As one of the best festival wedding venues in North Devon (and with fantastic dodgems and huge bouncing pillows to play on), at The Old Barn we have lots of ideas to help bring your festive-filled plans to life: just think rustic, relaxed, funfairs and fabulousness.

When it comes to finding other creative people to help with food, styling, entertainment and photography to enhance your theme we can point you in the right direction there, too – just take a look at our list of great local suppliers. And if you want more wedding inspiration, just take a look at our ideas for vintage, rustic and boho weddings at North Devon’s The Old Barn.

wedding venue devon table
In our beautiful rural location near the Devon-Cornwall border and within view of the sea, a country slant on the festival wedding theme works perfectly. Go overboard on colour to add fun and life, with pinks, oranges, turquoise and yellow. Bunting, streamers, draped ribbons and fairy lights are an easy, inexpensive way to add a festival vibe, then add in rustic details (some of which we have, and others you can hire) such as milk pails, hay bales and vintage knick-knacks. All of these look stunning against The Old Barn’s stone walls, beams and wooden floor. Come the evening, outdoor fairy lights and tealights looks magical, and encourage people to gather, relax and chat.
Barn wedding devon bude bideford
Festival, vintage, boho, hippie – you have a whole spectrum of stunning looks to choose from. Aim to look relaxed and not too try-hard (although we know you will have done!). Something flowing is perfect - it can be floor- or knee-length (try Pirouette in Exeter for good affordable styles). Add interest with lace, ribbons, botanics and splashes of colour. Hair should be ‘not too perfect’ (good news for a style that needs to last all day!): long and flowing, braids or a loose up-do all suit this style well. Grooms tend to carry this look well when they go for a touch of gypsy – steer him towards vintage waistcoats and relaxed tailoring (try Dawe & Co in Barnstaple).
Coaster fun wedding devon bude bideford
If you can, have live entertainment for a real festival wedding vibe; at The Old Barn we have lots of suitable spaces. During the day it’s lovely to have something low-key, such as a lone guitarist or vocalist, performing tunes that mean something to you – a perfect time to call in a favour from a musical friend! Then in the evening, a good live band is guaranteed to get people moving, and creates a really energising atmosphere. Entertainers that mingle with the crowd are a great surprise too – we can put you in touch with local businesses that can arrange stilt walkers, fire eaters, dancers, performing artists and magicians! Add in some quirky things for guests to do– such as a face painting station, retro photo-booth, or basket of props near the dance floor – and they’ll be talking about your do for years to come.
Festival wedding catering devon bude bideford
Festival-style wedding food is easy to eat and relaxed – think street food, hog roasts, communal feasting and sharing platters. We have plenty of outdoor space and an indoor kitchen at The Old Barn, making all of these options perfectly possible. Seating guests at long banqueting tables makes the most of the space you have and encourages conversation, sharing and fun. Come the evening – or daytime, if you like – you could have a pop-up food van (there's more than enough room in our courtyard) serving the couple's favourite food.
Real weddings at The Old Barn
"Who has dodgems at their wedding? It makes your wedding unique and the guests loved it."