A River Exe Cafè wedding | Sofi & Luke’s incredible secret Devon wedding
What if your wedding guests had no idea where the reception was… until they arrived by boat?
A secret wedding at the River Exe Cafè in Devon
I’ve been meaning to write about Sofi and Luke’s River Exe Cafè wedding for ages, and photographing their new baby recently reminded me just how unforgettable their day was. A couple of Septembers ago, these two created one of the most unique, colourful, joy-filled weddings I’ve ever had the pleasure of photographing and easily one of my all-time favourites.
If you’re planning a Devon wedding and you’ve looked at the River Exe Cafè, you’ll already know how special (and fully booked!) it is. It’s a seasonal restaurant which is boat-access-only venue in the middle of the Exe estuary, a dream setting for couples looking for something a little different. It’s a Devon success story, a real institution that is loved by all, just try getting a table is tricky as people LOOOOOOVe it so much and the food is to die for. For more real stories like this, have a look at my Latest wedding blogs.
A Ceremony at Exeter Guildhall
Sofi and Luke are one of the bravest couples I’ve worked with. A few days before their wedding, the wind picked up and the café had to close. But on their actual day we had glorious sunshine, calm waters and the most perfect conditions. They honestly couldn’t have been luckier with the weather
Their day began at Exeter Guildhall, a historic, atmospheric building right in the middle of the city. Even though I’d been inside before, this was my first time photographing a wedding there, and it was such a brilliant space.
Sofi arrived in serious style, turning up outside the packed Exeter high street in an Aston Martin DB5 (1965)..the Bond car by https://devonclassicweddingcars.com/aston-martin-db5-1965/ . Inside the historic Guildhall an all-male voice choir filled the high roofed space in the imposing guildhall gallery with the most amazing sound. It set the tone for a day full of personal touches, colour and surprises. And the big surprise being the reception venue….none of the guests knew where they were going. My kind of wedding vibe right there… If you’re planning a unique Devon wedding and looking for a relaxed, natural approach, you can see more of my style here in my Wedding Portfolio.
A secret venue and a boat ride to the reception
The Reception venue – The River Exe Cafè was a secret from all their guests, which created such a fun buzz throughout the morning. I had to keep my lips tightly sealed! I found this hard and it must have been so hard for Luke and Sofi….hats off to them for keeping stum!
After the ceremony, the three of us, Sofi, Luke and me hopped on a small ferry boat for some portraits on the water. Meanwhile, all their guests arrived by ferry too, so we were able to get loads of photographs of everyone stepping off the boats and seeing the venue for the first time. The reactions were a picture and so much fun to capture. This had some serious wow factor as did the amazing pink and white paper confetti. What a wedding, it was so colourful and flambouyant and a real treat to capture.
The River Exe café, food, colour and the best team
If you’ve ever eaten at the River Exe Café, you’ll know the food is exceptional. Beautifully presented, full of flavour and served by a team who are absolute pros at running events on the water. It’s genuinely one of my favourite places to photograph a wedding reception. the light, the views, the energy. Everything flowed so beautifully.
Sofi has a brilliant eye for detail and colour, and the styling was incredible. Think bold pinks, vibrant reds blooms from local florist Bloom Bloom were immense , record signing, cocktails and pops of colour everywhere. It suited them perfectly, a flamboyant, fun-loving couple who wanted a wedding that felt like them.
A wild party to finish
After sunset, the party really took off. Not the Cowboys wedding band performed in the evening, hyping up the crowd and getting absolutely everyone involved. The dance floor was full all night, and the photos really show how much fun they had.
Looking back
From the Guildhall ceremony to the boat rides, colourful styling, incredible food and full-throttle dancing, Sofi and Luke’s wedding had everything that makes a Devon wedding so special. It was a total joy to photograph and meeting their new baby this year made it even sweeter to look back on.
If you’re planning your own River Exe Cafe wedding or a Devon waterside celebration, you can check out my Wedding Photography Prices or get in touch through my Contact Page.
Dream team of suppliers:
Reception venue and food – The River Exe Cafe
Photographer – RockRose Photography
Ceremony – The Guildhall weddings Exeter
Flowers – Bloom Bloom
Aston Martin – Devon Classic wedding Cars
Music – Not The Cowboys
