunday, married and in fancy dress, ready to attack the mountain boarding and zip wire! It all ended with a roast dinner (after we'd changed back into our wedding gear!) and we parted for photos in the Valley of the Rocks.

We wanted to make a weekend of our wedding so that all our family and friends could get together in one place where they could relax and get to know one another over more than just the six or so hours of a typical wedding day. We still can't get over how perfect it all was. The staff at the Centre are all part of Lee Abbey Christian Community and excelled in serving us all weekend, from fire breathing on the beach the night before to tying us together to be sent down the zip wire the morning after! It really was the best action-packed, fancy dress wedding weekend ever!”


photo Rosie Parsons

Bovey Castle
www.boveycastle.com

Lee Abbey
www.leeabbey.org.uk/devon

Northcote Manor
www.northcotemanor.co.uk

The Picnic Boat
www.thepicnicboat.co.uk

Riviera Boat Charters
www.rivieraboatcharters.com

The Saunton Sands Hotel
www.sauntonsands.com

Stoodleigh Court
www.stoodleighcourt.com

Words Rebecca Matthews

Copyright WED Magazine 2010